HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo 2CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO: Pedro G. Hernandez DATE: May 21, 2009 FILE:
City Mana er
SUBJECT: Including Energy -Efficiency
Retrofits in List of Expedited
Projects
FROM: Robe ` REFERENCES:
Director, rant &Sustainable Initiatives
ENCLOSURES:
The Office of Sustainable Initiatives (MSI) has been allocated federal funding to complete various
energy efficiency related projects. Specifically, MSI expects to be awarded funding under the U.S.
Department of Energy's (DOE), Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) as
part of the 2009 American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) designed to stimulate the
national economy. Additionally, MSI expects to be awarded funding via a DOE -administered
Congressionally Directed Project (CDP) affixed to the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Projects account in the Federal FY09 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill also for energy
efficiency projects.
Under the EECBG funding allocated to the City, MSI working with GSA plans to primarily utilize
the $4,742,300 to perform energy efficiency audits and retrofits of City -owned buildings and
facilities. The retrofitting will focus mainly on HVAC and lighting systems, and once complete
will result in significant improvement in energy efficiency and consumption, and associated fiscal
savings to the City. Additionally, MSI hopes to leverage the EECBG funding to provide an
additional $4 -million for energy efficiency retrofits. MSI intends to use an existing performance
contract and one or more other energy services companies. The EECBG funding will also be used
to complete the renovation of a former City -owned fire station into the Miami Green Lab which
will serve as a green building resource center for the community providing education and training
on green jobs and will showcase energy efficiency and renewable energy technology in its
construction for educational and training purposes. Lastly, MSI has been allotted $951,500 to
perform a CDP for energy efficiency initiatives and will. use those funds to purchase hybrid
vehicles for City fleets and to install energy efficient lighting technologies for City owned and
operated roadways, parking lots and parking structures.
Since the ARRA was implemented to revitalize our national economy its stipulations include that
recipients ensure all funds are obligated for authorized activities within 18 months of award, and
that activities are completed within a 36 -month period of performance. Additionally, these
planned activities (including the CDP) will result in the direct creation/retention of over 100 jobs.
Therefore, it is vital that the City expedites the procurement and approval processes associated
with these activities. to:
• Satisfy the funding requirements of the DOE's EECBG program;
• Quickly re-inject jobs back into the local and national economies; and,
• Reduce the City's overall energy consumption and realize the associated fiscal savings as
quickly as possible.
Most of the purchases under these two funding sources (EECBG & CDP) would be greater than
$50,000 and under current ordinances would require Commission approval. Therefore MSI
requests that the following activities be eligible for expedited purchasing:
• Energy efficiency retrofit and renovation programs funded by EECBG awards; and,
• Energy efficiency and renewable energy projects funded by Federal FY09 Energy and
Water Appropriations Bill.
Cc: Hamilton Hicks, CIP - Capital Improvement Program
Kelly Barket, Jr., General Services Administration - GSA
Glen Hadwen / Miami Office of Sustainable Initiatives - MSI