FY 24 Statement of Work RBN Backstage Pass (Commission-Wide).pdf

CUI//PROCURE

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Statement of Work

January 5, 2024

1. SCOPE

Monitoring and tracking developments in natural gas markets lie at the heart of the Commission’s effective Market Surveillance and Market Assessment programs. RBN Backstage Pass™ Premium Service Package uniquely meets these requirements by delivering timely analysis, drill down reports and map content for each of these markets with some insights and levels of depth unmatched by other publishers. The information contained in this blog is timely and concise and allows staff to stay abreast in each of the required market areas. Individual staff already subscribe and seek greater dissemination of information with a Commission-wide subscription.

2. BACKGROUND

The Office of Enforcement (OE) and Office of Energy Policy and Innovation (OEPI) request that the Commission expand its contract with RBN Energy for its RBN Backstage Pass™ Premium Service Package, a web-based blog to support our oversight of energy markets. RBN Energy uniquely provides timely analytical depth unparalleled by other publishers, particularly in natural gas markets. The blog provides news, commentary and fundamental data and analysis that are widely used in the energy industry. Currently, at least four staff subscribe, and multiple offices seek to expand availability of the publication to staff generally.

3. TASKS

The Contractor shall perform the following tasks:

The Contractor will provide on demand agency-wide access through an internet site to and the ability to download and use published information that includes:

Early Access: Access to new blogs a day before the public.

Daily Blog Archive: Access to RBN’s entire archive of thousands of daily energy blogs.

Drill Down Reports: Detailed analysis of major energy market shifts drawing from across the RBN team.

(negotiated to include entire historical archive)

Webcasts: online presentations by senior RBN analysts that cover the most important developments happening in the energy markets.

Blog Map Search: search for maps from the blog by state, basin, or keyword.

Playlists: curated collections of blogs intended to teach foundational concepts of energy markets by subject.

Spotcheck: graphs of the key models, ratios and differentials that RBN tracks in the regular course of its business.

The Contractor will provide help desk support for the subscription products and data feeds identified above.

The contractor shall be directly responsible for ensuring the accuracy, timeliness and completion of all tasks under this effort. Specifically, the contractor shall: provide agency-wide access to its RBN Backstage Pass™ Premium Service Package.

4. OTHER PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

Not Applicable

5. SECURITY REQUIREMENTS

A security clearance is not required in performance of this effort.

5.1. Contractor Interfaces

Not applicable

5.2. Disclosure of Information

Information made available to the contractor by the Government for the performance or administration of this effort shall be used only for those purposes and shall not be used in any other way without the written agreement of the Contracting Officer.

The contractor agrees to assume responsibility for protecting the confidentiality of Government records, which are not public information. Each contractor or employee of the contractor to whom information may be made available or disclosed shall be notified in writing by the contractor that such information may be disclosed only for a purpose and to the extent authorized herein.

5.3. Limited Use of Data

Not Applicable

6. PLACE(S) OF PERFORMANCE

RBN Energy is a Web-Based application and all work will either be performed online or by phone.

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

Base Period - 12 months from contract award.

Option Period I - 12 months from the end of the based period

Option Period II - 12 months from the end of option period I

Option Period III - 12 months from the end of option period II

Option Period IV - 12 months from the end of option period III

8. DELIVERABLES

The deliverable products required under this contract are on demand agency-wide access RBN Backstage Pass™ Premium Service Package with full historical access to blogs, reports, and maps.

8.1. Project Plan

Not applicable

8.2. Monthly Status Report

Not Applicable

8.3. Final Report

Not Applicable

8.4. Deliverable Table

Not Applicable

8.5. Inspection and Acceptance Criteria

Final inspection and acceptance of all work performed, reports and other deliverables will be performed at the place of delivery by the COTR.

8.6. General Acceptance Criteria

General quality measures, as set forth below, will be applied to each work product received from the contractor under this statement of work.

‐ Accuracy - Work Products shall be accurate in presentation, technical content, and adherence to accepted elements of style.

‐ Clarity - Work Products shall be clear and concise. Any/All diagrams shall be

‐ Easy to understand and be relevant to the supporting narrative.

‐ Consistency to Requirements - All work products must satisfy the requirements of this statement of work.

‐ File Editing - All text and diagrammatic files shall be editable by the Government.

‐ Format - Work Products shall be submitted in hard copy (where applicable) and in media mutually agreed upon prior to submission. Hard copy formats shall follow any specified Directives or Manuals.

‐ Timeliness - Work Products shall be submitted on or before the due date specified in this statement of work or submitted in accordance with a later scheduled date determined by the Government.

9. QUALITY ASSURANCE

The COTR will review all listed deliverables periodically in order to ensure accuracy and quality of product.

10. ADMINISTRATIVE CONSIDERATIONS

10.1. Correspondence

To promote timely and effective administration, correspondence shall be subject to the following procedures:

a) Technical correspondence (where technical issues relating to compliance with the requirements herein) shall be addressed to the Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR) with an information copy to the Contracting Officer (CO) and the Contract Administrator (CA).

b) All other correspondence, including invoices, (that which proposes or otherwise involves waivers, deviations or modifications to the requirements, terms or conditions of this SOW) shall be addressed to the Contracting Officer with an information copy to the COTR.

10.2. Points of Contact

10.2.1. Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR)

a) The Contracting Officer's authorized technical representative, for this effort is as follows:

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Office of Enforcement 888 1st Street, NE Washington, DC 20426 Denise Tabbs, 202-502-8315

b) The COTR is the individual within the Program Management function who has overall technical responsibility for this effort The COTR supports the CO/CA during administration of this effort by:

1) Making final decisions regarding any recommended rejection of deliverables;

2) Providing technical clarification relative to overall workload matters;

3) Providing advice and guidance to the Contractor in the preparation of deliverables and services;

4) Providing acceptance of deliverable products to assure compliance with requirements.

c) The COTR also provide technical direction to the Contractor, i.e., shifting work emphasis between areas of work; fills in details, or otherwise serves to accomplish the purposes of this effort.

Technical direction shall be within the general statement of work for this effort. The COTR does NOT have the authority to and may NOT issue any technical direction which:

1) Constitutes an assignment of work outside the general scope of this effort;

2) Constitutes a change as defined in the "Changes" clause;

3) In any way causes an increase or decrease in cost or the time required for performance;

4) Changes any of the terms, conditions, or other requirements of this effort; and

5) Suspends or terminates any portion of this effort.

d) All technical direction shall be issued in writing by the COTR or will be confirmed by the COTR in writing within 10 calendar days after verbal issuance. A copy of the written direction shall be furnished to the CO and the CA.

e) In addition to providing technical direction, the COTR will:

1) Monitor the Contractor's technical progress. including surveillance and assessment of performance, and recommend to the CO and CA, any changes in the requirement;

2) Assist the Contractor in the resolution of technical problems encountered during performance; and

3) Perform inspection and acceptance or recommendation for rejection of Contractor deliverables and identify deficiencies in delivered items. This does not replace any other quality assurance inspection requirements that are specified elsewhere within this SOW.

f) If in the opinion of the Contractor, any instruction or direction issued by the COTR is outside of their specific authority, the Contractor shall not proceed but shall notify the CO in writing within 5 working days after receipt of any instruction or direction, with an informational copy to the CA.

10.2.2. Contracting Officer

The Contracting Officer (CO) for this effort is as follows:

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Procurement Operations Branch 888 1st St. NE Washington, DC 20426 Attn: Heidi Muller 202-502-8643 Heidi.Muller@FERC.Gov

10.2.3. Contract Administration

Not Applicable

10.2.4. INVOICING

The Contractor will submit an original invoice to:

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Office of Finance

Attn: Deena Hamilton-Graham

888 1st Street, NE Washington, DC 20426

To constitute a proper invoice, the invoice must include the following minimum information and/or attached documentation:

‐ Name of business concern/letterhead;

‐ Invoice date and separate/distinct number;

‐ Contract and Task Order number;

‐ Description of services and dates upon which services were rendered;

‐ Payment terms;

‐ Name, title, phone number and complete mailing address of responsible official to whom payment is to be sent or to contact in case of a defective invoice;

‐ Total charges for the billing period.

11. TRAVEL

Not Applicable

12. CENTRAL CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION (CCR) - NEW CONTRACTS

Not Applicable

13. POST AWARD EVALUATION OF CONTRACTOR PERFORMANCE

Not Applicable

14. SECTION 508 COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS

Any/all electronic and information technology (EIT) procured through this effort must meet the applicable accessibility standards at 36 CFR 1194. 36 CFR 1194 implements Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and is viewable at http://www.section508.gov.

15. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY/INFORMATION

Not Applicable

16. PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS

Not Applicable