GEN 00001 Published On: 12/02/2024
Question: Could you confirm whether Alliant Energy is open to accepting proposed redlines to Appendix B: Confidentiality Agreement?
Answer: Any proposed redlines to Appendix B: Confidentiality Agreement must be submitted by the Pre-qualification deadline of December 16, 2024. Please use a tracked version of Appendix B, available on the documents page, for markup. All proposed redlines will be reviewed by Alliant Energy, and the RFP manager will provide an update on their status.
GEN 00002 Published On: 12/02/2024
Question: Does Alliant Energy have preferred technical specifications?
Answer: Alliant Energy will offer technical guidance on the RFP Documents page; however, these are provided for reference only and are not mandatory requirements.
GEN 00003 Published On: 12/17/2024
Question: Is there a bid fee?
Answer: In some cases, a bid fee is required. However, bidders may submit up to three project sites for consideration without a fee. Details are outlined in the RFP documents.
GEN 00004 Published On: 12/17/2024
Question: Section 4 states, “All proposals to sell a generation facility to Alliant Energy must utilize an existing, proven technology, with demonstrated reliable generation performance that is capable of sustained, predictable operation.” Would a technology currently in the pilot phase, with extensive performance data expected before the proposed commercial operation date, be considered under this RFP?
Answer: Potentially, depending on the technology and the available data. However, Alliant encourages submitting a bid.
GEN 00005 Published On: 12/17/2024
Question: Would audited financial statements for the last three fiscal years, along with unaudited year-to-date financials, be sufficient to demonstrate financial viability?
Answer: Yes.
GEN 00006 Published On: 12/17/2024
Question: Is an early-stage company without a credit rating required to provide a corporate guarantee for pre-qualification application evaluation?
Answer: There is no requirement for guarantees at the pre-qualification stage; however, they may be required prior to contracting.
GEN 00007 Published On: 12/17/2024
Question: Is there a requirement that projects bidding have already received their IA with MISO, or can projects currently in the queue also be considered?
Answer: No, bids at different points in development will be considered in the RFP. Progress towards the in-service date will be taken into account as part of the evaluation process.
GEN 00008 Published On: 12/17/2024
Question: Is there a preference for specific types of thermal resources, such as SCCT, CCCT, etc.?
Answer: There is no preference at this time. A determination may be made based on the cost, performance of bids, and Alliant's portfolio considerations.
GEN 00009 Published On: 12/17/2024
Question: Do we need to provide Capex for PPAs? It seems this requirement is only for BOTs; please confirm.
Answer: CAPEX assumptions are required for bids involving Alliant ownership, not for PPAs.
GEN 00010 Published On: 12/17/2024
Question: Does the intermittent RFP allow for submittal of a Development Transfer?
Answer: Alliant would be interested in bids for development transfers, which involve bids for developmental projects where Alliant executes the EPC phase of development.
GEN 00011 Published On: 12/17/2024
Question: Are the projects submitted to the Pre-Qualification binding?
Answer: Pre-qualification is non-binding.
GEN 00012 Published On: 12/17/2024
Question: Do redlines to the confidentiality agreement need to be finalized prior to the 12/20 deadline, or is it acceptable if they are still being worked on by Friday?
Answer: No. NDA redlines may be submitted at a later date.
GEN 00013 Published On: 12/17/2024
Question: On credit support, if the respondent is a development company with limited credit history and no audited financials, is a corporate guarantee the only way to qualify?
Answer: Potential bidders are encouraged to submit a re-qualification application. Any credit support would be required during contract negotiations.
GEN 00014 Published On: 12/17/2024
Question: Does every response to the RFP have to include capacity for the volume offered or is it possible to supply energy only?
Answer: Alliant may consider energy-only or capacity-only offers. However, it is generally expected that respondents will transfer all energy, capacity, renewable energy credits (RECs), and other physical and environmental attributes to Alliant as part of the proposed transaction. If a bid does not transfer all attributes to Alliant, the proposal may be disqualified.
GEN 00015 Published On: 12/17/2024
Question: Is there any preference for the timing of the COD (start of year, midyear, end of year, etc.)?
Answer: No, Alliant is open to any project or bid that meets the in-service window specified in the RFP documents.
GEN 00016 Published On: 12/17/2024
Question: Does Alliant have a preferred PPA term length?
Answer: No. Alliant is open to a range of term lengths.
GEN 00017 Published On: 12/17/2024
Question: If we submit four configurations of the same project, would there be a bid fee for the fourth configuration or would that all count as one project site?
Answer: No, bid fees are generally considered for separate project sites. In some cases, depending on the nature of the configurations, some bids at the same site may be considered separate bids. However, in most cases, bidders are free to offer different permutations of projects at a given site without incurring additional fees.
GEN 00018 Published On: 12/23/2024
Question: Would Alliant consider a project to be sited at one of its existing generation facilities?
Answer: No - there isn’t enough time in the RFP process to accommodate the coordination needed for this kind of siting.
GEN 00019 Published On: 12/23/2024
Question: Resources in MISO Local Resource Zones (“LRZ”) 2 and 3 are preferred, but competitive resources delivering capacity in MISO LRZ1, LRZ4, or LRZ5 may also be considered if sufficient transmission capability is expected to deliver capacity to MISO LRZ2 or LRZ3 over the contracted term of the resource. How can bidders determine if a project in LRZ4 or LRZ5 meets this requirement?
Answer: Bidders should consult with their own subject matter experts on this topic to describe to Alliant Energy how the proposal can help Alliant Energy meet its capacity obligations and manage capacity price risk. Additional background related to the MISO Planning Resource Auction (PRA) is provided below. MISO’s Planning Resource Auction clears considering Local Clearing Requirements (LCR) at the zonal level, and the MISO footprint-wide Planning Reserve Margin Requirement (PRMR) (among other considerations). Alliant Energy can utilize Network Resource Interconnection Service (NRIS) resources outside of Zones 2 and 3 as a hedge to satisfy its PRMR but not its LCR. Alliant Energy cannot utilize Energy Resource Interconnection Service (ERIS) capacity for resources outside of Zones 2 and 3 without an approved Transmission Service Request (TSR). The effectiveness of the hedge is impacted by zonal price separation between Alliant Energy’s load and the Bidder’s resource. Zonal Capacity Import Limits (CIL) and Capacity Export Limits (CEL) can impact Zonal price separation, and these zonal CIL/CEL values change each year. Alliant Energy is looking for bidders to provide information to describe such hedging risks. For example: - Is the resource NRIS or ERIS? If ERIS, will the bidder secure long-term TSR so Alliant Energy can utilize capacity, and at what cost? - Is the bidder aware of long-term CIL/CEL challenges and opportunities as flagged by MISO in areas such as the Loss of Load Expectation Working Group? - Is the bidder proposing other methods of hedge management?
GEN 00020 Published On: 12/23/2024
Question: Is there a minimum resource size (MW)?
Answer: Bidders can consider 25 MW nameplate as a minimum size. Distribution interconnected projects are not considered as part of RFP 1 and RFP 2.
GEN 00021 Published On: 12/26/2024
Question: Can you provide more detail regarding the ability for bidders to submit development transfer proposals? At what stage of development would Alliant seek to acquire the projects? Does Alliant have forms of contract for bidders to redline? What additional information should bidders submit if proposing a development transfer structure?
Answer: Alliant prefers BTA projects, but will consider EPC/APA projects. There is a preference for a notice to proceed date with EPC/APA projects and a COD or after date for BTA projects. Alliant does not have redlines, but please see key terms.
GEN 00022 Published On: 12/26/2024
Question: Could you confirm whether a thermal generation facility (operating or new development) in zones 8-10 would qualify for this RFP?
Answer: No, MISO LRZ 8-10 projects are not being considered. There is a preference for MISO LRZ 2 and 3 projects with consideration open to projects with delivery capacity to MISO LRZ 1, 4, and 5.
GEN 00023 Published On: 12/26/2024
Question: Could you please clarify if submitting a project site with multiple different contract types (PPA & APA) will count as a single proposal for the purpose of calculating evaluation fees?
Answer: No. Bid fees are generally considered for separate project sites.
GEN 00024 Published On: 12/26/2024
Question: Are MISO LRZ Zone 6 Projects being considered as part of Alliant's RFP?
Answer: No, MISO LRZ 6 projects are not being considered. There is a preference for MISO LRZ 2 and 3 projects with consideration open to projects with delivery capacity to MISO LRZ 1, 4, and 5.
GEN 00025 Published On: 01/14/2025
Question: What dates/timing should we be anticipating for execution and regulatory approval if selected to proceed?
Answer: Alliant anticipates that they will begin engaging with selected bidders re: detailed diligence and possibly negotiations in the second quarter of 2025. The time needed to negotiate and execute an agreement varies and may require regulatory approval. We suggest bidders notify CRA of any constraints.
GEN 00026 Published On: 01/15/2025
Question: Would Alliant consider a MIPA structure (as opposed to an APA) for the acquisition of development projects?
Answer: Alliant has concerns about the exposure of a MIPA structure over an APA and did not anticipate such a transaction when it issued this RFP, but remains open to exploring the idea. Please provide a description of the project and the transaction you propose as best possible in the response templates.
GEN 00027 Published On: 01/15/2025
Question: Can Alliant clarify its expectations with respect to the binding nature of proposals? There is contradictory language contained within the RFP itself vs. the provided term sheets. Specifically, in section 3.21 of the RFP it states: “Without limiting the applicability of any other representation, warrant, or covenant in this Proposal, Respondent represents and warrants and, as applicable, covenants to Company as follows: Respondent has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Proposal and perform its obligations hereunder. This Proposal constitutes a legally valid and binding obligation enforceable against Respondent in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or other similar Laws relating to creditors’ rights generally or general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity). Respondent understands and agrees that, by submitting a Proposal, it is offering to enter into a definitive agreement based on the type of Capacity Asset reflected in the Proposal on substantially the same terms and conditions set forth in such Proposal, as applicable, made available in these RFPs to Respondents. Each Proposal submitted by Respondent is Respondent’s good faith best offer.” In contrast, the header of the APA term sheet states: “The identified commercial terms set forth below are included merely to provide guidance to a Bidder in the preparation of their response. The commercial terms set forth below do not constitute all of the terms and conditions that Buyer would require in any definitive agreement and the commercial terms set forth below are not an offer or commitment to negotiate for or enter into any transaction. Neither Party shall be contractually obligated to move forward with any project unless and until the Parties execute a duly authorized definitive agreement for such Project.”
Answer: The goal of this RFP is to identify resources that could potentially meet the needs of Alliant's customers.
Alliant intends to engage with selected bidders after the RFP process for detailed diligence and possibly negotiations. If selected, and if such diligence & negotiation do not lead to a commerically viable agreement, each party retains the right to terminate negotiations.
GEN 00028 Published On: 01/21/2025
Question: How long do you expect the regulatory approval process to take and what does the process look like for regulatory approval? Are you going to submit all the projects together or separately for approval?
Answer: The time to achieve any required regulatory approvals, and the nature of those approval processes, will vary and depends on the transaction. Whether regulatory approval is best pursued through a series of individual requests or through one or more aggregate requests is not known at this time. We suggest bidders notify CRA of any constraints.
GEN 00029 Published On: 01/21/2025
Question: Would Alliant accept geographic data in KMZ format, or is shapefile format required?
Answer: A shapefile format is strongly preferred to avoid potential conversion issues. KMZ is acceptable, but not preferred, and Alliant Energy would need to work with bidder on the conversion.
GEN 00030 Published On: 01/22/2025
Question: What are the typical on-peak off-peak hours?
Answer: Per the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO)...
On-peak hours
Off-peak hours
GEN 00031 Published On: 02/05/2025
Question: In the "Company Information" requirements, the RFP states the following: A copy of the Respondent’s most recent quarterly report containing unaudited consolidated financial statements signed and verified by an authorized officer of Respondent attesting to its accuracy; and a copy of Respondent’s most recent three (3) annual reports containing audited consolidated financial statements. If such financial data is not available, as much comparable information as possible must be provided. Can you provide some examples of potential alternatives we could provide to fulfil this requirement?
Answer: Examples would include internally prepared financial statements (balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement) for the most recent quarter and past three years, signed and verified by an authorized officer.
GEN 00032 Published On: 02/05/2025
Question: We are looking forward to bidding into Alliant Energy’s 2024 Request for Proposals that is due next week. I just wanted to reach out to get a few clarifications from Alliant Energy as we approach the RFP deadline. 1. Does Alliant Energy have a preference for BESS overbuild and augmentation in this RFP? 2. Does Alliant Energy have a preference regarding degradation in this RFP? Any guidance on the expectations regarding these items would be greatly appreciated as we finalize our proposals. In addition, would the Alliant RFP team be willing to hop on a quick call to discuss these preferences prior to the RFP deadline next week?
Answer: Alliant Energy is looking for the most cost effective options available to meet our customers' resource requirements. We do not have any maximum annual degradation thresholds nor is there a stated preference for overbuild versus augmentation associated with BESS capacity. We do request that bidders clearly state the performance assumptions associated with BESS as part of the bid information submitted.