BACKGROUND The IESO has a critical role to play in maintaining the safe and reliable operation of Ontario’s bulk electricity system and in administering the wholesale electricity market. As such, the IESO requires accurate Ontario long-term demand forecasts to ensure a reliable and sustainable electricity future. In response to the significant changes to the way electricity is being used in Ontario, the IESO has initiated a project to revamp the long-term demand forecasting process and to replace its current demand forecasting tool with a new solution for its 20-to-30-year planning horizons.
DESCRIPTION OF RFP: The IESO is seeking qualified Service Providers to submit Proposals for providing the following services in a phased approach:
- Phase 1 – Business design & IT design based on the high-level IESO requirements included in the RFP;
- Phase 2 – Solution build, data acquisition & sample Forecast production
- Phase 3 – Model calibration & Forecast Production
- Phase 4 – Steady State (including ongoing support)
Service Providers that do not provide the full range of services directly are expected to identify an implementation partner(s) in their Proposal.
The Service Provider and/or its implementation partner(s) should have the following expertise in relation with the implementation, support and enhancement of the Solution in a production environment:
- Business expertise with electricity demand forecasting;
- Technical expertise with designing and implementing electricity demand forecasting tools.
The contract will have an initial term of 5 years and the IESO may, in its discretion, extend the initial term for up to two additional three-year periods.
RFP PROCESS:
Access to review the RFP documents will be provided following the receipt of an executed Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) posted on MERX as Appendix E. Interested proponents should note that the IESO will not accept any negotiations or amendments to the terms provided in the Non-Disclosure Agreement.
The RFP Timetable is as follows:
Issue Date of RFP: September 1, 2023
NDA Submission Deadline: September 18, 2023
Proponents’ Deadline for Questions (Questions to be submitted electronically via Bidding System): 3:00pm on September 25, 2023
Posting of Responses to Questions (Issued by addendum via Bidding System): October 2, 2023
Deadline for Issuing Addenda: October 10, 2023
Proposal Submission Deadline (Proposal to be submitted electronically via Bidding System): 3:00 pm on October 17, 2023
