Residential Public Sector Barriers and Opportunities Research
RFP Overview
The Brightline Group, on behalf of ComEd Customer Innovation, is seeking proposal submissions for two Phases of research related to residential public sector energy efficiency (EE) and energy efficiency electrification (EEE) improvements.
The purpose of this first Phase of research is to help ComEd better understand the barriers and opportunities to increase EE and EEE savings within the residential public sector, including but not limited to public housing authorities (PHA). This research should explore the context and experiences of residential public sector entities when pursuing EE and EEE retrofits of their buildings, as well as the opportunities for ComEd to support in overcoming barriers and deepening residential public sector participation in ComEd program offerings.
Depending on the outcomes of Phase 1, ComEd may fund a second Phase of this work. If approved by ComEd, the second Phase of research would focus on further developing and/or testing the strategies identified during Phase 1. During Phase 1, the selected vendor team will develop a Phase 2 research and recruitment plan, as well as begin generating leads for a potential Phase 2.
This research should address the following objectives:
- Identify ways ComEd could maximize EE and EEE savings within the existing residential public sector offerings, as well as characterize the existing barriers.
- Identify potential new opportunities for ComEd to increase EE and EEE savings from the residential public sector, as well as characterize the potential barriers.
- Explore successful residential public sector offerings outside of Illinois to understand how public housing is commonly defined, as well as to identify and assess new technologies, program design interventions, potential new housing types (e.g., transitional, affordable) to serve, and innovative collaboration solutions.
- Establish a foundational understanding of the current public housing landscape in northern Illinois related to EE and EEE.
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Intent to Bid
If your organization is interested in bidding on this RFP, please email [email protected] by 11:59 pm CT on February 16, 2026, the following:
- Any questions about the RFP or process;
- Whether your organization wants its name released to other vendors to facilitate potential partnerships on this RFP; and
- Your organization’s intent to bid.
In the email subject line, please include 1) your organization’s name, and 2) the title of the RFP. The deadline for submitting an intent to bid is February 16, 2026.
ComEd strongly encourages that interested vendors allow their organization’s name to be released to facilitate potential partnerships on this RFP. Please indicate in your intent to bid whether your organization is interested in having its name released by ComEd for potential partnership on the RFP.
RFP Submissions
Email your proposal to [email protected] by 11:59 p.m. CT on March 2, 2026. In the email subject line, please include 1) your organization’s name, and 2) the title of the RFP.
Note: The BrightLine Group, E Source, and Swift Strategy team is the Administrator for the ComEd Customer Innovation initiative. BrightLine is the Prime contractor. As BrightLine’s subcontractor, E Source’s primary responsibility is subcontracting to organizations selected to run pilots. Accordingly, E Source, on behalf of BrightLine and ComEd, will hold the contract with the selected vendor. Terms and Conditions for subcontracts are provided by request.
Submit your proposal by 11:59 p.m. CT on March 2, 2026 to [email protected]
Please be sure to include 1) your organization’s name, and 2) the title of the RFP in the subject line of your email.
RFP Schedule
| RFP issued by BrightLine, on behalf of ComEd | February 9, 2026 |
| Intent to bid due | 11:59 pm CT on February 16, 2026 |
| Deadline to submit questions | 11:59 pm CT on February 16, 2026 |
| Deadline to indicate interest in having the organization name released by ComEd for a potential partnership on the RFP | 11:59 pm CT on February 16, 2026 |
| BrightLine, on behalf of ComEd, releases names of vendors interested in potential partnership on RFP | 11:59 pm CT on February 18, 2026 |
| BrightLine, on behalf of ComEd, posts responses to questions | 11:59 pm CT on February 23, 2026 |
| RFP submissions deadline | 11:59 pm CT on March 2, 2026 |
| Respondents will be notified of the next steps after ComEd and the Customer Innovation Admin Team have reviewed submissions | March 16, 2026 |