SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION - MULTI-FAMILY HIGH-RISE PROGRAM
- Notice Date
- 8/24/2007
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- Environmental Protection Agency, Administrative Contract Service Center, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, Nw, Washington, DC 20460
- ZIP Code
- 20460
- Solicitation Number
- RFQ-DC-07-00304
- Response Due
- 9/18/2007
- Archive Date
- 10/18/2007
- Description
- NAICS Code: 541620 This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 12.6 and under the authority of FAR 13.1, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation is issued under Request for Quote RFQ-DC-07-00304 and includes incorporated provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 05-18. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code for this procurement is 541620 with a Small Business Administration (SBA) size standard of 500 employees. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) Office of Air and Radiation (OAR), Office of Atmospheric Programs (OAP), Climate Protection Partnerships Division (CPPD), Energy Star? Residential Branch requests that you submit a project plan and quotation for the award of a Purchase Order for "The Energy Star Multi-Family, High-Rise (MFHR) Program." STATEMENT OF WORK: The mission of CPPD is to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. CPPD forges partnerships with private and public organizations to accomplish this goal through the promotion of cost-effective energy-efficient technologies. CPPD delivers the technical information and tools that organizations and consumers need to choose energy efficient solutions and best management practices. ENERGY STAR is a one of CPPD's voluntary partnership programs. ENERGY STAR promotes energy efficiency in products, homes, and buildings in an effort to reduce carbon dioxide emissions through its effective use of the ENERGY STAR label. When placed on products, homes, and buildings the label signifies superior energy efficiency. Beyond the label, ENERGY STAR strives to improve energy performance in buildings and existing homes that may never achieve the label, but can still realize considerable energy savings. The ENERGY STAR label has been jointly managed by EPA and Department of Energy (DOE) since 1996. EPA is implementing a program to label MFHR buildings that address the needs of the multifamily sector and work to improve the energy efficiency, health, safety, and security of all residential buildings with four or more floors. As an initial step, EPA has embarked on a set of pilot programs to understand the unique issues related to labeling MFHR buildings. The purpose of this task order is to assist EPA in conducting these pilots and to help launch a national ENERGY STAR MFHR program. BACKGROUND: MFHR buildings present a unique set of challenges to EPA that are not found in either the ENERGY STAR New Homes or Commercial Buildings Programs. These challenges have made it difficult to adapt existing program approaches and procedures to this sector. First, much of this sector faces the split incentive issue where building owners are responsible for energy efficiency improvements but do not receive the benefit of lower utility bills. While the building owners may advertise their units as energy efficient, owners do not realize the financial benefits of energy efficiency. Without the payback of reduced energy bills, building owners are less likely to invest in energy efficiency. Second, tenant turnover in multi-family residences is extremely high, approaching 50% a year for some building owners. This high turnover rate makes it difficult to educate tenants on practices that reduce energy consumption throughout the building. Yet, occupant behavior and building management is a major factor in energy consumption of buildings. In addition, current residential modeling tools do not readily estimate the energy consumption of MFHR buildings. The modeling problems are exacerbated in taller buildings. Finally, there is very little publicly available energy consumption data to develop a benchmark for this building type as is typically done in the ENERGY STAR Building Program. Building experts reviewing this data have commented on its poor quality. To investigate these concerns and help develop a possible ENERGY STAR MFHR program, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE), and interested states formed the National Working Group. The purpose of the National Working Group was to help EPA define elements of a possible ENERGY STAR for MFHR Program, and address several important barriers to the development of this program. In 2006, EPA approved a limited pilot program for the states of New York, Wisconsin and Oregon based on the work to date by the National Working Group. Under these pilots, newly constructed buildings that are 20% more energy-efficient than a building constructed to ASHRAE 90.1.specifications, and are modeled to equal or exceed a score of 75 on RECS benchmark tool, can be labeled as ENERGY STAR for a limited set of buildings. The National Working Group produced the following documents to assist projects in evaluating whether MFHR buildings met these requirements: Incremental Cost Guidelines, Minimum Performance Standards (MPS), Multi-Family ENERGY STAR RECS Benchmarking Tool, Simulation Guidelines, and System Performance Testing Protocols. As a starting point for developing the most effective approach to a nationwide MFHR buildings program, EPA is currently piloting the MFHR buildings program using the guidelines and documentation established by the National Working Group. PURPOSE OF PILOT: The intent of this pilot is to study the possibility of leveraging the ENERGY STAR mark to reduce energy use in the MFHR buildings sector. EPA will evaluate information obtained from the pilot to understand how and whether these goals are achievable at the national level. These pilots will provide useful information concerning regional factors that address energy efficiency issues in the MFHR buildings sector. By working with our partners, EPA hopes to collect regionally specific information to determine whether ENERGY STAR can effectively serve the market to promote energy efficiency. The following 1) thru 4) are criteria that EPA will apply to determine whether to expand ENERGY STAR beyond the pilot project stage for the MFHR sector. 1) ENERGY STAR is cost-effective. ENERGY STAR performance specifications must be cost effective. The additional cost of the energy efficiency improvements must be outweighed by the annual energy savings. While developers may construct a building to their own specifications to meet the ENERGY STAR requirements, EPA must understand that there are cost-effective options to achieve the ENERGY STAR specification. 2) ENERGY STAR represents real reductions in energy consumption. ENERGY STAR must represent true energy savings over standard construction. While the specification may be demonstrated through a modeling approach, ultimately, true energy savings must accrue to consumers. EPA works to demonstrate this link and value. 3) ENERGY STAR provides value in the market for MFHR buildings stakeholders. ENERGY STAR must be a mark of distinction in the market place and is valued by building owners and tenants. 4) ENERGY STAR offers a process for achieving performance targets that is feasible and easy to implement. One of the main tenets of ENERGY STAR is that its programs are easy to implement and understand. EPA will examine the quality and consistency of the energy modeling across the various pilots. In addition, EPA will examine verification protocols and the necessary qualifications for quality control inspectors. TASKS: TASK 1: Review the adaptation of ASHRAE 90.1-2004 Appendix G Modeling Guidelines by the Ad Hoc Working Group in the Simulation Guidelines. The contractor shall assist EPA to complete the definition of the reference building and a proposed design, using the ASHRAE 90.1-2004 Appendix G Guidelines. The contractor shall examine the Simulation Guidelines developed by the ad-hoc multi-family working group. With these guidelines, the contractor shall identify areas that may require additional research as well as propose possible default inputs that may be used to define the reference building. In adapting Appendix G to residential structures, the contractor shall anticipate the various building configurations posed by MFHR. Deliverable: Memo to COR outlining the current status of the Simulation Guidelines and its applicability to various building types and climates, and recommendations for possible research to complete the guidelines. Due Date: to be determined by Technical directive once the contractor and COR have reviewed the guidelines to better understand the level of effort. TASK 2: Complete necessary analysis and research to complete any gaps in the Simulation Guidelines identified in Task 1. Through technical direction from the COR, the contractor shall perform analysis and research needed to complete the Simulation Guidelines for national use. The memo developed under Task 1 shall serve as the basis to identify these tasks. The contractor's analysis shall include input from regional stakeholders most familiar with the climate and building types. (For the purpose of estimating level of effort for this task, the contractor shall assume three research efforts during the period of performance. Each shall require 40 hours of contractor time to complete.) Deliverable: To be determined by Technical Directive. TASK 3: Program Specifications. The contractor shall assist EPA in assessing the appropriate specification for the ENERGY STAR MFHR program. Currently, the pilot specification requires a newly constructed building to be 20% more energy efficient than a building constructed to ASHRAE 90.1.specifications (2004), and modeled to equal or exceed a score of 75 on RECS benchmark tool. The contractor shall assist EPA to: Determine whether the current specification is cost-effective within the pilot programs as well as in other parts of the country, based on information received from the pilot programs. Identify cost effective energy reduction measures for the 8 climate zones found within the United States to achieve the ENERGY STAR specification required in the pilot program, for the various MFHR building types. Recommend required energy efficiency measures that should be incorporated in all MFHR buildings to optimize performance.(For the purpose of estimating level of effort, the contractor shall focus on 2 climate zones with no more than three different building types in each climate zone) Deliverable: to be determined by Technical Directive. TASK 4: Verification Procedures. System Performance Testing Protocols are a set of requirements for verifying the installed performance of a building. The National Working Group document outlines testing protocols, performance specification criteria, documentation requirements, and sampling protocols for assuring quality assurance. The contractor shall review the System Performance Testing Protocols developed by the National Working Group and identify the relative costs, value and difficulty of each of the requirements. In addition, the contractor shall identify any additional verification steps that may be appropriate to verify the energy efficiency of the MFHR. The contractor shall assess the cost and value of this omitted verification step to allow EPA to make an informed decision as to whether to include this additional verification step. In addition, the contractor shall assess the necessary qualifications required of personnel who may serve as verifiers under the ENERGY STAR MFHR Program. The contractor shall also review the existing certification and accreditation organizations to determine whether their current certifications may serve to qualify technicians as capable of verifying the energy efficiency improvements. (For the purpose of estimating level of effort for this task, the contractor shall assess the costs and value of the various System Performance Testing Protocol procedures, identify possible missing procedure and list possible organizations that may qualify technicians). Deliverable: Draft report to EPA. Due Date: Six weeks after EPA's formal acceptance the contractor's work plan. Deliverable: Final report to EPA. Due Date: Three weeks after receipt of comments from EPA. TASK 5: Analysis. The contractor shall assist EPA with analyses of the MFHR buildings data from current and future pilots as well as other topics that are relevant to the program. These ad-hoc analyses arise in the course of the development of environmental programs and shall be determine through technical directives issued by EPA. (For the purpose of estimating level of effort for this task, the contractor shall assume that EPA will request two technical analyses that would require no more than twenty four work hours each by the contractor.) Deliverable & Due date: to be determined by technical directive. OTHER REQUIREMENTS. Progress Reports. The contractor shall report progress to the EPA COR on all tasks via phone or e-mail periodically and via written monthly progress reports. Progress reports should include the progress to date for individual tasks, Level of Effort (LOE) spent on each task to date, estimated LOE to complete each task, any recommendations for reducing the LOE required to complete tasks, total dollars and hours spent to date, and total dollars and hours remaining to be spent. Deliverables: Monthly progress reports due 15 days following the month the report covers. Form of Deliverables: Unless otherwise indicated, all deliverables shall be delivered electronically as attachments to e-mail. Word processing documents shall be delivered in WordPerfect. All materials developed under this task order are the property of EPA; the Contractor may not claim copyrights. PROJECT PLAN AND QUOTATION SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: Please submit a technical project plan (approximately 10-15 pages, 2-sided, exclusive of resumes) which demonstrates your understanding and ability to perform this requirement as specified in the Statement of Work (SOW). Submit only information necessary to demonstrate capabilities in implementing energy efficiency strategies for the MFHR building sector. The use of charts, tables, and other methods to facilitate brevity of project plans is preferred. In addition to detailing how the offeror plans to accomplish the Tasks in the SOW, the technical project plan must also address the items detailed in the technical evaluation factors below. Also, please submit a fixed rate, time-and-materials quote, which includes a ceiling price, for this requirement. The ceiling price quoted should include any travel costs or other direct costs (ODCs) related to performance of the services, as well as labor categories with estimated labor hours and fixed rates for each. In addition, the FAR 52.212-3 representations and certifications shall be submitted. An electronic copy of the project plan, resumes, and quote shall be submitted by 4:00 p.m. EST on September 18, 2007 to me at doherty.sharron@epa.gov AND to the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), Ted Leopkey, at leopkey.ted@epa.gov. In accordance with FAR 13.1, award of a Purchase Order will be made to the offeror who offers the best value to the Government. EPA will also consider the level of effort and mix of labor categories proposed. EVALUATION CRITERIA in descending order of importance are: 1. TECHNICAL MERIT - the following items shall be addressed in the offeror's technical project plan: Demonstrate a detailed plan of how the offeror plans to accomplish each task and deliverable as described in the SOW. Demonstrate knowledge and experience in developing and implementing energy efficiency strategies for the MFHR building sector. Demonstrate knowledge of ASHRAE 90.1 (2004) and ASHRAE 90.1 (2004) Appendix G. Demonstrate experience in modeling the energy use of MFHR buildings. Demonstrate knowledge of cost estimation for energy-efficient technologies is MFHR buildings. Demonstrate knowledge of the diagnostic procedures used to verify the effectiveness of the implemented energy efficiency strategies in MFHR buildings. The Offeror should demonstrate the ability to: Identify cost effective energy reduction measures, identify climate specific energy reduction strategies for MFHR buildings, identify mandatory energy efficiency measures that should be incorporated in all MFHR buildings to optimize performance, work with other MFHR stakeholders to deliver program recommendations that will positively affect the MFHR market. 2. KEY PERSONNEL - The offeror's proposed personnel shall demonstrate experience with energy efficiency programs in the residential sector. A specific knowledge of MFHR buildings is also preferred. Include relevant education, training, and experience for their labor category. 3. PAST PERFORMANCE - The offeror shall include a representative list of contracts or orders completed during the past three (3) years or currently in progress, as well as performance scenarios similar in scope, magnitude and complexity to the requirements set forth in the SOW. For each contract or order identified, the offeror shall include a brief synopsis which includes the date the work was performed, the client for whom the work was performed (include client name, e-mail and telephone number) and a description of the work performed. 4. PRICE - The offeror's quotation will be evaluated on its cost-effectiveness, the labor cost per hour to develop its recommendations, and other direct and indirect costs. ESTIMATED VALUE: The estimated value of this procurement does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold as defined in FAR 2.101. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE of this Purchase Order is one (1) year, beginning October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2008. The provision at FAR
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