Specifications include, but are not limited to: a. Investment Grade Technical Energy Audit and Report of the District’s Data Center and Network Operations Center. The ESCO's proposed contract terms must include the performance and presentation of results from a detailed investment-grade technical energy audit and report of acceptable quality to the Customer. Suppose the Customer decides not to enter a contract after the audit report has been accepted. In that case, the Customer agrees to pay the audit cost as stated in the submitted response to this RFQ, provided that the ESCO has met all contract terms and conditions of the audit. b. Standards of Comfort. Specific standards of comfort, safety, and functionality will not be degraded from the existing condition and/or shall meet minimum established industry standards. The ESCO will be responsible for maintaining the comfort levels for the data center and NOC as specified in the Technical Facility Profile or any final agreement. Persistent failure to maintain the defined climate and lighting conditions will constitute a default. c. Professional Engineer Involvement. A registered professional engineer must, at a minimum, review and approve design work under this contract. d. Guaranteed Savings. The Customer requires a minimum annual savings guarantee. Suppose the project does not generate the guaranteed level of savings in any given year. In that case, the ESCO will be responsible for reimbursing the Customer the amount necessary to pay for annual project financing and all related contractual obligations. Excess savings will not be used to reimburse the ESCO for any payments made due to shortfalls in other years or be credited to future annual savings guarantees. e. Annual Interest Rate. The annual interest rate paid under any lease-purchase agreement entered into by the Customer shall not exceed the maximum interest rate to maturity on general obligation indebtedness permitted under §75-17-101 of the Mississippi Code. f. Construction Management. The ESCO will be required to work with current building management and maintenance personnel to coordinate construction and provide appropriate training in operations and maintenance of all installed improvements. No equipment or other improvements will be installed, requiring the Customer to hire additional personnel unless contract negotiations produce an explicit exemption for a specific installation. h. Equipment Standardization. All installed equipment must be comparable to similar equipment at other sites operated by the Customer as well as currently operating in the data center and NOC and shall be of the same manufacturer for standardization of equipment District-wide unless otherwise accepted by the Customer.
