Great Falls, Montana Energy Production Market Assessment and Economic Development Strategy Request for Proposals Great Falls Development Authority, Inc. March 20, 2024

I. INTRODUCTION
The Great Falls Development Authority, Inc. (GFDA) seeks proposals to conduct a
market assessment of energy production, energy support services, and energy
retrofit demand in the Great Falls Montana trade area and to use the market
demand assessment to develop an Energy Economic Development Strategy for
GFDA and partners to pursue the identified opportunities. The purpose of the
project is to determine market demand for increased renewable energy production,
increased energy service businesses including energy efficiency retrofits and wind
and solar installations, and to develop a strategy that we can implement over the
next 3-5 years to attract investment in our trade area.
Interested firms are encouraged to discuss this RFP with us, as detailed below.
II. BACKGROUND
Great Falls Development Authority

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GFDA is a regional public/private economic development organization (EDO) and
certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that focuses its
efforts on the 13-county Great Falls Montana trade area, also known as Montana’s
Golden Triangle. Great Falls Montana is an MSA with a population of 86,000. Our
trade area extends to the Canadian border, for a total population of about 209,000.
Our target industries are food/agriculture/bioscience, business services, energy,
tourism, advanced manufacturing, defense, logistics, healthcare, and regional
retail/services. Our EDO works on business attraction, business
retention/expansion, business start-ups, downtown revitalization, workforce, and
housing, amongst other things.
In June we adopted a new 2023-2025 Economic Development Strategy. One of the
strategic actions in the strategy is to commission this market assessment.
The Great Falls region has attracted significant energy industry investment,
including wind farms and a solar farm, electric transmission, hydropower,
renewable fuels (see Montana Renewables), petroleum refining (see Calumet
Specialty Products), and energy support companies such as Loenbro. We are
interested in attracting additional energy industry investment to grow and diversify
our industrial base and create higher-wage career opportunities.
Berkshire Hathaway Energy has recently purchased the MATL Tie Line, an
underutilized electric transmission line connecting Great Falls and Lethbridge, AB.
Fifteen years ago there was considerable interest in constructing additional wind
farms in our trade area and over the years there has been interest in additional
solar farms. Some of the proposed projects were constrained by electric
transmission capacity issues.
Great Falls is the proud home of Malmstrom AFB and the Montana Air National
Guard. Energy development needs to consider location restrictions to avoid conflict
with USAF missile fields.
GFDA is interested in new opportunities created by the EPA Greenhouse Gas
Reduction Fund and other recent federal legislation that encourages increased
renewable energy production and energy retrofits.
III. OBJECTIVES
We seek a Consultant firm or team to conduct an in-depth “all-energy” market
demand assessment and assist the GFDA in developing an Energy Production
Economic Development Strategy for the Great Falls trade region. This will be a two-
step process beginning with an energy production demand assessment that will
provide the foundation for the energy production strategy that will guide us over
the next 3-5 years. This project would include existing renewable energy
investment and energy businesses in the Great Falls trade area as well as demand
for renewable energy production and increased energy service businesses including
energy efficiency retrofits and wind and solar installations.
The objectives of this RFP are:
1) Summarize recent and existing renewable energy investment and energy
businesses in the Great Falls trade area, essentially determining our baseline.
2) Assess the demand for increased traditional and renewable energy production
in the Great Falls trade area and detail such demand by type of energy
production.
3) Assess the demand for increased energy service businesses in the trade area,
including energy efficiency retrofits and wind and solar installations.
4) Assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in the region to
pursue increased energy production and energy service businesses.
5) Based on the market demand assessment, provide guidance to GFDA who will
develop an economic development strategy for GFDA and partners to pursue
the identified opportunities.
IV. SCOPE OF WORK
Consultants should detail their proposed scope work in their proposals. At a
minimum, there are two required deliverables: 1) the market demand assessment;
and 2) guidance for GFDA to use to create an energy economic development
strategy.
The market demand assessment work should include extensive discussions with
existing energy-related businesses in our 13-county region, as well as with the
USAF, utilities, land use, and other regulatory agencies affecting energy production
in our region. We expect the Consultant to spend time in person in the region.
GFDA will provide staff support to identify businesses and arrange meetings. We
expect 75-80% of the Consultant’s work will be devoted to the market demand
assessment.
The economic development strategy work should be conducted as a team with
GFDA project staff. We desire a strategy that we can put into action to produce
results. The economic development strategy should consider business expansion,
start-up, and attraction opportunities, as well as financing, investment, and other
tools and services GFDA could offer to attract and support private investment.
The market demand assessment and economic development strategy guidance
products should be produced in PDF format; printed copies are not required.
Consultants should include ongoing meetings with our project team throughout the
project, some of which can be held virtually if desired. The Consultant should
include a public PowerPoint presentation upon completion of the market demand
assessment and a final PowerPoint presentation upon completion of the economic
development strategy either virtually or in person.
V. CONSULTANT QUALIFICATIONS
We are actively seeking a consultant or consultant team with extensive experience
in the field of energy production and energy-related market demand assessments,
as well as in realistic energy-related economic development strategies. Our ideal
consultant or team should possess a deep understanding of energy markets,
particularly those similar to the Great Falls trade area. We value experience that
transcends traditional knowledge, emphasizing familiarity with the unique aspects
of energy production and consumption within our specific geographic context. We
look to partner with a consultant who has a proven track record of successfully
delivering projects in similar markets, and who can leverage this expertise to
provide valuable insights and recommendations tailored to our distinctive needs.
VI. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS
An electronic copy of the proposal should be submitted in PDF format by email,
Dropbox, or other electronic file-sharing method by 5:00 PM MST on Friday, April 5,
2024, to:
Tyler Menzales
[email protected]
We plan to distribute the proposals to our selection task group and, therefore, will
not accept the submittal of printed materials. We welcome the inclusion of online
URLs that would allow us to assess experience in more depth.
The submittal should follow the order below and include, at a minimum the following
information:
• A cover letter signed and dated by the person or an authorized
representative of the organization making the submittal.
• A brief statement of your firm’s understanding of the goals of this effort
and of the services requested in this RFP.
• A brief statement of the history of your team, including relevant projects.
• A proposed work plan indicating how your firm proposes to perform the
project as defined in your scope of work. This work plan should be detailed
enough to demonstrate your familiarity with this type of project. It should
include information on your firm’s methodology and schedule for
completing the scope of work requirements. It should include the firms or
sub-consultants and individuals that will prepare each major task or work
product.
• Qualifications of key individuals to be assigned to this project, their
availability during the relevant time periods, and their recent experience
on similar projects.
• Preference will be given to consultants who provide references from at
least three clients the consultant has recently provided services to.
VII. PRICE
The consultant will present a lump sum budget for the work, not including
estimated travel expenses. Note, we will provide pro bono hotel accommodations.
The lump sum should not exceed $80,000.
VIII. CONSULTANT SELECTION
Consultants that respond to this RFP will be evaluated and ranked. This evaluation
will be based on the submitted proposals and, at the discretion of the Committee,
on interviews with those consultants who appear to be particularly well qualified, as
determined from their written proposals.
The consultants will be evaluated and ranked in accordance with the following
factors, which are weighted as shown:
• The consultant’s experience with similar projects (25%)
• The breadth of the consultant’s experience, including the qualifications and
availability of the key personnel who would be assigned (20%)
• The methodology and scope of services to be provided (50%)
• Cost (5%)
Negotiations will commence with the highest-ranked consultant. Upon reaching an
agreement on a final work plan and price, the Great Falls Development Authority
will award the contract. If an agreement cannot be reached with the highest-ranked
consultant, negotiations may proceed with lower-ranked consultant(s).
IX. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & CONDITIONS
A. STATEMENT OF NONCOMMITMENT
Issuance of this RFP does not commit the Great Falls Development Authority,
Inc. to award a contract or to pay any costs incurred in preparation of proposals
responding to the RFP. The GFDA reserves the right to reject any or all proposals
and re-advertise. All proposals become the property of the GFDA.
B. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Successful contract bidders must comply with provisions of all applicable federal
law, Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Any subcontracting by
the successful bidder subjects subcontracting firm(s) to the same provisions of
federal law.
In accordance with state and federal requirements, the consultant (hereinafter
referred to as “contractor”) must agree as follows:
1.) COMPLIANCE WITH TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 FOR
FEDERAL AID CONTRACTS
(a) Compliance with Regulations. The Contractor shall comply with all
Regulations relative to nondiscrimination in Federally-assisted programs of
the Department of Housing and Urban Development, 24 CFR Part 1, as they
may be amended (hereafter referred to as the Regulations), which are
incorporated by reference and made part of this Agreement.
(b) Nondiscrimination. The Contractor, with regard to the work performed
by it during the Agreement, shall not discriminate on the grounds of sex,
race, color or national origin in the selection and retention of subcontractors,
including procurement of materials and leases of equipment. The Contractor
shall not participate either directly or indirectly in the discrimination
prohibited in 24CFR Part 21.
(c) Solicitations for Subcontractors, Including Procurements of Materials
and Equipment. In all solicitations, whether by competitive bidding or
negotiation by the Contractor for work to be performed under a subcontract,
including procurements of materials or leases of equipment, any potential
subcontractor or supplier shall be notified by the Contractor of the
Contractor’s obligations under this Agreement and the Regulations relative to
nondiscrimination.
(d) Sanctions for Noncompliance. In the event of the contractor’s
noncompliance with the nondiscrimination provisions of this Agreement, GFDA
may impose sanctions as it determines appropriate, including, but not limited
to withholding payments to the Contractor under the Agreement until the
Contractor complies, and/or cancellation, termination or suspension of the
agreement in whole or in part.
2) COMPLIANCE WITH THE MONTANA GOVERNMENTAL CODE OF FAIR
PRACTICES, 49-3-207. MCA
In accordance with 49-3-207, MCA, the Contractor agrees that for this
agreement all hiring will be made on the basis of merit and qualifications and
that there will be no discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed,
political ideas, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, or
national origin by persons performing the Agreement.
3) COMPLIANCE WITH MINORITY & WOMEN BUSINESS ENTERPRISES
Contractor will make efforts to encourage the use of minority and women’s
business enterprises in connection with Agreement activities in accordance
with 24 CFR Part 85.36(e) which describes the actions to ensure that minority
and women’s business enterprises are used when possible in the procurement
of property and services.
C. VENUE
The laws of the State of Montana govern this contract. The parties agree that
any litigation concerning bid, proposal, or subsequent contract must be brought
in the Eighth Judicial District of Cascade County, State of Montana and each
party shall pay its own costs and attorney fees. (Reference 18-1-401 MCA)
D. INSURANCE
Certificates of Insurance, indicating compliance with the required overage, must
be filed with the Great Falls Development Authority within ten (10) working days
of the Notice of Award. The proof of insurance/exemption must be valid for the
entire contract period.
E. RFP AUTHORITY
This RFP has been issued in accordance with Title 18, Montana Code Annotated
and the Administrative Rules of Montana, Title 2, Chapter 5. The RFP process is a
procurement option, allowing award to be based on stated criteria or evaluation
factors. The evaluation factors to be used in this procurement have been
specified in this RFP.
F. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We encourage potential respondents to discuss the project with us. For more
information regarding this RFP, please contact:
Tyler Menzales
Vice President Strategic Initiatives
1 (406) 217-7862
[email protected]