RFI for GSA Carbon Footprint Tool

GSA, Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) Office of Acquisition Management GSA Carbon Footprint Tool October 2010 GENERAL INFORMATION Document Type: Request for Information (RFI) BACKGROUND On October 5, 2009, President Obama signed Executive Order (EO) 13514 - Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance. This Order seeks to establish an integrated strategy towards sustainability in the federal government and to make reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions a priority for federal agencies. It requires all agencies to establish and report a comprehensive inventory of absolute GHG emissions, set percentage targets to reduce GHG emissions agency-wide, and develop a plan for meeting a wide range of sustainability goals and targets. Agencies have until January 31, 2011, to submit an inventory of GHG emissions generated during fiscal year 2010. Thereafter agencies are required to report annually, at the end of January, for the preceding fiscal year. GSA has developed the GSA Carbon Footprint Tool to assist agencies in managing their GHGs as required by EO 13514. The tool can assist with a broad range of tasks, including: - Calculation of an agency's GHG baseline, broken down by the different scopes - Assistance with developing GHG reduction targets - Compilation of a building-by-building GHG emissions inventory - Preparation for reporting emissions to the Department of Energy's GHG Reporting Portal Additional information on the GSA Carbon Footprint Tool can be found at www.gsa.gov/carbonfootprint. OBJECTIVES GSA's current task order for contracting support expires in 2011 and the agency is preparing to conduct a procurement for this requirement. GSA will require a tool that has the same salient characteristics as the current GSA Carbon Footprint Tool, including the ability to meet all existing reporting requirements as specified in Federal GHG Accounting and Reporting Guidance and the Technical Support Document accompanying section 9 of Executive Order 13514 as well as adherence to the Public Sector Protocol. GSA is also interested in expanding the application of the agency GHG emissions data that is collected through the tool. The purpose of this RFI is to obtain feedback on current commercial capabilities and practices with respect to GHG emissions inventory tools. RESPONSES Contractors are requested to provide basic information regarding similar GHG emissions inventory tools by addressing the following questions: - What existing GHG emissions inventory tools are commercially available? - What are the features, capabilities, etc. of these tools? - What are the other potential agency uses for the collected GHG data? What are other organizations using this GHG data for? - What other value-added services do you provide related to the collected GHG data (e.g. analysis of emissions profile, energy savings opportunities, etc.)? Additionally, respondents are encouraged to address the following questions: - What is your company's socioeconomic designation (i.e. large business, small business, etc.)? - In providing this service, what features characterize the best in class service from an environmental perspective (e.g. Are there accepted industry standards related to environmental sustainability? Do you use "green" products during performance of this service? Are there other ways to reduce the environmental impact of providing this service)? - Does your firm have a Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract? Does your firm have a Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (GWAC)? Responses shall be sent no later than Wednesday, October 27, 2010 to adam.jones@gsa.gov AND mahruba.uddowla@gsa.gov. PUBLIC RECORDS AND REQUESTS FOR CONFIDENTIALITY Any document submitted that contains confidential information must be marked on the outside as containing confidential information, and each page upon which confidential information appears must be marked as containing confidential information. The confidential information must be clearly identifiable to the reader wherever it appears. COPYRIGHTS By submitting a response, the vendor agrees that the government may copy the response for purposes of facilitation of review or to respond to requests for public records. The vendor represents that such copying will not violate any copyrights in the materials submitted. CONTENT OF RESPONSES Responses should be based on the material contained in this RFI and any other relevant information the contractor thinks is appropriate. Responses will not be returned. COST TO VENDORS The government is not responsible for any costs incurred by a contractor in relation to the preparation of a response to this RFI. NO OBLIGATION TO ISSUE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL The issuance of this RFI does not obligate the government in any way to issue an RFQ or RFP for the services described.