SS-2024020896_Community Planning Support.pdf

Sources Sought Notice No. SS-2024020896

“Community Planning Support” May 29, 2024

Background:

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is a national laboratory owned by the U.S.

Department of Energy (DOE). NREL is the only federal laboratory dedicated to research, development, commercialization, and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. NREL is managed and operated for DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by The Alliance for Sustainable Energy (Alliance), the “M&O Contractor”.

Both public (communities) and private entities have made great progress in implementing alternative fuels, advanced technology vehicles, and fuel-saving measures into their transportation operations. Efforts to smartly plan for and deploy electric vehicles and buses (EVs) and EV charging have taken priority for fleets, states and other transportation stakeholders. Yet, as the mobility landscape evolves, both public and private entities encounter challenges.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL’s) Center for Integrated Mobility Science supports U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office and the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (Joint Office) to address these challenges by offering technical assistance which connects transportation decision makers and stakeholders with objective information and subject matter experts. This community assistance targets specific problems and barriers related to alternative fuels, fuel efficient technologies, planning resources and emerging transportation. By utilizing trusted, unbiased, and time-tested resources, NREL has become a leader in providing technical assistance and in helping provide resources to solve alternative transportation implementation problems.

Providing unbiased technical information, tools, and resources is a requirement of several pieces of federal legislation, including the Alternative Motor Fuels Act of 1988, the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, and the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and 1995.

The projects undertaken are broad and diverse and will help solve problems, overcome barriers and accelerate the rate of adoption of alternative fuels, fuel efficient technologies and energy efficient mobility systems into the transportation mainstream.

Objective:

The objective of this Sources Sought is to identify potential subcontracting companies that are qualified and capable of meeting the project objectives. The project objective, at a high level, is to support Community EV Readiness Planning. NREL’s Community EV Readiness Planning effort will provide direct technical assistance to communities (cities, counties, regional planning organizations, and tribal nations) to strategically deploy publicly accessible EV charging and alternative fueling infrastructure in communities where people live and work and along designated alternative fuel corridors (AFCs).

Project Details:

In the event a solicitation is released, NREL is seeking information from sources that may be capable of providing a solution that meets or exceeds the following minimum capabilities:

Develop comprehensive tailored community EV readiness plans for communities which outline the steps a city, town, region, or tribal nation will take to prepare for the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). It serves as a roadmap for navigating the transition from gasoline-powered vehicles to a more sustainable transportation system. Here's a breakdown of the key information typically found in a community EV readiness plan:

1. Needs Assessment and Current State:

• Analysis of current state of EV ownership and charging infrastructure.

• Identification of potential barriers to EV adoption.

• Assessment of community needs and priorities for EV infrastructure development.

2. Vision and Goals:

• Establishment of a clear vision for the future of electric transportation in the community.

• Definition of specific goals for EV adoption and infrastructure development.

3. Strategies and Implementation:

• Details specific strategies to achieve the established goals through infrastructure development, policies and incentives, public education and engagement, and stakeholder partnerships.

4. Funding and Resources:

• Identification of potential funding sources for EV initiatives.

• Allocation of resources for implementing the plan and tracking progress towards goals.

5. Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Defines metrics to track progress towards achieving the plan's goals.

• Establishes a process for evaluating the success of the plan.

Additional Considerations for community EV readiness plans may include equity, energy and environmental justice, affordability, accessibility, and grid modernization and considerations for urban communities, rural communities, and Tribal nations.

NREL anticipates any subsequent award or Work Ordering Agreement to potentially go to multiple firms.

Request Details:

The Alliance intends to competitively solicit for Community Planning Support and Communities Support, dependent on the volume of qualified responses received.

Step 1 - Sourcing (SSN): Parties that meet the minimum criteria outlined herein are encouraged to submit their capabilities statements. Submitted capabilities statements that meet the Alliance’s stated criteria will be considered for inclusion in the source list to receive notice of the planned RFP. The Alliance reserves the right to add additional sources to the source list at its discretion.

Step 2 - Proposal & Selection (RFP): In the RFP step, offerors will be asked to demonstrate their technical approach to the project as well as a firm price to perform the work. This step may include oral presentations as a part of the final selection.

Small-Business Requirements: Sufficient, qualified responses to this SSN will determine if a total small business set aside is appropriate for a resultant RFP. The NAICS code applicable to this SSN is 541690.

The following links are being provided for convenience:

• https://www.sba.gov/document/support--table-size-standards

• https://www.sba.gov/size-standards

Period of Performance: This project is anticipated to have a base period of performance totaling twelve (12) months or 365 days, plus four one-year option periods totaling twelve (12) months of 365 days. The total Period of Performance, if all options are exercised, shall not exceed sixty (60) months.

Anticipated Lead/Delivery Time: The Alliance program anticipates the lead/delivery time to be 12 Months ARO.

Submission Requirements:

For companies interested in competing for the “Community Planning Support” RFP, please submit the following to Asp.responses@nrel.gov on or before 5:00 p.m. (MST), 7/1/2024. Your submission response is limited to 4 electronic pages:

1. Company Name, Address, and Company URL (include bona-fide location as stated above)

2. Point of Contact Information (Email, Direct Phone Number)

3. Services Capability: Alliance is seeking a subcontractor that has demonstrated success with similar projects with communities (including tribal), has experience with federally funded projects, is knowledgeable with challenging schedules on project delivery, and is well versed and skilled in effectively integrating with all project team stakeholders. The Subcontractor shall provide a narrative of the Offeror’s company expertise with community transportation and infrastructure planning projects of similar scope, size, and complexity.

The Subcontractor shall also provide capabilities statement that describes how the Project Details section can be met.

https://www.sba.gov/document/support--table-size-standards https://www.sba.gov/size-standards mailto:Asp.responses@nrel.gov

Disclaimer: Responding to this request identifies your company as an interested candidate only.

Your submittal is not in response to a Request for Proposals (RFP). This is an SSN, not a Request for Proposal. Verbal replies will not be accepted. All inquiries must be in writing via email. Project related questions will not be entertained at this point in the procurement process. This document represents a market research effort. Any costs associated with the development of a response to this request will not be reimbursed by NREL and submission does not guarantee or otherwise promise inclusion in any forthcoming RFP. In the event a solicitation results from this SSN, NREL reserves the right to set aside in total or in part any resultant award. No award will be made to any subcontractor/vendor that is not registered or in the process of registering with the System for Award Management (SAM). Please visit the SAM website at https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration for instructions on how to register.

https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration