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 February 1, 2027.

This RFP was originally issued on March 12, 2026. Following stakeholder feedback and further consideration of the scope, timeline, and qualifications, the RFP has been revised and reissued.

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 on the re-issued RFP are due by August 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.

Required Qualifications

Respondents must demonstrate the required qualifications necessary to perform the responsibilities and scope of work, 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) and/or the United States Ombudsman Association (USOA) – or equivalent experience in mediation, conflict resolution, facilitation, or stakeholder engagement.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• 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.
• Located within Connecticut or the surrounding region, with the ability to travel to in-person EEB and related meetings as needed. (While in-person attendance will be required at certain meetings and contract engagement activities, there is potential for some work to be performed remotely)
• Independence from the Utilities, DEEP, and the EEB and its contractors. 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.

Preferred Qualifications

Respondents should also indicate whether they possess any of the preferred qualifications listed below; however, respondents who meet the required qualifications are encouraged to submit a proposal regardless of whether they possess these preferred qualifications:

• Familiarity with the Energy Efficiency Board (EEB), Connecticut’s Conservation and Load Management (C&LM) programs, and the Connecticut contractor community. 
• Experience in energy efficiency, residential contracting, public policy, legal services, or a closely related field is preferred.

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 30 to 45 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.

RFP Communications

All intent to bid, questions, proposals, and other correspondence regarding this RFP should be sent in writing to [email protected] with “CT EEB Contractor Ombudsperson RFP 2026” in the Subject Line. The RFP will be posted and available to view on the RFP page of the Energize CT website at: www.energizect.com/connecticut-energy-efficiency-board/rfps.