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Disadvantaged Communities (DAC) Stakeholder Services Pool (RFQL 4922)

Due Date:  08/17/2022  (Round 1)

Description

NYSERDA needs community knowledge and expertise for its energy policy and program planning. This expertise will help ensure the state can meet the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act's (Climate Act) mandates. Specifically, the Climate Act states that disadvantaged communities must receive at least 35% of the benefits of spending on clean energy and energy efficiency programs. NYSERDA aims to achieve the Climate Act goal that they receive at least 40% of the benefits. NYSERDA, New York Power Authority, and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation identified several barriers to communities benefitting from clean energy initiatives in the New York State Disadvantaged Communities Barriers and Opportunities Report. The report recommends multiple opportunities to make clean energy more accessible. These include community participation in policymaking processes and in the design of programs.

To realize the state’s goal, NYSERDA needs to work closely with community-based organizations (CBOs) and individuals in disadvantaged communities. This will help ensure the priorities of communities are front and center in NYSERDA’s planning efforts. Those serving and living in these communities have firsthand knowledge of and experience in their communities. NYSERDA plans to compensate these community stakeholders for their time, expertise, and input to help develop programs that meet the priorities of disadvantaged communities. 

NYSERDA has launched this Request for Qualifications (RFQL) to engage organizations and individuals in New York State’s disadvantaged communities. NYSERDA has used responses from a Request for Information (RFI) to create two ways to pay CBOs and individuals for their knowledge and expertise. In addition to creating a list of qualified CBOs through this RFQL, NYSERDA is also establishing a Disadvantaged Communities Honorarium to pay residents and representatives of disadvantaged communities for short-term requests for input. For both the RFQL and the honorarium, the goal is to ensure NYSERDA policy and programs meet the needs of all communities.

Through the RFQL, each of the CBOs in the qualified list will have agreements with NYSERDA to provide services. These could include advice on barriers and needs in communities, recommendations for potential policy changes, participation in co-design of programs, or assistance with community outreach.

This RFQL is part of NYSERDA’s larger equity and climate justice efforts. Working with communities will help build an inclusive clean energy economy as noted in NYSERDA’s Strategic Outlook. 
 
 Register for the RFQL 4922 Informational Webinar on July 27, 2022, at 3:00pm-4:30pm to learn more and ask questions!


 

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