Bulk_LPG_Follow-On_SourcesSought_Tech Description.docx

Sources Sought – Fort Irwin Bulk LPG Follow-On SOURCES SOUGHT TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION FOR BULK LIQUID PROPANE GAS (LPG) SUPPLY AND DELIVERY FOLLOW-ON

1. INTRODUCTION

The Mission and Installation Contracting Command – Fort Irwin (MICC – Fort Irwin), located at U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Fort Irwin, California, is issuing this Sources Sought synopsis as a means of conducting market research in accordance with Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) FAR Part 10 to identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support the requirement for the continuous bulk supply and tanker delivery of Odorized Grade HD-5 Liquid Propane Gas (LPG) (ASTM D1835 / GPA Standard 2140) to four (4) Directorate of Public Works (DPW)-managed bulk storage tank farms at USAG Fort Irwin and the National Training Center (NTC), Fort Irwin, California 92310.

The result of this market research will contribute to determining the method of procurement, if a requirement materializes. Based on the responses to this Sources Sought notice/market research, this requirement may be set-aside for small businesses (in full or in part) or procured through full and open competition. All small business Set-Aside categories will be considered, including 8(a), HUBZone, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), and Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) concerns. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions.

The anticipated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this requirement is 324110 (Petroleum Refineries), with a corresponding Small Business Administration (SBA) size standard of 1,500 employees, and Product Service Code (PSC) 6830 (Gases: Compressed and Liquefied).

The Government anticipates awarding a single Indefinite-Delivery, Requirements Contract (FAR 52.216-21) utilizing Firm-Fixed-Price with Economic Price Adjustment (FFP-EPA) unit pricing tied to the Mont Belvieu Propane Spot Index under RFO FAR Part 12 (Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services). The anticipated Period of Performance consists of one (1) 12-month Base Period (May 01, 2027 – April 30, 2028), four (4) 12-month Option Periods (May 01, 2028 – April 30, 2032), and one (1) optional 6-month extension period (May 01, 2032 – October 31, 2032). This is a follow-on requirement to Contract Number W9124B-25-F-A049 (and predecessor Contract Number W9124B-20-C-0005) held by AePex Energy. Note that USAG Fort Irwin anticipates a future Utility Energy Services Contract (UESC) natural gas line conversion that may reduce or conclude bulk propane demand prior to the end of the five-year ordering period; accordingly, the Government does not guarantee a minimum or exact volume under the contemplated Requirements contract structure.

2. DISCLAIMER

THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) TO BE SUBMITTED. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY. RESPONDEES ARE ADVISED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT PAY FOR ANY INFORMATION OR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS INCURRED IN RESPONSE TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT AND ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH RESPONDING TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT WILL BE SOLELY AT THE INTERESTED PARTY'S EXPENSE. NOT RESPONDING TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT DOES NOT PRECLUDE PARTICIPATION IN ANY FUTURE RFP, IF ANY IS ISSUED. IF A SOLICITATION IS RELEASED, IT SHALL BE SYNOPSIZED ON THE SAM.GOV WEBSITE. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE POTENTIAL OFFERORS TO MONITOR THIS SITE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THIS REQUIREMENT.

3. CONTRACTOR CAPABILITIES SURVEY

The U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Fort Irwin Directorate of Public Works (DPW) requires uninterrupted commercial bulk supply and F.O.B. Destination cargo tanker delivery of virgin, unblended Special-Duty Propane (Grade HD-5) conforming to ASTM D1835 and GPA Midstream Standard 2140 to support central heating plants, dining facilities (DFACs), barracks, tactical maintenance facilities, and backup power generation systems across Fort Irwin, CA.

Deliveries are made directly into four (4) Government-owned, DPW-managed above-ground bulk storage tank farms located within Fort Irwin cantonment (Langford Lake Tank Farm, Goldstone Tank Farm, Mobilization and Training Equipment Site [MATES] Tank Farm, and Grey Eagle Tank Farm), comprising interconnected horizontal ASME storage vessels ranging from 18,000 to 30,000 water-gallons in capacity. All deliveries are metered and invoiced strictly in U.S. Net Liquid Gallons compensated to 60 degrees Fahrenheit per ASTM D1250 / API MPMS Chapter 11.2.4 (Table 24E / Table 24F) using automatic temperature-compensating (ATC) meters calibrated and lead-sealed by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), Division of Measurement Standards (DMS).

Because Fort Irwin experiences extreme Mojave Desert seasonal temperature swings, historical demand follows a pronounced seasonal profile:

Winter Peak Season (November – February, ~55% of annual volume): Approximately 280,000 to 330,000 net gallons per month (requiring multiple daily MC-331 transport loads).

Shoulder Season (March – April and October, ~25% of annual volume): Approximately 150,000 to 190,000 net gallons per month.

Summer Baseline Season (May – September, ~20% of annual volume): Approximately 70,000 to 95,000 net gallons per month.

Interested organizations are requested to provide the following business and technical capability information:

3.1 Part I. Business Information

Please provide the following business information for your company/institution and for any teaming or joint venture partners:

Company/Institute Name:

Address:

Point of Contact:

CAGE Code and SAM Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):

Phone Number:

E-mail Address:

Web Page URL:

Size of business pursuant to North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 324110 (Petroleum Refineries, SBA Size Standard: 1,500 employees). Based on the above NAICS Code, state whether your company is:

Small Business (Yes / No) Woman Owned Small Business (Yes / No) Economically Disadvantaged Woman Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) (Yes / No) Small Disadvantaged Business (Yes / No) 8(a) Certified (Yes / No) HUBZone Certified (Yes / No) Veteran Owned Small Business (Yes / No) Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) (Yes / No) System for Award Management (SAM) Registered (Yes / No) A statement as to whether your company is domestically or foreign owned (if foreign, please indicate the country of ownership).

3.2 Part II. Capability Survey Questions

A. General Capability Questions Describe briefly the capabilities of your facility and the nature of the goods and/or services you provide. Include a description of your staff composition and management experience in managing high-volume bulk hazardous materials (HAZMAT) liquid gas supply and transport contracts.

Describe your company's past experience on previous projects similar in complexity, volume (~2.26 million net gallons annually), and remote desert logistics to this requirement. Include contract numbers, project titles, dollar values, annual gallons delivered, customer points of contact, and phone numbers/emails.

Describe your company's capabilities for generating, handling, securing, and verifying quality assurance documentation, including certified refinery/terminal Certificates of Analysis (COAs) for ASTM D1835 Grade HD-5 chemical composition and ethyl mercaptan odorization, and California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Division of Measurement Standards (DMS)-sealed temperature-compensated delivery tickets.

What quality assurance processes and compliance certifications does your company maintain to prevent off-specification, un-odorized, or moisture-contaminated propane loads, and what emergency remediation capabilities do you maintain to evacuate, flare/dispose, purge, and re-certify contaminated ASME storage vessels within 48 hours if required?

B. Hardware Production Questions State whether your company is the refiner/manufacturer of the Grade HD-5 Liquid Propane Gas or an authorized wholesale/bulk distributor/dealer. If your company is a small business distributor/nonmanufacturer, explain how your firm will comply with the Nonmanufacturer Rule (FAR 52.219-14 and 13 CFR 121.406) under NAICS 324110 (e.g., supplying the product of a small business refiner/processor, or identifying any applicable SBA class or individual waiver).

Describe your monthly and annual bulk propane supply allocation, refinery/rail terminal sourcing agreements, and surge delivery capacity. Specifically address your ability to sustain winter peak demand at Fort Irwin (280,000 to 330,000 net gallons per month from November through February) without allocation curtailment, as well as compliance with the Buy American Act (FAR 52.225-1 / DFARS 252.225-7001) and Trade Agreements Act (DFARS 252.225-7021), including the country of origin of all supplied propane.

Identify your supply chain risk management practices for mitigating refinery outages, rail/pipeline bottlenecks, or extreme winter weather allocation shortages in the Southern California / Mojave Desert region.

C. Commerciality Questions Is the offered Grade HD-5 Liquid Propane Gas and bulk delivery service a commercial product/service as defined in RFO FAR 2.101? Describe your standard commercial quality tolerances, odorization verification practices, and invoicing terms.

Describe customary commercial pricing practices for multi-year bulk LPG supply agreements. Specifically state whether an Indefinite-Delivery, Requirements Contract (FAR 52.216-21) utilizing Firm-Fixed-Price with Economic Price Adjustment (FFP-EPA) unit pricing tied weekly to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Mont Belvieu Propane Spot Index (consisting of the published index base plus a fixed contractor logistics/delivery margin) is consistent with customary commercial market practices, or whether any aspect of this contract structure presents a barrier to competition.

Identify any existing Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs), GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contracts, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Energy contracts, or Army Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) vehicles held by your firm under which bulk Grade HD-5 propane can be ordered.

D. Requirement-Specific Technical Questions DOT MC-331 Tanker Fleet, Closed-Loop Transfer, and 80.0% Summer Fill Compliance: Describe your company's fleet of DOT Specification MC-331 high-pressure cargo tank motor vehicles (number of tractors/trailers, water-gallon capacities, and terminal locations). Confirm whether your tankers are equipped with active on-board mechanical/hydraulic transfer pumps, at least 100 linear feet of certified transfer hose with 2-inch Acme liquid and 1-1/4-inch vapor return couplings, closed-loop vapor recovery (zero atmospheric venting), CDFA DMS-sealed automatic temperature-compensating (ATC) meters (net gallons at 60F per ASTM D1250), and driver protocols enforcing the NFPA 58 Section 7.4.2 80.0% maximum liquid fill safety limit during 110F–120F Mojave Desert summer conditions.

50-Mile Reserve Terminal Capacity & Delivery Window Punctuality: All transport vehicles must transit the 37-mile two-lane Fort Irwin Road corridor from Barstow/I-15 to USAG Fort Irwin. Routine deliveries must arrive within +/- 4 hours of the confirmed DPW scheduling window (Monday–Friday, 0700–1530 Pacific Time), and emergency winter call-out orders must be delivered within 24 hours of notification. State the exact location(s) and storage capacity (in gallons) of your bulk propane reserve terminal(s) or rail/storage facilities within 50 miles of Fort Irwin, CA, or explain how your firm will meet the 50-mile reserve capacity and +/- 4-hour delivery window requirements.

Pre-Cleared DBIDS Driver Roster & South Gate ACP Security Screening: All commercial HAZMAT vehicles must enter Fort Irwin exclusively via the South Gate Access Control Point (ACP) and undergo 100% physical vehicle and Military Working Dog (explosive canine) inspection (30-to-60-minute inspection window). Drivers must be U.S. citizens or authorized legal residents capable of passing an NCIC-III background check for DBIDS installation credentials and must hold a valid Class A CDL with Tank (N) and HAZMAT (H) endorsements (or combined X endorsement) plus a valid TWIC or REAL ID. Confirm your ability to maintain a dedicated roster of pre-cleared primary and backup drivers holding active DBIDS credentials prior to the May 01, 2027 performance start date.

Potential UESC Natural Gas Conversion Impact: As noted in the Introduction, USAG Fort Irwin anticipates a future UESC natural gas line conversion that may reduce or conclude bulk LPG requirements prior to the end of the five-year ordering period. Under an Indefinite-Delivery, Requirements Contract (FAR 52.216-21), state whether the potential early reduction or cessation of orders due to the UESC conversion impacts your ability to submit a competitive offer or requires any specific solicitation disclosures (such as estimated phase-down notice windows).

4. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Chemical & Odorization Compliance: All propane must strictly meet ASTM D1835 Special-Duty Propane (Grade HD-5) and GPA Standard 2140 (>= 90.0% propane, <= 5.0% propylene, <= 2.5% butane and heavier, <= 208 psig vapor pressure at 100F, pass ASTM D1838 copper strip corrosion and ASTM D2713 valve freeze dryness test) and be odorized with ethyl mercaptan at >= 1.0 lb per 10,000 gallons (detectable at <= 20% LEL per 49 CFR 173.315 and NFPA 58). A certified refinery/terminal Certificate of Analysis (COA) must accompany every shipment.

Installation Access & Security (Unclassified / DBIDS): Performance is unclassified; no DD Form 254 or facility security clearance is required. However, strict installation access controls apply: NCIC-III background vetting, active DBIDS credentials for a pre-approved roster of primary and backup Class A CDL (N + H/X) + TWIC/REAL ID drivers, entry exclusively via the South Gate ACP, and full compliance with 30-to-60-minute physical and canine explosive inspections without demurrage charges.

Domestic Sourcing & Trade Agreements: Because the estimated lifecycle value exceeds the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement (WTO GPA) threshold, respondents must address compliance with the Buy American Act (FAR 52.225-1 / DFARS 252.225-7001) and Trade Agreements Act (DFARS 252.225-7021). Berry Amendment restrictions (10 U.S.C. 4862 and 4863) do not apply to bulk petroleum/LPG fuel products under PSC 6830.

5. ELIGIBILITY

The applicable NAICS code for this requirement is 324110 (Petroleum Refineries) with a Small Business Size Standard of 1,500 employees. The Product Service Code (PSC) is 6830 (Gases: Compressed and Liquefied). Businesses of all sizes are encouraged to respond; however, each respondent must clearly identify their business size and socioeconomic status in their capabilities statement. Small business nonmanufacturers/distributors responding under NAICS 324110 must address compliance with the Limitations on Subcontracting (FAR 52.219-14) and the Nonmanufacturer Rule (13 CFR 121.406).

6. SUBMISSION DETAILS

Interested businesses shall submit a brief capabilities statement package (no more than 10 pages in length, single-spaced, in Microsoft Word or Portable Document Format (PDF) on 8.5 x 11 inch pages, 1-inch margins, font no smaller than 10 point) demonstrating ability to perform the requirements listed in this Technical Description. Documentation should be in bullet format and must directly address all questions in Part I and Part II above. No phone or email solicitations with regards to the status of the RFP will be accepted prior to its release.

Your response to this Sources Sought, including any capabilities statement, shall be electronically submitted to the Contract Specialist, Emily Rojas, in either Microsoft Word or Portable Document Format (PDF), via email at emily.n.rojas2.civ@army.mil, with a copy to the Contracting Officer, LTC Pedro Costas, at pedro.j.costas.mil@army.mil, no later than November 23, 2026 and reference this synopsis number W9124B-27-R-SS01 and "Sources Sought – Fort Irwin Bulk LPG Follow-On in the subject line and on all enclosed documents. Information and materials submitted in response to this request WILL NOT be returned. DO NOT SUBMIT CLASSIFIED MATERIAL. All data received in response to this Sources Sought that is marked or designated as corporate or proprietary will be fully protected from any release outside the Government. No phone calls will be accepted.