This is a service / maintenance or supply contract in Amherst, Massachusetts. Contact the soliciting agency for additional information.

Energy Consulting Services - PART 1 1.Background and Bid Overview a. The MHEC is seeking proposals for Energy Consulting Services (defined in following section) to establish a multi-vendor, regional New England contract that fulfills the needs of its current and future members for their energy related projects. b. MHEC members (2700+) include non-profit public and private institutions of higher education, private and public k-12 (technical, charter and vocational schools), public and private libraries, municipal and governmental entities and other educational non-profit organizations (museums, teaching hospitals etc.). Massachusetts Higher Education Consortium (MHEC) was formed in 1977 and was established by M.G.L. Ch. 15a, Sec 24A to create efficiencies in the State College and University procurement processes by leveraging purchasing volume to negotiate better prices. The MHEC Bid, Award, and Contract process is in compliance with Public Bidding Laws, Rules and Regulations. As a premier contracting group, all current MHEC contracts can be adopted by Members without the additional IFB process work needing to be done before contract use. Today the MHEC has expanded its membership to include non-profit public and private institutions of higher education, technical, charter and vocational schools, municipalities including elementary and secondary schools, preparatory schools, and educational non-profit organizations located within New England. MHEC Objectives: Provide a comprehensive competitively bid contract offering products and services to participating MHEC members; Establish the contract as a Supplier's primary offering to MHEC members; Achieve cost savings for Suppliers and MHEC members through a single competitive solicitation process that eliminates the need for multiple bids or proposals; Combine the spend volume of MHEC members to achieve cost effective pricing; Reduce the administrative and overhead costs to Suppliers and MHEC members through state of the art ordering and delivery systems; Provide MHEC members with environmentally responsible and price competitive products and services. Contracted Volume Transacted $373M CONTACT INFORMATION Strategic Sourcing Manager: Scott Loomis Bid Coordinator: Gabriella DelMonte Gdelmonte@mhec.net The term of this contract is five (5) years. If it is in the best interest of the membership, the MHEC may choose to evaluate and extend additional terms thereafter. Question Due Date: 3/15/2024 at 4:00 p.m. Any questions regarding bid specifications or how to fill out the bid document must be submitted through electronically. Questions regarding the substance of the RFP document should be addressed in writing. i.e., Bid Scope, about the process, terms and conditions and your bid response. Questions will be answered as they arrive and no later than 3/18/2024 at 12:00pm. Questions concerning RFP from bidders to MHEC for clarifications of RFP specifications or processes should be submitted in writing through electronically. All effort will be made to email answers to bidders who have prequalified to receive a bid from the MHEC by the date. Contract Start Date: 7/01/2024 The MHEC reserves the right to award more or less contracts they deem necessary to offer all members all categories of items in all areas covered within the MHEC region. If over the life of the Contract the MHEC determines that additional Supply Partners should be added, if necessary, to meet the requirements of the MHEC Members, these additional contracts may first be drawn from qualified bidders that responded to this solicitation but were not awarded contracts. Otherwise the solicitation may be reopened to obtain additional bids. MHEC reserves the right to award all line items or only specific line items within the bid based on the competitive prices range for the lowest price and lowest overall total cost of the line item. The MHEC follows Public Bid and Award practices for all contracts. These practices are guided by State Laws, Rules and Regulations governing contracting for goods and services. The MHEC's contracts are created through the sealed bid process and are consistent with the requirements for the purchase of goods and services by the MHEC members, both public and private. Bidder objections to any terms or conditions should be clearly stated in their response. Under Massachusetts law the Standard Contract Form and Terms and Conditions cannot be altered. The terms in this contract, Commonwealth Terms and Conditions, and Standard Contract Form shall take precedence for all members. Contractors shall not require members to sign additional documents that contain conflicting terms at any time during the contract duration. Presentations/Product Demonstrations: Selected bidders who are asked to participate in oral or electronic presentations / product demonstrations will be expected to prioritize this in their schedules. The MHEC will make every effort to find a mutually convenient time for the Bidder and the MHEC. However, failure to appear at the scheduled time of the presentation/demonstration may result in disqualification. Costs: Costs which are not specifically identified in the bidder's response, and accepted as part of the MHEC contract, will not be compensated under any MHEC contract or engagement awarded pursuant to this RFP. The MHEC will not be responsible for any costs or expenses incurred by bidders responding to this RFP. Ownership of Submitted Responses: MHEC shall be under no obligation to return any responses or materials submitted by a Bidder in response to this request. All materials submitted by Bidders become the property of the MHEC and will not be returned to the Bidder. The MHEC reserves the right to use any ideas, concepts, or configurations that are presented in a Bidder's response, whether or not the response is selected for Contract award. The method of Contractor Selection has not been Determined at this time. Massachusetts Higher Education Consortium (MHEC) was formed in 1977 and was established by M.G.L. Ch. 15a, Sec 24A to create efficiencies in the State College and University procurement processes by leveraging purchasing volume to negotiate better prices. The MHEC Bid, Award, and Contract process is in compliance with Public Bidding Laws, Rules and Regulations. As a premier contracting group, all current MHEC contracts can be adopted by Members without the additional IFB process work needing to be done before contract use. Today the MHEC has expanded its membership to include non-profit public and private institutions of higher education, technical, charter and vocational schools, municipalities including elementary and secondary schools, preparatory schools, and educational non-profit organizations located within New England. MHEC Objectives: Provide a comprehensive competitively bid contract offering products and services to participating MHEC members; Establish the contract as a Supplier's primary offering to MHEC members; Achieve cost savings for Suppliers and MHEC members through a single competitive solicitation process that eliminates the need for multiple bids or proposals; Combine the spend volume of MHEC members to achieve cost effective pricing; Reduce the administrative and overhead costs to Suppliers and MHEC members through state of the art ordering and delivery systems; Provide MHEC members with environmentally responsible and price competitive products and services. Contracted Volume Transacted $373M CONTACT INFORMATION Strategic Sourcing Manager: Scott Loomis Bid Coordinator: Gabriella DelMonte Gdelmonte@mhec.net The term of this contract is five (5) years. If it is in the best interest of the membership, the MHEC may choose to evaluate and extend additional terms thereafter. Question Due Date: 3/15/2024 at 4:00 p.m. Any questions regarding bid specifications or how to fill out the bid document must be submitted through electronically. Questions regarding the substance of the RFP document should be addressed in writing. i.e., Bid Scope, about the process, terms and conditions and your bid response. Questions will be answered as they arrive and no later than 3/18/2024 at 12:00pm. Questions concerning RFP from bidders to MHEC for clarifications of RFP specifications or processes should be submitted in writing through electronically. All effort will be made to email answers to bidders who have prequalified to receive a bid from the MHEC by the date. Contract Start Date: 7/01/2024 The MHEC reserves the right to award more or less contracts they deem necessary to offer all members all categories of items in all areas covered within the MHEC region. If over the life of the Contract the MHEC determines that additional Supply Partners should be added, if necessary, to meet the requirements of the MHEC Members, these additional contracts may first be drawn from qualified bidders that responded to this solicitation but were not awarded contracts. Otherwise the solicitation may be reopened to obtain additional bids. MHEC reserves the right to award all line items or only specific line items within the bid based on the competitive prices range for the lowest price and lowest overall total cost of the line item. The MHEC follows Public Bid and Award practices for all contracts. These practices are guided by State Laws, Rules and Regulations governing contracting for goods and services. The MHEC's contracts are created through the sealed bid process and are consistent with the requirements for the purchase of goods and services by the MHEC members, both public and private. Bidder objections to any terms or conditions should be clearly stated in their response. Under Massachusetts law the Standard Contract Form and Terms and Conditions cannot be altered. The terms in this contract, Commonwealth Terms and Conditions, and Standard Contract Form shall take precedence for all members. Contractors shall not require members to sign additional documents that contain conflicting terms at any time during the contract duration. Presentations/Product Demonstrations: Selected bidders who are asked to participate in oral or electronic presentations / product demonstrations will be expected to prioritize this in their schedules. The MHEC will make every effort to find a mutually convenient time for the Bidder and the MHEC. However, failure to appear at the scheduled time of the presentation/demonstration may result in disqualification. Costs: Costs which are not specifically identified in the bidder's response, and accepted as part of the MHEC contract, will not be compensated under any MHEC contract or engagement awarded pursuant to this RFP. The MHEC will not be responsible for any costs or expenses incurred by bidders responding to this RFP. Ownership of Submitted Responses: MHEC shall be under no obligation to return any responses or materials submitted by a Bidder in response to this request. All materials submitted by Bidders become the property of the MHEC and will not be returned to the Bidder. The MHEC reserves the right to use any ideas, concepts, or configurations that are presented in a Bidder's response, whether or not the response is selected for Contract award. The method of Contractor Selection has not been Determined at this time.