E -- PRIVATIZATION OF THE ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AT WATERVLIET ARSENAL, WATERVLIET, NY

Notice Date

December 12, 2000

Contracting Office

HQ OSC, Attn AMSOS-ACI, Bld 350, 5th Floor Middle Bay, Rock Island IL 61299-6000

ZIP Code

61299-6000

Response Due

December 29, 2000

Point of Contact

Jodie Bennett, (309) 782-8541

E-Mail Address

Click here to contact the contract specialst via e-mail (bennettj2@osc.army.mil)

Description

SOURCES SOUGHT FOR THE POTENTIAL PRIVATIZATION OF THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM AT WATERVLIET ARSENAL, WATERVLIET, NY. The Operations Support Command (OSC) 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. OSC is seeking interest and information specifically for the potential privatization of Watervliet's Electric system. The potential privatization action will include the transfer of ownership, operation and maintenance, and the obligation to serve. The Army intends to retain ownership of all land and will grant easements and leases for access to land associated with the utility system. OBJECTIVE: Should privatization occur, the ownership of Watervliet's Electric system, operation and maintenance and obligation to continue to provide utility service for an indefinite and ongoing period will transfer to a publicly or privately owned utility service provider. All responsibility for maintaining reliable utility service, including such items as environmental compliance, maintenance costs, major system renovations, construction, equipment, manpower and overhead costs will become the utility service provider's responsibility. It is intended that the privatization will ultimately reduce the Army's life-cycle costs for operating and maintaining the natural gas system. SYSTEM DESCRIPTION: The following is provided only to give an approximation of the size, scope and general description of Watervliet's Electric system. Any numbers may be used for estimating purposes only. The main electrical substation is located on the west side of the reservation near the Shaker Road Gate (Rt. 155) and the Delaware and Hudson Railroad. The substation is owned and operated by the U.S. Army. The substation contains two 15 MVA power transformers (115/13.2 kV) which are energized by two overhead 115kV three phase feeders from the Niagara-Mohawk Power Corporation (NiMo). One 115 kV feeder is fed from the Al-Tech facility and the second 115 kV fedder is fed from the Maplewood facility. The NiMo ownership ends at the dead-ended terminations of the lattice steel dead-end tower. The Army owned facilities in the Watervliet Arsenal main substation include four sets of 115 kV oil circuit breakers, two sets of 115 kV motor operated disconnect switches, two runs of 1200 amp copper bus in enclosed bus duct, outdoor switchgear building with double ended 15 kV rated switchgear, two 1200 amp rated incomer breakers, one 1200 amp bus tie breaker, eight 15 kV feeder breakers, and one spare 15 kV breaker. The distribution system that originates in the main substation contains three loop feeders and two lateral feeders. Each feeder is protected by a draw-out type air circuit breakers in the switchgear lineup. Each feeder is protected by a draw-out type air circuit breaker in the switchgear lineup. Loop 1 North and South are connected about midway by normally open (N.O.) disconnect switches 1B5 and 1A5. This loop serves Buildings 110, 114, 124, 125, 132, 135 and 146. Loop 2 North and South are connected about midway by N.O. disconnect switches 2A4 and 2A5. This loop feeds Buildings `7, 35, 44, 110 and 120. Loop 3 North and South are connected about midway by N.O. disconnect switches 3B3 and 3B4. This loop feeds Buildings 20, 25, 35, 40 and 135. Lateral Feeder 4 feeds the warehouse and property disposal facilities in Building 145 and 150. Lateral Feeder 5 feeds a Forge Heater System in a portion of Building 135. Almost all of the distribution system is comprised of underground cable feeders, pad mounted distribution type transformers, and switches. The original underground (U/G) power cables were installed during the 1940's era and were paper insulated lead covered (PILC) and varnished cambric lead (VCL). Some of the original feeder cable is still in service. Later additional feeder segments have installed cross-linked polyethylene cables (XLPE) or ethylene propylene rubber insulated cable (EPR). The conductor sizes of the three main loop feeders are two 3/c 500 kcmil, 15kV cables connected in parallel. The lead jacketed type make up 33% of the two cable sets. XLP or EPR cables make up 42% of the two cable sets. The balance is an equal mix of the two. Radial feeder 4 is 3/C #4/0 AWG, 15 kV PILC. Radial feeder 5 is two parallel 3/C 500 kcmil 15 kV XLP cables. All of the underground feeders are in active service. Only three cable sections have been replaced since 1996. The U/G network is installed in 4-inch non-metallic ducts encased in concrete and cast in place concrete manholes. Separate duct banks and manholes are used for communications systems. The condition of the U/G network is reported as "fair" in spite of the age of the system. PROCEDURES: This request to interested parties is for gathering information and is a required component and systematic process to evaluate the interested parties under the U.S. Army'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. 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, maintenance and construction of similar potable water treatment and distribution and wastewater collection and treatment 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 services; (4) statement detailing the legal right to serve, own, operate and maintain utility system within the state laws and an understanding of any applicable federal, territorial and local utility laws, regulations or franchise requirements affecting utilities in the state, and capability of complying with such requirements; (5) statement detailing the understanding of federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations and familiarity and experience with environmental compliance procedures and regulations for the State of New York 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 the RFIs for different utility systems may be issued in the same time frame.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001214/ESOL003.HTM (W-347 SN5086X7)