Making appliance energy efficiency the new global standard

On behalf of the Super-efficient Equipment and Appliance Deployment (SEAD) Initiative, the Collaborative Labeling and Appliance Standards Program (CLASP) is seeking a Contractor to develop specifications for populating, retrieving, and cross-referencing internationally-compatible product-specific energy efficiency information through web-based data bases.

It is envisioned that this project will commence in July 2012 to be completed by May 2013.  Further details about the project are provided below, along with instructions for proposal submission.

SEAD is a voluntary international government collaboration whose primary objective is to advance global market transformation for energy efficient products.  Improvements in appliance and equipment energy efficiency offer enormous opportunities to reduce global energy consumption and carbon emissions, while simultaneously lowering energy costs for consumers, businesses, and institutions. The SEAD Initiative is making it easier for governments and the private sector to capitalize on this opportunity by fostering the sharing of technical information and program design insights and supporting market transformation efforts such as awards, incentives, and procurement. Measures taken by participating governments since the launch of the initiative in 2010 may save up to 170 terawatt-hours of electricity per year and 1,800 petajoules of natural gas and oil by 2030. [1]

CLASP is an international not-for-profit organization whose mission is to serve as the primary resource and voice for appliance, lighting and equipment energy efficiency worldwide. CLASP serves as the Operating Agent for SEAD.  As the Operating Agent, CLASP uses its extensive experience in energy efficiency standards and labeling (S&L) for appliances and equipment to support SEAD activities.

Improved product energy-use databases will make information about the ratings and energy use of appliances and equipment more easily accessible over a wider range of applications for use by consumers, retailers, distributors, customs officials, researchers and analysts.  To maximize distribution, access, and use of these data, it is necessary to minimize the burden on product manufacturers and distributors by ensuring compatibility with current product data and information systems and optimizing the delivery of useful information to consumers. 

Currently, when manufacturers certify the energy use of their products, the product model number is used as the link to publicly available certified energy use information. However, these model numbers are not typically unique, standardized, or reliably traceable. In addition, most agencies that receive product certifications do not provide a traceable confirmation of receipt of the energy use certification data. In a new system of standardized product data specifications, product certification data would be given a unique identifier that would be internationally standardized, matched to publicly available certification data, and publicly accessible via automated look-ups and access methods.

Standardized methods for public access of energy use data should include a set of automated data access modes and formats that allow the data to be used in a wide range of independently developed information display and analysis applications. Product energy use labels are often not prominently displayed on sales websites; and in many cases it is difficult to access detailed product energy rating information.  Standards and requirements for energy information identifiers and access could potentially solve this and many other product energy information access problems.

One key objective is to develop internationally harmonized or compatible data specifications for populating, retrieving, and cross-referencing the following data from web-based product databases:

• Efficiency-related product ratings and characteristics (e.g., to enable purchasers to  quickly assess and compare the efficiency-related characteristics of products);
• Market prices (e.g., for use by government regulators to develop more well-informed policies); and
• Actual field energy use of products (e.g., for use by researchers and regulators in the design of improved test procedures for product labeling and minimum standards).

A second key objective is to identify common international mechanisms for providing easy access to these data bases by establishing standard protocols for accessing web-based data (e.g., through the widespread use of Quick Response (QR) codes, bar codes, or other tools).

A third objective is to define standardized methods for populating these product-specific databases.  This might include the use of product certification data; software tools (e.g., “web-crawlers” to gather and regularly update product-specific availability, efficiency and pricing data); and guidelines for the gathering and reporting of actual field (on-site) data on product energy use.

The Contractor will be responsible for the following project activities:

• Identify, define and begin to prioritize the data needs of key potential users, such as product purchasers, distributors, researchers, retailers, electric utilities, and government regulators for a representative group of SEAD participating economies.
• Identify existing multi-national, national or sub-national databases on product-specific energy use, efficiency, compliance or other related product characteristics that match the likely priority needs of key potential users. 
• Analyze the common and differentiating characteristics of the multi-national user needs and databases assessed.
• Identify existing standards for product data, and product classification that may be relevant and useful for product efficiency data. 
• Develop at least three “strawman” product-specific database frameworks. 
• The frameworks shall identify and define the elements of such databases necessary to meet the priority data needs of key users and to enable easy access by both national and international users. 
• The frameworks shall be as consistent with each other as possible, given the unique data and market requirements for the selected example products.
• Solicit and incorporate comments from three sets of reviews from the following groups:
• Small group of expert reviewers;
• Participants in the SEAD Standards and Labeling Working Group; and
• Broad range of stakeholders, including representatives of product manufacturers, distributors, and users.
• Develop methods for populating product-specific energy use information databases (e.g., via product-specific certification data submitted to governments, researchers monitoring product energy in the field, or web-based search tools, such as “web crawlers”).
• Develop specifications for web-based data gathering tools or actual development of software code for potentially effective “web crawlers.”
• Develop a report summarizing the key findings of all results and potential policy implications. Provide policy and implementation recommendations to enable SEAD participating governments to successfully harmonize product data specifications and product databases based on the objectives outlined above.
  

• Prioritized list(s) of product-specific data needs of key users.
• Identification and assessment of existing databases.
• “Strawman” frameworks for product-specific databases
• Description of key methods for populating product-specific databases
• Specifications or actual software code for potentially effective “web-crawlers”
• List of recommendations for government action, and follow-up tasks.

Applicants are encouraged to identify alternative and/or additional deliverables based on the project needs and objectives.

It is envisioned that this project will commence in July 2012 to be completed by May 2013.  The timeline for the development and implementation of specific deliverables will be coordinated with the selected Contractor for this project.

A committee appointed by CLASP, consisting of CLASP staff and external advisors, will evaluate project and budget proposals received from respondents. The criteria used to determine the winning proposal will include:

• Experience with product-specific data bases and their uses;
• Experience with gathering and analyzing data on actual product energy use;
• Experience with methods for facilitating access to web-based data bases;
• Experience with programming and writing software code;
• Expertise in project and organizational planning;
• Ability to communicate clearly and succinctly, verbally and in writing, to diverse audiences on technical and policy topics;
• Experience in goal-oriented consensus-building related to policy formation, particularly involving international activities;
• Understanding of the SEAD Initiative, its objectives and activities, and issues related to energy efficiency; and
• Total cost of plan.

Proposals will be evaluated using a Quality and Cost-Based Selection (QCBS) method, with weights of 70 percent towards project proposal quality and team and organization experience, and 30 percent towards proposed costs. Additional information about CLASP’s selection process is available here.

All questions may be directed to Anna Lising at alising@clasponline.org. We request all inquiries be made via e-mail and not by phone.

Companies and organizations that wish to bid on this project must first register as a CLASP Implementing Partner. Registration is easy, and must be completed via the CLASP website before final submittal.

Applicants are required to submit two separate proposals: a Technical Proposal and a Financial Proposal. Each file should be named as per the following example:  “[Contractor Name]: RFP #5-12”

The Technical Proposal should not exceed 25 pages in length and must include the following elements:

• Background and introduction to the project [1 to 2 pages];
• Detailed approach and methodology for implementation and management of the project [2 to 4 pages];
• Detailed timeline of deliverables and milestones [1 to 2 pages];
• A summary of qualifications relevant to this assignment [1 to 2 pages];
• A description of the Contractor’s experience with energy efficiency or related issues [1 page];
• Three examples of project experience that best illustrate the Contractor’s ability to carry out the project deliverables and objectives [5 to 6 pages]; and
• A summary of qualifications for key personnel that will be engaged in the project, along with a description of each person’s role [6 to 8 pages].

The Financial Proposal must include the following elements:

• Cost breakdown (in days) of the level of effort and costs for each deliverable and project milestone, associated with each team member that will be engaged in the project;
• List of anticipated out-of-pocket expenses; and
• Description of the Contractor’s policies, controls, and track record of accomplishing proposed results within budget.

All proposals must be submitted electronically by June 22, 2012 via the CLASP website using the “Submit Bid” button above and filling out all the requested information. Any proposal not addressing each of the previously mentioned requirements can be considered non-responsive and rejected without further review. Late proposals will be rejected without being considered. Revisions or additions to the proposal will not be accepted after the due date unless specifically invited by CLASP.

Applicants interested in learning more about the work of CLASP and the SEAD Initiative are encouraged to visit the following websites:

• CLASP: www.clasponline.org
• SEAD: www.superefficient.org

Funding for this project is provided by the US Department of Energy.

In keeping with CLASP's commitment to a fair and transparent evaluation of all bids, following is a summary of the bids received under RFP#5-12 “Product Energy Efficiency Data Access”, as well as the basic rationale for the final selection.

This was a competitive solicitation, and technical and financial proposals were received from six organizations. While five bidders submitted strong proposals and were considered viable candidates for successful implementation of the project, the joint submission from Enervee and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) was considered superior due primarily to the team’s expertise with normalizing product data from diverse product certification databases, extensive experience in applying product data and energy use data in market applications, familiarity with web crawlers and large-scale web-based data bases, and the comprehensiveness of the proposed methodology based on an understanding of the project requirements as stated in the RFP.

Proposals were evaluated by a four person review team according to pre-defined criteria regarding the proposed technical approach, methodology, project execution plan, and cost projections in accordance with the RFP.

Proposals were scored based on a Quality and Cost Based System (QCBS) totaling 100 points, with 70 points allocated to the technical proposal evaluation and 30 points allocated to the financial proposal evaluation.

Final scores for the top five proposals are provided in the table below: