REQUEST FOR INFORMATION Pursuant to FAR 15.202 Wood Energy Use Services for US Forest Service DOI/NBC/Acquisition Services Directorate - Herndon (AQD-Herndon) will handle this Request for Information. AQD-Herndon is a Federal Franchise Fund Contracting Office under the authority of the Government Management Reform Act and provides contracting support to all Federal and D0D Agencies. For an easier to read format of this RFI please go to our website at www.govworks.gov/vendor/csolicit.asp. INTRODUCTION The US Forest Service Wood Education and Resource Center is seeking firms, if any, that can provide all the following services in order to work throughout the twenty-state Northeastern Area to help agencies, communities, and businesses evaluate how wood energy can help to meet local energy needs for power, heating, and cooling. Services to be provided are: 1. Develop a draft implementation plan for conducting work under this contract. 2. Finalize this implementation plan with the COTR. 3. Develop necessary printed and electronic materials to described and publicize the availability of the wood energy assessment service; 4. Solicit clients for the service using the process described in the above-mentioned implementation plan; 5. Conduct an interview with each client (on-site or by phone) to generally assess the opportunity for the use of woody biomass for energy at the client's installation; 6. Arrange for client cost-share collection and transfer of cost share funds to WERC; 7. Conduct the feasibility assessment of woody biomass as an energy source for the client; 8. Document the assessment in a formal report presented to the client and COTR; 9. Provide up to 8 hours of consulting services with clients which who decide to move forward with a wood fueled energy system; 10. Maintain a database of project analyses and track client project progress for 3 years after the initial analysis for the client; 11. Provide advice and analytical assistance to the COTR on woody biomass fired energy systems as needed by the COTR; 12. Work with the Woody Biomass Utilization Awareness Contractor to develop and refine tools for preliminary feasibility analysis; 13. Work with the Woody Biomass Utilization Awareness Contractor to develop electronic, printed, and web-based information products describing BACKGROUND the use of wood as an energy resource. 14. Identify gaps in programs and technologies that limit the use of wood energy in projects analyzed by the contractor Woody biomass utilization is a key component of restoring and maintaining ecosystem health. "Woody biomass" is defined as the trees and woody plants, including limbs, tops, needles, leaves, and other woody parts, grown in a forest, woodland, or rangeland environment, that are the by-products of restoration, hazardous fuel reduction treatments (including urban forests), and forest management. At the national level the Forest Service, through the Woody Biomass Utilization Strategy (http://www.fs.fed.us/woodybiomass/) commits to following three principles to achieve four goals: Principles Goals 1. Pursue sustainability. 1. Supply 2. Empower entrepreneurial action. 2. Partnerships 3. Use science-based information and new technology 3. Science and Technology 4. Marketing The new Northeastern Area (NA) strategic plan includes an objective on the sustainable use of forest resources to produce renewable energy and accomplish greenhouse gas reduction. Objective 2B states: Help the Northeast and Midwest meet its need for renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction through the sustainable utilization of woody biomass. The NA Wood Education and Resource Center (WERC) staff, working in cooperation with other Forest Service staff, State Forestry agencies, and other partners, is charged with addressing Objective 2B. WERC staff with input from NA staff groups and partners has developed a business plan to guide implementation of NA efforts related to the sustainable utilization of woody biomass. This business plan identifies the need for increased technical assistance to agencies, communities and businesses that are considering the use of wood energy. The use of wood for energy particularly for heating, cooling, process energy, power, and as a fuel for district heating operations all provide opportunities to expand markets for woody biomass. Support for such technical assistance is consistent with both FS National and Area-wide strategies. PURPOSE OF THIS REQUEST Contemplated Requirement: The Government would like to know what firms can provide all the following services for this requirement by identifying themselves and responding to this RFI. The Government requests recommendations, comments, concerns, and/or questions relating to the contemplated support services. The Contractor will provide the following services: 1.1. Develop an annual overall plan and timeline describing how they will accomplish: (1) the scope of work described above and the specific tasks needed to accomplish the goal of having completed 50 wood energy projects analyses in the Northeastern Area at the end of the first contract year and in each subsequent year of the contract; and (2) provide up to 480 hours of technical assistance and analytical support to the COTR on questions related to the implementation of wood energy systems. This plan will be developed after an initial meeting with WERC staff and COTR to review the scope of work and make sure the contractor understands what is expected. Finalizing the work plan and timeline may require approximately two (2) additional meetings with the COTR. Some of the meetings may include representatives of the Northeastern Area Association of State Foresters Utilization and Marketing Committee. Additional meetings with the Forest Service will be required to identify strategic work items. 1.1.1. Develop draft information products to be used to publicize the service to be delivered through this procurement. These information products will be reviewed by the COTR prior to finalizing the products 1.2. Implement the outreach process to identify clients that are interested in conversion of their energy system to a woody biomass-fired system. This outreach process will include systems to qualify the clients as to their potential using a wood fired system; the size and use of the wood fired system; the development of a cost-share agreement for moving forward with a more detailed analysis; and a follow-up system to track progress during system analysis and progress on system changes in the following 3 years. 1.3. Conduct the feasibility analysis. Depending on the current and future energy needs of the client the wood energy feasibility analysis will include: 1.3.1. Site Specific Analysis - the analysis will address the components shown below as required by the complexity of the current system or by a planned system. 1.3.1.1. Introduction - Summary overview of the situation and current conditions 1.3.1.2. Description of the Existing System 1.3.1.2.1. System type and age 1.3.1.2.2. Fuel - type(s) and amount(s) used 1.3.1.2.3. Current fuel and utility costs 1.3.2. Woody Biomass Fired Options 1.3.2.1. Wood Fuel Options (Type and Annual volumes) 1.3.2.2. Transportation systems 1.3.2.3. Delivery Systems 1.3.2.4. Fuel Storage Systems 1.3.2.5. Feeding systems 1.3.2.6. Combustion Systems 1.3.2.7. Emissions Control Systems 1.3.2.8. Heat Distribution Systems 1.3.2.9. Cooling Distribution Systems 1.3.2.10. Electrical Generation Systems 1.3.2.11. District Heating and Cooling Systems 1.3.2.12. Integration of Combined Heat/Power/Generation 1.3.2.13. Integration of Renewable Technologies (Solar and Wind) 1.3.2.14. System Operation and Maintenance 1.3.2.15. Financial Evaluation of System Alternatives 1.3.2.16. Potential Funding Options 1.3.3. Summary and Recommendations 1.4. Present a completed "draft" feasibility analysis to the COTR and to the client. Finalize the feasibility analysis based on comments from the client and COTR. 1.5. Provide follow-up assistance to the client as required (up to 8 staff hours). 1.6. Identify gaps in programs and technologies that limit the use of wood energy in projects analyzed by the contractor. Provide recommendations to the COTR as to how to address these gaps. 1.7. Enter feasibility study information into the tracking system database. 1.8. Provide analytical and technical assistance regarding wood energy use to the COTR as required (up to 480 staff hours). 1.9. Work with other WERC Woody Biomass Utilization Awareness Contractor as required by the COTR. Much of this work will be to assist in the development of analytical tools and training programs to help individuals and organizations better understand the potential for the use of woody biomass for energy and other products. 1.10. Complete monthly work progress reports to the COTR on contacts, on-going feasibility analyses, assigned project progress (including obstacles to project progress), and hours to be billed. 1.11. Complete an annual report that summarizes the status of the feasibility analyses, includes client progress on implementing feasibility studies, and provides estimates of the overall impact to the use of woody biomass for energy in the Northeastern Area. INFORMATION SOUGHT This is a request for interested potential offerors to submit a brief qualification statement that demonstrates their ability to provide the required services. Submissions shall be limited to no more than ten (10) pages doubled sided or twenty (20) pages single sided. Standard brochures will not be considered as a sufficient response to this notice. The information provided should include a Statement of Qualifications to carryout this work, examples of similar work carried out by the applicant, proposed technical concepts to implement the project, and experience of the contractor, with this type of work. CONTEMPLATED TYPE OF CONTRACT We are contemplating a competitive, multiple, indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) award task order vehicle either Firm Fixed Price or Time and Materials. The method of competition will be determined after all responses to this notice have been evaluated. At this time, there is no definitive date when the Request for Proposals (RFP), including the Performance Work Statement, evaluation factors, and quote submission instructions will be available. DISCLAIMER This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. In accordance with FAR 15.202, responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. Responses to this RFI will not be returned. Respondents will not be notified of the result of the review. HOW TO RESPOND Please submit your responses to this RFI #20484 via email to Tamia True at
[email protected]. The due date for responses to this RFI #20484 is on or before March 17, 2008, by 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.