SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- : Purchase of Studies, Reports and Modeling Analysis
- Notice Date
- 11/4/2008
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- Contracting Office
- Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, 55 Broadway; Cambridge, MA 02142
- ZIP Code
- 02142
- Solicitation Number
- DTRT57-09-R-20003
- Response Due
- 11/19/2008
- Archive Date
- 3/19/2009
- Point of Contact
- Point of Contact -Jeanne Rossetsky, Contract Specialist, 617-494-3853<br />
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovation Technology Administration, John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center) intends to award a contract, based on a sole source procurement, to The Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis (ITS-DAVIS) in accordance with FAR 6.302-1, only one responsible source, and no other type of services will satisfy agency requirements. This proposed action is for commercial supplies/services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under statutory authority 41 U.S.C.253(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1. The Government will award a Firm Fixed Price contract resulting from the solicitation that offers best value considering both cost and technical offering. The Volpe Center intends to Purchase Studies, Reports and Modeling Analysis conducted under the Sustainable Transportation Energy Pathways (STEPS), being performed by the University of California at Davis (UC Davis), Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS). This combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items is prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 12, Subpart 12.6, Acquisition of Commercial Items; FAR Part 13.5, Test Program for Certain Commercial Items; Part 15, Contracting by Negotiation; and as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-27 dated October 17, 2008. The applicable North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS) code for this requirement is 813211 and the small business size standard is $6.5M. This combined synopsis/solicitation is a request for proposal; no other solicitation will be issued. Statement of Work (BEGIN): Background: `Sustainable Transportation Energy Pathways? (STEPS), through a four-year research and outreach program will address the technical, operational, and logistical issues related to the transition to an alternative fuel-based economy. The goals of the STEPS program are to inform the public debate and to assist the public and private sponsors by providing tools and knowledge concerning sustainable transportation alternatives. The program will carefully analyze potential transitions in the transportation sector by addressing markets and consumer behavior, engineering and economics of vehicles and fuel infrastructure systems, societal and lifecycle environmental impacts (climate change, air quality, energy security), and public policy. The intent is to generate a strong understanding and solid foundation of knowledge for companies and Government agencies analyzing technology, investment and policy questions. The overarching objectives of the STEPS program are: to develop the theory, tools, and methods that allow for self-consistent and transparent comparisons of promising alternative energy and vehicle pathways; and to apply these tools and methods in comparative assessments of four general transportation energy pathways ? hydrogen, biofuels, electricity and fossil fuels. The contractor is uniquely positioned through its partnership with organizations which include major energy companies, automotive companies, and Government agencies. The contractor will draw upon research methods from a broad range of academic fields, including vehicle engineering and design, systems analysis and operations research, chemical and mechanical engineering, lifecycle cost and emissions analysis, market research, sociology and anthropology, economics and business strategy, and policy and political analysis. The focus will be on understanding transitions toward a more sustainable transportation system. The evolving transportation system will not rely on one solution (such as hydrogen and fuel cells). The contractor will take a systems view of the emergence of multiple technologies, gaining insight into transition scenarios and will consider both near-term and long-term technologies to analyze possible paths forward. Key issues include understanding how one technology path can enable another and how multiple technologies can be either synergistic or competitive. The contractor will engage industry, government and other partners in developing this alternative vehicle and fuel evaluation and disseminate all research findings in the form of studies, reports and modeling analyses. This goal is to be achieved in a variety of ways, including: The preparation and distribution of publications and applicable documents on key issues and topics; and an ongoing series of specially designed workshops that will engage and educate program members, public officials, and key agency leaders on the issues of transition to an alternative fuel-based transportation system. Scope of Work (Pooled Fund Study): Four main transportation energy categories will be investigated, and interdisciplinary projects will study the differences between specific energy-vehicle pathways. All research projects will be conducted in parallel and remain active throughout the program. All research among energy categories will be coordinated with continuous feedback among them. The following fuel tracks: HYDROGEN. Research conducted under the Hydrogen Pathways Program will continue, exploring new areas such as hydrogen/electricity systems, conducting regional transition case studies, understanding the impact of alternative policies, and enhancing key hydrogen pathways models for infrastructure development strategies. BIOFUELS. This track will build upon the contractor?s current work within the California Biomass Collaborative and the considerable agricultural and biological expertise of the university. The biofuels track will include analysis of various biorefinery production systems, infrastructure strategies, environmental & land-use impacts, & vehicle analysis. ELECTRICITY. Electricity production methods, total grid capacity, and time-of-day charging impacts on the utility sector will be studied. Additionally, research will be conducted on consumer behavior and preferences for electric drive attributes, including all-electric range and charging time. FOSSIL FUELS. This track includes both cases where petroleum-based fuels continue to dominate transportation energy, and the evolution of fuels produced from other fossil fuel resources, including tar sands, oil shale, and coal with carbon sequestration. Expanded use of diesel fuel will also be studied. STEPS Comparative Research Methods: Making consistent comparative analyses among different energy and vehicle pathways is a major analytic task. This becomes increasingly challenging when accounting for factors such as market dynamics (including consumer choices and strategic behavior of firms), technological change, geographic location, and infrastructure interactions. To deal with these complexities, the STEPS program will involve three types of comparative analysis: Transition Analysis - Study the dynamics of long-term transitions in the transportation sector with the intent of understanding how transitions might occur with minimal private sector investment risk and maximum public benefits; Systems Integration - Conduct comparative analyses that involve integration of technologies into complete systems, incorporating geography, resource availability, market dynamics, public policy, and interactions with other parts of the energy system; and, Comparison Metrics - Generate data and enhance the models to facilitate self-consistent metrics for comparing costs, emissions, energy use, and vehicle performance. These analyses will be applied within each of the four tracks and for comparisons between tracks as appropriate. Deliverables: The contractor will issue publications and reports each year to all participants on the progress of the ongoing studies. The U.S. DOT / Volpe Center will have the opportunity to provide feedback on draft reports. Quarterly newsletters shall be issued by the contractor to U.S. DOT / Volpe Center highlighting the current research projects. Refer to the reporting section below. The contractor will conduct at least one high-level, invitation-only conference annually to provide a review of the research outputs from the program. In addition, a program review of recent related technology and policy developments related to alternative fuel infrastructure and use in the transportation sector will be provided by the contractor to the U.S. DOT / Volpe Center. The conference will be exclusively for participants, invited technical experts, and senior Government and public interest organization leaders. The materials from each conference will be distributed to the U.S. DOT / Volpe Center electronically and on an annual compilation CD that shall be furnished by the contractor. The U.S. DOT / Volpe Center will be allocated a seat on the contractor?s STEPS Advisory Board that will meet to review the status of the ongoing studies annually. The contractor will hold at least one invitation-only research workshop annually on critical technical issues and topics. These workshops are intended for technical experts, researchers, program managers, and others with a strong interest in the topics. These workshops will be exclusively for program members and invited technical experts. The materials from each conference will be distributed to the U.S. DOT / Volpe Center electronically and on an annual compilation CD that shall be furnished by the contractor. Each year at least one special public process event will be held by the contractor. These may include tutorial workshops for public agency leaders and staff, policy issue forums, and information gathering sessions requested by public agencies. Tutorial materials will be developed for each workshop. The materials from each conference will be distributed to all program members via the program website and an annual compilation CD. The U.S. DOT / Volpe Center will be provided the opportunity to participate in near-term pilot projects facilitated by or perhaps led by the contractor. The period of performance for this procurement will be from date of award through December 31, 2008, Option Year 1 will be from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009, and Option Year 2 will run from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010. Reporting: On a monthly basis, the U.S. DOT / Volpe Center will be provided with all materials generated during the month including publications, meeting notices, agendas, meeting minutes of the above deliverable events, presentations from the events, reports, etc. Quarterly updates will be submitted to the U.S. DOT / Volpe Center (in electronic formats including Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint), highlighting current research projects and developments within the STEPS program. A final review of the year?s research will be issued at the end of each calendar year. This will be distributed by both electronic format (MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint) and hard-copy. No other such venue offers the Volpe Center?s Alternative Fuels and Hydrogen Program the ability to reach such a highly specialized audience and perform such unbiased, relevant research in-line with the program?s goals. Providing access to this audience affords the Alternative Fuels and Hydrogen Program the ability to carry out is objectives in a targeted, cost-efficient manner. Statement of Work (END). The Contractor shall provide the necessary personnel, services, equipment and materials to perform the CLINS in accordance with the above SOW. Proposals shall include pricing for the following three (3) contract line items (CLIN) in a written quotation: CLIN 0001 (Base) Participation in a multi-year Research Program for CY 2008, $_______________; Optional CLIN 0002 Participation in a multi-year Research Program for CY 2009 $____________; Optional CLIN 0003 Participation in a multi-year Research Program for CY 2010 $______________; Grand Total of CLINS 0001-0003 $______________. Written proposals, with technical capabilities statements, must be submitted within fifteen (15) calendar days from the date of publication of this synopsis/solicitation. Responses received after fifteen (15) calendar days are late and will not be considered. The Government intends to award a contract without discussions and advises all Offerors to present their best prices in response to the solicitation. Telephone calls will not be accepted. NOTE: All contractors must be registered in Central Contractor Registration (CCR) in order to receive award from a DOT Agency. The signed offer may be submitted electronically, via email to Jeanne.Rossetsky@dot.gov, or submitted via mail service to the above Point of Contact at RTV-6D2, 55 Broadway, Building 1, Room 1146, Cambridge, MA 02142 to arrive no later than 12:00 PM, November 19, 2008. Solicitation provision FAR 52.212-1, Instruction of Offerors-Commercial Item (JUN 2008) is hereby incorporated by reference. Additionally, FAR 52.212.3 Representation and Certifications-Commercial items (JUN 2008) An offeror shall complete only paragraph (b) of this provision if the offeror has completed the annual representations and certifications electronically at http://orca.bpn.gov. If an offeror has not completed the annual representations and certifications electronically at the ORCA website, the offeror shall complete only paragraphs (c) through (m) of this provision.. FAR 52-212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions ? Commercial Items (OCT 2008), is hereby incorporated by reference; the following clauses are incorporated by reference as subparagraphs (u) and (v) respectively: FAR 52.217-8 Option to Extend Service (NOV 1999). The Government may require continued performance of any services within the limits and at the rates specified in the contract. These rates may be adjusted only as a result of revisions to prevailing labor rates provided by the Secretary of Labor. The option provision may be exercised more than once, but the total extension of performance hereunder shall not exceed 6 months. The Contracting Officer may exercise the option by written notice to the Contractor within 30 calendar days of contract expiration; and FAR 52.217-9 Option to Extend Term of Contract (Mar 2000), (a) The Government may extend the term of this contract by written notice to the Contractor before expiration of the contract; provided that the Government gives the Contractor a preliminary written notice of its intent to extend at least 30 calendar days before the contract expires. The preliminary notice does not commit the Government to an extension, (b) If the Government exercises this option, the extended contract shall be considered to include this option clause, (c) The total duration of this contract, including the exercise of any options under this clause, shall not exceed December 31, 2010; FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders ? Commercial Items (OCT 2008), is hereby incorporated by reference; the following clauses are appropriately checked: (16)52.222-3, Convict Labor (June 2003) (E.O. 117555); (17) 52.222-19. Child Labor Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies (Feb 2008)(E.O. 13126); (18) 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Feb 1999); (19) 52.222-26. Equality Opportunity (Mar 2007)(E.O. 11246); (23) 52.222-39, Notification of Employee Rights Concerning Payment of Union Dues or Fees (Dec 2004) (E.O. 13201); (24)(i) 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons (Aug 2007); (31) 52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases (June 2008) (E.O.s, proclamations, and statutes administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of Treasury); (36) 52.232-33, Payment of Electronic Funds Transfer-Central Contractor Regulation (Oct 2003) (31 U.S.C.3332); and (39) 52.239-1, Privacy or Security Safeguards (Aug 1996)(5 U.S.C.552a). ATTENTION: The following notice is provided for informational purposes for Minority, Women-owned, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises. The Department of Transportation (DoT) Short-term Lending Program (STLP) offers working capital financing in the form of lines of credit to finance accounts receivable for transportation related contracts. Maximum line of credit is $750,000 with interest at prime rate, as published daily in the Wall Street Journal, plus 1.75 percent. For further information call 800-532-1169 or visit the website http://osdbuweb.dot.gov.
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