NGAP_FY18_Questions_&__Answers_47PA0417R0001.pdf

FY18 GSA NATURAL GAS ACQUISITION PROGRAM 1

GSA – NGAP FY18 Solicitation- 47PA0417R0001 Supplier Questions and Answers

All information posted in this document is for informational purposes only. The terms and conditions of the solicitation take precedence over any information shared here.

Government and Energy Auction Team Attendees:

GSA NGAP Contracting Officer Miranda Webster GSA NGAP Account Manager David Hague GSA NGAP Account Manager Kristi Dutton EnerNOC Erica Martunas Leidos, Inc. Chris McCall

Questions received via e-mail

Q1: If a supplier has submitted a technical proposal in response to previous GSA natural gas supply solicitations, do they still have to submit a new technical proposal?

A1: Yes. Even if an offeror has submitted a technical proposal in response to a previous GSA natural gas supply opportunities, the offeror will still need to submit a technical proposal in response to this opportunity in order to be considered for bid opportunities conducted under this solicitation.

Q2: Is the bid structured such that the suppliers have to bid on all RFPs in all states and utilities GSA runs auctions for under this solicitation?

A2: No. Suppliers can choose to bid on one, all or none of the auction events. However, note that the supplier’s bid price will apply to all accounts included in each auction RFP they bid on. For example, if a particular RFP includes five accounts the bid must apply to all five accounts. Suppliers will not be allowed to “cherry-pick” accounts within RFPs.

Q3: Will GSA provide annual usage for each account broken down on a month to month basis?

A3: Yes. Per Section C of the solicitation, GSA will provide additional information including the service start and end date requested for each account, utility account numbers, service addresses, tariff rate and detailed monthly usage data in the Exhibit 1 files provided to approved bidders in advance of each auction event.

Q4: Will GSA provide the name of the representing Utility Company(s) for the accounts included in the Preliminary Exhibit 1?

A4: Yes. The Preliminary Exhibit 1 provided in Section C of the solicitation includes information on the states, utilities, agencies, cities, service types and estimated annual dths GSA plans to run auctions for under this solicitation.

Q5: Can suppliers get additional information beyond what has been included in the Preliminary Exhibit 1 to include facility names and utility account #s?

A5: See the answer to Question 3

Q6: Where can interested suppliers find the GSA solicitation and information on the technical response proposal requirements that are due back to GSA?

A6: Suppliers can download a copy of the GSA solicitation and Preliminary Exhibit 1 at https://www.fbo.gov/spg/GSA/PBS/NCR/4740PA0417R0001/listing.html or http://www.exchange.enernoc.com/WebPortal/Public/Announcement.aspx?ID=3zYJeqMir% 2bg%3d. Section C of the solicitation Submission Requirements provides specific information on what information suppliers must provide back to GSA in response to this solicitation opportunity.

Q7: Is there a minimum amount of BCFE or decatherms a supplier would have had to transact over the last two years in order to qualify to participate?

https://www.fbo.gov/spg/GSA/PBS/NCR/4740PA0417R0001/listing.html http://www.exchange.enernoc.com/WebPortal/Public/Announcement.aspx?ID=3zYJeqMir%2bg%3d http://www.exchange.enernoc.com/WebPortal/Public/Announcement.aspx?ID=3zYJeqMir%2bg%3d

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A7: No. GSA will review all data provided by suppliers as part of their technical proposals, including current natural gas customers and transaction volumes in order to determine a supplier’s capabilities.

Q8: Can GSA confirm the beginning and ending term dates under Section A.5 and the utility service territories included in the Preliminary Exhibit 1?

A8: See the answer to Question 3. Contract start dates will vary by utility service territory and account. GSA will provide this information in the Exhibit 1 files provided to approved bidders.

Q9: It appears that there are two sections describing the evidence for technical capability and they seem to be asking for slightly different information (beginning on page 28 and beginning on page 31). Which version should we follow or is it a combination of both that GSA requires?

A9: Supplier proposals should comply with the requirements listed and instructions provided in Section C.5 Submission of Proposals. Items a) through g) are additional requirements that are not listed in Section C.5.

Q10: Has an Amendment of Solicitation/Modification of Contract Standard Form 30 been issued for this solicitation?

A10: See answer to Q6.

Q11: Can GSA confirm the utility rate schedules and Transportation Service Rider (NCTS or ITS) for each account that is part of the VA’s TECO Peoples Gas (Orlando) line item?

A11: There is only one account associated with this utility and the account is currently not on third-party supply. The end-use facility is currently leaning towards the ITS transportation rider. Additional information will be provided to approved bidders prior to any auction event for this facility.

Q12: Is it mandatory to supply a full list of a supplier’s five largest customers for the last year per LDC, plus their volumes for the last two years?

A12: No. The solicitation will be updated via amendment to change this requirement.

Suppliers will need to supply this information for two of their larger customers located in each LDC they plan to bid on. While suppliers are not going to be required to provide full information for their five largest customers, the two customers provided for each LDC should be of a representative size that provides GSA confidence that the offeror has experience providing gas to large commercial clients. Residential customers, regardless of size, cannot be used to satisfy this requirement.

Q13: If an offeror doesn’t meet the Moody’s or Standard and Poor’s rating specified in the solicitation and the supplier has to provide their audited financials, will GSA execute an NDA with the offeror covering the financial information provided?

A13: No. Additionally, see Section A.12 for additional information regarding Protection of Contract Information submitted in response to this solicitation opportunity.

Q14: On page 51, section (s) there are some questions regarding representation regarding compliance with labor laws per Executive Order 13673. That executive order was issued by President Obama and has since been revoked by President Trump. Do we still need to answer section (s)?

A14: That is a contract term and condition listed in FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions. Only those references with an X next to them apply to this contract. That one is not checked because it does not apply.

Q15: Page 33 notes that facilities with contracts expiring between Oct 2017 – Jan 2019 are included in the Preliminary Exhibit 1. Could GSA run auctions in additional LDC service territories under this solicitation? Historically, are facilities routinely added to the list?

A15: Yes. However, based on the most current information GSA has received from the thirty-agencies that purchase natural gas through NGAP and our internal list of accounts that are currently under long-term third party natural gas supply contracts through GSA that expire after Jan 2019, GSA does not anticipate to run auctions for accounts located in LDCs that are not included in the Preliminary Exhibit 1 file.

FY18 GSA NATURAL GAS ACQUISITION PROGRAM 3

Q16: Page 26, VAAR852: Does this clause mean to say that the VA locations will not accept invoices via email, only through the VA website or EDI? I understand from the conference call that the VA info wasn’t readily available, but wanted to see if there was anything further than can be shared.

A16: For VA facilities only: The invoicing requirements in the clause listed above will apply unless the supplier is provided different instructions from the end use facility.

Q17: Page 29, Evidence of Technical Ability #12: If any portion of supply is secured from any party other than the offeror, they must provide GSA will a copy of the signed confirm of the supply secured within 24 hours of contract award. For a large gas marketing company who is constantly buying and selling, it could be challenging for us to find one source supply for all the facility’s gas needs through every season. I understand from the call in that it’s up to the facility if they want all this information; historically, have facilities requested it?

A17: This requirement will be updated via amendment from offeror’s providing an acknowledge and agree statement to providing a narrative as part of their technical proposal.

Q18: Page 32, Submission Proposal #J: Provide the company name, contact, phone and historical usage for the offeror’s five largest users behind each LDC. If our largest customers don’t agree to our releasing this information to GSA will GSA accept customer references who are comfortable making sharing such info?

A18: See the answer to Q.13

Q19: Is the GSA agreement exempt from the state energy contracting requirements for Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Virginia and will the GSA indemnify the Contractor from all state contracting compliance issues?

A19: No.

Q20: Reference section A.3 is the applicable price point established pre or post award?

A20: This is established post-award.

Q21: Reference section A.3 Option I, are the monthly historical volumes the same monthly volumes provided on the “All Data” tab on the FY__ - Exhibit 1 spreadsheet?

A21: Yes.

Q22: Reference section A.3 Option I, is the price for gas outside the tolerance equal to the average of the “Midpoint” prices found in the Daily Price Survey of Platts’ Gas Daily for each day of the month?

A22: Yes

Q23: Reference section A.3 Option I, where is the Gas Daily index pricing point shown?

A23: www.platts.com

Q24: Reference section A.3 Option II, is the 25% material change calculated based on the monthly historical provided on the “All Data” tab on the FY__ - Exhibit 1 spreadsheet?

A24: Yes.

Q25: Reference section A.3 Option III, is the fixed price percentage calculated based on the monthly historical provided on the “All Data” tab on the FY__ - Exhibit 1 spreadsheet or monthly usage?

A25: The All Data tab in the Exhibit 1 file is the sheet that provides monthly data.

Q26: Reference Section A.9, since the Contractor’s delivery obligations are at the city gate the historical volumes used to calculate Option I and section A.20 should be grossed up to the city gate. Will the GSA allow the Contractor use city gate volumes?

A26: Suppliers should provide adequate quantities at the citygate to meet the full usage requirements of each account served at the burnertip.

http://www.platts.com/

FY18 GSA NATURAL GAS ACQUISITION PROGRAM 4

Q27: Reference Section A.16, in the second paragraph changing account numbers is discussed.

Utilities will not supply a third party Contractor with a new utility account number. What is the Government’s and/or facilities obligation to provide the information so that the Contractor can enroll on a timely basis?

A27: GSA requests that end-use agencies that utilize the NGAP contract to purchase third-party natural gas supply to notify suppliers of any changes to their account number as soon as possible.

Q28: Reference Section A.16, there have been instances where the utility has initiated account drop that has not been requested by the Government, facility and/or Contractor. What is the Government’s and/or facilities obligations to resolve the issue with the utility to assure that there is not an interruption in the Contractor’s service.

A28: As GSA only pays the bills for GSA accounts, we ask that both end-use agencies and suppliers notify us of any changes at accounts, to include account number changes, as quickly as possible.

Q29: Reference Section A.20, what is the definition of “properly notify” in the third sentence and “”property notify” in the fourth sentence?

A29: GSA is one of twenty-nine agencies that purchase third-party natural gas supply through GSA NGAP. “Properly notify” means that the end-use agency notifies both the supplier and GSA that a material change is going to occur or has occurred in a timely manner.

Q30: Reference Section A.20, how is the price calculated for volumes above 125% of the historical usage and below 75% of the historical range?

A30: As stated in A.20, Section A.26 describes how to calculate the liquidation settlement or credits.

Q31: Reference Section A.20, given the language in this section, the “material change” coverage appears to cover a short-term usage change. What happens to the volumes of natural gas outside the +/-25% tolerance if there is a material change in usage over a long period?

A31: A contract modification will be issued to document the change in usage.

Q32: Reference Section A.21, what is the calculation if the liquidation price is less than the original value?

A32: Specific details regarding this calculation are provided in Section A.21.

Q33: Reference Section A.25, the Claiming Party is required to use reasonable efforts to resolve the Force Majeure event. If the event is beyond the Claiming Party’s control, there is no reasonable solution and extends beyond 120 days, for example an interruption of natural gas service, what is the Contractor’s or Government’s obligation?

Q33: If a Force Majeure event were to extend beyond 120 days, GSA would evaluate the situation and determine what contract action is appropriate at that time.

Q34: Reference Section A.26, what forward volumes are used to calculate the liquidation value?

A34: The published volumes provided in the Exhibit 1 files will be used to calculate liquidation values. This section of the solicitation will be updated via amendment.

Q35: Reference Section A.28, what happens if there is a regulatory change or force majeure event that eliminates the Contractor’s ability to transport to an account during the life of the term?

A35: GSA would evaluate the situation and determine what contract action is appropriate at that time.

Q36: Reference Section A.28, if a new account is not allowed to transport because of utility tariff issues, state PUC requirements, or other regulatory issues will the Contractor still be required to serve?

A36: The contractor will either serve the account or GSA will terminate the contract.

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Q37: Reference Section B, Please explain the Section A.14 reference in the last sentence regarding Force Majeure.

A37: The top of page 20 regarding Termination for Convenience should reference Section A.26. This section will be revised via amendment.

Q38: Reference Section C.4. (1), are the terms “historical load data” and “projected load data” interchangeable in regards to usage related items such as material change (25%), Option I 10%, Option III percentages, etc.?

A38: Yes. To avoid ambiguity, the solicitation will be revised via amendment to use the term “published volumes” to mean volumes listed in the Exhibit 1 to determine contracted usage.

Q39: Reference Section C.4 (3), cost and penalty reference is covered under Section A.20 and the language does not mirror that found in C.4 (3), which could cause interpretation issue. Which section governs?

A39: Section A20 Material Changes covers situations where the end-use facility makes changes that result in usage that varies more than 25% from the published volumes in the Exhibit 1 after contract award. Section C.4 (3) lists costs that should be include in the bid price entered into the auction platform.

Questions Received During Supplier Teleconference

Q40: On page 24 of the solicitation under FAR 52.216-18 Ordering, should the dates referenced in the first paragraph be Oct 1, 2017 to Sept 30, 2018 instead of Oct 1, 2016 to Sept 30, 2017?

A40: Yes. This section will be revised via solicitation amendment.

Q41: On page 25 of the solicitation under FAR 52.217-9 Option to Extend, would any options be bilateral agreements where both the government and supplier would need to agree to an extension?

A41: Yes. See Section A.5 Term and FAR 52.212-4 (c) Changes (incorporated by reference in Section B) which state that any extension would need to be bilaterally agreed upon by both parties.

Q42: When is the deadline for questions submitted via e-mail regarding the solicitation?

A42: The date listed in the solicitation Procurement Schedule of 08/08/17 (Fri) is incorrect.

The new date for questions submitted via e-mail regarding this solicitation is Thursday, August 10th no later than 1:00 PM ET. The updated date is posted on the EnerNOC announcement site for this opportunity. The date for Posting of Answers to Both Supplier Teleconference and Email Questions was also listed incorrectly in the solicitation Procurement Schedule. Questions and Answers will be posted by 5:00PM ET on Tuesday 8/15/17.

Q43: In regarding to Section C.5 (f), does GSA really want a narrative describing offeror’s experience in providing supply management behind each LDC?

A43: See the answer to Question A.13. This section will be revised via solicitation amendment.

Q44: If our firm has a corporate small business subcontracting plan that covers all Federal opportunities, can that plan satisfy the requirements of this solicitation?

A44: A commercial subcontracting plan (see FAR 19.701) will meet the solicitation requirements. It must be provided as part of the proposal, if applicable.

Q45: Does the GSA ever provide daily historical usage, particularly for very large accounts? Or will they sign an Letter of Authorization (LOA) to allow suppliers to get the data from the Utility?

A45: Yes. The government’s ability to provide this level of data depends on whether the end-use agency can provide daily usage information from internal sources, will agree to signing an LOA that would allow the supplier to pull this information, and whether there is adequate time for the date of a request from this information to the date of the auction.

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Q46: For Option 3 is the percentage lock based on the actual monthly usage or for a percentage of the historical volume in the RFP.

A46: Actual usage.

Q47: At the top of page 20 there is a reference to section A14. Is this reference correct?

A47: The top of page 20 regarding Termination for Convenience should reference Section A.26. This will be revised via solicitation amendment.