2019.09.19_TRANSCOM20W001_RFI.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

FOR

UNITED STATES TRANSPORTATION COMMAND (USTRANSCOM)

SCHEDULED FUEL BARGE TRANSPORTATION IN GULF REGION

TRANSCOM20W001

This announcement constitutes a Request for Information (RFI) for informational and planning purposes only. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL nor is it to be construed as a commitment by the Government. The information requested will be used within United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) to facilitate decision making (i.e., determining acquisition strategy, small business concerns, etc.) and will not be disclosed outside the Government. Proprietary information submitted shall be appropriately marked. Please note that USTRANSCOM will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by interested parties in responding to this RFI.

USTRANSCOM highly encourages responses from capable businesses of all sizes; large and small business concerns, to include all the socioeconomic categories.

I. DESCRIPTION/SCOPE

The United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) is seeking sources that possess the availability and capability to provide scheduled fuel barge transportation services in Gulf region.

The Defense Logistics Agency Energy Americas East Office, Houston (DLA Energy-AME) requires the transportation of Department of Defense (DOD)-owned bulk jet fuel JP5 and Jet A with Additives (JAA) by tug and barge between all ordered United States ports and points on the Gulf of Mexico and the Lower Mississippi River and their connecting waterways and tributaries, including Louisiana, Texas, Florida and Alabama. This performance shall be provided by barge/tug systems compliant with the coastwise laws of the United States.

Period of Performance: 1 October 2020 – 30 September 2025

II. INTRODUCTION

USTRANSCOM is conducting market research in order to determine sources capable of satisfying our requirements.

USTRANSCOM desires input to determine the interest, availability, and technical capability of members of the business community to:

a. Provide barge transportation using contractor-supplied equipment to the following locations:

Jet-AA Loading Ports Jet-AA Discharge Ports

Exxon/Mobil Company, USA, Baton Rouge, LA Naval Air Station, Belle Chase (New Orleans), LA

Valero, Texas City, TX Eglin Air Force Base, Fort Walton Beach, FL

Placid Refining, Port Allen, LA Hurlburt Field, Fort Walton Beach, FL Goldline, Jennings, LA Tyndall Air Force Base, Panama City, FL BP, Texas City, TX Naval Air Station Pensacola, Pensacola, FL Shell, Mobile, AL Magellan Midstream Partners LP, Galena Park, TX Shell, Deer Park, TX Magellan Midstream Partners LP, Galena Park, TX

Valero, Corpus Christi, TX Air BP, Texas City, TX

JP5 Loading Ports JP5 Discharge Ports Placid Refining, Port Allen, LA Magellan Midstream Partners LP, Galena Park, TX Shell, Deer Park, TX Magellan Midstream Partners LP, Galena Park, TX

Valero, Corpus Christi, TX

b. Maintain, clean, repair, position and operate its equipment.

c. Provide cargo pumping, cargo tank stripping, and water stripping system.

d. Provide licensed Tankerman at all loading and discharge points.

e. Provide 24-hour, seven-day a week availability of equipment and crew.

f. Load or discharge any quantity of cargo, entire or partial.

g. Provide Information Assurance Report

A draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) is attached to facilitate a response to this RFI. Please review the attached draft PWS and all interested carriers (large and small) with applicable capabilities are encouraged to provide comments, questions, and concerns. Further, identify any requirements that would prohibit you from responding to a request for proposal.

III. INFORMATION REQUESTED

A. General Company Information

1. Company Name & Address:

2. POC Name/Telephone/Email:

3. The anticipated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is 483211 (Inland Water

Freight Transportation. The Small Business size standard is 750 employees (i.e. less than 750 employees equates to a Small Business). Please provide your company’s current NAICS classification.

Size/Status for NAICS Code Suggested: (Check all that apply)

____Small Business; ____Veteran-Owned Small Business; ____Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business; ____Small Disadvantaged Business; ____Woman-Owned Small Business;

____Large Business; ______ HUBZone Business

4. If you would like to suggest an alternate NAICS, please do so and provide your size for the NAICS suggested.

5. Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)______________________

6. Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code Number__________

7. Is the work explained above “commercial” as defined at Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

2.101 (services of a type offered and sold competitively in substantial quantities in the commercial marketplace based on established catalog or market prices for specific tasks performed or specific outcomes to be achieved and under standard commercial terms and conditions)? Please provide your rationale.

8. How are your commercial contracts for these services normally priced (i.e. monthly service fee, per hour, per unit, firm fixed price, reimbursable, etc.)? Please be specific.

9. Please discuss an instance where you have taken over providing a service previously provided by another contractor. What is your preferred lead time between contract award and performance start? What contract transition activities do you anticipate?

10. The anticipated contract term is 1 year base period and 4 option years. What is the normal contract period of performance for this type of effort? (1 year base period, 3 or 4 option years, etc.) Please explain.

11. Would industry support a longer contract?

12. What consideration standards are included in your commercial contracts for late deliveries or damaged cargo (e.g. reimbursements, credits, fees, etc.)? Please provide details.

13. Are you a Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) participant? Yes/ No Please identify your VISA priority.

• U.S.-flag vessel capacity operated by VISA participants and U.S.-flag Vessel Sharing Agreement (VSA) capacity held by VISA participants.

• U.S.-flag vessel capacity operated by non-participants.

• Combination U.S.-flag/foreign-flag vessel capacity operated by VISA participants, and combination U.S.-flag/foreign-flag VSA capacity held by VISA participants.

• Combination U.S.-flag/foreign-flag vessel capacity operated by non-participants.

• U.S.-owned or operated foreign-flag vessel capacity and VSA capacity held by VISA participants.

• U.S.-owned or operated foreign-flag vessel capacity and VSA capacity held by non-participants.

• Foreign-owned or operated foreign-flag vessel capacity of non-participants.

Please identify which vessel(s) you would be using and whether these vessels are committed into the VISA program. Refer to https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/01/31/2018- 01851/voluntary-intermodal-sealift-agreement-changes-to-the-open-season-enrollment-period for VISA information.

14. What percentage of your total repair cost (total number of ships owned, operated or controlled) were performed/completed using U.S. Shipyards?

15. In relation to the U.S. Shipyards, are these typically large or small businesses?

B. General Capabilities. Please note that experience refers to complexity as well as longevity.

1. What is your experience in providing management, labor, tools, equipment, supplies, materials and other services necessary for tug/barge transportation services?

2. Explain your understanding of the transportation of DOD-owned bulk jet fuel JP5 and JAA?

3. What is your experience in providing vessels that meet the requirements of the U.S. Coast Guard and suitable to load and deliver the intended cargo.

4. Explain your capabilities in providing 24-hour, seven-day a week availability of equipment and crew on barge transportation services.

5. Explain your capabilities, in detail, in loading or discharging cargo in designated location.

Are you currently operating in the area? If not, would you be willing to reposition a barge to the area?

6. Provide a summary on tug and barge capabilities.

7. Provide a summary of the history of the company.

8. Provide a summary of experience with similar work scope.

9. What typical performance measures are included in your commercial contracts for liner service?

Please identify.

C. Commercial Industry Standards

Explain commercial industry standard in regards to:

a. In commercial industry, how many days are required for acceptance and inspection of the tugs and barges prior to loading?

b. Does commercial industry require written notice of insurance? If so, in what form and how often?

c. What is commercial industry standard for the contractor’s liability for injury to persons or damage to property other than the freight being transported?

d. What is commercial industry standard for the contractor’s liability for loss of and/or damage to the freight being transported?

e. What is commercial industry for the amount of insurance contractor is required to maintain?

f. What is commercial industry standard for re-procurement costs due to contractor’s failure to perform?

g. Does commercial industry require USCG Certifications at time of proposal submission? Are any other certifications required?

h. In commercial industry, is it the contractor’s responsibility to verify port restrictions?

i. In commercial industry, is it the contractor responsibility to pay for bunker fuel?

j. In commercial industry, what is the process for scheduling service?

k. In commercial industry, is there additional costs to operate in icing conditions?

l. What is included in commercial Quality Control Plans (QCP)? Are these submitted at time of proposal?

m. In commercial industry, what is the industry accepted method for verifying a contractor has ownership and control of the proposed vessels/equipment required to perform the contract?

n. In commercial industry, what is an industry accepted method for verifying a proposed contractor’s financial condition and if they have adequate financial resources to perform the contract?

IV. NON COMMERCIAL CLAUSES

In addition to FAR part 12 commercial clauses, the following non-commercial clauses may be included in a future solicitation. The full text of the clause may be accessed electronically at http://farsite.hill.af.mil/.

52.217-8 Option to Extend Services 52.217-9 Option to Extend the Term of the Contract 52.237-3 Continuity of Services 52.247-21 Contractor Liability for Personal Injury and/or Property Damage 252.201-7000 Contracting Officer’s Representative

V. RFI REQUESTED FORMAT

The format for submittal of your RFI is as follows:

1. Please number pages and submit your response using an 8-1/2 x 11 format, single sided, double spaced, with one inch margins and a font size of 12.

2. Please clearly label your response with a title page “RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR

INFORMATION.” and include the date of submission, RFI response title, and respondent’s administrative and technical points of contact with telephone numbers and electronic mail addresses.

VI. RESPONSE REVIEW

Any information submitted with your response that you do not consent to limited release must be clearly marked and segregated from other response material. Response to this RFI or lack thereof does not constitute any obligation on the Government to pursue a follow-on effort, in part or whole, with specific vendors or otherwise.

VII. SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Response to this RFI and any questions should be submitted to Ms. Megan Isaak @ megan.m.isaak.civ@mail.mil; Ms. Rachel Dow @ rachel.l.dow.civ@mail.mil and Mr. Travis Morgan @ travis.l.morgan12.civ@mail.mil no later than 4:00 PM (CST) on 1 November 2019. Please do not cut and paste your responses into this RFI. Remit any and all responses as a separate document. Any questions regarding this RFI may be directed to the addresses above.

mailto:megan.m.isaak.civ@mail.mil mailto:kenneth.e.montgomery8.civ@mail.mil