Request for Qualifications:
Enabling Upgrades Contractors
Issue Date: April 11, 2025
Due Date for Proposals: May 30, 2025
Introduction
2KB Energy Services (“2KB”) is an Atlanta-based project management and engineering firm. 2KB has been selected to administer the Enabling Upgrades portion of the Georgia Solar for All program on behalf of Capital Good Fund (“Good Fund”), a nonprofit, U.S. Treasury-certified Community Development Financial Institution (“CDFI”) with a mission to create pathways out of poverty and advance a green economy through inclusive financial services.
In 2024, the EPA awarded Good Fund $156,010,000 through the Solar for All (“SFA”) program to expand the BRIGHT program in Georgia and offer additional equitable solar programming. This award will be in effect through May of 2029 and is expected to serve more than 16,000low-income and disadvantaged households across the entire state of Georgia. Before solar equipment can be installed, many homes will be referred to the Enabling Upgrades program for roof repairs/upgrades, electrical system upgrade, and tree trimming/removal.
Good Fund anticipates formally opening the program to homeowners and community organizations in August 2025, with the Enabling Upgrades program starting work on sites in September 2025. Good Fund and 2KB anticipate graduating approximately 170 projects throughout Georgia from the Enabling Upgrades program by the end of 2025.
With the grant awarded and the program in development, 2KB is ready to secure contractors that are available and interested in preparing participating homes and businesses for the installation of solar panels.
Contact Information
All questions and responses must be emailed to the attention of Ruthie Norton at info@2kbco.com.
All information will be posted on 2KB’s website: www.2kbenergyservices.com/enabling-upgrades
Timeline
Request for Qualifications Posted:
April 11, 2025
Questions Due:
May 2, 2025 – 5:00pm ET
Responses to Questions Posted:
May 9, 2025 – 5:00pm ET
RFQ Submittals Due:
May 30, 2025 – 5:00pm ET
Interviews Completed (if needed):
June 13, 2025
Awards and Contract Negotiation:
July 11, 2025
Program Training:
August – September 2025
Program Initiation:
August 1, 2025
Enabling Upgrades Description
The Enabling Upgrades component of Georgia BRIGHT's Solar for All program aims to prepare homes and community spaces for solar installations by addressing structural and technical barriers that might otherwise prevent the adoption of clean energy. Managed by 2KB, the initiative focuses on providing necessary upgrades, such as roof repairs, rafter reinforcement, tree trimming/removal, and electrical system improvements. These upgrades ensure that roofs can support solar panels effectively, making solar energy accessible to low-income and disadvantaged communities across Georgia.
2KB is committed to streamlining workflows to coordinate solar installers, contractors, and administrators, ensuring efficient assessments and timely upgrades. It also implements clear financial guardrails to manage costs per home and permissible upgrades while maintaining alignment with federal compliance standards such as the Davis-Bacon Act and Build America, Buy America provisions. Contractor recruitment, compliance training, and management are central to the program’s execution, supported by a cloud-based system for tracking activities and ensuring quality assurance.
By addressing essential home upgrades, the Enabling Upgrades initiative removes barriers to solar adoption in underserved communities. It contributes to broader goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, lowering energy costs for households, and fostering economic development through job creation in renewable energy sectors. This effort is a critical part of Georgia BRIGHT’s mission to expand solar access statewide while promoting environmental justice and resilience.
Scope of Work
Awarded contractors will be expected to prepare roofs for the installation of solar panels. Contractors are expected to be familiar with local codes and apply for permits where necessary. Work will vary from project to project and will include the following elements:
Estimates: Provide estimates for each home. Work must be approved by 2KB to ensure compliance with Solar for All program requirements.
Roof Repairs/Upgrades: Includes, but is not limited to, completing structural repairs, rafter reinforcement, and roof covering replacement.
Electrical Upgrades: Includes, but is not limited to, enhancing the electrical system to meet safety standards and compatibility with incorporating solar panels. Work may encompass servicing the electrical panel, rewiring, circuit replacement, and other safety devices.
Tree Maintenance: Includes, but is not limited to, tree trimming and removal.
Budget
The Enabling Upgrades program has a total budget of $19.2 million allocated to the improvement of homes across Georgia through 2029. This funding is managed by 2KB in partnership with Good Fund, with 66% designated for residential properties and 34% for commercial properties. Contractors will be tasked with performing essential upgrades to prepare homes for solar installations, with individual residential project budgets ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 per household and community facility projects not exceeding $20,000 per household served. We expect the median community facility to serve ten households but this can vary widely.
While the program aims to maximize impact statewide, the final contract amounts cannot be guaranteed as they are contingent upon factors such as the geographic location of participants and contractor availability.
Applicant Eligibility
In order to be eligible to participate in the Enabling Upgrades program, all contractors are required to meet the following requirements:
1. Maintain appropriate licenses and/or ensure that subcontractors maintain relevant licenses.
2. Ability to be paid upon completion and verification
3. Compliance with Davis-Bacon Act for your company and your subcontractors. Examples of compliance include (but are not limited to) the requirement to:
a. Subcontractors must submit weekly certified payroll reports to the prime contractor (2KB) detailing hours worked, wages paid, and job classifications;
b. Workers must be paid at least the prevailing local wages and fringe benefits as determined by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL); and
c. Workers must be classified correctly based on their job duties and paid accordingly.
4. Compliance with Build America, Buy America (BABA) – Contractors will be required to comply with Build America, Buy America where applicable to meet EPA obligations. Regulations include (but are not limited to) a preference for domestic materials:
a. All iron and steel items must be fully manufactured in the United States, including all processes from melting to coating;
b. All construction materials, such as lumber, drywall, glass, and polymer-based products, must be manufactured entirely in the U.S., encompassing all manufacturing stages; and
c. Manufactured products must meet a threshold where at least 55% of their components are mined, produced, or manufactured in the U.S.
5. Compliance with the EPA’s Six Good Faith Efforts – MGC’s will be encouraged to include DBE companies.
While not a requirement, the Enabling Upgrades program is seeking to align with contractors familiar with federal contracting/grants and adjacent programs.
Contract Details
Contract Term: One-year contract with three (3) one-year annual renewal options
Funding Sources: This program is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Compensation Procedure: Upon project completion, invoices will be submitted to 2KB for review and paid on a net-30 basis. Understanding the challenges that small businesses face with long payment terms, 2KB is focused on processing and paying invoices as quickly as possible.
Proposal Requirements
Proposal Format:
i. Page Limit: No more than 10 pages
ii. Electronic submittal to Ruthie Norton (info@2kbco.com)
iii. Document should be saved as a PDF
iv. File cannot exceed 20MB
Submission Format
Please provide the following information in this order:
i. Experience & Track Record: This section is intended to provide contractors an opportunity to describe the work the firm is capable of completing. Please include:
a. Qualifications;
b. Team Capabilities;
c. Relevant recent experience;
d. Track record for safety and completion.
ii. References: Please provide three (3) references. Include:
a. Contact name
b. Contact information (phone and email)
c. Brief summary of the project
d. Project cost
iii. Geographic Coverage: Based on the zones described in Appendix I, please identify the areas in which the firm is capable of providing service..
Scoring
Proposals will be classified based on the following scoring chart:
Experience & Track Record: 30%
References: 20%
Qualifications: 20%
Team Capabilities: 25%
Geographic Coverage: 5%
