Exhibit 1 - Agenda Information SheetCity of Denton
__________________________________________________________________________________
AGENDA INFORMATION SHEET
DEPARTMENT: Procurement & Compliance
ACM: David Gaines
DATE: July 20, 2021
SUBJECT
Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, a Texas home-rule municipal corporation,
authorizing the City Manager, or their designee, to execute a Professional Services Agreement with
DNV Energy USA, Inc., for transmission planning professional services for Denton Municipal Electric’s
transmission and generation assets as set forth in the contract; providing for the expenditure of funds
therefor; and providing an effective date (RFQ 7660 – Professional Services Agreement for planning
services awarded to DNV Energy USA, Inc., for three (3) years, with the option for two (2) additional
one (1) year extensions, in the total five (5) year not-to-exceed amount of $1,550,803.97). The Public
Utilities Board recommends approval (5 - 0).
INFORMATION/BACKGROUND
As a transmission owner/operator, transmission planner, and a generation owner, Denton Municipal
Electric (DME) is required to adhere to regulatory protocols, requirements, and standards from
regulatory agencies including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), North American
Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), Texas Reliability Entity (TRE), and the Electric Reliability
Council of Texas (ERCOT). The requirements include completing annual transmission planning studies
such as the FERC 715 study, perform modeling updates and submitting system information every week,
coordinate transmission system changes with each ERCOT modeling group and other electric utilities,
attend ERCOT working group meetings, and prepare additional studies as needed. DME is also obligated
to review projects proposed by other utilities and generation entities.
The annual FERC, NERC, TRE, and ERCOT requirements that DME is obligated to complete and
included in the proposed contract are:
• Preparation of the FERC 715 Annual Transmission Assessment (detailed evaluation of
transmission performance for a five-year period and development of solutions that will resolve
all NERC or ERCOT performance standard violations that were discovered in the analyses).
• Preparation of the ERCOT Annual Steady State Working Group Data Sets (The Data Set consists
of the transmission computer models for eight seasonal cases for the first future year and consists
of the transmission computer models for future years two through six, which requires a total of
seven additional cases.).
• Preparation of the ERCOT System Protection Working Group present and future year short
circuit cases (preparation of five short circuit models).
City Hall
215 E. McKinney Street
Denton, Texas
www.cityofdenton.com
• Submission of dynamics data in response to requests from the ERCOT Dynamics Working
Group.
• Preparation and maintenance of a Geomagnetic Disturbance Model.
• Review and verify the ERCOT loss factor calculations
• Review and update ERCOT contingency definitions
• Review and update the ERCOT Data Dictionary (definition of all busses in the ERCOT power
system model)
• Response to inquiries and requests for information from ERCOT and any of their working groups
related to modeling issues.
• Coordination of planned transmission system projects with adjacent transmission owners to
include a review of system protection plans and changes.
• Coordinate discussions with other utilities for transmission planning to ensure that projects
proposed will provide the best benefit to all transmission owners in the area and represent the
best solutions for resolving performance issues for all transmission service providers.
• Preparation of project approval documentation for ERCOT regional planning group and ERCOT
submissions.
• Preparation of reports and documentation in response to ERCOT, NERC, TRE, or other utility
inquiries.
• Attendance at meetings to assist and represent DME including participation in conference calls.
• Preparation of Facility Interconnection Studies for submission to ERCOT for any generation
interconnection requests received including preparation of responses to any questions received
from market participants. (Generation Interconnection Requests are infrequent occurrences but
must be responded to when received.)
It should be noted that FERC, ERCOT, and NERC requirements are “relatively” stable, but they are not
static. Therefore, additional funding has been included that covers anticipated regulatory changes, the
potential need for preparation of project approval submittals to ERCOT, the possibility that DME could
require analytical or technical representation for proposals submitted by ERCOT or other utilities,
preparation of generation interconnection requests should any be received, and for other analytical or
compliance related support needs that may arise.
This proposed professional service contract is structured to be billed on an hourly basis for work
performed and does not obligate DME to provide work to fulfill the contract amount or to make any
minimum expenditure.
Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for professional surveying services was sent to 524 prospective firms
for these services. In addition, the RFQ was placed on the Materials Management website for
prospective respondents to download and advertised in the local newspaper. Seven (7) statements of
qualifications (SOQ) were received. The SOQs were evaluated based on published criteria including
identification and understanding of the City’s requirements, past performance and experience, and
qualifications of key personnel. Based upon this evaluation, the recommended award is to DNV Energy
USA, Inc. and is determined to be the most qualified firm for the City.
NIGP Code Used for Solicitation: 907 - (Service Only) - Architectural
and Engineering Services, Non-
Professional & 925 - (Service Only) -
Engineering Services, Professional
Notifications sent for Solicitation sent in IonWave: 524
Number of Suppliers that viewed Solicitation in IonWave: 47
HUB-Historically Underutilized Business Invitations sent out: 63
SBE-Small Business Enterprise Invitations sent out: 196
Responses from Solicitation: 7
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
On July 12, 2021, the Public Utilities Board (PUB) recommended this item to the City Council for
consideration.
RECOMMENDATION
Award a contract with DNV Energy USA, Inc., for transmission planning professional services for
Denton Municipal Electric’s transmission and generation assets, in a three (3) year, with the option for
two (2) additional one (1) year extensions, in the total five (5) year not-to-exceed amount of
$1,550,803.97.
PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS
DNV Energy USA, Inc.
Dallas, TX
ESTIMATED SCHEDULE OF PROJECT
This is an initial three (3) year contract with options to extend the contract for two (2) additional one (1)
year periods, with all terms and conditions remaining the same.
FISCAL INFORMATION
The charges for work under this contract will not exceed and will be funded from the operations and
maintenance budget for not-project items. Project item costs for this contract are attributable to the
transmission category and will ultimately be recovered through the Public Utility Commission
transmission cost of service program (TCOS).
EXHIBITS
Exhibit 1: Agenda Information Sheet
Exhibit 2: Evaluation Sheet
Exhibit 3: Ordinance and Contract
Respectfully submitted:
Lori Hewell, 940-349-7100
Purchasing Manager
For information concerning this acquisition, contact: Mark Zimmerer, 940-349-7169.
Legal point of contact: Marcella Lunn at 940-349-8333.