Title
Resolution to Approve a Professional Services Agreement with OHMI Consulting, LLC d/b/a Energy Veteran Solutions for Completion of Home Energy Assessments ($160,000.00)
Memorandum
Attached for your review and consideration is a Professional Services Agreement with OHMI Consulting, LLC d/b/a Energy Veteran Solutions to conduct Home Energy Assessments in support of the City’s Home Energy Rating Disclosure Ordinance.
In early 2024, the Office of Sustainability and Innovations released a request for proposal (RFP #24-01) to identify professional firms capable of assisting the City with completing Home Energy Assessments as part of the City’s newly adopted Home Energy Rating Disclosure Ordinance. Through the RFP, the City was looking for firms to complete Home Energy Assessments during periods of particularly high real estate demand, thereby ensuring that additional capacity was available on an as-needed basis. Each firm had to commit to a fixed fee per assessment.
In total, nine firms bid on the scope of services with four offered contracts with the locked pricing identified in the RFP of $225 per assessment. OHMI Consulting, LLC d/b/a Energy Veteran Solutions was the only firm to immediately accept the pricing identified in the RFP. As such, the Office of Sustainability and Innovations engaged in a 1-year Professional Services Agreement with OHMI Consulting, LLC d/b/a Energy Veteran Solutions in an amount not to exceed $73,000.00 to immediately receive assistance with completing Home Energy Assessments.
Since signing the 1-year Professional Services Agreement in May 2024, OHMI Consulting, LLC d/b/a Energy Veteran Solutions has successfully completed 338 Home Energy Assessments, which equates to 41% of all the assessments completed to-date through the Home Energy Rating Disclosure Ordinance. The additional capacity added by OHMI Consulting, LLC d/b/a Energy Veteran Solutions allows staff to meet our customer service metric of scheduling all assessments within 2 weeks of the request and delivering a complete report within 3 business days of the assessment.
Based on the success, expertise of the firm, and its willingness to continue engaging with the City, the Office of Sustainability and Innovations would like to continue its relationship with OHMI Consulting, LLC d/b/a Energy Veteran Solutions by entering another Professional Service Agreement for two additional years, increasing the award to a not to exceed amount of $80,000.00 per year, for a total amount not to exceed $160,000.00.
Budget/Fiscal Impact: Funding for this award has been included in the Office of Sustainability and Innovations FY26 and FY27 budget.
Staff
Prepared by: Missy Stults, Sustainability and Innovations Manager
Reviewed by: Valerie Jackson, Assistant City Attorney
Reviewed by: Kim Hoenerhoff, Financial Analyst
Approved by: Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The City’s A2ZERO Plan calls for massive efforts to decarbonize buildings throughout the City of Ann Arbor;
Whereas, In September 2023, City Council adopted the Home Energy Rating Disclosure Ordinance, with implementation of the ordinance beginning in March 2024;
Whereas, The Home Energy Rating Disclosure Ordinance is a consumer protection ordinance that helps home buyers understand the energy efficiency of homes so they can integrate that information, as desired, into their decision-making process;
Whereas, The City established the customer service goal of scheduling all Home Energy Assessments within 2 weeks of the request and delivering a complete Home Energy Score report within 3 business days of the assessment;
Whereas, In 2024 the City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP #24-01) to hire additional consulting capacity to complete Home Energy Assessments, in support of the Home Energy Rating Disclosure Ordinance, to supplement staff capacity during times of heavy demand;
Whereas, OHMI Consulting, LLC d/b/a Energy Veteran Solutions was selected as one of the winners of RFP #24-01;
Whereas, In May 2024 the City started working with OHMI Consulting, LLC d/b/a Energy Veteran Solutions to provide Home Energy Assessments at a fixed price;
Whereas, The City’s experience with OHMI Consulting, LLC d/b/a Energy Veteran Solutions over the last year has been professional, high-quality, and timely, and has provided value to the successful implementation of the Home Energy Rating Disclosure Ordinance; and
Whereas, Given this experience, the Office of Sustainability and Innovations is looking to continue working with OHMI Consulting, LLC d/b/a Energy Veteran Solutions to support the completion of Home Energy Assessments as part of the Home Energy Rating Disclosure Ordinance;
RESOLVED, That City Council approve a 2-year Professional Services Agreement with OHMI Consulting, LLC d/b/a Energy Veteran Solutions in an amount not to exceed $160,000.00 ($80,000.00 per year) for the completion of Home Energy Assessments in support of the Home Energy Rating Disclosure Ordinance;
RESOLVED, That City Council approve a 10% contingency in the amount of $16,000.00 to be allocated at the City Administrator’s discretion should additional work be necessary;
RESOLVED, That all amounts herein are without regard to fiscal year;
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized and directed to execute said Professional Services Agreement after approval by the City Administrator and the City Attorney; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator be authorized to take the necessary administrative actions to implement this resolution.