DATE: November 13,2026
1. Project Purpose & Objectives
The City of Monroe is seeking Statements of Qualifications from professional engineering firms with demonstrated expertise in electric transmission system planning, utility interconnection, substation engineering, and project delivery to support development of a new 100 kV Point of Delivery (POD). The City has selected the site for the new POD. Monroe intends for the new POD to be planned and developed as a scalable, long-term system asset that increases available capacity, improves system reliability and operational flexibility, and preserves practical opportunities for future transmission and potential distribution substation expansion. The selected consultant will be expected to approach the project in two coordinated parts: first, to evaluate how the new POD should be integrated into Monroe's existing transmission system and establish an appropriate initial and ultimate buildout concept; and second, to advance the selected concept through detailed engineering, utility coordination, procurement support, construction-phase services, testing, commissioning, and energization. The city seeks a consultant that will serve as a technical advisor as well as a design engineer. The consultant should challenge assumptions where appropriate, identify long-term opportunities and constraints, and recommend solutions that balance near-term project needs with lifecycle value to the city.
2. Background and Project Context
The City of Monroe owns and operates an electric utility that includes an existing 100 kV transmission loop, two points of delivery, substations, and associated distribution infrastructure. The City has identified the need for an additional POD to support continued system capacity, reliability, resiliency, and future growth. The selected site for the POD is approximately 59 acres, with approximately 6 acres anticipated to be reserved for the new POD and future substation-related development. The site is strategically located at an existing intersection between Duke Energy transmission facilities and the City of Monroe's existing 100 kV transmission loop. This location provides the opportunity for a direct interconnection with limited extension of transmission facilities to reach existing City infrastructure. The site and surrounding facilities are more fully described in the appendices to this RFQ. The site is not necessarily located within an existing or rapidly growing load center. The strategic value is instead based on its location within the transmission system and the potential to strengthen the City's overall system configuration. The city therefore expects the selected consultant to work with the City's engineering team to evaluate the POD from a system-wide perspective rather than as an isolated connection point. The new POD should be evaluated for the ability to increase source diversity, improve contingency capability, and reduce the operational consequences associated with the loss or reduced availability of other major system facilities. The city also wants the initial project to preserve reasonable future opportunities at the site. Potential future uses may include expansion of transmission facilities, installation of additional breakers or line positions, future transformers, and development of a distribution substation. The city does not intend to predetermine the final configuration through this RFQ. The selected consultant will be expected to evaluate alternatives and recommend an initial and ultimate configuration that best serves Monroe's long-term interests.
3. General Service Requirements
The selected firm shall provide all professional engineering, planning, analysis, and project delivery services necessary to complete the scope authorized by the City. The consultant shall work under the direction of City of Monroe Energy Services and coordinate closely with Electric Operations, Substation Operations, Engineering, and other City staff as appropriate. The selected consultant shall provide qualified personnel with direct experience in utility transmission planning, transmission interconnections, POD and substation design, protection and control, utility coordination, construction-phase engineering, and commissioning. Subconsultants may be used where appropriate; however, the prime consultant shall remain responsible for coordination and delivery of the complete project. Under the direction of the City, the consultant shall coordinate with Duke Energy and other agencies or entities as required. The city expects the consultant to identify utility interface requirements early and to clearly define design, construction, protection, metering, communication, outage, testing, and energization responsibilities as the project develops. All recommendations should consider safety, reliability, operability, maintainability, constructability, lifecycle cost, expansion capability, outage requirements, and compatibility with Monroe's existing electric system and operating practices. The City will retain final authority over project decisions. The consultant shall provide sufficient technical analysis, alternatives, recommendations, cost information, and implementation considerations to allow the City to make informed decisions at major project milestones.
4. Detailed Scope of Services
The selected firm or firms may be asked to provide services including, but not limited to the following:
A. Project Initiation and System Integration
1. Review available City system information, the selected site, existing Duke Energy and Monroe transmission facilities, and other information relevant to development of the new POD.
2. Confirm project objectives with City staff and evaluate the role of the new POD within Monroe's existing 100 kV transmission loop, including capacity, reliability, contingency, operational flexibility, and future system needs.
3. Recommend an appropriate initial and ultimate capacity and identify major transmission modifications or system considerations necessary to effectively integrate the new POD.
4. Identify additional studies, data, field investigations, or other information necessary to advance the project. Significant supplemental studies or investigations shall be performed only as authorized by the City.
B. Conceptual POD and Long-Term Site Development
1. Develop and evaluate practical concepts for the initial POD and an ultimate site arrangement that preserves reasonable opportunities for future transmission and potential distribution substation expansion.
2. Evaluate the site at a planning level for future expansion needs, including appropriate space and provisions for major substation facilities and supporting infrastructure that could materially affect future development.
3. Recommend which improvements should be constructed, sized, or reserved as part of the initial project to avoid unnecessary future reconstruction while balancing near-term cost and need.
4. Prepare conceptual one-line diagrams, site layouts, planning-level cost information, phasing recommendations, and a concise planning basis for City review and use during detailed design.
C. Duke Energy Interconnection Coordination
1. Coordinate with Duke Energy to establish applicable interconnection requirements and the division of responsibilities between Duke Energy and the City, including ownership, protection, metering, communications, outages, testing, and energization as applicable.
2. Support the applications, technical exchanges, meetings, reviews, and schedule coordination reasonably necessary to advance the interconnection.
D. Detailed Engineering and Design
1. Following City approval of the planning basis and preferred configuration, provide the engineering and design services necessary for construction of the initial POD and associated City transmission improvements.
2. Prepare the drawings, specifications, calculations, equipment requirements, cost estimates, permitting documents, and procurement or bid documents appropriate for the approved project.
3. Design the initial facilities consistent with the approved long-term site concept and coordinate interfaces with existing Monroe and Duke Energy facilities.
E. Project Delivery Support
1. As authorized by the city, provide support for equipment procurement, bidding, construction administration, outage and cutover coordination, testing, commissioning, energization, and project closeout.
2. The specific level of construction-phase, field, testing, procurement, and commissioning support will be established during subsequent scope and fee negotiations.
5. Submittal Requirements
Submittals shall be delivered by mail, email, or in person, accompanied with an electronic .pdf of the qualifications and proposal. Submittals are encouraged to be concise, well-organized, and limited to the information requested herein. Submittals shall include the following:
1. Firm name, office location, primary contact, and physical location of the personnel proposed for this assignment.
2. A brief description of the firm's relevant electric utility, transmission planning, POD/interconnection, and substation engineering capabilities.
3. A project team organization chart identifying the proposed project manager, lead transmission/system planning personnel, lead substation engineer, protection and control resources, civil/site resources, and key subconsultants, if any.
4. Qualifications and experience of key personnel, emphasizing their direct involvement in similar projects.
5. Up to five similar projects that demonstrate relevant experience with transmission interconnections, points of delivery, public power or municipal utilities, transmission system planning, scalable substation development, and/or comparable projects. For each project, identify the owner, voltage, scope, consultant role, project status, and proposed team members who participated.
6. The firm's understanding of Monroe's objectives and proposed approach to integrating the new POD into the existing 100 kV loop while preserving future transmission and distribution opportunities.
7. The firm's approach to reliability and contingency evaluation, including how the new POD should be assessed as a system reliability asset rather than solely as an additional source of capacity.
8. Experience coordinating with Duke Energy or comparable investor-owned transmission utilities on interconnection, protection, metering, communications, outage coordination, and energization.
9. Approach to development of an initial and ultimate site buildout plan, including how the firm would determine which infrastructure should be installed initially versus preserved for future phases.
10. Approach to long-lead equipment, procurement strategy, construction sequencing, and project schedule risk management.
11. At least three client references for similar work, including contact name, telephone number, and email address.
12. Identification of any actual or potential conflicts of interest.
13. Submittals should be sent to: City of Monroe - Energy Services Attn: David Lucore PO Box 69 Monroe, NC 28111 Or emailed to: dlucore@monroenc.org
Submittals Due: By 5 pm on Tuesday, December 7, 2026
6. RFQ Process Timeline (Subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances)
Advertise RFQ 11/13/2026
Deadline for Questions 11/20/2026
Send questions/answers to interested firms 11/25/2026
Deadline for qualifications submittal 12/7/2026
Anticipated date to select qualified firm(s) 12/31/2026
Anticipated date to receive Council approval and execute. 2/28/2027
7. Questions, Clarifications, and Notification
Questions and clarifications should be submitted via email to dlucore@monroenc.org by 11/20/2026. The city will send all questions and answers via email to all responders by November 25, 2026.
8. RFQ Evaluation Criteria
The City of Monroe will evaluate and select the firm based upon the responses submitted to this request. The city reserves the right to seek additional information. Qualifications will be evaluated and considered as follows:
Experience with Transmission Planning, POD's & Substation Projects 25 points
Understanding of City's Needs and Proposed Approach 20 points
Qualifications and Experience of Key Personnel 20 points
Transmission Interconnection Coordination Experience 15 points
Similar Projects of Scalability, Reliability, and System Planning 10 points
Quality of Submittal, References, Past Performance 10 points
9. Selection Process
The City will evaluate and rank responding firms based on the qualifications submitted and the criteria established in this RFQ. The City reserves the right to seek clarification or additional information and may conduct interviews with one or more highly qualified firms prior to establishing a final ranking. Following selection, the City intends to negotiate a detailed scope of services and fee with the highest-ranked firm in accordance with applicable North Carolina qualifications-based selection requirements. If a satisfactory agreement cannot be reached, the City may terminate negotiations and proceed with the next highest-ranked firm. The City reserves the right to reject any or all submittals, waive informalities, cancel or reissue the RFQ, and select the firm determined to be most qualified and in the best interest of the City.
Appendices: Appendix A - City of Monroe's Power Deliveries; Appendix B - New POD Site (site diagrams and maps included in original RFQ)
