SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- Notice of Interest for Commercial Biodiesel Partnerships for Puerto Rico
- Notice Date
- 9/10/2002
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory - Midwest Research Institute (DOE Contractor), National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, CO, 80401
- ZIP Code
- 80401
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-CBPR092002
- Point of Contact
- Deborah Bullard, Senior Subcontract Administrator, Phone 303-384-6876, Fax 303-384-6877,
- E-Mail Address
-
deborah_bullard@nrel.gov
- Description
- NOTICE OF INTEREST FOR COMMERCIAL BIODIESEL PARTNERSHIPS FOR PUERTO RICO The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the U.S. Department of Energy?s (DOE) Office of Economic Development and Diversity and Office of Biomass Programs (formerly the Office of Fuels Development) want to promote commercial biodiesel production on the island of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is 100% dependent on imported petroleum to run all of its transportation, electricity, and industrial energy needs. The island is vulnerable to any supply or price shocks and occasionally, hurricanes. Puerto Rico has a supply of biodiesel feedstocks in the form of used cooking oils and animal fats. Its warm climate makes it uniquely suitable for using animal fat based biodiesel fuels. Animal fat biodiesel has limited markets on the mainland due to cold weather concerns, but fats could be exported to Puerto Rico for biodiesel feedstocks to expand the Puerto Rican biodiesel industry. A domestic biodiesel manufacturing facility could meet some of the island?s distillate needs while providing significant local air quality and health benefits to the islanders. A production facility also offers employment and investment opportunities for Puerto Ricans. There are several local policies that offer significant economic benefits for alternative energy producers. A domestic biodiesel manufacturing facility is needed to jump start interest in biodiesel in Puerto Rico because its relative isolation from the remainder of the United States limits the free flow of information about the emerging biodiesel industry in the U.S. Previous support from the DOE has developed local biodiesel demand, expertise, and political support for biodiesel. Two organizations that have had lead roles in the development are the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez and Panzardi-ERM. DOE?s Puerto Rican partners have established local analytical capabilities, familiarity with biodiesel production technology, a small group of consumers, and tremendous support from local decision makers from government, energy, and environmental markets. Several firms have expressed an interest in building biodiesel plants in Puerto Rico as a result of these efforts. The objective of this project will be to establish a biodiesel production facility on the island. This project, through partnering with a commercial firm, or one lead firm in a consortium of organizations, that is committed to constructing and operating a biodiesel production facility on the island of Puerto Rico, is to promote economic development and energy security benefits. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory will manage this project on the behalf of DOE. Up to $200,000 of federal funds to leverage private investor resources is anticipated to be available. Private cost share will be required as discussed below. Firms will be expected to describe the tasks that utilize the federal funds as discussed below. Qualified sources must meet the minimum requirements listed below. Those that do not meet these minimum requirements will not be considered. 1) Firms must be registered and licensed to do business in Puerto Rico. Proof of registration is required. Partnerships with other organizations outside of this limitation are acceptable, so long as the lead organization is a commercial Puerto Rican company. Other firms may enter into partnerships for the purpose of this effort and subsequent commercial development of a biodiesel production facility, including, but not limited to, universities, not-for-profit firms, government agencies, non-U.S. companies, private investors not registered to do business in Puerto Rico, etc. All partners will be required to provide letters of commitment to the lead firm. 2) A minimum of 50% non-federal cost share. Other local government resources (such as PRIDCO, Energy Affairs Office, etc.) may be available to leverage this project, and should be considered by the offerer. Government funds from other federal, state, or local agencies will not be considered as private cost-share. Costs that must be carried by private funds include the following: Land purchases, Building purchases, Equipment purchases that exceed $10,000 per unit, License agreement or any purchase of rights for technology, Liability bonds and other insurance agreements, Hazardous waste removal. 3) Firms must be capable of the following: a) provide a communications plan for keeping all parties to the project informed of changes, accomplishments, decisions, and other material information as well as a process for identifying, airing, discussing and resolving disputes and changes, b) provide a well-defined implementation/commercialization plan to include task activities and scheduling, key management staff and project team members along with their roles and responsibilities, equipment and supplies to be purchased, anticipated travel, deliverables and budget allocation, description of tasks that will utilize the federal funds. Examples of possible tasks that the federal government is interested in cost-sharing are as follows: a) feasibility analysis and other proforma activities, b) engineering (PFDs, mass-energy balance, d) technology review and assessment, other), c) site evaluation and analysis, d) construction cost estimation and project economic analysis, e) permitting, f) activities that lead to financing commitments for the project, g) commercial shakedown (operating costs), H) site preparation costs (no hazardous waste removal), I) construction labor, j) equipment purchases less than $10,000 per unit, and, k) pilot scale facilities. Parties interested in receiving the Request for Proposal for the above-described effort must respond by September 20, 2002 to the following: National Renewable Energy Laboratory Deborah J. Bullard, Senior Subcontract Administrator Ms 3511, 1617 Cole Blvd. Golden, CO 80401-3393 Fax Number: 303-384-6877 E-mail: deborah_bullard@nrel.gov Responses may be submitted by overnight delivery, U.S. mail, fax, or e-mail. Responses must include company name, contact person, address, telephone number, fax number and e-mail address.
- Record
- SN00162152-W 20020912/020910213236 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |