Specifications include, but are not limited to:The Vermont Department of Public Service (DPS) is seeking the services of a qualified contractor with demonstrated experience in building practices; energy codes; public outreach; and excellent written, verbal and organization skills to provide consulting services to update the Vermont Residential Building Energy Standard (RBES) and the Vermont Commercial Building Energy Standard (CBES). In addition to the statewide energy code update the DPS seeks to update the ‘stretch-code’ for both Residential and Commercial application. The contractor will work closely with DPS and a stakeholder advisory group. Research and provide a recommendation on whether the Department should modify the existing RBES and CBES, which are based on IECC 2015, or develop a new version based on IECC 2018. Note that the recommendation may be different for RBES and CBES. Provide a recommended roadmap of code updates, including target energy efficiency improvement percentages per update, necessary to achieve “net zero” designed buildings through RBES and CBES by the year 2030. Facilitate 2-4 advisory committee meetings (including drafting agendas, writing minutes, sending materials to members, maintaining a redline copy of suggested edits, etc). These meeting should include provisions for remote participation through a webinar format. This is intended to be a smaller group of participants than the public comment meetings. The intent is to provide professional feedback pre and post public meeting comments. Selection of participants will be directed by the PSD with input from the contractor. All meetings will be coordinated by the contractor. Compile and maintain an annotated version of each code (RBES and CBES), clearly showing changes from the previous code in a redline/strikeout manner. Provide technical assistance as needed, including suggested Vermont specific amendments to the IECC 2015 or IECC 2018 (if deemed necessary). o Residential specific requirements include but are not limited to; log home performance requirements and Home Energy Rating compliance path. Provide technical assistance and recommendations in the creation of a ‘stretch-code’ (potentially based upon the IECC 2018 draft or the updated Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership (NEEP) stretch-code.) This may include collaborating with other organizations such as the NBI (New Buildings Institute), NEEP, etc. Assist with Vermont rulemaking process including drafting an economic analysis and impact statement (this is to demonstrate that the proposed changes are cost-effective and would not substantially impact the affordability of the building due to the modifications of the energy codes); assisting with drafting of rules, and possibly providing testimony to Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules. Facilitate public meetings (including drafting agendas, writing minutes, preparing materials/handouts, maintaining a redline copy of suggested edits, etc). DPS estimates that there will be six public meetings total with various constituencies over the course of the project. Two of these meetings could be conducted online as webinars. Of the in-person meetings, half will be held at a southern Vermont location and half at a northern Vermont location. These meetings would contain separate RBES and CBES discussions. (e.g. RBES in the AM and CBES in the PM or vice versa) Assist with the creation/update of the statewide CBES Codebook and Certificate, as well as the stretch-code guidelines. (Costs for printing the codebooks will be paid for directly by the DPS.) Assist with the creation/update of the statewide RBES Handbook, Codebook and Certificate, including the stretch-code. (Costs for printing the codebooks will be paid for directly by the DPS.) Liaise with International Code Council (ICC) regarding updates to RBES and CBES code language and completion of codebooks. Liaise with relevant parties, specifically Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in regard to the update to REScheck and COMcheck for both the statewide base code and stretch-code. (PNNL will be responsible for the actual REScheck and COMcheck updates/changes and this portion of the task will be funded either directly through the DPS or through the US DOE Technical Assistance Program.) After adoption, conduct four presentations (for both CBES and RBES) on the new codes to stakeholder groups. (Note: these presentations are in addition to the advisory committee and public meetings discussed above.) More trainings may be added later but this would be either a separate contract or an amendment to the existing one. Provide an estimate of the increased energy savings from the previous versions of the VT energy code compared to the updated version. Participate in regularly scheduled check-ins with the DPS. Complete brief quarterly progress reports to fulfil federal reporting requirements.
