COM MISSION ERS

Mike Francis, Chairman
District IV

Craig Greene, Vice IL'ltarrman
District 11

Foster L. Campbell
District 

Lambert C. Boissiert: Ill
District 

Eric F. 
District I

VIA EMAIL

Louisiana Q?uEfic Service Commission

POST OFFICE BOX 91134
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA 70821?9154

lgui stunngov

Telephone; (225) 342-98 83

BRANDON M. FREY
Executive Secretary

H. BOWMAN
Executive Counsel

September 8, 2020
JOHNNY E. SNELLGROVE. IR

Deputy Undersecretary

RFP 20?15?Docket TBD Louisiana Public Service Commission, ex parte. In re:
Continued monitoring and coordination with industry and other regulatory agencies
regarding the security of jurisdictional utility generation, transmission, and

distribution assets.

To all LPSC quali?ed consultants:

Enclosed please ?nd a Request for Proposals for outside consultants issued by

the Louisiana Public Service Commission for the above referenced docket. If your ?rm is
interested in submitting a proposal, please review the RFP carefully to determine whether your
?rm meets the speci?c requirements to qualify for this representation. Please note revisions to
Section V-Estimate of Costs, which are underlined.

All Proposals must include a showing that your ?rm possesses the requisite quali?cations
and experience to represent the Commission in this matter. Also, please note that all Proposals,
including the original, plus (3) three copies, and an electronic copy must be received on or
before Friday, October 2, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. Selection of consultants is anticipated to take
place at the Commission?s October 2020 Business and Executive Session, which is currently
scheduled for October 14, 2020.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Kat H. Bowman
Executive Counsel
Enclosure

A Century of Public Service

RFP 20-15
LOUISIANA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS 
September 8, 2020

DOCKET NO. TBD ?Louisiana Public Service Commission, ex parte. In re: Continued
Monitoring and coordination with industry and other regulatory agencies regarding the security
of jurisdictional utility generation, transmission, and distribution assets.

The Louisiana Public Service Commission (?Commission? or in accordance
with the requirements of LPSC General Order dated November 10, 2014 regarding the selection
of contract employees (the ?Contract Order?) to represent the Commission, issues this Request for
Proposals to outside consultants who will assist the Commission in continued
monitoring and coordination with industry and other regulatory agencies regarding the security of
jurisdictional utility generation, transmission, and distribution assets. Qualifying proposals are
anticipated to be placed on the October 2020 Business and Executive Session 
agenda for Commission consideration.

I. Overview

This RFP is being issued pursuant to Commission directive at the June 24, 2020 Business and
Executive Session that recognized while Docket No. R-32702 was concluding, the importance of
continued coordination and monitoring in the area of cybersecurity threats to Louisiana assets and
operations still existed. Therefore, the Commission directed Staff to open a docket to continue
the monitoring of cybersecurity (not only potential threats to Louisiana utility assets and
operations, but also the status of industry and governmental agency responses to these threats) and
to continue participation in meetings with industry and regulatory agencies to ensure the flow of
information continues.

II. Scope of Representation

Applicants will be assisting Commission Staff with the continuation of monitoring the area of
cybersecurity, including but not limited to: potential threats; plans and proposals to combat such
threats; the latest technology used to carry out, and combat, such threats; and the drafting of rules,
if deemed necessary based on information gleaned from the continued monitoring. Further,
Applicants will participate in both industry and regulatory meetings, as necessary.

All proposals shall include an outline of a plan of action for conducting the above described scope.
However, the Commission and its Staff shall have the right to determine how the tasks will be
carried out. In addition, all proposals shall be accompanied by a professional ?rm resume
indicating the quali?cations and experience necessary to meet the requirements of this RFP.
Deviations from the requirements contained herein, or conditional bid amounts may result in
rejection of the bid as non-conforming.

RFP No. 20 15
Page 1

 Period of Representation

The time period estimated to complete the Scope of Representation is approximately 24 months.
At the end of this time period, the importance and continued need for monitoring the area of
cybersecurity will be reassessed. This is merely an estimate and the Commission makes no
representations as to the accuracy of the Period of Representation.

IV. Minimum Requirements

To be considered, all Applicants must have requisite knowledge of matters involving
computer/network/cyber security issues, in addition to those provided in the Commission?s
General Order dated November 10, 2014. Consideration will be given to levels of competence
such as previous experience and success in regulatory processes, being a regulatory representative
for industry and/or regulatory meetings, publications of a regulatory nature, educational
achievement, and other previous employment suggesting competence in the matter of
computer/network/cyber security issues. Signi?cant experience before regulatory agencies such as
the SEC, FERC, NERC, NRC, or other state regulatory commissions may be a favorable factor.
Firm size may be considered in matters likely to be prolonged, complex, or involving multiple
forums.

Applicants shall also have a working knowledge of the Louisiana Public Service Commission
rules, regulations, and any applicable Commission Orders as well as a full understanding and
ability to analyze the issues raised during this process.

V. Estimate of Costs

All proposals shall include fees and direct costs associated with Applicants services in all
anticipated dockets described above. Applicants responding to this RFP shall quote their rates on
an hourly basis, and shall submit a total budget, separating professional fees from direct costs.
Along with providing the above, Applicants should provide an overview of the estimated costs in
the summary of the bid proposal.

Applicants shall only be allowed to charge for actual hours of work performed and costs incurred.
Once selected, an Applicant?s hourly rates and budget shall not be altered except by formal
approval of the Commission.

VI. Con?ict of Interest

Applicants shall prominently and separately disclose current, as well as past employment, which
could possibly result in a con?ict of interest. In addition, Applicants shall disclose matters in which
they currently represent clients before the Commission.

RFP No. 20- 15
Page 2

VII. Billing Guidelines

As required by the November 10, 2014 General Order, all bills will be rendered and shall
speci?cally identify and describe all work performed. the person performing such work. the time
and charge for such work, and shall additionally show the total amount billed to date and the
authorized original estimate. Bills will be rendered in strict accordance with the Commission?s
guidelines. Expenses shall also be separately disclosed with proof of such expenses attached.

Expenses, where applicable, shall be reimbursed at state authorized rates as speci?ed in the Travel
Policies and Procedures Memorandum issued by the State of Louisiana, Division of
Administration in effect at the time such expenses are incurred (?Allowable Expenses?). Any
expenses that exceed the Allowable Expenses shall be borne by the contract employee and shall
not be reimbursed by either the Commission, or the correspondent utility, unless otherwise
speci?ed by the Commission.

Reservation of Righ_ts

The LPSC reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, to amend andfor supplement this RFP
at any time, and to consider proposals or modi?cations thereof received at any time prior to LPSC
vote at Open Session, if such action is found by the LPSC to be in the public interest. Pursuant to
the General Order regarding the selection of contract employees, the LPSC has the right to accept
any offer and does not have to accept the lowest bid amount. In addition, there is also no assurance,
express or implied, that an award will necessarily be made pursuant to this RFP.

IX. Submission of Proposals

Interested parties should submit the original (hard copy), 3 copies, and e-mail an electronic
copy of the proposal to:

H. Bowman

Louisiana Public Service Commission

Of?ce of Executive Counsel

602 North Fifth Street (Galvez Building) (70802)
PO. Box 91154

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821-9154

Phone: (225) 342-9888

Fax: (225) 342-5610

Email: la. gov

To be considered, an original, three copies, and the electronic copy of the proposal must be
received on or before Friday, October 2, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. Selection of consultants is
anticipated to take place at the Commission?s October 2020 Business and Executive Session,
which is currently scheduled for October 14, 2020. Information concerning billing procedures
and the Commission?s RFP policy may be obtained from the address listed above, or by calling
(225) 342-9888.

RFP No. 20-15
Page 3