Talisman Partners, Ltd., 5460 South Quebec St., Suite 100, Englewood, Co 80111-1916

Y -- PRIVATIZATION UNDER 10 USC 2688, UTILITY SYSTEMS: CONVEYANCE AUTHORITY AT COLUMBUS AFB, COLUMBUS, MS. SOL n/a DUE 072199 POC Scott Beckman or Joel Theis, 303/771-3103 E-MAIL: email to POC, sbeckman@talpart.com. The Air Force seeks to identify responsible potential sources and obtain information in regards to privatization of utility systems in accordance with 10 USC 2688, "Utility Systems: Conveyance Authority". The Air Force is seeking interest and information specifically for the potential privatization of the electrical, natural gas, water distribution, and wastewater collection systems at Columbus AFB, Mississippi. This includes off-base sites at Auxiliary Air Field Alpha, Shuqualak, MS; and the NEXRAD Site, Greenwood Springs, MS. OBJECTIVE: Should privatization result, the ownership of the Columbus AFB electrical, natural gas, water distribution, and wastewater collection systems, operation and maintenance and obligation to continue to provide utility service for an indefinite and ongoing period will transfer to a utility service provider. All responsibility for maintaining reliable and uninterruptible utility service (less natural gas on a spot rate with a minimum volume rider) will be assumed by the utility service provider(s). Additional requirements placed on the utility service provider(s) include such items as environmental compliance, maintenance costs, major system renovations, construction, equipment, demand limiting, monthly meter reading and customer billing, emergency response, manpower and overhead costs. It is intended that the privatization will ultimately reduce the Air Force's life-cycle costs for operating and maintaining utility systems and services. SYSTEM DESCRIPTIONS: The following is provided only to give an approximation of the size, scope and general description of the system(s). Any numbers should only be used for estimating purposes. The following system parameters are approximations: The base size is about 4,410 acres. This includes 170 buildings and 412 family housing units. The off-base sites are about 1,080 acres total in size. Electrical Distribution: 13,200 volt distribution system consisting of 5 distribution feeders. Capacity of utility owned supply substation: 30 MVA.Base peak demand approximately 10 MVA, with approximate annual consumption 43,000,000 kWH. Primary overhead distribution approximately 300,000 linear feet. Primary underground distribution approximately 135,000 linear feet. Residential usage approximately 25%, Commercial/industrial usage approximately 75%. Natural Gas Distribution: Approximately 150,270 LF of plastic pipe of diameters ranging from 4" down to ". System was installed during the period 1995 through 1996. No cathodic protection system. Natural gas is delivered to the base via a 4" steel main at 75psig. It is reduced in pressure by government owned regulators to 20psig. Annual consumption of 90,912 MCF. Water Distribution: Overall usage: 0.45 million gallons per day (mgd). Primary distribution: approximately 78,150 lineal feet of ductile iron and PVC water mains. Piping ranges up to 16-inch. 222 fire hydrants. Water pumping station under construction, scheduled for completion by mid-1999. Station will include a 50,000-gallon underground clearwell and three vertical turbine pumps, each rated at 500 gpm, 82 psi, 40 Hp. A small well serves the off-base site of Shuqualak. Wastewater Collection: Flow rate is estimated at 0.35 mgd. Gravity system. Approximately 180,054 lineal feet of pipe (vitrified clay, asbestos cement, and PVC). Sizes range from 4-inch through 12-inch. Four sewage lift stations. A septic system serves the off-base site of Shuqualak. PROCEDURES: This request to interested parties is for gathering information and is a required component of a systematic process to evaluate the interested parties under the Air Force's utilities privatization program. In order to minimize costs both to potentially interested parties and the government, this notice is being issued to determine the interest and feasibility of proceeding with a formal request for proposals. Should insufficient credible interest be identified for a privatization action, it is highly likely that no formal solicitation will be issued. SHOULD INTEREST BE DETERMINED SUFFICIENT,A FORMAL REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS MAY BE FORTHCOMING. Small Business interests shall note the FAR Part 19 Standard Industrial Codes (SIC) and Size Standards for the utility systems identified in this announcement. Some, all, or any combination of the following may apply. SIC/SS: 4911/4Million (M) Megawatt hours, 4922/$5M, 4923/$5M, 4924/500, 4925/$5M, 4931/$5M, 4932/$5M, 4939/$5M, 4941/$5M, 4952/$5M, 4953/$6M, 4959/$5M, 4961/$9M, 4971/$5M. REQUESTED RESPONSE: Interested parties should provide a statement of interest on company letterhead (not to exceed 20 pages in length). The statement should include as a minimum the following criteria: (1) capability and experience in ownership, operation and maintenance of similar utility systems, (2) financial capacity to purchase, expand and operate the utility systems; (3) statement detailing the understanding of the obligation to serve in regards to continuous utility service; (4) statement detailing the legal right to serve, own, operate, and maintain utility systems within state laws and an understanding of any applicable federal, territorial and local utility laws, regulations or franchise requirements affecting utilities in the territory, and capability of complying with such requirements; and (5) statement detailing the understanding of federal, territorial, and local environmental laws and regulations and familiarity and experience with environmental compliance procedures and regulations for the State of Mississippi and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. Elaborate proposals or pricing information is neither required nor desired. Under no circumstances will cost data for the existing systems be provided. Any innovative and new conceptual ideas to achieve the stated objective are encouraged. If a site visit and the provision of additional data are later determined necessary, notification will be provided by way of an amendment to this announcement. It should be noted that RFIs for different utility systems may be issued in the same time frame. A separate responseto each RFI is required. The point of contact is Scott Beckman or Joel Theis, 303/771-3103. Posted 06/21/99 (W-SN345396). (0172)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0114 19990623\Y-0017.SOL)