FY24 NGAP Solicitation 47PA0724R0003 Questions and Answers FIN 2624.pdf

47PA0724R0003 GSA NGAP Competitive Natural Gas Supply Questions and Answers

Received in Writing as of 3:00 PM ET January 31st, 2024.

NOTE: ALL CHANGES/UPDATES TO THE SOLICITATION ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW IN THE

AMENDMENT 1 VERSION OF THE SOLICITATION

1. Will GSA be able to review our technical proposal submittal prior to the deadline?

Answer 1: No. To ensure your technical proposal is complete, follow the instructions in section

C of the solicitation. Additionally, page 39 and the Technical Proposal Checklist contains a list of all the required documents for technical proposal submittals which are due on February

13th , 2024 no later than 3:00 p.m. EST. Please submit as complete a technical proposal package as possible. GSA may follow up with any items that need to be remediated after review.

2. Does GSA accept a NAESB contract or do they use their own?

Answer 2: GSA does not accept or sign NAESB or supplier contracts. The solicitation, and all terms and conditions included in the solicitation, are included in the contract between GSA and the winning supplier along with additional information regarding the final price, term, etc.

3. Is there a way to find out if our company is already set up with a Unique Entity ID on Sam.gov?

Answer 3: Yes. Go to www.sam.gov. Then search by your company name, Unique Entity ID #, Cage Code, or various other fields. If you have any questions or run into any issues, reach out to the SAM.gov helpdesk.

4. In the past we have had issues regarding our contract language, specifically the OFO language and I am wondering if this will be a concern?

Answer 4: Section A.13 of the solicitation addresses Operational Flow Orders. No additional language regarding OFOs will be included in any awarded contracts.

5. Will fixed contracts with 100% swing be requested in this solicitation?

Answer 5: Yes. All accounts priced under Pricing Product II, as defined in Section A.21 of the solicitation, will be 100% swing. The Exhibit 1 files that are posted prior to each auction will specifically state whether the accounts in each RFP are to be priced under Pricing Product I or Pricing Product II.

6. Can we get an invoice from the utility for each site in CO, OK and NM?

Answer 6: No, GSA does not provide invoices. If there is specific information you are looking for that is not included in the Exhibit 1 files that are posted prior to each auction; please ask at least five business days prior to the auction date(s) and GSA will work with you to try to gather the information.

7. In NM, the LDC does not allow dual billing. In that case are LDC charges supposed to be passed through, or inclusive in price?

Answer 7: GSA has confirmed that utilities in New Mexico do not allow for dual billing from suppliers, All charges from the supplier and all regulated charges from the utility must be https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.sam.gov__;!!OjemSMKBgg!kpwoAQ7odPvhcqFheJkjvALuu5LCXu715NhfGKkiA_0mndSO1gMp6fx4KqLSj_dEiquxJycfiLmUK6sY1EXXKyJkSA$ included on the supplier’s invoice. Supplier charges must be listed as a separate line item or line items.

8. Can you provide the firm Receipt locations for the PSCO sites?

Answer 8: Specific account information will be in the Exhibit 1 files that are posted prior to each auction. The information will include specific auction dates, terms, and pricing products, account type, EnelX RFP#’s and monthly data. GSA plans to release the first Exhibit 1 in the mid-March timeframe for early April auctions and updated Exhibit 1s will be released as new auction events are scheduled. Additionally, see the answer to question 6 above.

9. For sites on IT transport, do they have the ability to switch to a backup system?

Answer 9: Yes. All accounts that are listed as Interruptible on GSA’s program are designated as interruptible by the utility they are located in and are on interruptible tariffs.

10. Do you have the Maximum Daily Quantity (MDQ) stated by the LDC and when was the last time that was updated/changed for all Firm customers?

Answer 10: No. Per Section A.1 of the solicitation, “GSA will only be providing monthly data in the Exhibit 1 file and will not be providing daily or hourly volumes for any of the included accounts”.

11. On pricing product 1. Will that be an index related price with a % tolerance, or will that be a Fixed price with % tolerance?

Answer 11: Fixed Price with a % tolerance. See the pricing product specification as provided in Section A.21 of the solicitation.

12. Are we able to submit additional questions once Exhibit 1 is updated/published? We might have some questions on the notes about specific volume sets and/or generate projections with planned efficiency in mind. If we get something along those lines, we would like the chance to review and ask questions if/when that situation arises.

Answer 12: Yes. Suppliers will be able to ask additional questions after the Exhibit 1 files are posted prior to each auction. Those questions will need to be submitted to GSA at least five business days prior to the auction date(s).

13. Should the government request an extension of performance under the methodology of pricing set out in the contract, it is the right of the contractor to decline the extension request?

Answer 13: Yes. See Section A.9 of the solicitation, “If the Contractor declines to extend, the contract will expire with the current performance period for the associated pricing group(s).”

14. In order to confirm serviceability, we would need an LOA for the USDA Stuttgart site in ARKLA territory. Would you be able to provide or get an LOA signed for that location?

Answer 14: No. GSA will not provide LOAs. Additionally, see the answer to question 10 above.

15. AGL Mass Market locations require a MDQ to run pricing. Will future exhibits show the MDQ information per site. Or would we be able to use the volumes and MDQ from the AGL website for each location?

Answer 15: Offerors are welcome to collect whatever data they can access through AGL that does not require GSA to sign a Letter of Authorization. Additionally, see the answer to question 10 above.

16. Further information is needed to determine serviceability for the Philadelphia Gas Works locations. Would you be able to provide a utility invoice for each location?

Answer 16: No. See the answer to question 6 above.

17. Can you confirm if NIST Boulder has an active phone line? The utility states they are not currently on transport but would be eligible to transport, if they have an active phone line?

Answer 17: After the solicitation was released, GSA learned that NIST Boulder will no longer be included in GSA’s FY24 auctions. Therefore, suppliers will not be asked to provide pricing for this account.

18. Is it possible to offer any additional services for any GSA locations that are won? As an example, adding carbon offset credits to the transactions. If so, how would that be handled contractually?

Answer 18: No.

19. Regarding Section “A.9 Requests for Extension,” can the GSA please confirm that any extensions in pricing will be mutually agreed upon?

Answer 19: Yes. See the answer to question 13 above.

20. Regarding the third paragraph of Section “A.13 Service Interruption,” we see that in the event of an LDC-issued interruption, LDC-issued supply curtailment, or LDC-issued operation flow order, suppliers need to notify the GSA Contracting Officer, GSA account manager, and facility point of contact, and that interruptible (IT) designated accounts are required to curtail usage to the greatest extent possible while restrictions are in place. Can the GSA please clarify whether an

LDC has issued only an operation flow order, which is allowing supplier gas to flow, but imposes penalties for imbalances between supplier deliveries and customer usage, will the GSA accounts reduce usage during this operation flow order? Does reduce usage mean a cap on a GSA account’s usage for that period/day? Will the GSA account switch to an alternate fuel during an operation flow order? Ultimately, we need to understand what the process will be for a GSA account during an operation flow order that still allows for customers to use natural gas but is imposing penalties for daily imbalances. In this specific situation, will an account limit usage and/or switch off natural gas for that day?

Answer 20: The supplier and facility will be required to follow the specific instructions and guidance the LDC issues and communicate and work together to understand what the facility is allowed to burn under the LDC issued curtailment or operational flow order on a daily basis during any of the aforementioned examples.

21. Regarding Section “A.13 Service Interruption,” can the GSA please acknowledge that suppliers manage gas purchases at the portfolio level rather than for specific customers?

Answer 21: Acknowledged. However, note the winning supplier will be required to meet all the specifications and requirements listed in A.13 regarding the accounts served under GSA’s contracts.

22. Regarding Section “A.20 Material Change,” we anticipate that the GSA will be notifying the

Contractor of a material change for an account. What happens if the opposite is true, that the

Contractor notes a substantial increase in baseload usage for an account that is independent of weather factors and notifies the Contracting Officer? Should this increase in baseload use exceed the 25% material change threshold, does the Contractor have to wait the full contract year for an equitable adjustment until the full annual year of usage is known for the pricing group? How are equitable adjustments determined at that time? Is it based on the monthly amounts exceeding the 25% for that year, meaning equitable adjustments are based on monthly pricing? Or if it is done after the year, is it based on an average annual price?

Answer 22: Per Section A.20 of the solicitation, in either scenario listed the solicitation states, “The Contracting Officer will notify the Contractor if the Government anticipates an annual change of plus or minus 25% or more to the total published volumes in Exhibit 1 (a “Material

Change”) for accounts awarded under Pricing Product II. Yes, per the language included in the solicitation the supplier will need to wait a full year as the variance calculation would be based on annual volumes. Per the language included in the solicitation, any costs owed by or credits owed to the Government will be Material Change will be determined in accordance with the calculations provided in the Termination for Convenience clause FAR 52.212-4(l)

23. Regarding Section “A.20 Material Change,” can the GSA please acknowledge that charges due to material change are based on information provided by the LDC and that suppliers do not have control over when that information is provided?

Answer 23: Acknowledged. However, As the supplier bills based on LDC provided volumes, it’s up to the supplier to track the facility's usage to see if a materials change applies.

24. When can suppliers expect to receive an updated Exhibit 1?

Answer 24: See the answer to question 8 above.

25. Do suppliers need to include balancing and line losses in the WG&L pricing?

Answer 25: Yes, see Attachment 2 – Price Component Confirmation Table. All costs, other than any applicable taxes, must be included in bid prices.

26. Regarding GSAR 552.215-70 Examination of Records, can the GSA please confirm that suppliers will not be required to provide confidential or proprietary information with record requests?

Answer 26: GSA will not be requesting any proprietary information. Additionally, see Section

A.6 Protection of Contract Information.

27. A .14 Load Changes During the Term of the Contract- This section states ‘ The Federal

Government will not be penalized in any way for pursuing any projects that reduce natural gas load requirements except as expressly detailed under this contract’ If we are awarded a contract for 12 months, does this mean the Federal Government could cancel the contract at month 5, without penalty, because they decided to reduce natural gas load with another energy option?

Would the Government at least finish the active contract, even if it's at the lower swing percentage?

Answer 27: No. Any accounts awarded under Pricing Product 1, any volumes that fall below the established swing percentage in relation to the above scenario, would be priced at market prices per the specifications included in Section A.20 of the solicitation. Any accounts awarded under Pricing Product II, see the language in Section A.20 regarding volumes that fall above or below 25% of the annual volumes provided in Exhibit 1. See FAR 52.212-4(l)

Termination for the Government’s Convenience regarding how any costs would be calculated if a contract were terminated during the term of an awarded contract.

28. For Pricing Product II (page 9) and Material Change (page 8), these sections conflict with each other. Is it appropriate to assume if an account contracts for a volume of natural gas and takes less than 75% or over 125% of said contracted annual average volume, then this would trigger a material change event?

Answer 28: See the specific reference to Pricing Product II in Section A.20 Material Change regarding how the annual volumes should be calculated in relation to a plus or minus 25% change in annual volumes.

29. This account WGL 320000490518 for the FDIC Blrm returned from WGL as “not active”. Is there a new account#?

Answer 29: GSA will confirm with the facility POCs and, if it has changed, provide an updated utility account number in the Exhibit 1 files that are posted prior to each auction. If you have additional questions after reviewing the final Exhibit 1 files, submit any follow up questions to GSA at least five business days prior to the auction date(s).

30. UGI Central Penn Account 411006705049 Schuylkill BOP:

1. What is the Gas Type? It should be Delivery Service, LFD or Interruptible on UGI not Daily as it shows now.

2. If LFD or DS what is the DFR?

3. If LFD what is confirmation on if they are on UGI Capacity or 3rd Party Capacity

1. All Delivery Service accounts are on UGI Capacity

2. All Interruptible accounts are 3rd Party Capacity

3. LFD can be either UGI Cap or 3rd Party Cap

Answer 30: Specific account information will be included in the Exhibit 1 files that are posted prior to each auction. . If you have additional questions after reviewing the final Exhibit 1 files, submit any follow up questions to GSA at least five business days prior to the auction date(s).

31. UGI Penn Account 411005615348 Wilkes Barre VA:

1. What is the DFR for this account?

2. Please confirmation the capacity? --- We see in the past UGI Capacity was used for pricing but need to be sure.

Answer 31: See the answer to question 30 above.

32. For any Atmos TX customer please list what territory of Atmos these are in. If they are Mid-TX or

West TX region within the utility?

Answer 32: GSA will provide additional information in the Exhibit 1 files that are posted prior to each auction on which territory in Atmos the account(s) are located in.

33. Can you ask if any of these account numbers or rows in the excel sheet represent a larger group of meters? Like a master account number for a larger subset of meters?

Answer 33: See the answer to question 30 above. If any of the account numbers or rows in the Preliminary Exhibit 1 are for a larger group of meters, GSA will provide additional information in Exhibit 1 files that are posted prior to each auction.

34. Can you please provide pricing products for each location before the technical proposals are due so we can evaluate if we want to bid depending on 25% or 100% swing?

Answer 34: No. GSA does not have final answers from end-use customers at this point on which pricing product each account would like to request. That information will be provided in the Exhibit 1 files that are posted prior to each auction.

35. Can the GSA clarify if they intend to pay within 10 days as seen in FAR 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions (page 12) or 30 days as stated in the FAR 32.9 Prompt Payment Act (page 4).

Answer 35: See the revised solicitation, Amendment 1 version. The relevant clauses in FAR

52.212-4 have been updated to reference thirty (30) days to match FAR 32.9.

36. Can the GSA expand upon what is considered a “proof of gas purchases” and “proofs of payment or settlement statements” for section A.12?

Answer 36: Examples of types of proof include citygate delivery confirmations, gas pool delivery confirmations and pipeline delivery confirmations.

37. With respect to the definition of the term “information technology” in FAR 52.204-27, to what extent, if any, will GSA require the use of specific “information technology” in the performance of federal contracts awarded to natural gas suppliers under this solicitation?

Answer 37: All required clauses related to Information Technology are already included in the solicitation and will be included in all subsequent contract awards.

38. On the Exhibit 1, are these OH locations considered “GTS” or “Choice” accounts with their LDC?

Answer 38: See the answer to question 30 above.

39. In the WV Mountaineer group, the first account listed has zip code of 24505. That zip code is in

Lynchburg, VA – not Martinsburg, WV. Can GSA confirm the location of the site please?

Answer 39: The correct zip code is 25405.

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