RFP Summary

Connecticut Light and Power Company and Yankee Gas Service Company (both dba Eversource Energy), The United Illuminating Company (“UI”), Southern Connecticut Gas (“SCG”), and Connecticut Natural Gas (“CNG”), collectively “the Utilities,” are soliciting Request for Proposals on behalf of the State of Connecticut Energy Efficiency Board for a Contractor Ombudsperson for a three-year term starting January 1, 2027.

The RFP is posted on the Energize CT website under RFPs at https://www.energizect.com/connecticut-energy-efficiency-board/rfps. Bidders are required to send their bid proposals to [email protected] with the subject line “EEB Contractor Ombudsperson RFP 2026.” Bids are due by May 7, 2026.

Background

In its Final Determination on the 2025–2027 Conservation and Load Management (C&LM) Plan, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) directed the Energy Efficiency Board (EEB) to establish a new Board consultant position to serve as an Ombudsperson for Home Energy Solutions (HES) and Home Energy Solutions–Income Eligible (HES-IE) residential program contractors.

DEEP acknowledged that residential program contractors are often occupied with serving customers during EEB and DEEP meetings and activities, which significantly limits their ability to meaningfully participate in EEB and DEEP functions. Accordingly, this role was established to address participation constraints resulting from the demands of field-based work.

The purpose of the Contractor Ombudsperson position is to improve communication, transparency, and information flow between residential program contractors, the EEB, and DEEP, while preserving existing utility–contractor relationships and established communication pathways. The Contractor Ombudsperson will serve as an impartial, neutral, and independent resource that gathers, synthesizes, and facilitates constructive dialogue, informal conflict resolution and addresses concerns related to program policies and practices. In addition, the Contractor Ombudsperson will be responsible for listening to concerns, clarifying issues, coaching and empowering individuals to navigate conflict, identifying areas of agreement and disagreement; and supporting timely resolution of issues that cannot be addressed through standard utility–contractor channels exploring both informal and formal pathways to resolution. The role is not intended to achieve consensus among residential program contractors, but rather to document differing perspectives and identify areas of agreement where feasible. This role is not intended to advocate for any one individual or entity, specific outcomes or to replace direct contractor engagement with the utilities, but rather to facilitate constructive engagement and informed decision-making in support of effective program oversight and implementation. This is a facilitative role; the ombudsperson will not have authority to impose solutions to any conflicts that arise nor have positional authority over any contractor or utility individual or participant. Trends and systemic issues should also be identified, offering opportunities for constructive change, fostering a respectful and equitable climate.

Responsibilities

The Contractor Ombudsperson shall be responsible for the following ongoing activities:

• Serve as the primary point of contact between DEEP/EEB and residential program
• Proactively solicit feedback from residential contractors regarding program updates; compile and summarize the full range of contractor perspectives received; and track, communicate, and support resolution of contractor concerns, issues, or complaints that cannot be resolved through established utility–contractor communication pathways, including serving in a mediating role when appropriate.
• Support dissemination of information to contractors regarding EEB meetings, EEB Evaluation and Residential Committee activity, voting items, requests for comment, and upcoming meetings and events.
• Provide regular updates to the EEB conveying contractor positions on programmatic issues; request agenda time, as appropriate, to present residential contractor perspectives to the EEB or its committees; and attend in-person and virtual meetings to summarize contractor interests and relay information back to the residential contractor community.
• Assist with development of DEEP’s Contractor Technical Advisory Committee (CTAC) meeting agendas, proactively solicit agenda topic ideas from contractors, and support CTAC meeting facilitation, including responding to DEEP requests for CTAC agenda topics.
• Assist in the development of formal written and verbal comments from residential program contractors in response to requests from DEEP, the EEB, and the utilities.
• Assist with onboarding of new program contractors with respect to EEB and DEEP roles, processes, and functions related to program implementation.

Qualifications

Respondents must demonstrate the qualifications necessary to perform the responsibilities and scope of work described above, including the following:

• A minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in ombudsperson work aligned with the resources and guidelines established by the International Ombuds Association (IOA) or the United States Ombudsman Association (USOA).
• Familiarity with the Energy Efficiency Board (EEB) and Connecticut’s Conservation and Load Management (C&LM) programs as well as energy efficiency or residential contracting, public policy, mediation, legal services, or a closely related field.
• Strong interpersonal skills and established reputation within the CT Energy Efficiency contractor community
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Demonstrated organizational, problem-solving, and collaboration skills, including the ability to work independently and in team settings; take ownership of processes; exercise initiative; and follow through on solutions.
• Preference for candidates located within Connecticut or with the ability to travel to in-person EEB and related meetings as needed.
• Independence from the Utilities, DEEP, and the EEB and its The candidate shall not be a current program contractor, employed by a current program contractor, in a contractual relationship with a current program contractor, or have an immediate familial relationship with a current program contractor, an employee of a program contractor, or an individual in a contractual relationship with a program contractor.

Anticipated Workload

The monthly level of effort required for the Contractor Ombudsperson is expected to vary based on C&LM program activities and interface with the contractor community. It is anticipated that the role will include a base level of effort to support ongoing communications and meeting participation; however, additional time may be required as specific instances arise.

For context, examples of past instances that would likely require increased effort have included the 2025 redesign of the Home Energy Solutions (HES) and Home Energy Solutions–Income Eligible (HES-IE) programs; 2024 budget constraints that affected contractor purchase orders; and findings from evaluation studies or C&LM Plan approvals that directly affected fieldwork practices.

It is anticipated that the role will typically require approximately 25 to 40 hours per month on average (not including travel time), with additional hours required during periods of heightened activity or issue resolution. There may be some months where less hours are required because minimal residential contractor related events occur. Respondents should identify in their proposals a base level of monthly effort as well as an on-call or flexible allocation of hours to address unanticipated or one-off issues as they arise.