RENEW Program Description The RENEW Program provides financial incentives for energy efficiency or electrification (e.g., air or ground source heat pumps) projects for low- or moderate-income households living in 1–4- unit homes, and for 1–4-unit rental properties, in the three communities. The RENEW program also provides incentives for clean energy technologies to enable electrification and reduce GHG emissions (e.g., solar photovoltaics paired with heat pumps) and for “barrier mitigation” measures needed to enable energy efficiency, electrification, or clean energy technologies paired with electrification (e.g., knob and tube rewiring to enable wall insulation, vermiculite to enable attic insulation, and electrical panel upgrades to enable heat pumps.) The RENEW program provides end-to-end home energy project facilitation and technical assistance to residents in order to facilitate the installation of qualifying technologies. As explained in more detail below, these services are currently provided by AIE, Abode and GLCAC collectively. RENEW Implementation Team In October 2022, DOER issued a procurement, PON-ENE-2023-005, seeking an entity or team of entities to implement the RENEW program. DOER selected a team that includes AIE, Abode, GLCAC and Nectar Community Investments, Inc. (“Nectar”; formerly Mill Cities Community Investments, Inc.) DOER contracted with Nectar, and Nectar subcontracted with AIE, Abode, and GLCAC. Pursuant to the contract, collectively the team provides overall program management, project facilitation and technical assistance. The DOER’s contract with Nectar expires on November 15, 2025. Nectar has informed DOER that it no longer will continue implementing the RENEW program. SCOPE OF WORK The DOER intends to issue a grant, funded by the MVRF, to AIE for an amount not to exceed two million five hundred dollars ($2,500,000), allowing for AIE, and their subcontractors Abode and GLCAC, to continue in their current roles as RENEW program implementers, including providing overall program management, project facilitation and technical assistance. The grant will allow the RENEW program to continue being implemented by the current program implementers and will allow for a seamless continuation of the RENEW program. The DOER’s intent to enter a grant contract with AIE (which will include subcontracting to Abode Energy Management and Greater Lawrence Community Action Council) represents a best value offer because AIE, Abode Energy Management (Abode) and Greater Lawrence Community
