The Puerto Rico Public-Private Partnerships Authority (the “Authority”), in collaboration with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (“PREPA”), issued Request for Qualifications from companies and consortia interested in two power projects:  Hydroelectric Power Plants Revitalization Project and Electric Power Flexible Distributed Generation Units project.

These RFQs are a part of the Government’s mission to transform Puerto Rico’s electric system through private ownership, management or operation of PREPA assets. PREPA had suffered years of underinvestment and substandard management, resulting in significant operational and financial challenges that were exacerbated by Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria in September 2017. Government´s goal is to transform Puerto Rico’s energy system into a modern, sustainable, reliable, efficient, cost-effective and resilient system.

Hydroelectric Power Plants Revitalization Project includes rehabilitating, upgrading, managing and operating sixteen (16) hydroelectric generating units and their respective turbines, switchyards, dams and reservoirs at nine (9) facilities (each a “Project Hydropower Facility” and together, the “Project Hydropower System”) located throughout the island of Puerto Rico, including the administration of federal disaster recovery funding, if any, pursuant to a long-term contract (the “Project”). Additional facilities may be included. The Project Hydropower Facilities form part of the eleven total facilities that make up Puerto Rico’s hydroelectric power system (the “Hydropower System”).  The project will also include capital investments for rehabilitation and deferred maintenance of the Project Hydropower System.  

This project was initiated by the Authority after receipt of an unsolicited proposal, submitted by Cube Hydro Partners, LLC and CSA Architects & Engineers, LLP in respect of the Hydropower System, dated May 25, 2017 and entitled “Hydropower Upgrade Program.” In accordance with the PPP Act, the Project is being opened up to competitive procurement.

Electric Power Flexible Distributed Generation Units Project includes developing, constructing, managing and operating new mobile and/or fixed (or a combination thereof) flexible distributed generation units to be located at various locations (initially including at existing PREPA electric generation installations) across the island of Puerto Rico (the “Generation Units”), pursuant to a twenty-five year (25-year) power purchase and operating agreement (“PPOA”) (the “Project”).

The project was initiated by the Authority after receipt of an unsolicited proposal, submitted by ARG Precision Corp., PW Power Systems, Inc. and Bostonia Partners, LLC in respect of PREPA’s existing eighteen (18) flexible distributed generation units, dated June 15, 2017 and entitled “Proposal for Replacement of PREPA’s Peaking Units.” In accordance with the PPP Act the Project is being opened up to competitive procurement.