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

The City of Ozark, Missouri (hereafter referred to as "the City") is seeking statements of qualifications from qualified consulting firms or independent evaluators to conduct a comprehensive Performance Evaluation of Electric Service Provided by Liberty Utilities, the investor-owned electric utility currently serving the City. The objective of this evaluation is to assess Liberty Utilities' performance in meeting the City's expectations related to reliability, responsiveness, customer service, rate impacts, and long-term planning, and to inform future decisions regarding utility service provision and oversight. Through a franchise agreement with the City, Liberty Utilities is the exclusive provider of electric service to residential, commercial, and industrial customers within City limits. Liberty serves approximately 10,000 electric meters within the City of Ozark. The City has received citizen feedback and developed internal concerns regarding electric service reliability, transparency of rate structures, infrastructure investment, and customer communication practices. The City intends to perform a formal, independent evaluation to establish a data-driven baseline of current service quality and identify potential opportunities for improvement or alternative service delivery models. The selected consultant shall provide a performance evaluation that includes but is not limited to: A. Reliability and Outage Analysis Review and analysis of outage frequency (SAIFI) and duration (SAIDI) Assessment of Liberty Utilities' maintenance, inspection, and vegetation management practices. Benchmarking against industry standards and peer utilities. B. Rate and Cost Structure Review Review of Liberty's current rate structure for all customer classes. Comparison with regional and state-level utility rates. Analysis of cost drivers, pass-through charges, and transparency. C. Customer Service Performance Review of Liberty's responsiveness to customer inquiries and complaints. Assessment of customer satisfaction metrics and public engagement. Review of dispute resolution procedures. Evaluation of Liberty Utilities' communication and coordination with the City regarding compliance with dark sky ordinances, including street and outdoor lighting policies. Identify any gaps in Liberty's cooperation or support in implementing the City's dark sky goals. D. Capital Investment and Infrastructure Planning Evaluation of recent and planned infrastructure investments. Assessment of substation, distribution, and grid modernization initiatives. Review of long-term capital plans and alignment with Ozark's growth. E. Regulatory and Legal Framework Overview of the City's rights and obligations under Missouri law. Analysis of service territory regulations and franchise agreements. F. Alternatives and Recommendations High-level evaluation of potential alternatives (e.g., municipalization, co-op partnerships, third-party negotiations). Strategic and actionable recommendations based on findings. Contact Person: Cliff Spangler, electric.utility.audit@ozarkmissouri.org. Question Deadline 08/07/2025 Any questions relative to interpretation of this RFQ shall be sent electronically to Cliff Spangler at electric.utility.audit@ozarkmissouri.org in ample time before the period set for the receipt and opening of submissions. The City reserves the right to conduct pre-award discussions with any or all responsive and responsible proposers who submit submissions determined to be reasonably acceptable of being selected for award. Proposers shall be accorded fair and equal treatment with respect to any opportunity for discussion and revision of submissions; and such revisions may be permitted after submission of qualifications and prior to award. The method of Contractor Selection has not been Determined at this time.