FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 3, 2020
Contact Information: Office of Strategic Communications / mediainfo@umd.edu
UMD ANNOUNCES NEXTGEN ENERGY PROGRAM PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNER SHORT LIST
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The University of Maryland today announced a short list of potential partners for the NextGen Energy Program. This announcement follows a recent Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to design, engineer, finance, install and maintain the university’s energy system.
Under the NextGen Energy Program, UMD’s aging energy system will be renewed and long-term campus energy services will be secured through a public-private partnership. The program will be adaptable, allowing UMD to incorporate high-efficiency technologies of today while providing flexibility to incorporate new, lower emission fuel sources as they become viable.
UMD received 13 responses to its RFQ aimed at identifying potential private sector partners to implement this energy infrastructure renewal program.
“As we work to provide the University of Maryland with a forward-looking and sustainable energy future, we are excited to attract so many highly qualified and interested parties,” says Vice President for Administration and Finance Carlo Colella. “After thorough vetting, we are impressed by the strength of the shortlisted potential partners and are confident in their ability to provide reliable and resilient utilities for our campus for decades to come.”
Respondents were evaluated on six categories: experience with similar projects, team quality, design and construction expertise, operational expertise, stakeholder engagement and financial strength. The shortlisted proposers demonstrated they are best able to meet the university’s requirements for the NextGen Energy Program and possess the integrity and reliability to ensure good faith program performance.
In alphabetical order, the 5 respondents on the short list are:
- Blackstone-AEI-Turner-NAES (Kepler Energy LLC, Blackstone Energy Partners III L.P, Blackstone Energy Partners VIII L.P, Affiliated Engineers, Inc., Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. Inc., NAES Corporation)
- Maryland and Energy Impact Partners (Plenary Americas US Holdings Inc., Kiewit Development Company, Kiewit Power Constructors Co, Honeywell International, Inc.)
- Terrapin Energy Collaborative Partners (Macquarie, MasTec Power Corp., Ameresco, Inc.)
- Terrapin Energy Partners (ENGIE Development LLC, Meridiam, Engie Services U.S. Inc., Engie Generation NA LLC)
- Vicinity Energy Inc. (Vicinity Energy Inc., Antin Infrastructure Partners, Bond Building Construction, Inc.)
The University of Maryland is pleased to be one step closer to identifying a private sector partner for the NextGen Energy Program and looks forward to beginning the next phase of this important effort to renew and modernize UMD’s energy system.
More information about the NextGen Energy Program and the planning process is available at nextgen.umd.edu.
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The University of Maryland is the state’s flagship university and one of the nation’s preeminent public research universities. A global leader in research, entrepreneurship and innovation, the university is home to more than 37,000 students, 9,000 faculty and staff, and 250 academic programs. Its faculty includes three Nobel laureates, three Pulitzer Prize winners, 47 members of the national academies and scores of Fulbright scholars. The institution has a $1.8 billion operating budget, secures $500 million annually in external research funding and recently completed a $1 billion fundraising campaign. For more information about the University of Maryland, visit www.umd.edu.