NSA Annapolis RFI_FINAL 09FEB2024.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

N40080RFI10678

NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY ANNAPOLIS

UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY

NAVAL FACILITIES ENGINEERING SYSTEMS COMMAND WASHINGTON

(NAVFACSYSCOM WASHINGTON)

February 09, 2024

Prepared By:

Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Washington

1314 Harwood Street SE Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5018

Kara L. Noya

Real Estate Contracting Officer

Questions about this RFI must be addressed via electronic mail and submitted to:

zoe.p.johnson.civ@us.navy.mil and megan.e.schroeder2.ctr@us.navy.mil. The Subject line should be marked “N40080RFI10678 – Attn: Code RE.”

Digitally signed by NOYA.KARA.L.1265069050 Date: 2024.02.09 11:55:14 -05'00'

Request for Information (RFI) for the development of renewable energy generation at the former Naval Academy Dairy Farm.

This is not a Request for Proposals (RFP) and does not obligate any party to take action.

The Department of the Navy (DON) is pleased to present this Request for Information (RFI) on behalf of Naval Support Activity (NSA) Annapolis, in conjunction with the United States Naval Academy (USNA), for a rare opportunity to gather insights, expertise, and potential solutions from industry experts, developers, and stakeholders to identify interest in a long-term partnership to enhance the resilience of USNA, now and into the future. NSA Annapolis is seeking proposed concepts for renewable energy generation at the Naval Academy Dairy Farm, aligned with the USNA Military Installation Resilience Plan and the Department of Defense (DoD) Carbon Free Electricity (CFE), Climate Resilience, and Energy requirements to cohesively address and adapt to current and projected climate-induced threats to installation operations, mission-essential assets and infrastructure.

Background:

The 857-acre Naval Academy Dairy Farm (Dairy Farm) is located approximately 15-miles from USNA, in Gambrills, MD. The Farm was established in 1911 to provide future Naval Officers with a safe supply of milk. During its prime, the Dairy Farm maintained approximately 300 cows and a staff of 15, providing 700 – 1,000 gallons of milk a day. While the Dairy Farm no longer provides milk to the Brigade of Midshipmen, it is still owned by the U.S. Navy and is currently leased to Anne Arundel County (AACO). Title 10 U.S.C. § 8476 requires the property to be maintained in its rural and agricultural nature.

This RFI is being released with the support of AACO, with the goal being to explore options that maximize benefit to both DON and the County. Responses to this RFI may help to inform potential future modifications to the current lease; however, does not obligate either party to take action.

Scope of Work:

This RFI seeks imaginative and pioneering information on the potential for long-term partnerships to develop renewable energy generation at the Dairy Farm. NSA Annapolis welcomes innovative solutions, technologies, and concepts, compatible with operational mission and requirements set forth by the DoD.

The DoD is taking proactive steps to achieve a more sustainable and secure energy future while fulfilling its critical mission requirements. Respondents are encouraged to provide solutions in line with DoD Carbon Free Electricity (CFE) goals and the USNA Military Installation Resilience Plan.

The DoD has recognized the importance of reducing carbon emissions and transitioning to cleaner sources of energy, as well as the need to adapt to current and projected climate-induced threats.

The primary objectives of this RFI are to cohesively address and adapt to current and projected climate-induced threats to installation operations, mission-essential assets and infrastructure;

significantly decrease carbon emissions associated with electricity consumption; and increase energy resilience, thereby contributing to global climate objectives and strengthening national security. As such, the DoD strives to enhance its energy security and enhance operational resilience by diversifying its energy sources and reducing reliance on fossil fuels by transitioning to carbon-free electricity sources.

NSA Annapolis is seeking concepts for energy generation that provide the highest and best use for the land at the Dairy Farm. Concepts must be in line with Title 10 U.S.C. § 8476. A map identifying areas of interest for consideration as part of this RFI, as well as site constraints can be found in Attachment 1.

The DON does not plan to purchase power directly from any proposed energy generation project at the Dairy Farm. The intent is for developers to provide concepts for power generation to be consumed by the local utility grid and/or another offtake. Offtake plans are not required for the RFI, however, it is encouraged the Developers discuss plans for offtake. In lieu of directly receiving the power, the DON is seeking In-Kind Consideration in the form of infrastructure upgrades, climate and energy resilience and/or renewable energy credits at NSA Annapolis.

The primary goal of this RFI is to gather relevant information and expertise from the energy sector to inform DON’s decision-making processes, which may lay the foundation for a successful and impactful energy generation initiative, in line with CFE, climate change, and NetZero goals.

Additional goals include (but are not limited to):

Gain a comprehensive understanding of the current energy market which could benefit NSA Annapolis, USNA, and Anne Arundel County, to include emerging technologies, and best practices related to energy generation, storage, and distribution. Gather insights into the latest advancements, trends, and innovations within the energy sector.

Advance understanding and the potential of agrivoltaics for the renewable energy industry, Maryland’s agricultural community, and DON.

Identify potential partners, contractors, developers, and stakeholders who have expertise in energy projects and could contribute to the successful implementation of the initiative.

Evaluate the feasibility of implementing an energy generation project at the Dairy Farm. Assess the technical, economic, and logistical viability of different energy technologies in the specific context of the Dairy Farm’s location and energy requirements.

Encourage innovative ideas, technologies, and approaches that could enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, and impact of renewable energy generation at the Dairy Farm.

Obtain information on the estimated costs associated with designing, constructing, and operating renewable energy systems at the Dairy Farm.

Explore financing options, incentives, and potential cost-saving measures, to include opportunities in partnership with other federal and state agencies.

Respondents should include the following in their response:

Company Overview: Provide an introduction to the developer's company, including its history, experience, track record, and relevant projects completed in the renewable energy and resilience sectors.

Technical Expertise: Highlight the developer's technical expertise in energy generation technologies, such as solar, wind, geothermal, or other applicable sources. Detail the developer's experience in designing, engineering, and implementing similar resilience projects.

Project Approach: Describe the technology or technologies to be utilized, the scale of the project, and how the proposed solution aligns with NSA Annapolis and USNA mission.

Environmental Impact: Address the environmental impact of the proposed project. Discuss measures to minimize environmental disruption, enhance sustainability, and contribute to carbon emissions reduction.

Technology Innovation: Highlight any innovative technologies, systems, or solutions that could enhance the efficiency, performance, or reliability of the energy generation project.

Timeline or Other Constraints: Outline potential constraints, dependencies, or conditions that would affect the development of the project, including the need to conduct an Interconnection Requirement Study (IRS).

Regulatory and Permitting: Discuss the developer's understanding of relevant regulations, permitting processes, and potential challenges associated with deploying energy projects on military installations.

Partnerships and Collaborations: Outline any potential partnerships, collaborations, or subcontractors that the developer intends to engage with for the project. Highlight their roles and expertise.

References and Case Studies: Provide references from previous energy projects, especially those with similar scope or challenges, to showcase the developer's successful track record and expertise.

Offtake and In-Kind Consideration: Discuss the developer’s plan for offtake. Provide potential In-Kind Consideration benefits for the DON, in particular NSA Annapolis and USNA.

Community Engagement: Describe the developer's approach to community engagement, including any plans for involving local stakeholders, addressing concerns, and contributing to the local community. Explain the tangible benefits to the Anne Arundel County and surrounding community.

Demonstration of Commitment: Offer any additional information, insights, or suggestions that demonstrate the developer's commitment to delivering a successful and impactful energy generation project for NSA Annapolis.

All information submitted will be considered business confidential. It is not mandatory to submit a response to this RFI to participate in a formal RFP process in the future. However, it should be noted that information gathered through this RFI will inform whether and how the DoD engages in such a process. The desired goal is for this RFI is to solicit maximum industry participation, which allows the DON to formulate a concise strategy in a timely manner and maximize project concept viability for DON and the community.

Industry Day

An Industry Day will be held on Friday, March 15, 2024 at USNA (Annapolis, MD), to be followed with a site visit to the Dairy Farm.

Please register for Industry Day no later than 5:00 p.m. (EST) on February 16, 2024 at:

https://forms.gle/ia3FFv9JestZxVVr8; or, alternatively by emailing the following information to DON POC’s: zoe.p.johnson.civ@us.navy.mil and megan.e.schroeder2.ctr@us.navy.mil:

1) Company Name and summary of services and capabilities

2) Name(s) (First, Middle, Last) of personnel attending (limit 2 per company), Date of

Birth, and DBIDS # if applicable. Attendees must be U.S. citizen.

3) Email Addresses

4) Phone Number

The government will send a follow-on email to confirmed participants with meeting time and location details, a base map and final agenda. All participants should be prepared to bring a valid form of government ID.

The Industry Day will follow the following format:

Introductory Session to review opportunity and goals.

Brief Site Tour (no pictures).

No Q&A sessions - all questions must be submitted via email and will be answered via a public posting on sam.gov.

Submit questions regarding this RFI to the government Project Team listed below. All questions must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. (EDT) on March 19, 2024. DoD intends to answer questions via a public posting on sam.gov prior to the close of this RFI.

The response to this notice is due 5:00 p.m. (EDT) on March 29, 2024.

Responses shall be submitted electronically via email to DoD SAFE (Secure Access File Exchange) website https://safe.apps.mil/.

In order to submit a proposal through the DoD SAFE website, Responders must Request a Drop- Off. Please submit via email to Zoë Johnson (zoe.p.johnson.civ@us.navy.mil) with name, email address, and phone number of the individual(s) who requires access to DoD SAFE. The recipient(s) will receive an automated email containing the instructions for uploading the file(s).

Instructions on how to use DoD SAFE can be found here: https://safe.apps.mil/.

Submissions must be received by the due date and time listed above.

Limit responses to 10 pages, and limit file sizes to 5MB.

APPENDIX 1

USNA DAIRY FARM: RFI AREA OF INTEREST AND SITE CONSTRAINT MAP