1. BACKGROUND: The Forest Service is seeking any viable and qualified potential contractors that have performed or have the capability to perform the design, implementation, financing, measurement and verification (M&V) services for an Energy Savings Performance Contract Biomass project as outlined below in Paragraph 2, "PROPOSED PROJECT INFORMATION." This project will install fourteen (14) photovoltaic (PV) solar energy collection and battery-backup power distribution systems at off-grid (i.e., those not connected to a utility service provider) and remote facilities on twelve (12) different National Forests within Forest Service Region 5 (California). See APPENDIX A for a description of the off-grid sites selected for this project, as well as their salient characteristics. Cost leveraging (minimum 50%) is a core granting requirement. As such, the primary purpose of the proposed acquisition is to acquire the design, implementation, operation, and financing of an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) for Off-Grid Solar Photovoltaic Systems and a Small-Scale Hydroelectric Systems, for various Forest Service facilities throughout California. The Forest Service submitted a "Notice of Intention" to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), "Assisting Federal Facilities with Energy Conservation Technologies (AFFECT)" Program, for this work, under Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number: DE-FOA-0000901. (Please be advised that the Forest Service submitted Notices of Intention to DOE for its Region 5 Regional Office Solar PV project, as well as two Biomass projects on the Plumas National Forest, and for these Off-Grid Solar PV projects located on various Region 5 Forests). This Sources Sought Notice is for informational and planning purposes only, in light of the Funding Opportunity Announcement mentioned in the above paragraph. It does not constitute a Solicitation and is not to be considered as a commitment by the Government. All firms responding to this sources sought notice are advised that their response to this notice is not a request that will be considered for contract award. All interested parties will be required to respond separately to any Solicitation posted as a result of this Sources Sought Notice. The information from this Market Research is for planning purposes only and will assist the Government in planning its acquisition strategy. This is strictly Market Research and the Government will not entertain questions concerning this Market Research. Response is strictly voluntary; no reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this Notice or any follow-up information requests. 2. PROPOSED PROJECT INFORMATION: The requirement primarily includes renewable energy projects, specifically Solar Photovoltaic and Small-Scale Hydroelectric Systems at off-grid locations, and possibly, energy conservation measures at various Government facilities at twelve (12) National Forests. Included within the facility selection matrix are fire stations and firefighter barracks, recreational sites, ranger stations, and maintenance facilities (work centers). Numbers of buildings at each site vary, as does building area (gross square footage), and the electrical load within each building. Facility age likewise spans the past 80 years of Forest Service construction, from the Civilian Conservation Corps era of the early 1930s through 2010. Roof- and ground-mounting of collectors are both desired for these projects. Ground-mounted PV systems will be located in fenced enclosures for increased safety and security, and collector placement at some locations will be a short distance from the facility served. This placement will avoid undue visual impact, further enhance system security during periods when buildings may be unoccupied, and avoid open areas now designated as emergency helipads. Carport-mounted collectors are not envisioned for any of these installations, because of their increased cost. Kilowatt (kW) ratings for the Photovoltaic (PV) systems to be built by this project have been calculated to cover the great majority of each site's annual power usage without aiming for 100% coverage at all times, which would be uneconomical to construct. Existing power generation equipment will remain on standby status to fill in for PV power generation on a limited basis or (preferable) will be replaced by smaller-capacity units as required by operational or emergency needs, at Forest Service expense. The geographic scope of these projects will primarily be California Federal Government facilities. Off-grid renewables is one set of efficiency and renewable energy solutions that has not been systematically investigated in Region 5. Region 5 and all other Regions of the Forest Service have many facility installations where there are either single buildings or small groups of buildings. Collectively, running generators for these isolated locations comprises a large percentage of the Forest Service's overall annual fossil fuel use. If energy-use reduction and sustainability goals are to be met, energy use at these many small-site locations must be addressed. 3. PLACES OF PERFORMANCE: The places of performance are twelve of the U.S. Forest Service Region 5 National Forests: Cleveland National Forest; Los Padres National Forest; Klamath National Forest; Mendocino National Forest; Modoc National Forest; Plumas National Forest; San Bernardino National Forest; Sequoia National Forest; Shasta-Trinity National Forest; Sierra National Forest; Six Rivers National Forest; and Tahoe National Forest. Please refer to APPENDIX A for further, brief details. 5. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: The Government does not intend to rank submittals or provide any reply to interested firms. This Sources Sought Notice is for Market Research, Planning, and Informational purposes only and is not a Request for Proposal (RFP) nor does it restrict the Government as to the ultimate acquisition approach. The Government will not reimburse respondents for any costs incurred in preparation of a response to this Notice. Your response is requested no later than 1600 Pacific Time on 10 February 2014. Please send responses by email to Renee Jewell at reneejewell@fs.fed.us and Erin Saelens at elsaelens@fs.fed.us. Responses should be limited to seven (7) pages or less and must include the Sources Sought Questionnaire.
