Texas & New Mexico SPS 2024 All-Source Request for Proposals

Update

In the RFP, Options 1 & 2 indicate retirement dates of December 31 of their respective years. However, due to the Winter Resource Adequacy Requirement of the Southwest Power Pool that was recently approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, replacement generation will need to be available by December 15 of their respective years. This update has been logged in the FAQ as item number 65. SPS has conferred with the Independent Monitor with respect to this development and is sending this correspondence as a result of that conferral to ensure potential bidders are aware of the updated requirement given its effect on Option 1 & 2 in-service timing.

Overview

Southwestern Public Service Company (SPS), an operating company subsidiary of Xcel Energy Inc., is issuing this All-Source Request for Proposals (RFP).

This All-Source RFP is the next step in our regulated process to secure and invest in a diverse portfolio of economic generation to benefit customers. SPS will evaluate submissions with proposed commercial operation dates within or before May 1, 2028, to May 1, 2030.

The model RFP document and associated appendices containing the bid forms, model power purchase agreements, ownership technical specifications, term sheets, and other related information are available through the links below.

RFP Document
SPS All-Source 2024 RFP (PDF)

Appendix A – SPS’s Build-Transfer Term Sheet

• SPS BT Gas Term Sheet (DOCX)
• SPS BT Solar + Storage Term Sheet (DOCX)
• SPS BT Solar Term Sheet (DOCX)
• SPS BT Storage Term Sheet (DOCX)
• SPS BT Wind + Storage Term Sheet (DOCX)
• SPS BT Wind Term Sheet (DOCX)

Appendix B – SPS’s Model PPA Templates

• SPS Model Dispatchable PPA (DOCX)
• SPS Model Standalone Storage PPA (DOCX)
• SPS Model Hybrid PPA (DOCX)
• SPS Model Renewable PPA (DOCX)

Appendix C – SPS Resource Technical Requirements

• SPS Gas CTs (PDF)

Appendix C - SPS – Renewables

• Exhibit A.1 - Scope of Work, SPS RFP, 2024 WIND SOLAR BESS - Rev A, 5-14-24 (PDF)
• Exhibit A.2, Applicable Standards 
  • Exhibit A.2 - Applicable Standards, Rev A, 20240427 (PDF)
  • Exhibit A.2.1 - NERC Reliability Guideline – Improvements to Interconnection Requirements for BPS-Connected IBRs, Rev A, 20240427 (PDF)
  • Exhibit A.2.2 - NERC Reliability Guideline – BPS-Connected Inverter-Based Resource Performance - v20180901 (PDF)
  • Exhibit A.2.3 - Lesson Learned - Battery Energy Storage System Cascading Thermal Runaway - v20210329 (PDF)
  • Exhibit A.2.4 - NERC Requirements- Rev A, 20240427 (PDF)
• Exhibit A.3 - Approved Suppliers -Rev A, 20240517 (PDF)
• Exhibit A.4 - Schedule Requirements - Rev A, 20240427 (PDF)
• Exhibit A.5 - Submittal Requirements - Rev A, 20240427 (PDF)
• Exhibit A.6 - Applicable Permits, Rev A, 20240427 (PDF)
• Exhibit A.7 - BESS Energy Management System_Rev A, 20240427 (PDF)
• Exhibit C.4 - Job Book Requirements - Rev A, 20240427 (PDF)
• Exhibit C.5 - Progress Report Contents - Rev A, 20240427 (PDF)
• Exhibit D.2 - Project Site Data - Rev A, 20240427 (PDF)
• Exhibit D.3, Preliminary or Indicative Design Documents 
  • Exhibit D.3 - Preliminary Design Documents - Rev A, 20240427 (PDF)
  • Exhibit D.3.1.1, Renewable Substation Oneline and Bill of Material (PDF)
  • Exhibit D.3.1.2, Renewable Substation M&R Diagrams (3) (PDF)
  • Exhibit D.3.1.3, Renewable Substation Electrical Details (PDF)
  • Exhibit D.3.1.4, Renewable Substation Physical Layout (PDF)
  • Exhibit D.3.1.5, Renewable Substation Relay Panel Elevations (PDF)
  • Exhibit D.3.1.6, Solar Collection System Details (PDF)
  • Exhibit D.3.1.7, Renewable Collection System Onelines (PDF)
  • Exhibit D.3.1.8, Renewable Communication Diagram (PDF)
• Exhibit D.5, PV, Wind Turbine, BESS Specifications
  • Exhibit D.5.1 Wind Turbine Specifications, Rev A, 20240428 (PDF)
  • Exhibit D.5.2 PV Module Technical Requirements and Guidelines, Rev A, 20240428 (PDF)
  • Exhibit D.5.3 - BESS Specifications - Rev A, 20240428 (PDF)
• Exhibit D.6 - Renewable Generation MPT Specification Rev 10, 20240428 (PDF)
• Exhibit E.2, Owners Specifications
  • Exhibit E.2.1 ESP 7.970W01 Drawing Deliverables Standard, rev 1.8 (PDF)
  • Exhibit E.2.2 - SPS Titleblock Standard (PDF)
  • Exhibit E.2.3 - XEL-POL-Facility-Rating-Methodology rev 14.0 (PDF)
  • Exhibit E.2.4 - EPR 5.200 Facility Rating and Reporting Policy rev4.3 (PDF)
  • Exhibit E.2.5 - EPR 5.201S Stability Modeling Data Maintenance and Reporting Requirements, rev 6.0 (PDF)
  • Exhibit E.2.6 - EPR 5.202S01 NERC Protection System Coord-Relay Setting-Rptg Requirements rev 3.2 (PDF)
  • Exhibit E.2.7 - EPR 5.220P01 Facility Rating Methodology rev 7.5 (PDF)
  • Exhibit E.2.8 - EPR 5.704S01 Battery Maintenance Standard rev 3.1 (PDF)
  • Exhibit E.2.9 - EPR 5.714S Protective Relay Maintenance Standard rev 5.1 (PDF)
  • Exhibit E.2.11 – Guideline for IBRG Power Quality Measurements and Reports - Rev. A (2) (PDF)
• Exhibit E.5, APLIC Guidance
  • Exhibit E.5 - APLIC Guidance - Rev A, 20240428 (PDF)
  • Exhibit E.5.1 - Suggested Practices for Avian Protection on Power Lines 2006 (PDF)
  • Exhibit E.5.2 - Reducing Avian Collisions with Power Lines 2012 (PDF)
• Exhibit G.1 - Submittal Schedule - Rev A, 20240428 (PDF)
• Exhibit G.2 - Holiday Schedule - Rev. A, 20240501 (PDF)

Appendix D – Load Forecast

• Appendix D - 2024v2.0 Planning Update (PDF)

Appendix E – Point of Interconnection for Transmission-Interconnected RFP Projects

• Maddox (PDF)
• Nichols (PDF)
• Plant X (PDF)
• Tolk (PDF)

Appendix F – Bid Forms (Updated 10/31/2024)

• 2024 RFP Bidder Forms (XLSX)

Appendix G – Protective Order

• Attachment A. 23-00073-UT-2023-11-03-Protective Order (PDF)

Appendix H – Subcontractor Plan

• SPS Template Subcontractor Plan (PDF)

RFP Schedule

Bidder's Conference

Date & Time: Friday, August 27, 2024, at 10:30 AM Central Time
Location: 790 S Buchanan, Amarillo, TX 79109

Online Attendee Link:
Pre-Bid Meeting Online Attendance (external link)

Pre-Bid Meeting Presentation (PDF)

Pre-Bid Meeting Video (external link)

The bidder’s conference has been hosted online and in-person at 790 S Buchanan, Amarillo, TX 79109, 4th Floor Bay 1. The live meeting broadcast has been recorded and will soon be available through the same webcast link above.

Notice of Intent to Respond (NOIR)

Respondents who intend to submit a proposal(s) into the 2024 All-Source solicitation must submit a Notice of Intent to Respond (NOIR), located in the Appendix F above, by the stated deadline. The NOIR will serve as registration for the All-Source Solicitation and should be submitted via email to the RFP Project Manager at the earliest date possible but no later than 4:00 P.M. Central Time at the date in the RFP Schedule above. There is no fee required to submit a NOIR. Upon receipt of a bidder’s NOIR, the Company will respond to the bidder with a link that will enable them to submit their bids electronically to a secure file sharing site and wiring instructions for submittal of bid fees. Respondents who fail to submit a NOIR will not be able to submit bids. The Company notes that bid and fee submittal are electronic only and physical copies or checks will not be accepted.

Proposal Submission Deadline

Proposals will be accepted until 4:00 P.M. Central Time on the date referenced in the above RFP Schedule. In the 2024 All-Source Solicitation, all proposals will be submitted electronically via a secure, confidential file upload application (XpressDRIVE). As noted above, a link will be provided to bidders via email after submission of a NOIR that will allow them to upload bids to the XpressDRIVE prior to the submission deadline.

Proposals received later than the submission deadline will be rejected and unopened, unless the Company determines, in coordination with the Independent Monitor, to consider such proposals. Any bidder submitting proposals after the submission deadline should immediately send an email to SPSRFP2024@XcelEnergy.com documenting why the proposal was submitted late.

Each individual bid package should be submitted as a single .zip file with completed bid forms in executable format. Bid Form I, executive summaries and Narrative Topics should be submitted in .pdf format. To assist the Company in its eligibility screening and due diligence reviews, bidders are strongly encouraged to combine as much of their written proposal material into a single, cohesive.pdf file as possible.

Communication Protocol

The primary point of contact for all communications between the Company and potential bidders is the RFP Project Manager. This individual may be contacted at SPSRFP2024@XcelEnergy.com. All communications with the RFP Project Manager must also carbon copy (“cc”) the independent monitor at the address,IM-SPS2024@acciongroup.com.

Information regarding the RFP will not be provided via telephone inquiries or inquiries from any email other than to/from the RFP Project Manager.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ 11/05/2024 (PDF)