SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- USDA Farm Bill Loan Program Regulation Development
- Notice Date
- 12/31/2002
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- Minerals Management Service GovWorks (Franchise) 381 Elden Street, MS 2510 Herndon VA 20170
- ZIP Code
- 20170
- Solicitation Number
- 71335
- Archive Date
- 12/31/2003
- Point of Contact
- Wallace O. Adcox Contract Specialist 7037871362 Wallace.Adcox@mms.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Email your questions to Point of Contact above or IDEASEC HELP DESK
(EC_helpdesk@NBC.GOV)
- Description
- Gov.Works is issuing this request for proposals on behalf of the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), an Agency within U.S. Department of Agriculture. PLEASE READ THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CAREFULLY AS IT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY NOTICE THAT WILL BE ISSUED. 1. BACKGROUND: The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Farm Bill) established the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements programs under Title IX, Section 9006. The Farm Bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to create a program to make direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants to farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses to purchase renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. Beginning in fiscal year 2003, the Federal Government is providing mandatory funding of $23 million in budget authority annually for 5 years. The Farm Bill also mandates the maximum percentage the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide in funding for these types of projects. The direct loan, guarantee loan, and grant financing in any combination will not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of the project. If the project consists of grant only funding, USDA will not exceed 25 percent of the total project cost. The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), an Agency within USDA, has been assigned the task of developing, implementing, and managing these programs. RBS is experienced in guaranteed and direct lending and grants that assist businesses in rural areas. However, the renewable energy programs mandated by the Farm Bill are entirely unique and new in nature, scope and complexity to RBS. Guidelines will need to be established, regulations promulgated, and a delivery model created and adopted by our current field structure to ensure that the programs will be successfully implemented. A Rural Energy Workgroup has been instituted, which consists of RBS employees, officials of other Federal Departments, and additional USDA personnel who will be the subject matter experts and help design these programs. RBS has limited staff to devote to the task of promulgating regulations, and in an effort to expedite this high profile initiative, needs assistance in completing this assignment. 2. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this project is to design and implement the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements programs. RBS desires to contract for services to plan, design, and write these program regulations and associated administrative guidelines with direction and input from the Rural Energy Workgroup. RBS has developed the tasks requiring assistance from a contractor. 3. Tasks: A. Research Information on Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements: The contractor will research as necessary Federal and state laws and regulations to find other programs pertaining to renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements, compare program criteria including any statutory requirements, and develop a chart or table summarizing the findings. This should also include researching the environmental requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the permitting requirements of the various Federal agencies that monitor or have oversight responsibilities for renewable energy systems, such as the Department of Energy. The contractor will be privy to information or research findings of the Rural Energy Workgroup or any stakeholder meetings to avoid duplication of efforts. B. Develop Regulatory Impact and Cost Benefit Analyses: Based upon research conducted, the contractor will develop the regulatory and cost benefit analyses required by the Office and Management and Budget (OMB). The contractor may work with the Economic Research Service or any other Agency in USDA that provides statistical information on rural area demographics and rural economies in determining the economic impact of renewable energy systems owned and operated by farmers, ranchers, or small businesses. The Agency will provide guidance and direction in the regulatory requirements for completing the analyses and general USDA contact information as needed. C. Develop and Design the Federal Register Proposed Rule Document(s): The contractor shall develop and deliver draft proposed rule document(s) in accordance with the requirements of the Agency and the Office of the Federal Register. This will include incorporating statutory criteria as well as regulatory requirements developed by the Rural Energy Workgroup. After the Agency reviews the draft document(s) and makes comments, the contractor will revise the document(s) and provide a new draft as necessary through the clearance process. A final draft will be provided to the Agency in duplicate along with a computer diskette containing the document(s). The Agency will be responsible for obtaining USDA internal regulatory clearances and publication in the Federal Register. D. Related Agency Instructions: The contractor shall assist in the creation of Agency Instructions for use by RBS field office staff in accordance with the requirements of the Agency Regulations Paperwork and Management Branch (RPMD). This will include adding administrative text developed by the Rural Energy Workgroup to the Federal Register document(s). This task needs to be completed simultaneously with the development of the Federal Register document(s). After the Agency reviews the draft instructions and makes comments, the contractor will revise the document(s) and provide a new draft as necessary through the clearance process. The final instructions will be provided to the Agency in duplicate along with a computer diskette containing the document(s). The Agency will provide the formatting requirements of RPMD, administrative text developed by the Rural Energy Workgroup to be included in the instructions, and take responsibility for obtaining the regulatory clearances. E. Develop Paperwork Burden Package: The contractor shall develop and deliver the paperwork burden package in accordance with the requirements of OMB. This will include estimating the time involved by an applicant in applying for monetary assistance under the program and identifying the actual burden on the public in terms of time (hours) and paperwork. This task needs to be completed simultaneously with the development of the Federal Register document(s) and Agency Instructions. After the Agency reviews the draft paperwork burden package and makes comments, the contractor will revise the document and provide a new draft as necessary through the clearance process. The final package will be provided to the Agency in duplicate along with a computer diskette containing the document(s). The Agency will provide OMB requirements and take responsibility for obtaining the regulatory clearances. The proposed rule, Agency instructions, and paperwork burden document must travel together in the clearance process. F. Develop Forms for Public and Agency Use: The contractor shall develop and deliver any forms determined by the Agency as necessary for the implementation and delivery of the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements programs. Additionally, the contractor will develop and deliver forms for use by the Agency in evaluating or processing an application. This task needs to be completed simultaneously with the development of the Federal Register document(s), Agency Instructions, and the Paperwork Burden Package. After the Agency reviews the draft forms and makes comments, the contractor will revise the forms and provide a new draft as necessary through the clearance process. The draft documents will be provided to the Agency in duplicate along with a computer diskette containing the form(s). The software used by the contractor must be approved by the Agency. The Agency will provide the criteria needed to complete the form development and obtain OMB clearance of the forms. The forms must be approved before the final rule is published. All forms, templates, or software developed as a result of this contract becomes the property of the Agency. G. Develop Federal Register Final Rule Document(s): The contractor shall develop and deliver final rule document(s) in accordance with the requirements of the Agency and the Office of the Federal Register. The contractor will incorporate the comments made by the public on the proposed rule publication and any other changes to the final rule determined by the Agency. A final document will be provided to the Agency in duplicate along with a computer diskette containing the final rule document(s). The Agency will be responsible for obtaining regulatory clearances and publication in the Federal Register. Security Requirements: The contractor personnel assigned to this project shall not require access to classified information. However, there are Confidentially issues: Confidential information may be presented to the contractor for inclusion in their efforts. This would include information or data submitted by, or pertaining to, an institution or organization. This information may require special consideration with regard to the timing of its disclosure. The contractor is required to maintain confidentially on all specific information, or categories of information, which the Agency indicates, must remain confidential. As such, confidential information must not be disclosed without the prior written consent of the Agency. The contractor must agree to keep all information contained in source documents, or any other media, furnished by the Agency in the strictest of confidence. The contractor must take all reasonable measures to restrict access to this material to those employees needing the information to perform the work required by this statement of work. THE ANTICIPATED PROJECT START DATE WOULD BE MARCH 3, 2003. The total period of performance would be 14 months from the date of award. HOW TO RESPOND: In order to compete for this contract interested parties MUST demonstrate that they are qualified to perform the work by providing, BY FOUR O'CLOCK EASTERN TIME ON January 22, 2002, an original and five (5) copies of a Capabilities Statement detailing: (1) your key personnel (those who would have primary responsibility for performing and/or managing the study) with their qualifications and specific experience; (2) your organizational experience and facilities; and (3) specific references (including contract number & project description, period of performance, dollar amount, client identification with the point of contact & telephone number) for previous work of this nature that your key personnel or organization has performed within the last four years (references will be checked). If you believe the Government will find derogatory information as a result of checking your past performance record, please provide an explanation and any remedial action taken by your company to address the problem. Following review of all Capabilities Statements, we will establish a list of those deemed most qualified to perform the work. Offerors will then be contacted and told their evaluation. We will provide additional proposal instructions at that time. Proposals will essentially consist of an oral technical presentation and written cost/business proposal. Further details of proposal requirements and logistical considerations will be provided later. Your Capabilities Statement will be evaluated based on your key persons' skills, abilities, and experience; your organization's experience and past performance (including number, size, and complexity of similar projects, adherence to schedules and budgets, effectiveness of program management, willingness to cooperate when difficulties arise, general compliance with the terms of the contracts, and acceptability of delivered products.) Please send the original and one copy to GovWorks, Minerals Management Service, 381 Elden Street, MS2500, Herndon, VA 20170-4817, Attn: Wallace O. Adcox. Send the remaining four (4) copies to Rural Business-Cooperative Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 3225, Washington, D.C. 20250-3225, Attn: Joseph Ben-Israel. Questions regarding this procurement should be faxed or E-mailed as soon as possible to fax (703) 787-1009 or E-mailed to "wallace.adcox@mms.gov". Please include with your question(s) your full name, the RFP number & title, your organization, complete address, and phone and fax numbers. TELEPHONIC QUESTIONS OR REQUESTS ARE STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.
- Web Link
-
Please click here to view more details.
(http://ideasec.nbc.gov/ecprod/owa/ec$cbd.sypfirstcount?P_SERVER_ID3=MM143501&P_OBJ_ID1=76927)
- Record
- SN00232878-W 20030102/021231213502 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |