The Washington State Department of Commerce hereafter called "COMMERCE,” is initiating this Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit proposals from firms interested in helping the agency develop its Community Benefits Plan (CBP) as part of its application to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for Home Energy Rebates funding authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

Authorized by the IRA in 2022, the Home Energy Rebate programs (Sec. 50121 and Sec. 50122), will provide rebates for residential energy efficiency and electrification projects. COMMERCE is eligible to receive over $160 million of formula funding to administer this rebate program from the federal government. COMMERCE aims to launch these programs to the public in early 2025.

To support program goals, the rebates are expected to (1) support meaningful community and labor engagement; (2) engage and support a skilled and qualified workforce; (3) advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA); and (4) contribute to the Justice40 Initiative with the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of these federal investments flowing to disadvantaged communities (DACs).[1] To ensure these goals are met, Commerce must create a Community Benefits Plan (CBP) that describes how the state’s Home Energy Rebates program will incorporate the four objectives stated above.

COMMERCE seeks a consultant to help engage communities of interest on these forthcoming federal rebate programs in order to identify community need, barriers to access, and more generally to receive input into program design. COMMERCE intends to award one contract to provide the services described in this RFP.