The Army Contracting Agency Northern Region, Dugway Proving Ground, Utah Directorate of Contracting (hereinafter referred to as the Government) seeks to identify responsible sources and obtain information in regard to providing for the transportati on and distribution of natural gas from a qualified Natural Gas Transportation Provider. Interested contractors will be required under their own efforts and cost provide a natural gas pipeline to the boundary of the Dugway Proving Ground (DPG) installatio n and from that point provide, via approved routing, an internal distribution system to deliver natural gas to a point of entry into each building on the installation. A contractor will be required to furnish all necessary labor, management, supervision, permits, equipment, supplies, materials, transportation, and any other incidental services for the complete installation of the gas lines and provide operation, maintenance, repairs, and scheduled replacements to this system to keep it in a safe condition and in compliance with all state and federal regulations throughout the life of any resultant contract. These services will be provided in accordance with all terms, conditions, and special contract requirements, specifications, attachments, and drawings c ontained in or incorporated by reference in any future solicitation. The DPG facility is currently meeting the heating demands with approximately one million gallons of fuel oil and half a million gallons of propane. It is anticipated that the natural ga s consumption would replace the current heating process. Recuperation of investment costs will be by a firm-fixed monthly Connection Fee that will consist of the total cost of capitalization, including overhead, profit, and financing divided by a 240 mont h payback period. The Contractor shall also be responsible for operation and maintenance of the natural gas transportation and distribution works to include but not limited to the monthly meter reading, emergency repairs, blue stake operations, calibratio ns, and scheduled replacements as well as administration, coordination, and monthly billing. The operation and maintenance will consist of the anticipated average monthly cost for performing these functions. PROCEDURES: This request for information is a required component of a complete and systematic process to evaluate interested parties in order to minimize cost both to potentially interested parties and the Government. This notice is being issued to determine the interest and feasibility of proceedin g with a formal request for proposals. Should insufficient credible interest be identified for this action, it is highly unlikely that a formal solicitation will be issued. Should interest be determined sufficient, a formal request for proposals may be fo rthcoming. Interested parties should provide a statement of interest on company letterhead (not to exceed 20 pages in length) to: U.S. Army, Dugway Proving Ground, Attn: SFCA-NR-DW (Eric S. Vokt, Contracting Officer), Dugway Proving Ground, Dugway, Utah 84022. The statement shall include as a minimum the following criteria: (1) capability and experience in the construction, ownership, operation, and maintenance of similar systems; (2) financial capacity to construct, expand, and operate a natural gas sys tem; (3) a statement showing an understanding of the obligation to provide continuous utility services; (4) understanding of any applicable federal, state, and local utility laws, regulations or franchise requirements affecting utilities in the State of Ut ah and capability of complying with such requirements (It should be noted that DPG is principally an area of concurrent State and Federal jurisdiction); and (5) understanding of federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations and familiarity a nd experience with environmental compliance procedures and regulations for the Statement of Utah and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8. Elaborate proposals or pricing information are neither required nor desired. Any innovative and new conceptual ideas to achieve the stated objective are encouraged. No solicitation document exists for this request for Sources Sought . This notice is for informati onal purposes only; it is not a request for proposals nor should it be construed as a commitment by the Government. The Government will not pay for any effort expended into responding to this sources sought announcement. Responses must be submitted not la ter that 5:00 PM MST, 8 September 2005 via email (
[email protected]) or facsimile (435-831-2103 or 435-831-2085). The point of contact concerning this sources sought action is Mr. Eric S. Vokt, Contracting Officer at (435) 831-2107, or email eric.s.
[email protected].