The Contractor will support the design and implementation of Home Energy Efficiency Rebates (IRA Section 50121) and the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (IRA Section 50122) programs. This includes assisting in program design and stakeholder strategy, application support, state process support, and programs implementation. As HOMES and HEAR are two separate federal programs, they will require separate federal funding applications and reporting throughout the life the programs. NDEE is seeking a partner with which to undergo in-depth program design before Nebraska’s Home Energy Rebate Programs are launched as well as iterate upon that program design with stakeholders once they are active. As such, NDEE is not including detailed program requirements in this RFP. However, based on internal and external stakeholder feedback to date, NDEE anticipates prioritizing a program design that furthers these overall program objectives: Provide consumers with a streamlined experience to access all available federal, state, local, and utility incentives as well as financing, as necessary and appropriate. Serve households in Nebraska's single-family and multi-family residential buildings and across its geographic regions (including rural communities and disadvantaged communities); Support households in realizing near-term benefits from rebates, especially for households with highest needs (e.g., most energy burdened), while spurring long-term transformation across the entire residential market, Complement existing programs by directing rebates to households eligible to be served by other programs (e.g., HEAR plus the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)) as well as by serving households that are underserved by existing energy assistance programs (e.g., moderate-income households); Optimize between providing consumers and building energy contractors with optionality (e.g., modeled and measured HOMES savings pathways) while keeping program design simple enough to motivate participation, Create opportunity for both small and large building energy contractors while specifically expanding opportunity for small, woman- and minority-owned businesses and those based in rural and disadvantaged communities; and Minimize requirements for consumers and building energy contractors while protecting consumers (e.g., by ensuring adequate access to data to make informed decisions) and ensuring responsible stewardship of public funds.
