140L0622R0035_INDUSTRY_DAY_Q_A_2.pdf

Sources Sought Notice 140L0622R0035

Industry Day – Questions and Answers June 15, 2022

DOI/USDA Orphan Well Support Services

1. Q: Is BLM the managing agency for all of the US land agencies (i.e., USFS, NPS), or is each agency doing their own version of this?

A: BLM is the lead agency for the Federal Program. All Federal agencies are responsible for determining their inventory of orphaned wells. This contract will be used by all agencies.

2. Q: Is the BLM working together or separately from the American Carbon Registry to set standards for quantifying methane emissions, specifically with the chamber method? Where in the process is the BLM with setting standards for methane quantification?

A: The method used by the carbon registry is compatible with the methane protocol developed by the federal agencies. Please review the methane protocol developed by the federal agencies and the required reference documents for the required specifications and data reporting criteria.

3. Q:Is the TROPOMI Satellite recorded survey data available for assigned geographical areas?

A: Satellite data is useful for large methane leaks, much larger than what we typically see from orphaned wells. This type of data would have limited applicability.

4. Q: What do we do with recovered surface equipment and recovered tubulars after removed?

A: The equipment will be handled on a project specific basis and will be part of the scope of work for the contract.

5. Q: Are the actual plugging activities (driller's work) excluded from this contract?

A: The actual plugging activities are considered construction activities and will be handled under a second contract. The Industry Day for the plugging contract will be held Wednesday June 22 at

9AM MD.

6. Q: Can we request the protocol’s citations that are not currently publicly available? If so, from whom?

A: If there are any cited documents that are not publicly available, individuals are requested to email pjohnson@blm.gov.

7. Q: Are you looking for methane only, or CO2 and NOx, as well?

A: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) mentions "other gases" but does not define what they are. The Federal team has interpreted "other gases" to mean fractionation of other hydrocarbons in the gas stream for which the intent is to calculate (rather than measure) from estimated percentages of hydrocarbons in a field (i.e. BTEX). Any additional data is welcome, but not required.

8. Are we able to edit our questionnaire that we filled our previously?

A: The questionnaire is not abled to be edited; respondents with clarifications or edits to answers shall email pjohnson@blm.gov with additional information.

9. Q: With regard to past performance, commercial clients often require confidentiality. How does

BLM view past performance for these clients?

A: Past performance submitted in correlation to a solicitation will be used for source selection purposes only. Source selection information is controlled and monitored by the Source Selection Authority and not made available for any other purpose.

mailto:pjohnson@blm.gov mailto:pjohnson@blm.gov

Sources Sought Notice 140L0622R0035

10. Q: Will the contracting decision of small business vs large business be announced prior to the pre-solicitation notice?

A: No, the Government does not anticipate any separate posting that includes the acquisition strategy. The pre-solicitation notice will include all relevant acquisition information.

11. Q: These large contracts that are set aside are often impossible or nearly impossible for small business to carry. All members of their company will be required to engage and the contract amount will push them out of a SB designation. Does the government consider this when determining set aside?

A: The Government considers a broad range of impacts when determining a set-aside, including availability of socioeconomic firms to provide the required services and potential impacts to small businesses.

12. Q: Will there be a list of attendees and potential vendors provided, along with their expertise?

A: Yes, the Government is providing a list of vendors and areas of interest in the SAM posting.

13. Q: Do you have a general timeline for this procurement and its various stages?

A: The Government provided a timeline in the PowerPoint presentation included in the SAM posting.

14. Q: Do you anticipate on a programmatic NEPA approach (i.e., PEA) for the wells within an area/agency or individual EAs/CATEXES?

A: NEPA will need to be done on each well but this will be a site specific determination. There may be some wells appropriate for a programmatic designation in specific areas.

15. Q: When considering soil testing, is the scope for methane quantification just within the 1 meter around the wellhead or is there an area limit for soil testing?

A: It is not anticipated that soil testing will be required as most wells. The distance from the well needs to be determined on a case-by-case basis. Contractors will need to describe the process used to determine if soil measurement is feasible or not, how they chose the boundary distance, and the process used.

16. Q: Could a contractor prime both the support services and P&A contracts? Or is COI an issue?

A: Yes, a contractor can be a prime on both contracts. There is no conflict of interest anticipated.

17. Q: Do you have guidance on groundwater contamination indicators?

A: There are some checklists and indicators currently under development internally. There may be additional groundwater investigative services needed under this vehicle depending on the findings.

18. Q: What emphasis will be on non-methane or gas (i.e., soil and groundwater)?

A: The BIL calls out very specific items, methane and surface and groundwater contamination.

Anything that represents a public health risk will be addressed. The goal is to look at all of these aspects in considering which wells to plug and how to address these. Environmental justice is also a focus of the BIL.

19. Q: Would BLM consider putting the P&A design services under the P&A contract?

A: Yes, the BLM is currently conducting market research to determine contractor capabilities under both scopes.