SS-2024022366_Final_2024.11.08.pdf

Sources Sought Notice No. SS-2024022366

“US-ASEAN Climate Solutions Hub”

November 8, 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”.

The U.S. - ASEAN Climate Solutions Hub (ACSH) is a U.S. Government (USG) sponsored initiative to advance the climate objectives of countries within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). ACSH leverages the technical expertise of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and other government programs to support renewable energy deployment, decarbonization of the transportation sector, methane reduction efforts, and sustainable agriculture, forestry, and land management. ACSH supports eligible countries in the ASEAN region in their efforts to strengthen and implement Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), long-term strategies (LTS), and related low emission development and resilience strategies, including developing energy and land-use frameworks and measures that mobilize public and private finance and achieve clean energy transitions, baseline information for transparency in implementation, and other activities that will enable the region to get on a path to net zero emissions and resilient systems by mid-century. To execute this purpose, the subcontractor will work with NREL to specifically support agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU) sector technical assistance activities.

Objective:

The objective of this Sources Sought is to identify potential subcontracting companies that are qualified and capable of meeting the project objectives. The objective of ACSH is to enhance the capacity of ASEAN countries and foster leadership in the region to improve and/or develop new policies, plans, projects or other measures that support implementation and ambition raising of climate and clean energy goals, including in the agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU) sector.

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:

• Support stakeholder consultations to understand country objectives and technical needs in the AFOLU sector.

• Provide technical expertise to inform the development or refinement of AFOLU sector NDC and/or LTS mitigation pathways, policy frameworks, and implementation strategies.

• Support the adoption of greenhouse gas (GHG) measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) frameworks to meet international reporting obligations, such as those under the Paris Agreement’s Enhanced Transparency Framework.

• Provide technical expertise to facilitate the use of AFOLU sector Internationally Transferrable Mitigation Outcomes or other frameworks to support emission reductions and other development goals.

• Conduct training(s) or workshop(s) to facilitate peer learning and/or address specific technical issues.

Request Details:

The Alliance intends to competitively solicit for US-ASEAN Climate Solutions Hub 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: Qualifying (RFQ): Once the source list is compiled (the Alliance reserves the right to add additional sources to the source list at its discretion), the Alliance will send each qualified source the solicitation document Request for Proposals (RFP). Sources will then be asked to submit in accordance with that formal solicitation document. The Alliance will then evaluate the submitted qualifications against the selection criteria.

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 813319 (Other Social Advocacy Organizations).

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 period of performance totaling twenty -one (21) months.

Anticipated Lead Time: The Alliance program anticipates work to commence on March 1, 2025 https://www.sba.gov/document/support--table-size-standards https://www.sba.gov/size-standards

Location of Work to be Performed: The majority of this work effort is anticipated to be performed remotely, however there may be international travel required to support technical assistance activities (trainings, conferences, on-site workshops) Offerors shall be able to demonstrate their capability to travel to and perform in these locations:

• Brunei

• Cambodia

• Indonesia

• Lao People's Democratic Republic

• Malaysia

• Philippines

• Thailand

• Timor Leste (ASEAN Observer)

• Vietnam.

Submission Requirements:

For companies interested in competing for the “US-ASEAN Climate Solutions Hub” RFP, please submit the following to Alex Joseph at ASP.Responses@NREL.gov on or before 5:00 p.m. (MST), 12/6/2024 Your submission response is limited to 5 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. Company’s Capability Statement that provides a narrative of the Offeror’s expertise with projects of similar scope, size, and complexity as identified below:

Services Capability: Alliance is seeking a subcontractor that has demonstrated success with similar projects, 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.

Please complete the following table.

1 Capabilities Experience:

Yes/No

Years Experience (if applicable)

1.1

Demonstrated knowledge of AFOLU sector, including land use, forestry, and agricultural practices, as it relates to climate change mitigation and other low emission development goals.

1.2

Experience developing and delivering bilateral technical assistance related to the development or refinement of AFOLU sector mailto:****@NREL.gov

NDC and/or LTS mitigation pathways, policy frameworks, and implementation strategies.

1.3

Experience supporting data collection, analysis, and interpretation relevant to land use, forestry, and agricultural practices in developing country context.

1.4

Current knowledge of internationally recognized GHG MRV frameworks and reporting obligations, such as those under the Paris Agreement’s Enhanced Transparency Framework.

1.5

Expertise in supporting developing country use of AFOLU sector Internationally Transferrable Mitigation Outcomes or other frameworks (e.g., REDD+) to support emission reductions and other development goals.

1.6 Current knowledge of ASEAN region-specific AFOLU sector trends.

4. Rough Order of Magnitude Estimate (ROM Estimate)

5. Estimated Lead Times

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.

If a solicitation is conducted and an award is resulting, a SAM registration is required to be active at time of award.

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