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Service Procurement Guide

Find the right vendor for your building performance project.

Diagram illustrating the procurement process.
Step One Step Two Step Three Step Four Step Five Step Six Step Seven Step Eight Step Nine

Procurement strategies to improve your building

This step-by-step guide will help you as a building owner make decisions about how to improve the operations and energy efficiency of your building while achieving triple-bottom line or high-road solutions (environmental, economic, and equity) through contracting by using your economic power. The result is a better building and a strong brand that returns value to your bottom line. This roadmap overviews the entire process in nine steps that detail what is involved, why it is important, how to make it happen, and where to find additional help.

Start by measuring how your building is performing.

The District requires the owners of large buildings to track and report their energy and water use annually. You can do it yourself, but if you want to hire someone, learn what qualifications to look for.

Use our Project Checklist to make the right decision for your building.

Whether or not you building meets the requirements of the District’s Building Energy Performance Standards, you will want to look ahead. Explore the key questions and prioritize what works for your business.

Step three

Get an Energy Audit

Learn about your energy audit options and how to find the right consultant.

There are three levels of energy audits, corresponding to different levels of detail and cost. Get the full picture on your options as they relate to your goals, and guidance on who to hire.

Write the right scope of work for your project.

Review your procurement options for the most common types of energy efficiency upgrades and building performance-related work: lighting, HVAC, building envelope, appliances, solar, and whole-building retrofits.

Step five

Bid the Project

Decide on how to solicit vendors so you can make accurate comparisons.

Using the right type of contract sets your project up for success. Learn the different contract types, when to use them, and how to distribute the contract fairly and effectively. Our High-Road Contracting guide offers additional guidance for prioritizing equity and getting the best long-term results.

Evaluate project proposals effectively using the right contractor selection criteria.

While cost is always an important consideration, you need to assess the quality and long-term results of any vendor’s performance. Learn best practices in setting selection criteria.

Step seven

Write the Contract

Sign a contract that gets you the results you want.

The small print can mean everything for your project. Learn the key provisions you will want to include before executing a contract.

Step eight

Secure Financing

Get your project going with support from various financing and funding resources.

Our Funding and Financing Map is a searchable directory of available incentives supporting building performance projects. Consult it as you build out your scope of work and again after you have made your hiring decisions.

Step nine

Verify Performance

Ensure your project is performing as intended.

You want quality assurance at the conclusion of a project to ensure the efficiency measures, equipment, and/or systems are operating as intended. Find the right vendor to verify and/or optimize project performance.

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