S -- Utility Privatization of Electric, Natural Gas and Water Distribution Systems and Wastewater Collection System at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi

DESC: The Defense Energy Support Center (DESC), in conjunction with the United States Air Force plans to offer the privatization of the electric, natural gas and water distribution systems and wastewater collection system at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. Privatization is defined as the transfer of ownership and responsibility for the operations, maintenance, repair, future upgrades, and future utility system replacements. As a result of this solicitation, the firm will be selected to assume ownership of the above-mentioned utility system(s). The successful firm will be required to provide expansions to the system(s) to meet future needs of the government. The resulting contract, if awarded, will require the Contractor to furnish all facilities, labor, materials, tools, and equipment necessary to own, maintain, and operate the utility system(s). The Contractor shall manage the maintenance, repairs, replacement, etc., of the system(s) to ensure continuous, adequate, and dependable service for each Government or tenant connection within the service area. The Contractor shall be responsible for funding all capital investments required to acquire, maintain and operate the utility system(s) in a safe, reliable condition and to meet the requirements listed in the contract. Real property interests will be conveyed in the form of a Right-of-Way (ROW) as an attachment to the RFP. The utility system(s) will be conveyed via a Bill of Sale upon award of the contract. Past performance information from potential Offerors shall be submitted as directed in the RFP. The utility system being privatized is described as follows: Installation: Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. Systems to be privatized: electric, natural gas and water distribution systems and wastewater collection system. The main base size is approximately 1,668 acres with a separate small arms range (Camp Keller) of 1,886 acres. The site includes 1,370 buildings and 1,953 family housing units. The electrical distribution system is a 23 kV distribution system with three incoming feeds. One substation (1-5 MVA 23 kV to 13.8 kV) serves the west family housing areas and one (2-7.5 MVA 23kV to 4.1kV) serves the installation hospital. Peak demand is 32,997 kVA (89% power factor) and the annual consumption is approximately 165,950 MWh. The primary distribution includes: 132.5 miles split evenly between overhead and underground lines. Secondary distribution system includes: 111 miles of lines (85% overhead and 15% underground). Approximately 3000 street and area lights (20% residential and 80% commercial/industrial). The natural gas distribution system is approximately 386,000 linear feet of primary steel pipe (90% steel, 10% PPE) ranging in size from 1 to 8. System is in good condition, 90% of the pipe is over 40 years old. Gas is supplied at 125psig and regulated (via 5 government owned regulators) to facilities at 25 psig. Annual consumption is 464,440 MCF. There are nine government owned meter facilities. The water distribution system includes twelve wells (six currently in service), and six elevated storage tanks with a capacity of 400,000 gallons each. Pumping capacities range from 500 to 1000 gpm, with pump motors ranging from 60 to 125 horsepower. 95 miles of 2 to 10 pipe and additional small service lines. Average water use is 3 million gpd. Chlorination and fluoridation treatment are provided at the main base wells. Two independent systems provide irrigation water for the golf course. One is from a pond maintained by storm water runoff and base supply wells and the other is tied directly to the base water distribution system. A small well and hydropneumatic tank serve the off-base small arms range (Camp Keller) No treatment is provided at the small arms range. The Wastewater system consists of approximately 445,400 linear feet of pipe and 10 lift stations containing a total of 20 pumps. System is evenly split between gravity flow and force mains. Pipe sizes range from 4 to 24 and the materials are primarily cast iron and vitrified clay. Pipe ages range from 1 to 58 years old. The main lift station received new pumps in March 1999 and the remainder have been replaced within the last ten years. An 18 force main carries over 90% of the base effluent to the West Biloxi Treatment Facility while the remainder from half of the Harrison Court Housing area is discharged to the Keegan Bayou Plant via a 6 gravity main. The average annual quantity of effluent from the base is 689 million gallons. See Note 26. All responsible sources may submit an offer, which shall be considered. Large businesses are required to submit a subcontracting plan with their offer. The cascading preference source selection method will be used in the evaluation of firms for award under this solicitation. The cascading source selection method permits small and large businesses to submit offers. Offers from small businesses will be considered first. In accordance with FAR Subpart 19.5, any award resulting from the solicitation will be made to an eligible small business concern provided that (1) at least two competitive offers are received from responsible small business concerns, and (2) award will be made at a fair market price. If conditions for award to a small business concern are not met, award will be made on the basis of full and open competition considering all offers submitted by responsible business concerns. Interested sources shall contact Bobby Jones at 703-767-2397 to be added to our bidder mailing list. A copy of the solicitation will be available after issuance, on the Internet at the below listed URL. The solicitation will be available on or after April 14, 2004 LINKURL: http://www.desc.dla.mil/DCM/DCMPage.asp?pageid=246 LINKDESC: http://www.desc.dla.mil EMAILADD: Robert.E.Jones@dla.mil