C. H. Guernsey and Company, 5555 North Grand Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73112

M -- PRIVATIZATION UNDER 10 USC 2688, UTILITY SYSTEMS: CONVEYANCE AUTHORITY AT EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA-REQUEST FOR INFORMATION SOL F0470000-R-0004 DUE 102999 POC Jared Stigge, (405) 416-8190 (jstigge@chguernsey.com). Secondary contact: Cindy Baker, (405) 416-8272 (cbaker@chguernsey.com). E-MAIL: Click here to contact Jared Stigge via email, jstigge@chguernsey.com. C.H. Guernsey and Company, as a contractor to 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 natural gas, potable water and wastewater utility systems at Edwards Air Force Base, California. OBJECTIVE: Should privatization result, the ownership, operation, and maintenance of Edwards Air Force Base's natural gas, potable water and wastewater utility systems will transfer to a utility service provider or providers, along with the obligation to continue to provide utility service for an indefinite and ongoing period. All responsibility for maintaining reliable utility service, including such items as environmental compliance, maintenance, major system renovations, construction, equipment, and manpower will become the utility service provider's responsibility. It is intended that privatization will ultimately reduce the Air Force's life-cycle costs for operating and maintaining utility systems and services. SYSTEM DESCRIPTIONS: The following information provided is only an estimate of the size, scope and general description of the natural gas, potable water and wastewater utility systems at the base and is subject to change. Natural gas: service is obtained from a 36-inch 800 psi pipeline owned by Pacific Gas and Electric Company via a six-inch supply line regulated to 150 psi. The distribution system consists of approximately 380,000 linear feet of mains and lines, which vary in size from 1 to 10 inches in diameter. Potable water: water is supplied via commercial pipeline by the Antelope Valley Eastern Kern County Water Agency which distributes California state project water. Water is also produced at four well fields located on base. The distribution system consists of approximately 1,806,000 linear feet of mains and lines, as well as 14 booster pump stations and 24 booster pumps. The system also includes 16 potable water storage tanks and backflow assemblies. The current supply capacity for the potable water system is 16.6 mgd, with an additional 4.3 million gallons of storage. Predicted peak demand is 11.6 mgd, with a projected average demand of 4.5 mgd. The Base fire protection system will also be considered for privatization, and consists of: 104 wet pipes, 8 pre-action, 6 dry pipes, 116 deluge systems, 4 fixed foam turrets, 2 inert gas support systems, 4 water storage tanks, and 4 fire system pump stations with 9 diesel-powered pumps and 3 electric pumps. Wastewater: the main base system consists of gravity lines, force mains and pump stations which collect and route wastewater to the wastewater treatment plant. Lines vary in size from 4 to 30 inches in diameter and are primarily composed of vitrified clay or cast iron. The system also includes approximately 50,000 linear feet of reclaimed water pipe varying in size from 4 to 18 inches in diameter. Thetreatment plant consists of a grit remover, a comminutor, primary clarifiers, a two-stage anaerobic digester and sludge drying beds. The system currently processes 2.5 mgd. A smaller collection/treatment system serves the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL.) Lines in these systems vary in size from 4 to 8 inches in diameter and are principally composed of vitrified clay. The AFRL system consists of gravity lines, force mains and pump stations which collect and route wastewater to the wastewater treatment plant. This Activated Sludge Plant consists of headworks with mechanical and manual barscreens, one concrete-lined lagoon with four floating surface aerators, one clarifier, two sand filters, two concrete-lined sludge holding lagoons, two concrete-lined sludge drying beds, four evaporation/percolation ponds with a bottom area of approximately 8.3 acres, and a 900 foot subsurface leachline to be operated in conjunction with the percolation ponds. The Activate Sludge Plant has a design capacity of .125 mgd and currently processes an average of .06 mgd. All collection systems together consist of approximately 1,012,000 linear feet of mains and lines. Other: Two other systems may be included in the event a formal request for proposal is issued. However, the following two items WILL NOT include transfer of ownership; the following two items contemplate only repair and maintenance of government-owned real property. Swimming pools: repair and maintain 1 indoor and 2 outdoor pools to include pool equipment, recirculating pumps, chlorine pumps, drain pumps, isolation and control valves piping systems, sand filtration systems, and chlorine feed systems according to equipment manufacturers' specifications. Demineralized water plant: maintain and repair a 30,000 gallon demineralized water storage system and filtration equipment. 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 proposal. 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: 4911/4 Million Megawatt hours, 4922/$5 Million (M) dollars, 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) specific utility system(s) of interest and desired packaging/grouping of utilities to purchase, including any sub-part(s) of systems; (2) capability and experience in ownership, operation, maintenance and construction of similar utility systems; (3) financial capacity to purchase, expand and operate the utility systems; (4) statement detailing the understanding of the obligation to serve in regards to continuous utility service; (5) conceptual rate plan (excluding numerical analysis or proposed rates), i.e. will charges for utility service be made from existing rates or from rates developed specifically for service at the individual base; (6) ideas regarding conjunctive metering and billing for service on base (excluding numerical analysis or proposed rates); (7) discussion of your conceptual basis (excluding numerical analysis or proposed prices) for a proposed purchase price (capitalized earnings value, replacement cost new less depreciation, original cost less depreciation, or other); (8) statement detailing your understanding of applicable state and local utility laws and regulations and your compliance capability; (9) statement detailing your understanding of any existing franchises and your ability to provide service given these conditions; (10) statement detailing your understanding of federal, territorial and local environmental laws and regulations, and familiarity and experience with environmental compliance procedures and regulations for the state of California and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency; and (11) business size (large, small, small-disadvantage, 8(a), women-owned.) No financial compensation will be made for any information received in response to this notice. Elaborate proposals or pricing information is neither required nor desired. Under no circumstances will cost data for the existing systems be provided. Any innovative or new conceptual ideas to achieve the stated objective are encouraged. If a site visit and the provision of additionaldata are later determined necessary, notification will be provided by way of an amendment to this announcement. It should be noted that the RFIs for different Air Force Bases and their utility systems may be issued in the same time frame. A separate response to each RFI is required. Please respond electronically as well as with hard copy. Posted 09/29/99 (W-SN386134). (0272)

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