The CEL LA RIBERA project includes the following main phases to be carried out during 2022, 2023, and 2024. These phases are based on the methodology indicated in the ‘Practical Guide for Public Procurement of Innovation for Public Bodies in the Valencian Community’ by AVI, as shown below:
PHASE 0. CREATION OF THE PPI WORKING TEAM AND CLUSTER ESTABLISHMENT.
The initial phase of the project will lay the foundations for the development of a strategy for the deployment of energy communities in La Ribera and, on the other hand, the execution of at least 1 PPI procedure. The first action will be the creation of the working group in charge of leading the project, including at least the three pillars of the triple helix model: academic sector (Universitat Politècnica de València, hereinafter UPV), business sector (Associació Valenciana d’Empreses de Serveis Energètics, hereinafter AVAESEN), and the public sector (Diputación de València, hereinafter DIVAL, and the Federació Valenciana de Municipis i Províncies, hereinafter FVMP), in addition to the 47 municipalities of La Ribera and the two associations that group them (Mancomunitat de la Ribera Alta and Mancomunitat de la Ribera Baixa).
Also, the procurement of technical assistance will be carried out. Furthermore, 2 municipalities of La Ribera will be selected (one with a population under 5,000 and one with a larger population). This will complete the innovative cluster of the CEL LA RIBERA project.
With the working group established, an action plan will be defined, and training sessions on PPI will be carried out for the technical and political staff of the two selected municipalities, as part of the activities aimed at creating specialized PPI teams.
Finally, an analysis of the potential deployment of energy communities will be conducted in the selected municipalities, which will generally include: i. Analysis of solar resources and rooftop deployment potential in both municipalities; ii. Analysis of energy demands and consumption of residential and public buildings in the municipalities. This urban area analysis may be complete or partial depending on the service provider’s offer.
PHASE 1. ANALYSIS AND IDENTIFICATION OF NEEDS.
Phase 1 includes actions to determine challenges and needs (technical, legal, procedural, and social) to be addressed through the public contract to promote energy communities in participating municipalities. This will identify the innovation to be achieved via a PPI procedure.
Prior to activity 1.2, a review of the legal and technical framework of the concept “energy community” will be conducted, which together with the information from activity 0.4 will lead to the identification of the pilot to be developed.
It also includes technology monitoring and market comparison of potential solutions (including innovative ones). Finally, the initial evaluation criteria for future offers will be identified.
Identifying the needs that innovative solutions must cover is a key step to ensure the project is realistic and obtain the necessary credibility with potential suppliers. This will involve:
- Discussing with end-users and municipal technicians, who are best positioned to identify process and service inefficiencies. Promoting citizen participation is essential.
- Defining needs without specifying solutions (functional needs), which opens the door to innovation.
- Building critical mass, identifying administrations/owners with similar needs, showing the private sector a potential market exists.
PHASE 2. STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT.
This phase includes pre-market dialogue up to the definition of the ‘prior information notice’ (PIN). It prepares the information, distribution channels, and materials for a fruitful dialogue. All technical documentation for pilot cases, the project prospectus, and the technical questionnaire for suppliers will be prepared.
PHASE 3. MARKET DIALOGUE.
Market engagement is the cornerstone of innovation procurement. This phase includes meetings, communications, surveys, and site visits. It starts with the PIN publication in the TED bulletin, the project prospectus, and the market consultation questionnaire. The Open Market Consultation (OMC) will include pilot visits and bilateral meetings. This information establishes the types of actions to be contracted and evaluation criteria.
PHASE 4. PROCUREMENT PROCESS INITIATION.
The aim is to complete a PPI procedure with the contracting of works and/or services. Based on consultation information, the municipality will select the type of procedure (open, competitive dialogue, or negotiated), drafting the tender specifications.
PHASE 5. MONITORING AND EVALUATION.
To validate results, the working group will develop: i. a monitoring plan for work execution ensuring contract compliance; ii. a validation plan for the solution adopted by the municipality. A results report will be drafted.
