RFR Cumulative Impact Analysis Guidance and Community Benefits Plans

Background
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, specifically the Office of Environmental Justice and Equity (OEJE), is seeking a consultant agency to develop guidance on Cumulative Impact Analysis and Community Benefits Plans. This initiative is part of Massachusetts' broader effort to meet emissions limits outlined in the Clean Energy and Climate Plan. This necessitates significant upgrades and expansions in clean energy infrastructure, including wind and solar generation, storage, transmission, and distribution. The contract aims to ensure that communities are engaged in the siting process for clean energy infrastructure and that the benefits of this transition are shared equitably.

Work Details
The contractor will be responsible for three main tasks:

1) **Stakeholder Engagement**: Develop and implement a plan for stakeholder engagement that includes interviews, focus groups, and hybrid meetings with language access across Massachusetts. Collaborate with state agencies to gather input from stakeholders involved with environmental justice populations. Organize meetings and provide stipends or incentives for participation.

2) **Asset Mapping**: Identify best practices for cumulative impact analysis (CIA) and community benefits plans (CBP). Conduct interviews with experts in CIA/CBP processes, research methodologies, prepare documentation on best practices, identify factors affecting environmental burdens in communities, propose a baseline analysis process for Massachusetts, and co-create a menu of options for CIAs and CBPs.

3) **Guidance Development**: Draft proposals based on stakeholder feedback for CIAs and CBPs. Facilitate public sessions to gather input and finalize guidance documents that inform community benefit agreements.

Period of Performance
The contract is expected to be completed by June 30, 2025, with possible extensions until December 31, 2025.

Place of Performance
The work will be performed across various locations in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.