QandA_0418.pdf

SPE600-12-R-0418

Q: Will the answers for SPE600-12-R-0418 also be available no later than October 22

A: Yes, the answers for SPE600-12-R-0418 will also be available no later than October 22, 2012.

Q: A general question regarding submission of summer and winter adjustment factors for the upcoming Natural Gas Solicitations. Can an offeror submit multiple different summer and winter adjustment factors for the same Line Item? For example, are we able to submit one summer/winter adjustment factor for Line Item 0009 Federal Corrections Complex Butner, then another different summer/winter adjustment factor for the same Line Item 0009 and then another different summer/winter adjustment factor for the same Line Item 0009, etc?

A: There is no advantage to providing multiple prices before the deadline of initial offers. Except to potentially confuse the issue... And DLA Energy will not be asking for clarifications on initials. But DLA Energy will only consider the final price received before the deadline. All others will be discarded.

Q: On Attachment IV, the Schedule Pages: 0001 (Albany), note 1. (Which is hard to read) Can you tell us how much capacity the base has, and explain the word CAP Tolerance to us?

A: Note 1 on Attachment IV, the Schedule Pages: 0001 (Albany), is incorrect. The base has no capacity. The note on this schedule page will be removed via an amendment to the solicitation in the near future.

Q: Are all RFP documents to be submitted due by October 29, 2012? In the past, certain documents were due before the deadline for the pricing proposal. It seems there is only one submittal deadline this time but I just want to make sure.

A: Yes, all proposal information including price is due by 3:00 p.m., Eastern Time on Thursday, October 29, 2012.

ALL OTHER QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO THIS SOLICITATION MUST BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING BY OCTOBER 19, 2012 TO THE FOLLOWING: Email: dlaenergy.ngteam@dla.mil.

Q: The subject RFP is due no later than October 29, 2012 @ 3:00 pm eastern time.

Does this include our technical responses and our rate offer? If our rate offer is to be included, will DLA provide offeror with a pricing sheet.

A: Yes, all proposal information is due by 3:00 p.m., Eastern Time on Thursday, October 29, 2012.

The pricing sheet is located on the FedBizOpps.gov website under Amendment 1, the file name is:

East_Div_WGL_BGE_and_GA_Group_1_Reformatted_Schedule_Pages-MASTER2. It is the first tab on the excel spreadsheet named “pricing sheet” mailto:dlaenergy.ngteam@dla.mil

Q: In your 2020 request for pricing for the Georgia locations - pricing was requested for 6 line items. The 2012 request list 4 locations. Please verify the following:

Are there two meters at - Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, GLYNCO, GA?

Are there two meters at - Fort Gordon, GA?

A: AGL has stated that an account could have two meters but they would be off the same riser. You would not have multiple risers per account. If a riser has two meters or more, AGL combines the meter reads to give the marketer one account total reading.

There may be multiple meters present for a specific location but AGL will provide one total throughput figure for each account.

Q: Note #1 for Line Item 7 in Solicitation SPE600-12-R-0418 states “Line Items 2031 through 2042 are tied together and aggregated by transportation type (firm/interruptible). Offers must bid on all line items in order to be considered for award”.

Is this note and old note that should be removed? Will Line Item 7 only be tied together with the 4 interruptible accounts and not with any firm accounts, so an offeror can offer the interruptible lines only?

This question is a week before the deadline but would it be possible to answer it now instead of the week of the 22nd?

A: Note #1 for Line Item 7 in Solicitation SPE600-12-R-0418 will be removed; a solicitation amendment will follow shortly. All Line Items within Tied-Aggregated Group #3 will be awarded to a single supplier. Submit a single Winter Adjustment Factor, and a single Summer Adjustment Factor for each aggregate within Tied- Aggregated Group #3.

Q: Related to SPE600-12-R-0418, the Excel File named East_Div_WGL_BGE_and_GA_Group_1_Reformated_Schedule_Pages-MASTER(1).xlsx contains data that cannot be read. On the Tab “0001” rows 79 and 80 have only a very little of the line showing. It appears that there is information on line 80, which is “Note # 1. Since the file is password protected, we are unable to read “Note # 1”. Please make the note on line 80 visible and resend the file.

A: Please refer to the FedBizOpps - SPE600-12-R-0418 revised schedule pages under "Amendment 1" file posted on October 18, 2012 for the most update vision of the schedule pages.

1) Tab 0001- Marine Corps Albany - The notes for this Schedule Page have been deleted

Q: Please refer to the revised schedule pages file posted on October 18 for the verification questions below.

Please verify:

1) Tab 0001- Marine Corps Albany This account no longer has any notes. The installation does not have any pipeline capacity that will be released to winning marketer.

2)Tabs 0008 (1 of 14) thru 0008 (14 of 14)

All of these tabs used to have a note that instructed bidders to “tie” these accounts together. There is no such note in the revised schedule pages posted on Oct 18. This instruction remains in the “pricing sheets” tab, but is no longer in each schedule page. What is the correct bidding procedure?

A: Please refer to the FedBizOpps - SPE600-12-R-0418 revised schedule pages under "Amendment 1" file posted on October 18, 2012 for the most update vision of the schedule pages.

1.) Note 1 on Attachment IV, the Schedule Pages: 0001 (Albany), is incorrect. The base has no capacity. The note on this schedule page has been removed via an Amendment 1 to the solicitation.

2.) Note 1 on Attachment IV, the Schedule Pages: Tabs 0008 (1 of 14) thru 0008 (14 of 14) Please refer to the instructions on the pricing sheets.

Q: Is AbilityOne a new requirement? Was it not included in the last RFP?

What if a responding marketer has no sub contractors or suppliers that are blind or disabled?

A: AbilityOne is a requirement under the current solicitation. Refer to SECTION L – INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS OR RESPONDENTS. SECTION M – EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD - (3) ABILITYONE (FORMERLY CALLED JAVITS-WAGNER-O’DAY ACT (JWOD)) ENTITY PROPOSAL

EVALUATION.

Q: Regarding this solicitation. If my entity is registered at the SAM govt site is there any need to also register at https://www.acquisition.gov ?

A: For the purpose of this solicitation, you are required to be registered in SAM. Refer to PART II – CONTRACT

CLAUSES, SECTION I – CONTRACT CLAUSES, SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT REGISTRATION.

Acquisition.gov is an E-Gov Initiative that aggregates federal acquisition content by providing one website for regulations, systems, resources, opportunities, and training.

Q: I have a question regarding the pricing mechanism for the referenced bid and 0418 also. Is DLA looking for an IFERC plus our adder for a price or will IFERC only be used for overages and shortages? If IFERC is not used as the main price, are you looking for basis pricing? Please clarify. We are anxious to participate in these opportunities but we want to make sure that we’re providing the information that you need.

A: Refer to PART I – THE SCHEDULE , SECTION B – SUPPLIES OR SERVICES, (b) DEFINITIONS

Q: I assume that if an RFP respondent qualifies as a “Small Business” , the respondent does not have to respond to Att III - DLA Energy 19.3 and thus does not have to provide a “Small Business Sub Contracting” plan. Please confirm or correct.

A: Correct, a qualified Small Business is not required to provide a Small Business Subcontracting Plan (Att III DLA Energy 19.3).

Q: While reviewing the account information for the BGE accounts on the RFP listed above, we noticed that the Rate Classes, do not match up with the Rate Classes provided by BGE (attached).

For example, the spreadsheet you provided says rate class “C”, where the following are options for C rate classes.

120 "C-DS" General Service - Delivery Service 122 "CA-DS" General Service - Gas air conditioning but no gas heat - Delivery Service 123 "CH-DS" General Service - Gas heat - Delivery Service 124 "CHA-DS" General Service - Gas heat with gas air conditioning - Delivery Service 125 "CHV-DS" General Service - Gas heat over 10 therms per hour, annual consumption less than 9,000 therms - Delivery Service 130 "CLY-DS" General Service - Large - Annual consumption between 9,000-15,000 therms - Delivery Service 131 "CLHX-DS" General Service - Gas Heat - Annual consumption > 15,000 therms - Delivery Service 132 "CLA-DS" General Service - Large gas air conditioning - Annual consumption > 9,000 therms - Delivery Service 133 "CLX-DS" General Service - Large - Annual consumption > 15,000 therms - Delivery Service 134 "CLAMR-DS" General Service - Daily Metered (AMR) - Delivery Service 135 "CLHY-DS" General Service - Large gas heat, annual consumption between 9,000-15,000 therms - Delivery Service

In order to accurately determine which locations we are able to serve, we would need additional details on the rate class. Could you please confirm the exact rate classes on the each of the BGE accounts?

A: Unfortunately, DLA Energy will not provide BGE account information at this time. This information will only be provided to the winning offeror.

Q: Regarding Solicitation SPE600-12-R-0418, the Schedule Pages for Aberdeen Proving Grounds say that an account list is available upon request. Could WGES please get the account numbers for Aberdeen Proving Grounds (Line Items 0004, 0005, and 0006)?

A: Unfortunately, DLA Energy will not provide account information at this time. This information will only be provided to the winning offeror.

Q: We are requesting clarification on Part I, Section B – B-001 B1.06 paragraph (d) and B-0002 B700 paragraph

(b) (2) of the subject solicitation, regarding the interstate pipeline charges for the bid. Our reading of this section determined that these charges should be included in the Adjustment Factor (AF). Gas South responded to the 2010 Bid with the cost included in the AF. Gas South was informed the morning of the 2010 Bid that the interstate pipeline cost would be considered pass-through cost. Our bid had already been submitted at that time, and the distinction put it at a significant disadvantage. Gas South does not want to repeat this again for the 2012 Bid. Please clarify if the interstate pipeline charges are pass-through charges or if these costs should be included in the AF. Additionally, please see the request in Question 2 for sample invoices which will further clarify the expected line items to be billed by the Contractor.

A: The following components are considered pass through costs for the AGL line items:

DDDC factor – established by installation for Atlanta, Augusta, Brunswick, Macon, Rome, Savannah, Valdosta, XATL SNG and XATL TRAN which includes directly assigned transportation demand costs, directly assigned storage and AGL managed assets.

AGL Customer Charges (to include) Environmental Response Rider charges, Franchise Recovery Rider charges, Franchise Recovery Rider charges, Meter Reading charges, Peaking charges, STRIDE charges.

Pipeline Capacity, Pipeline Fuel and Pipeline Volumetric charges.

Q: Can you provide a sample bill copy for the following installations, and confirm that you expect the same invoice model for the 2012 Bid? Schedule Page Line Item 0008 (1 of 14)

A: The AGL line items are broken into four final invoices. All firm line items on one, all IT/specified firm on another, one specifically for Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay and one specifically for Georgia Army National Guard (due to different payment offices).

Unfortunately, DLA Energy will not provide a sample bill copy at this time. This information will only be provided to the winning offeror.

Fort Stewart, IMSE-STW-PWD, BLDG 1139, O & M Division Contracting Branch, Fort Stewart, Schedule Page Line Item 0007 (1 of 4)

A: All AGL firm line items are combined into one summarized invoice with a separate file (usually Excel format) identifying all charge components. This includes Fort Stewart as well as the other firm line items. The final invoice can meet the supplier’s standard format, as long as the required breakdown of cost components verifies the final invoice charges.

Unfortunately, DLA Energy will not provide a sample bill copy at this time. This information will only be provided to the winning offeror.

Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, 1063 Tennessee Avenue, Fluckey Hall, Kings Bay, GA

A: The same format for the contractor final invoice and required identification of all charge components applies.. Unfortunately, DLA Energy will not provide a sample bill copy at this time. This information will only be provided to the winning offeror.

Q: Please provide the LDC meter numbers for the following installations - unable to locate the meter numbers in the LDC data base system.

Schedule Page - Line Item 0008 (9 of 14) - Installation: Moody AFB

Address 23 CES/CE, 3485 Georgia Street, Moody Air Force Base, Georgia Residential/Multi Family unit] Please provide meter numbers for all tenants.

A: Unfortunately, DLA Energy will not provide LDC meter numbers at this time. This information will only be provided to the winning offeror.

Schedule Page - Line Item 0008 (13 of 14) - Installation: Fort McPherson

Address: 1386 Troop Row, SW, Building 65, Ft. McPherson, GA 30330-0000

A: Unfortunately, DLA Energy will not provide LDC meter numbers at this time. This information will only be provided to the winning offeror.

Q: Per our records, there is a new owner/operator of the following installation. Therefore, should this location be included in the subject solicitation for natural gas?

Schedule Page - Line Item 0008 (14 of 14) Installation: Fort Gillem Enclave, 1386 Troop Row., SW, Forest Park, GA - New Owner: City of Forest Park, Georgia

A: The installation described is not correct. The City of Forest Park assumed the former US Army Fort Gillem gas utility account for the service location known as 1323 Cobb Street, Bldg 181, Conley, Georgia 30288.

The majority of load for Fort Gillem was re-piped to a new meter/account known as the Enclave at Fort Gillem. Its service location is listed as 4894 Hood Ave, Forest Park, Georgia 30297. The Enclave at Fort Gillem is in the solicitation as a firm line item. The “old” Fort Gillem account on Cobb Street is not.

Q: Please verify the daily Specified Firm volume for the following installation.

Schedule Page Line Item 0007 (2 of 4) - Installation: Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Engineering Branch, Bldg, 200, GLYNCO, GA

LDC confirmed 60 DTH per day. The Schedule Page list 90 DTH per day.

Please confirm the LDC contracted amount.

A: The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center has executed a service agreement with AGL for 90 dth per day Specified Firm service starting on October 1, 2012.

Q: In tab 0008 (2 of 14), and only in tab 0008 (2 of 14), of the Schedule Pages there is the following paragraph under Note 3: Hunter Army Airfield, Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay & Moody AFB

Special Delivery Note 4: The Government understands that under AGL regulations, it is the Contractor's/Marketer's responsibility to call curtailments based upon any Operational Flow Orders (OFO's) called by AGL and that OFO's behind AGL are identified by pools instead of by specific customers. Therefore, the Government requests that offerors submit, with their initial offers, their company's operational plan for putting back on line its interruptible customers after OFO's have been lifted. The Energy Manager will supply the new contractor with a POC list of interruptible customers. If required, the successful offeror shall insure that LDC (AGL) has been correctly notified of the change in the supplier prior to the beginning of the delivery period. If an account is not switched over and an invoice for deliveries made on or after October 1, 2010, from a company other than the new contractor, this invoice will be forwarded to the new contractor to pay directly and in turn the new contractor will invoice DESC the contract price for this account.

This note does not apply to tab 0008 (2 of 14) because tab 0008 (2 of 14) is a “firm” non-interruptible account. The note does apply to tabs 0007 (1 of 4 ) to 0007 (4 of 4) because they are all interruptible to some degree.

Should we respond with the request in the note above even though it does not apply to tab 0008 (2 of 14)?

If so, should we assume that all other RFP respondents will be disqualified from winning the RFP if the information requested in the above note is not supplied by them by the October 29, 2012 deadline?

A: These Notes have been changed. Please refer to the amendment #2 posted on FedBizOpps on 10/24/2012.

Q: Would DLA Energy consider implementing a pricing phase that would have a due date later then that of the non pricing information that offerors are required to submit? This would take away the requirement that offerors must hold their price for 120 days, thereby reducing our risk exposure and price. DLA Energy implemented this in the past solicitation and this seemed to work very well. To hold a price for 120 days is substantially more then industry standard and puts a substantial amount of risk on ALL offerors. Forward price swings in the Natural Gas market can be very large over a 120 day period.

A: No

Q: If DLA Energy would not consider implementing a pricing phase, would DLA Energy instead consider reducing the period in which an offeror agrees to hold their price from 120 days to a substantially less amount of time or does DLA Energy anticipate asking for at price “Refresh” ?

A: No

Q: Would DLA Energy consider implementing a pricing phase that would have a due date later then that of the non pricing information that offerors are required to submit? This would take away the requirement that offerors must hold their price for 120 days. DLA Energy implemented this in the past solicitation and this seemed to work very well. To hold a price for 120 days is substantially more then industry standard and puts a substantial amount of risk on ALL offerors. Forward price swings in the Natural Gas market can be very large over a 120 day period.

A: No

Q: Section M, paragraph H states the Before the offer's specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer or part of an offer, whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award. At what point after submission may an offeror withdraw their offer for any line item? If an offeror withdraws their offer, is that offeror able to resubmit another offer at a later date for the same line item at either a higher or lower price?

A: Refer to Section M, paragraph H. There is no advantage to providing multiple prices before the deadline of initial offers, except to potentially confuse the issue. DLA Energy will not be asking for clarifications on initials. But DLA Energy will only consider the final price received before the deadline. All others will be discarded.

Q: In order for offerors to formulate an accurate price quote, would DLA Energy be able to provide transcript usage history as well as current gas bills for each account number upon request?

A: No, this information cannot be provided at this time. This information will only be provided to the winning offeror.

Q: For Line Items that require the supplier to be assigned pipeline capacity, during the term of the contract, can that supplier adjust their price in the event of a tariff change to the pipelines fuel loss, transportation rate or reservation rate, whether it be changed up or down? Numerous pipelines have recently filed for changes to these costs to FERC however it is impossible to know what the result of those filings will be. These cost are not optional, predictable, avoidable or negotiable to the supplier they are assigned to.

A: Refer to SECTION H – SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

Q: Would DLA consider untying Line Items 022 (Quantico MCB) and 023 (FBI Academy Quantico) from 021 (Fort Lee) in order to create more competition? While both Fort Lee and Quantico are behind the Columbia Gas of

Virginia LDC, Fort Lee is in a much more pipeline constrained location then Quantico is. Colonial feels that there are marketers who are not able to offer a price for Fort Lee due to these constraints and this could put Quantico at an unfair advantage by not getting competitive prices from all available marketers.

A: No

Q: On the Schedule pages for Solicitation SPE600-12-R-0420, under the Solicitation Parameters section there is an area that says Adjustment Factor:, Summer:, Winter: and then prices. What is this section for?

A: Please refer to the FedBizOpps - SPE600-12-R-0420 revised schedule pages under "Amendment 1" file posted on October 18, 2012 for the most update vision of the schedule pages.

Q: For Line Item 0016 (USMA West Point). Would DLA consider changing “Include Adj. Factor” from “Yes” to “No” for Overage and Underage Treatment pricing? This would properly reflect market conditions. If not, can offerors submit a proposal with this change in language?

A: No, refer to Page 3 Continuation of SF1449 of SPE600-12-R-0420 regarding “exceptions”

Q: Under Section C – Description/Specifications (e) Delivery/Management Options (3) Monthly Order Quantities, would DLA consider using the bid quantities rather then the volume ordered 2 working days prior to the 25th of the month prior to the delivery period for the balancing? If not can offerors submit a proposal with this change in language?

A: No, refer to Page 3 Continuation of SF1449 of SPE600-12-R-0420 regarding “exceptions”

Q: Would DLA consider untying Line Item 0020 (DOE Knolls Atomic Power Lab) from 0018 and 0019 (Watervliet Arsenal)?

A: No

Q: For Line Item 0021 (Fort Lee), note #1 states that Fort Lee procures standby gas service from Columbia Gas of Virginia in the amount of 2,800 dth per day. Will Fort Lee have this standby gas procured through March 31, 2015?

A: The 2,800 Mcf standby service levels have been maintained for the last several years. The standby levels are an agreement between Columbia Gas of Virginia and the Fort Lee line item; DLA Energy cannot guarantee they will maintain these levels through the contract period. Fort Lee cannot guarantee that this level of service will remain available to them.

Q: For Line Item 0012 (DOE Princeton Plasma Physics Lab) there is a note that states Operational Conditions at DOE Princeton determines switching ability. Since the delivery type is Limited Interruptible, please confirm that the facility is able to be interrupted per the guidelines laid out under Section C – Description/Specifications (h) interruptible Deliveries.

A: Delivery Type for this installation is Limited Interruptible

Q: Offeror Representations and Certifications: If an offeror has completed the annual representations and certificates electronically via https://www.acquisition.gov , how should the offeror indicate that on the proposal submission? Solicitation (page 22) says offeror should complete paragraph (b), but there is nothing in paragraph

(b) to be filled out or initialed by the offeror (unless there are changes to be made). It is unclear how an offeror should proceed if the information in the ORCA database is current & accurate, with no need for any changes.

A: If all information is current in accordance with FAR 52.212 – 3/1/II OFFEROR REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS - COMMERCIAL ITEMS (ALTERNATES I/II) (APRIL 2011/APRIL 2012/JAN 2012), then paragraph

(b) should be blank.

Q: AbilityOne Entity Proposal (52.215-9004, page 42): Is DLA Energy aware of any AbilityOne qualified nonprofit entities that produce or market natural gas? If no such entities exist, how does DLA Energy want offerors to handle these proposals and progress reports?

A: No firm policy guidelines have been issued determining the manner in which an offeror is required to submit periodic progress reports; therefore, successful offerors will be notified by the Contracting Officer on the manner in which these reports should be submitted.

Q: Line Item 0002: 21 of 22 Schedule Pages list a Delivery Option of Full Requirments/Pool. Only NAS Patuxent River is listed as Full Requirements/Utility. We believe all 22 should be Full Requirements/Utility. Line Items 0002 should be Full Requirements/Pool Option #2.

A: Please refer to the amendment #2 posted on FedBizOpps on 10/24/2012

Q: Line Item 0003: 17 of 18 Schedule Pages list a Delivery Type of Limited Interruptible. Only Defense Intelligence Agency is listed as Interruptible. We believe this 1 should also be Limited Interruptible.

A: Line Items 0003 should be Limited Interruptible. Please refer to the amendment #2 posted on FedBizOpps on 10/24/2012

Q: Multiple Schedule Pages under Line Items 0002 & 0003 have the Note “Government owns pipeline capacity;

no cap tolerance.” Please explain how this will affect delivery to these locations. Will the marketer not get utility assigned capacity for these locations? Or is this additional capacity that will be available for marketer use? Can you give more specifics as to which pipeline(s), how much capacity, and the associated costs?

A: There is no Government owned pipeline capacity. Multiple Schedule Pages under Line Items 0002 & 0003 have been corrected. Please refer to the amendment #2 posted on FedBizOpps on 10/24/2012.

Line Item 0004: The numbers listed in Note #2 of the Fort Meade Schedule Page are not valid BGE account numbers. Please provide a full list of these Firm accounts numbers.

A: Unfortunately, DLA Energy will not provide BGE account numbers at this time. This information will only be provided to the winning offeror.

Line Item 0004: This Line Item includes Firm load for USCG Curtis Bay. Is this correct? Previous Solicitations have not included Firm load for USCG Curtis Bay. If correct, please provide a full list of Firm account numbers for USCG Curtis Bay.

A: Unfortunately, DLA Energy will not provide account numbers at this time. This information will only be

Q: Line Item 0004: Please provide a full list of account numbers for Aberdeen Proving Grounds.

A: Unfortunately, DLA Energy will not provide account numbers at this time. This information will only be

Q: Line Item 0005: Please provide a full list of account numbers for Aberdeen Proving Grounds.

A: Unfortunately, DLA Energy will not provide account numbers at this time. This information will only be provided to the winning offeror.

Line Item 0006: Please provide a full list of account numbers for Aberdeen Proving Grounds.

A: Unfortunately, DLA Energy will not provide account numbers at this time. This information will only be provided to the winning offeror.

Q: If Limited Interruptible or Interruptible accounts use gas during a curtailment period, what pricing would apply to these spot gas sales?

A: Spot gas prices will be negotiated with a DLA Energy Contracting Officer.

Q: Under the terms of the RFP the quantities listed in the attachments for each facility are estimates. These estimates may be affected by events such as BRAC facility re-alignments and closures, planned shutdowns for maintenance, and efficiency projects that may or may not be included in the estimates. In cases where actual usage for a facility deviates significantly from estimates/orders AND causes economic damage to a supplier, what recourse does the supplier have to obtain an equitable adjustment? The current RFPs contain two clauses addressing this question, but they appear to be in mutual conflict.

First , under Section C: Description/Specifications C-0001 C-700 Statement of Work paragragh (f) MATERIAL CHANGE the RFP explicitly states:

“(f) MATERIAL CHANGE. The installation shall promptly notify the Contractor of any known or predicted changes in natural gas consumption not related to weather with as much advance notice as possible. Any change in the operations of the facility which may alter weather normalized usage by more than 25 percent will hereafter be called a “material change”. If properly notified of a material change, the Contractor shall ensure that all supply and balancing obligations are met and any penalties charged by the LDC or pipeline resulting from the Contractor’s failure to properly manage and balance the account shall be the responsibility of the Contractor. If a material change causes additional costs or results in additional revenues, the Contractor and the Government shall agree on an equitable adjustment.” (Emphasis added) However, secondly, the below section states-- “FAR 52.216-21 REQUIREMENTS (OCT 1995) (a) This is a requirements contract for the supplies or services specified, and effective for the period stated, in the Schedule. The quantities of supplies or services specified in the Schedule are estimates only and are not purchased by this contract. Except as this contract may otherwise provide, if the Government’s requirements do not result in orders in the quantities described as “estimated’’ or “maximum” in the Schedule, that fact shall not constitute the basis for an equitable price adjustment.”

(Emphasis added) It would seem reasonable that the FAR does NOT preclude an adjustment since it explicitly allows such when “otherwise specified” in the contract. Equitable adjustments arising from material changes which cause economic damages, for example, are specified in the material change clause.

To prevent confusion, and to determine how much of a risk adder suppliers need to include in their pricing, please clarify which of these clauses will govern and under what circumstances.

A: These 2 contract terms are not in conflict with one another. The material change clause will only come into effect if a structural change, for example, occurs. For example a new building is built that significantly increases gas requirements.

Consumption variances, even large variances due to weather, normal operations, etc are considered part of the contract and should be priced into your adjustment factor.

Q: Is DLA looking for 4 different prices for each package corresponding to the 2 summers and 2 winters?

A: Yes. You must bid on each group in its entirety, please follow the instructions on each pricing group on each pricing sheet.

Q: On page 6, what volume is the “monthly price adjustment” applicable for ? Is this for volume scheduled or nominated after the 1st day of each month?

A: The monthly price adjustment is the monthly change in the market price of natural gas.

Q: On page 9, Item 3, how do the “Monthly Order Quantities” compare with the usage estimates in the pricing sheets?

A: Under option 3 (Monthly Order Quantities): IF the customer DOES NOT place an order by the specified due date, then the “Estimated” volumes located on their schedule page becomes the “ordered” volume.

Refer to PART I – THE SCHEDULE SECTION B – SUPPLIES OR SERVICES B1.06 SUPPLIES TO BE FURNISHED & SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS C700 STATEMENT OF WORK (3) Monthly Order Quantities.

We are using the usage sheets to develop a price so any significant deviation could potentially be damaging to an Offeror

A: Risks should be priced in your adjustment factor.

Q: Can DLA provide a summary between the interruptible and firm accounts so that bidder is able to determine the allocation of firm storage and firm transportation that will be assigned to bidder from the respective utilities? It will be very difficult to price without this data.

A: All summary data is located on the solicitation pricing sheet.

Q: On page 9 item (3), is the period used to determine the 10% bandwidth of the order quantity on a daily or monthly basis?

A: Monthly unless specified otherwise on schedule page.

Q: The Henry Hub is listed as the SIP for all volumes with the AF simply the basis to the city-gate so this is simply a NYMEX plus Basis transaction for all the aggregated packages and estimated usage?

A: No, AF should include any/all costs associated with providing service(s) to line item(s).

Q: Can DLA provide details of all account numbers behind WGL and BGE?

A: Unfortunately, DLA Energy will not provide account numbers at this time. This information will only be provided to the winning offeror.

Q: Does the DLA plan on triggering and converting any or all of load to a fixed-price?

A: Yes, Refer to: B704 CONTRACT PRICE CONVERSION (NATURAL GAS) (DLA ENERGY APR 2006) (REV)

Q: On page 11, subpart (m)(1) for INVOICING AND PAYMENT, line 5, the sentence states: “Invoices will be submitted via electronic or non-electronic means as required by the applicable Invoice Certifying Office.”

Offeror realizes that Wide Area Work Flow (WAWF) is not used by many facilities and that some may require the use of WAWF. The use of WAWF is a non-standard billing process and is a factor in determining an Offeror’s pricing.

For Dual billed accounts, do the Invoice Certifying Offices require the use of WAWF invoicing for the accounts behind BG&E and Washington Gas Light? Please respond at the level that the invoices are required.

A: Not, at this time, WAWF is a valid government billing system that may become a required system for many government installations.

Q: On page 11, subpart (m)(1) for INVOICING AND PAYMENT, starting on line 8, the sentence states: “The Government has the right to unilaterally adjust the quantities indicated on the Contractor’s invoice downward if documentation available to the Government indicates that a quantity received on behalf of the installation is less than the quantity invoiced by the Contractor and adjust future payments due the Contractor if any previous quantity for which the Contractor invoiced and was paid is determined to be inaccurate.”

Please verify that the “right to unilaterally adjust” is only a temporary measure to protect the Government interests so as to not overpay a Contractor on a questionable issue, but that the Government will accept additional documentation and conduct further discussions to determine the appropriate quantities and charges for any questionable invoice issue.

A: The Government has the right to unilaterally adjust the quantities indicated on the Contractor’s invoice downward if documentation available to the Government indicates that a quantity received on behalf of the installation is less than the quantity invoiced by the Contractor and adjust future payments due the Contractor if any previous quantity for which the Contractor invoiced and was paid is determined to be inaccurate. The Government may accept additional documentation when necessary to correct/amend invoices.

Q: Section L – Subpart (b) Submission of Offers – On page 42, clause 52.215-9004 AbilityOne, part (d) states:

“You shall be required to submit periodic progress reports (no less frequently than annually) to the Contracting Officer regarding you subcontracting efforts relative to AbilityOne entities. Specify what type of performance data you will accumulate and provide to the Contracting Officer regarding your support of AbilityOne entities during the period of contract performance.” Based upon lack of provided and thus far available AbilityOne reporting requirements, Offeror’s have minimal guidance to determine if their performance data is adequate to meet the “unknown” reporting requirements of AbilityOne.

What information will be required to be reported for AbilityOne? What process will be used for the AbilityOne reporting? When will the reporting system be determined and available?

A: No firm policy guidelines have been issued determining the manner in which an offeror is required to submit periodic progress reports; therefore, successful offerors will be notified by the Contracting Officer on the manner in which these reports should be submitted.

Q: Pricing Schedule, Sheet 0002 (15 of 22), Note #3 and Sheet 0003 (12 of 18), Note #3 – “The NIH has a cogeneration system which outputs a net 21.7 MW. If this system trips off line, the NIH boiler room (the entity for this solicitation) must pick up the load. This will result in a consumption increase of 3200 dth per day until such time as the unit returned to service. This has happened from time to time for short durations, 1 day, 1 week, etc, and one extended period of nearly 6 months, and should be considered.”

How much advance notice will the Government give to the Contractor when this consumption increase is needed and it will no longer be needed?

A: Advance notice will be given as soon as practicable.

Q: The Pricing Schedule sheets listed below each state: “This line item is aggregated with all the other 1003 line items.”

Sheet 0004 (5 of 6), Note #5

Sheet 0005 (4 of 4), Note #4

Sheet 0006

Clarification: Please identify which “other 1003 line items” will be aggregated together.

A: Yes. You must bid on each group in its entirety, please follow the instructions on each pricing group on each pricing sheet.

Q: The Pricing Schedule sheets listed below each state: “Government owns pipeline capacity; no cap tolerance”.

0002 (2 of 22), Note #3 0002 (3 of 22), Note #4 0002 (4 of 22), Note # 4 0002 (5 of 22), Note #4 0002 (7 of 22), Note #4 0002 (11 of 22), Note #4 0002 (12 of 22), Note #3 0002 (13 of 22), Note #3 0002 (14 of 22), Note #3 0002 (17 of 22), Note #3 0002 (19 of 22), Note #4 0003 (5 of 18), Note #3

Clarification: Please clarify whether the Government actually owns this pipeline capacity or whether it is owned by Washington Gas and Light and will be released or “allocated” to the Contractor by WGL for the purpose of serving the Government’s load.

A: The Government does not own pipeline capacity. Please refer to the amendment #2 posted on FedBizOpps on 10/24/2012.

If the Government does own the pipeline capacity, N/A

a) What is the process that will be used to assign/release so the Contractor can use?

b) Which pipes, volumes, receipt and delivery points are involved?

Q: In the Excel spreadsheet of the Solicitation Schedule Page, several of the Tabs contain the following (e.g. on Tab1 of 22, Note # 2), Due to LDC meter read variations throughout the month, this line item will be invoiced by the contractor using the first day of meter read for pricing reference. For example, Meter read dates:

Nov 5 - Dec 5; Use Nov index price for all volumes invoiced on Nov invoice.

Nov 2 - Dec 2: Use Nov index price for all volumes invoiced on Nov invoice.

Nov 28 - Dec 28: Use Nov index price for all volumes on Nov invoice.

The LDC determines the month that the volume usage is for (the service period). The Contractor has no control over assignment of the month for the service period. The LDC provides volume files and financial files that must balance to each other. It is probable that the LDC would determine that a delivery period of Nov 28 to Dec 28 would be a December usage and that would then be priced using the December publication pricing, not November. Determining the month of service by using the first day of the delivery period is not industry standards and therefore many billing systems have no need to have that functionality. Why is the DLA not using the LDC determined service period to use for the invoice pricing and the Offeror is requesting that the DLA accept the LDC’s assigned service period?

A: The above is an example; DLA is using the LDC determined service period.

Q: In the Excel spreadsheet of the Solicitation Schedule Page, several of the Tabs contain the following (e.g. on Tab1 of 22, Note # 4), Each month a Consolidated Detailed NGAS Consumption Summary Sheet will need to be provided for this customer. This will need to be provided along with the corresponding monthly invoice. The summary will need to reflect each of the NGAS accounts activity which falls under the ownership of this customer, for the specific month delivery period. Specific information that will need to be listed, for each NGAS Account: 1. NGAS Account Number; 2. DLA Associated Line Item Number; 3. Customer Name; 4. Customer Address (full address); 5.

Delivery Month; 6. Rate Class; 7. Meter Readings (both prior & current dates); 8. Wet Therms; 9. Conversion; 10.

Dry Therms; 11. DLA Commodity Bill Rate $/Therms; 12. Balancing Rate (if applicable); 13. Commodity Charge;

14. Balancing Charge; and 15. Total Charge

Offeror would need to develop this Consolidated Summary Sheet as a new report.

Please provide a sample Consolidated Detailed NGAS Consumption Summary Sheet so Offeror can verify that such can be provided and in the format familiar to the DLA.

A: Unfortunately, DLA Energy will not provide account information at this time. This information will only be provided to the winning offeror.

Is the NGAS Account Number the meter number?

A: No, not always. If not, what and where is it?

A: Unfortunately, DLA Energy will not provide account information at this time. This information will only be provided to the winning offeror.

Please describe and give an example of the DLA Associated Line Item Number?

A: Refer to the solicitation schedule pages and pricing sheet.

Offeror captures service period and volume usage from the LDCs, but Offeror’s system has no fields to retain the LDCs meter reading prior and current volumes. Can the meter reading dates be provided instead of the meter reading volumes, since the LDC provides the meter reading volumes to the DLA?

A: Unfortunately, DLA Energy will not provide account numbers at this time. This information will only be provided to the winning offeror.

Interstate and intrastate pipeline companies and LDCs have specific ranges for component content of BTU, Dew Point and/or Specific Gravity. All of the natural gas that the pipelines carry for the facilities involved is classified as “Dry Therms”. Because all gas that many Offeror provide is only in dry therms, many systems do not have fields to maintain data on wet therms, conversion, and dry therms.

Since the facilities are behind LDCs and intrastate pipelines which are supplied by interstate pipelines, only dry therms are available and the Offeror is asking the Government to remove the data requirement for wet therms, conversion, and dry therms (since all therms are dry, it adds no value and some Offerors systems do not contain this data).

A: No

Is the Consolidated Detailed NGAS Consumption Summary Sheet sent to one person or to multiple personnel and is/are these the same individuals that receive the invoices?

A: DLA receives a courtesy copy of all Non-DWCF customers’ invoices.

Q: In the Excel spreadsheet of the Solicitation Schedule Page, several of the Tabs contain the following (e.g. on Tab1 of 22, Note # 5), Each month an Invoice Summary Cover Sheet will need to be provided. This Invoice Summary Cover Sheet will need to summarize contents listed within the customer invoices that are associated with their corresponding delivery month. The following will need to be included within the Invoice Summary Sheet: 1. EBS Customer Line Item Number; 2. Customer Name; 3. Delivery Month; 4. Delivery Type; 5. Invoice Number; 6. Volume Usage; and

7. Invoice Amounts.

Please provide a sample Invoice Summary Cover Sheet which will help Offeror better understand this requirement.

A: Unfortunately, DLA Energy will not provide sample Invoice Summary Cover Sheet information. This information will only be provided to the winning offeror.

Please clarify what the Delivery Type is?

A: Refer to SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS - (c) DEFINITIONS