US Navy’s 2015-2016 Solicitation for Biofuel Blends Now Posted

(Green Car Congress) The US Defense Logistics Agency-Energy (DLA-Energy) has posted the Rocky Mountain/West Coast/Offshore (RMW) solicitation (SPE600-15-R-0711) on behalf of the US Navy for fuel deliveries from 1 October 2015 to 30 September 2016. Vendors can submit bids with a minimum of 10% alternative fuel up to the maximum 50% allowed in the fuel specifications. The two approved pathways are FT (Fischer-Tropsch) and HEFA (Hydro-processed esters and fatty acids).

Estimated maximum quantities
Turbine Fuel, Aviation JP8	3,245,321
Turbine Fuel, Aviation JP5	80,201,490
Fuel Naval, Distillate F76	64,408,371
Turbine Fuel, Aviation JAA	301,074,804
Turbine Fuel, Aviation JP4	1,400,000
Turbine Fuel, Aviation JA1	30,996,689

Estimated maximum quantities

Fuel

Quantity
(US gallons)

Turbine Fuel, Aviation JP8

3,245,321

Turbine Fuel, Aviation JP5

80,201,490

Fuel Naval, Distillate F76

64,408,371

Turbine Fuel, Aviation JAA

301,074,804

Turbine Fuel, Aviation JP4

1,400,000

Turbine Fuel, Aviation JA1

30,996,689

Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds will be available to defray additional costs of producing biofuel. To be eligible for CCC funding, the fuel must contain at least 10% biofuel to a maximum as permitted by the JP-5 and F-76 specifications and be produced using domestic feedstocks approved by the USDA for CCC eligibility.

The revised F76 (MIL-DTL-16884N) and JP-5 (MIL-DTL-5624V) specifications allow a maximum of 50% volume of the finished fuel to consist of synthesized blend components derived from the Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acid (HEFA) or Fischer Tropsch (FT) conversion processes. READ MORE and MORE (FedBizOps.gov/Rocky Mountain/West Coast/Offshore Bulk Fuels Annual Buy- SPE600-15-R-0711)

Excerpt from FedBizOps.gov/Rocky Mountain/West Coast/Offshore Bulk Fuels Annual Buy- SPE600-15-R-0711: The Secretary of the Navy has set a goal that by 2020 half of all the Department of the Navy's energy will come from alternative sources. To support that goal, in June 2011, the Department of the Navy (DON), Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA), signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to "assist the development and support of a sustainable commercial biofuels industry." Under the MOU, the USDA agreed to provide funding through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC.)

As part of the regular bulk procurement for the RMW Program, this solicitation is designed to assist the DON in meeting its goals to increase the use of biofuels. Under this solicitation, DON has a goal that 10% of its total military specification JP-5 aviation turbine fuel and F-76 naval distillate fuel requirements consist of biofuels. The revised F76 (MIL-DTL-16884N) and JP-5 (MIL-DTL-5624V) specifications allow a maximum of 50 percent volume of the finished fuel to consist of synthesized blend components derived from the Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acid (HEFA) or Fischer Tropsch (FT) conversion processes. Offerors are encouraged to submit alternative offers with a minimum of 10% of the permitted blends.

CCC funds will be available to defray additional costs of producing biofuel and biofuel blends and are being provided as a biofuel production incentive under the CCC program to support agricultural products. To be eligible for CCC funding, the fuel must contain at least 10% biofuel, not to exceed 50% as permitted by the JP-5 and F-76 specifications. The biofuel must be refined from domestic feedstocks approved by the CCC. The CCC funds will be allocated through the Bid Evaluation Model (BEM). The biofuel production incentive will be paid for directly by the CCC, and will cover a portion of the offered price. An offeror will not be paid a price higher than its offered price.

Offers of alternative fuel blends must comply with Section 526 of the Energy Security and Independence Act. This means that the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of the alternative fuel must be equal to or less than petroleum based on either the Renewable Fuel Standards or the GREET Model.

DLA Energy is rolling out the new Bulk Offer Entry Tool (OET) for use in the Bulk Fuels purchase programs. The usage of the Bulk OET is OPTIONAL for the 2015 Rocky Mountain/West Coast/Offshore solicitation as this will be the first Bulk Fuels program to utilize this tool; future solicitations will make the usage of the Bulk OET mandatory. The Bulk OET will allow offerors to electronically submit and sign their offer (including the SF 1449). The Bulk OET will serve one important function in the 2015 Rocky Mountain/West Coast/Offshore solicitation:

1) By completing the various mandatory and optional fields in the tool, offerors will provide the information necessary to allow their offer to be imported directly into the Bulk Fuels Bid Evaluation Model (BEM) for evaluation.

The Bulk OET does not replace the Bulk Fuels Offer Submission Package (OSP) in its entirety. Offerors will still need to complete those portions of the OSP as indicated by the Contracting Officer in the instructions included with the solicitation. In general terms, offerors can expect to be required to complete and submit sections F (Source of Supply) through I (Port Restrictions) portions of the OSP. The OET does provide the capability for offerors to attach the completed forms as a .PDF document as part of their company's overall offer submission.

In order to utilize the OET, offerors must first establish an OET account using the DLA Accounts Management and Provisioning System (AMPS). You can access AMPS at https://amps.dla.mil/oim where offerors can either create a new AMPS account or log in using their existing account (offerors will be asked to provide their CAGE code when creating a new AMPS account). Once offerors have established an account in AMPS, they will need to request the following role:

To select this role, offerors will first choose 'Energy Applications' then 'Energy OET' under the Browse Roles by Application tab.

When applying for this role, offerors need to include their company name and the purchase programs they typically offer under in the notes or comments section of the application. Also, when applying for OET - offerors MUST include every CAGE code they intend to use to submit offers in the 'notes' section of the initial role request. Once the offerors role has been approved, they will be provided with a user name and password that can be used to log into the Bulk Fuels OET at: https://offerwizard.dla.mil/bulkoet/bulkoet.html . If an offeror experiences difficulty in establishing an account, they can contact the DLA Energy Bulk Technical Team at DESC.BTechTeam@dla.mil for assistance or Mr. Bill MacLaren, Bulk Fuels Procurement Analyst, Tel: (703) 767-8426, Email: William.maclaren@dla.mil .
In future solicitations, the Bulk OET will also be able to act as the mechanism for completing the reverse auction process when required for Bulk Fuels procurement. This mechanism will not be utilized for the 2015 RMW solicitation since the Bulk OET is optional for this solicitation. Reverse auctions conducted under the 2015 RMW solicitation will follow reverse auction procedures spelled out in the solicitation.

All responsible sources must submit a proposal by May 8, 2015 3:00 PM, local Fort Belvoir time in order to be considered and eligible for award. Offerors are required to complete, sign, and return the document titled Offeror Submission Package to the Bid Custodian at DLA Energy. READ MORE

The Pre-Proposal Conference is on Wednesday, April 29, and you must sign up to attend by Wednesday, April 22. This solicitation will be for fuel deliveries from 1 October 2015 to 30 September 2016. For access to the Pre-Proposal Conference information, please use the link below.