Technical Qualifications and Resources

The Technical Qualifications and Resources should contain the following information:

A description of the project team’s unique qualifications and expertise, including those of key subrecipients;
A description of the project team’s existing equipment and facilities, or equipment or facilities already in place on the proposed project site, that will facilitate the successful completion of the proposed project; include a justification of any new equipment or facilities requested as part of the project;
Relevant, previous work efforts, demonstrated innovations, and how these enable the applicant to achieve the project objectives;
The time commitment of the key team members to support the project;
The skills, certifications, or other credentials of the construction and ongoing operations workforce;
For multi-organizational projects, describe succinctly:
- The roles and the work to be performed by the project manager and Senior/Key Personnel at the prime and sub levels;
- Business agreements between the applicant and sub;
- How the various efforts will be integrated and managed;
- Process for making decisions on technical direction;
- Publication arrangements;
- Intellectual property issues; and
- Communication plans.

Jurisdictions should consider the following experts for inclusion on the project team:

Energy consultants that work for design teams to review designs at various stages of development, perform energy simulations for performance compliance and prepare compliance documentation to be reviewed by plan checkers.
Special energy review is provided by specially trained plan checkers that work for building departments. Already, plans are reviewed by specialists, e.g., fire, structural, zoning/planning, etc. Energy becomes an additional desk for plan checks. Some building departments contract with specialists to perform energy plan checks.
Technicians trained to perform blower-door tests for infiltration, documenting the proper refrigerant charge in air conditioners and heat pumps, and inspecting the continuity and proper installation of insulation.

Jurisdictions can go in several general directions with regards to compliance and enforcement:

They can develop in-house expertise which is the likely option for larger building departments. Alternatively, they can hire a contractor with the special expertise needed and have the contractor be in charge of verifying that the submitted plans are in compliance with the adopted energy efficiency code and renewable energy standard.
They can require that compliance documentation be prepared and signed by individuals with special credentials, e.g., licensed engineers, architects, or other individuals with special credentials.

The jurisdiction will:

Offer both in-person and virtual training programs on the requirements of the IECC 2021 energy efficiency standard. [It would be more cost effective if the curriculum and content of the training were developed at the ICC, since many jurisdictions are expected to need the same materials. The content could then be delivered at the local level.]
Offer both in-person and virtual training programs on how to comply with the requirements of Appendix CC. [This would depend largely on conditions at the local level. Does the utility or CCA have a net metering program for on-site solar? Are green pricing programs, community solar or other off-site procurement programs available?]
Develop a Renewable Energy Investment Fund (REIF) at the local level as an opportunity to purchase off-site renewable energy when desired and in the event that other opportunities do not exist. [This objective should be stressed for jurisdictions with no other options for off-site procurement.]
Develop and maintain a website where information can be shared and necessary compliance documentation for both the energy efficiency and renewable energy standards can be downloaded. Consider staffing a hotline or a chat option in the website to answer questions not addressed on the website.

This is the end of Box 1: Project Overview – Opportunity 2.