Deadline: 27 November 2024

Two requests for proposals:

  • Study exploring the creation of a multi-city One-Stop-Shop (OSS) (Italian Mission Cities)
  • Support for a sustainable energy-focused district investment platform approach for Dutch Mission Cities (below)

Request for Proposals: Study exploring the creation of a multi-city One-Stop-Shop (OSS) (Italian Mission Cities)

Update (13 November): A document with responses to questions from interested parties has been added as an annex to this RfP

Through the NetZeroCities City Expert Support Facility, NetZeroCities / Climate-KIC are inviting quotations for a feasibility study exploring the creation of a multi-city One-Stop-Shop (OSS) for the Italian Mission Cities under the Let’s GOv project consortium (Bologna, Bergamo, Florence, Milan, Padova, Parma, Prato, Rome, and Turin). The OSS would serve as a platform for citizens, businesses, and key stakeholders to access information and resources on achieving climate neutrality and addressing climate adaptation in existing building stock from 2030 to 2050. While this study focuses on the feasibility of a multi-city OSS, the proposed solution will form part of a broader National Platform aimed at collectively tackling the challenges Italian cities face in reaching climate neutrality.

About the request

The feasibility study is an essential step in determining the potential for a multi-city OSS that will catalyse urban decarbonisation efforts, extend the benefits of energy renovations, and create new opportunities for private capital investment across Italian Mission Cities. The feasibility study will evaluate the potential for a multi-city OSS to support large-scale urban renovation and decarbonisation efforts.

Key aspects include:

  • Aggregating energy renovation interventions, bundling both civil and industrial buildings, and proposing investment packages to private economic operators (e.g., Energy Service Companies – ESCos), thereby creating economies of scale.
  • Exploring various OSS business models, governance structures, and legal frameworks, considering national legal and policy conditions, market maturity, funding availability, and local government commitments.

The study will also analyse how the OSS can move beyond traditional roles to actively leverage partnerships between cities and attract private capital. Collaboration with the Climate City Capital Hub will be crucial for this.

Objectives

Proposals should address the following scopes of the study:

1. Technical Feasibility:

  • Assess the provision and integration of innovative services with existing market offerings.
  • Outline the technical procedures required to activate new investments in building renovations
  • Consider how the OSS can facilitate the mobilization of resources for renovation across multiple cities.

2. Organisational and Legal Feasibility:

  • Explore potential governance models for the OSS, including its legal form (e.g., companies, cooperatives, public-private partnerships, semi-public entities).
  • Build on previous studies (e.g., the PadovaFIT Expanded EU project) to define a governance model that works across all Let’s GOv consortium cities and aligns with evolving Climate City Contracts.
  • Investigate how the OSS could coordinate with municipalities and other market actors to streamline services.

3. Economic Feasibility:

  • Analyse the financial sustainability of different OSS models, including expected costs, revenue flows, and the leverage effect on investment.
  • Propose a business model that ensures long-term financial sustainability while activating local actors (banks, ESCos, etc.) to finance building renovations.
  • Explore the feasibility of utilising financial tools like Energy Performance Contracts, fiscal incentives, crowdfunding, and Energy as a Service to finance interventions.

Considerations: The supplier should also take into account that many of the Italian municipalities involved already have versions of an OSS (Energy Desk) at various stages of development. These existing services, which provide consultation and information on energy topics, should be integrated into the analysis.

Timeline and additional information

Interested parties are invited to submit their proposals by 20 November 2024 to Radka Reil, CESF Manager [CESF@netzerocities.eu]. Proposals should include and address all specific requirements related to the request which can be found below.

For information on the study exploring the creation of a multi-city One-Stop-Shop (OSS) for the Italian Mission Cities under the Let’s GOv project consortium  (Bologna, Bergamo, Florence, Milan, Padova, Parma, Prato, Rome, and Turin):

Request for Proposals: Support for a sustainable energy-focused district investment platform approach for Dutch Mission Cities 

Through the NetZeroCities City Expert Support Facility, NetZeroCities / Climate-KIC are requesting quotation for support with laying a foundation for a sustainable energy-focused district investment platform approach (Dutch Mission Cities Pilot Activity Support). The cities of Amsterdam, The Hague, Eindhoven/Helmond, Groningen, Rotterdam, and Utrecht have been developing district investment platforms since June 2023 as part of the NetZeroCities Pilot Cities Program (Cohort 1). These platforms aim to support business case development and facilitate blended finance strategies for energy transition projects at the district level. To ensure the success of the initiative, independent process facilitation is needed to accelerate stakeholder collaboration and the establishment of a sustainable district investment platform.

We estimate that the facilitator(s) must have the capacity to dedicate 1.5-2 days per week until ca. June 2025, focusing on one use case per city, ensuring tailored support and sustained momentum throughout the project duration.

About the request

The key activities to be carried out by the process facilitator (organisation/team/individual) are as follows:

Stakeholder Engagement and Facilitation:

  • Organise and facilitate city and district-specific conversations with known and new stakeholders, including representatives from municipalities, government agencies, financial parties, public, quasi-public, civic, and private sector stakeholders.
  • Build momentum and foster commitment toward collaborative projects and investments in energy transition.
  • Provide constructive challenges to existing approaches and support stakeholders in overcoming barriers to progress.

Development of Business Case Ideas:

  • Identify and explore/co-develop, with local partners, potential business case ideas for integrated projects within each district, focusing on energy transition and related investments.
  • Guide stakeholders in prioritising business case ideas and evolving them into tangible, investable district-level portfolios.

Cross-Pollination and aggregation of Ideas Across Cities:

  • Enable cross-city mutual learning, sharing, inspiration and momentum-building across the seven cities, facilitating the transfer of knowledge and approaches that enhance confidence and ambition levels.
  • Promote collaboration among cities to ensure that the district investment platform approach becomes more effective and scalable.

Support in Investment Platform Development:

  • Assist in establishing the district investment platforms, ensuring that each city develops at least one integrated business case ready for investment.
  • Facilitate the process of creating concrete steps toward building investment platforms and ensure that local stakeholders feel a sense of ownership and engagement.

Reporting:

  • Provide regular progress documenting key activities, stakeholder engagement outcomes, business case ideas, and potential investments to discuss with the stakeholders.
  • Provide a final report summarising achievements, lessons learned, challenges encountered, and recommendations for the ongoing development of district investment platforms.

Please find all relevant information including full scope, milestones, and all related information below.

Timeline and additional information

Interested parties are invited to submit their proposals by 20 November 2024 to Radka Reil, CESF Manager [CESF@netzerocities.eu]. Proposals should include and address all specific requirements related to the request which can be found below.

For information on the facilitation support for a sustainable energy-focused district investment platform approach for Dutch Mission Cities (Amsterdam, The Hague, Eindhoven/Helmond, Groningen, Rotterdam, and Utrecht):