US Air Force Academy Utilities Privatization Water Distribution System

This announcement serves as a Sources Sought Notice (hereinafter "Notice") issued for the purpose of market research in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 6. This Notice is issued solely for information and planning purposes in order to identify companies who can provide water, wastewater and non-potable collection systems for the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA). The USAFA seeks to identify and obtain information from responsible sources in connection with the privatization of the water distribution system (NAICS 221310) at the USAFA, Colorado. Privatization is defined as the conveyance of a utility system to a municipal, private, regional, district, or cooperative utility company or other entity. The conveyance may consist of all right, title, and interest of the United States in the utility system. Utility Privatization (UP) will be accomplished in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2688 - Utility Systems: Conveyance Authority. This Notice is not a solicitation or a Request for Proposal so please do not submit a quote or proposal. It is this agency's intention to do an unrestricted acquisition unless there are responsive small businesses capable of meeting requirements. When applicable, interested companies must reference their 8(a), HUBZone, Women-Owned, or Service Disabled Veteran status. This must be signed by a company officer with authority to bind the company. The contractor will be required to assume ownership of the water distribution system at USAFA, and as the new owner, shall operate and maintain the system and provide utility services to the Government. Contractor shall furnish all necessary labor, management, supervision, permits, equipment, supplies, materials, transportation, and any other incidental items or services required for the complete ownership of and provision of utility services via this utility system, including operation, maintenance, repair, upgrades, and improvements to the utility system. Because this Notice is solely for the Government's use as a market research tool, the issuance of a competitive solicitation is not guaranteed. If determined appropriate, then both a synopsis and a solicitation may be anticipated in the future. All responsible sources are encouraged to submit a response to this Notice. All information received will be considered. Failure to respond to this Notice does not preclude a firm from offering on any resultant solicitation; however, a lack of interest in this requirement may keep this effort from moving forward competitively. This announcement shall not be construed as a commitment or authorization to incur costs in anticipation of an award. The Government is not bound to make any awards under this Notice. If you are interested in this project, please provide the information requested at the bottom of the Notice to the USAFA. Installation Description: The water distribution system being privatized is described as follows: The potable water system consists of water mains, isolation valves, pressure reducer valves, air relief valves, backflow prevention devices, water services, fire hydrants and storage reservoirs. Water is supplied at the southwest corner of the property from water treatment plants owned and operated by Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU). The distribution system on the USAFA grounds has five reservoirs for storage of treated water and a network of approximately 61 miles of buried pipes that vary in size from three quarters of an inch to 24 inches in diameter. This system of pipes and appurtenances distribute treated water to all five areas within the USAFA property. The wastewater collection system at the USAFA consists of building service lines, laterals, mains, manholes, cleanouts, individual sewage disposal systems (septic tanks and leach fields), and lift stations. Originally constructed in the 1950's the collection system has been upgraded periodically and expanded to handle increased system demands over the years. A network of 39.2 miles of piping, 675 active manholes and three lift stations comprises the collection system. Pipe materials include cast-iron, ductile iron, vitrified-clay, PVC and reinforced concrete. Portions of the vitrified clay and concrete pipe have been rehabilitated with cured-in-place pipe (CIPP). Manholes are brick / tile lined or pre-cast / cast-in place concrete. Lift station 8023 was constructed in 1958 and lift stations 9005 and 9013 were constructed in 1973 to provide service to Jacks Valley. The Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) was a part of the construction in the 1950's. Design capacity was initially 2.2 mgd with a rate discharge capacity of 1.4 mgd. Wastewater is treated with primary, secondary, and advanced secondary treatment facilities. Treated water is then pumped to the non-potable system or discharged to Monument Creek under a NPDES permit. Solids removed are treated and land applied. There are individual sewage disposal systems for buildings with no access to the collection system. The non-potable water system consists of water lines, isolation valves, pressure reducer valves, pumps, wells and storage reservoirs. Although they are a part of the system, the smaller distribution lines to the sprinkler heads are not discussed here. Non-potable water is stored in four (4) reservoirs spread across the USAFA. Non-potable water supply is obtained from seven (7) groundwater wells (Well Numbers 2B, 4A, 3A, 9A, 5A, 1A and 1B from north to south); reuse of the Waste Water Treatment Plant effluent; stream flow during rainstorm events; and, rain falling directly into the reservoirs. The main distribution system on the USAFA grounds has a network of approximately 28 miles of buried pipes that vary in size from 4 to 16 inches in diameter. Additionally, there are numerous smaller distribution lines associated with the actual sprinkler systems. This system of pipes and appurtenances delivers non-potable irrigation water to the golf courses, the academic area athletic fields, the roadway medians, the Service and Supply area and other miscellaneous smaller areas. The non-potable system currently contains asbestos cement (AC), cast iron (CI), ductile iron (DI), poly vinyl chloride (PVC) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes. Specifically excluded from the water distribution system privatization are: all meters, irrigation systems, non-potable wells and/or water rights, and non-potable fire systems. Annual Consumption, FY11, is 458.4 million gallons (MG) with a monthly average usage for FY11 of 38.2 MG. Additional Information: Design and construct new water distribution system(s) to provide potable water supply service to new buildings as identified by the USAFA. Demolish the existing water distribution system and sections thereof no longer in service as identified by the USAFA. Design and construct new waste water distribution system(s) to provide potable water supply service to new buildings as identified by the USAFA. Demolish the existing waste water distribution system and sections thereof no longer in service as identified by the USAFA. Interested businesses shall provide the following information on company letterhead: 1. Company name, mailing address, cage code, DUNS numbers, point of contact, telephone number and e-mail address. 2. Business status, e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, Woman/Women Owned or Service Disabled Veteran-Owned, small business, large business, etc. Business size, e.g., how many people are employed? 3. Appropriate written information and/or data supporting the capability to perform the required efforts. 4. Information on your company subcontracting plan(s). 5. Answers to the following questions: a. Does your company have water rights? In what capacity? b. Does your company have experience with ownership and operation of water, wastewater and non-potable collection? c. Does your company have the ability to reuse water (instead of using water for one purpose)? d. Can your company get water to and from the USAFA? How? e. List your company's previous and/or current EPA NPDES Permit License's and/or Colorado Water and Waste Water Facility Operators Certification Board licenses for operating Waste Water Treatment Facilities in Colorado. f. Can your company forecast water rates for the next 15 years? What are your payment/discount terms? Interested parties should provide required information, via e-mail, to the primary point of contact, Brenda Smith, Contract Specialist, at brenda.smith.21@us.af.mil; or the alternate point of contact, William Clearwater, Contracting Officer, at william.clearwater@us.af.mil. Responses are due no later than 9 July 2012, 2:00 p.m. MDT. Questions and responses should be addressed to the primary contact. Contractors must have a current registration with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) at http://www.ccr.gov by time of award. DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO JULY 20, 2012, 2:00 MST.