[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 248 (Wednesday, December 27, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66961-66962]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-31317]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy


Federal Energy Management and Planning Programs; Energy Savings 
Performance Contract Model Solicitations

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy gives notice of changes proposed for 
its energy savings performance contract model solicitations. The 
proposed approach will make it substantially simpler and easier for the 
Federal Government to procure and administer energy savings performance 
contracts. These changes provide the flexibility to purchase energy 
savings through guaranteed equipment performance or energy savings 
calculated through measured consumption data.

DATES: Comments should be received no later than January 26, 1996.

ADDRESSES: All written comments are to be submitted to: U.S. Department 
of Energy, Office of Federal Energy Management Programs, EE-92, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20595-0121. Fax and e-mail 
comments will be accepted at (202) 586-3000 and 
[email protected], respectively.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tanya Sadler, EE-92, U.S. Department 
of Energy, Office of Federal Energy Management Programs, EE-92, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-7755.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 10, 1995 (60 FR 18326), the 
Department of Energy (Department or DOE) published its notice of final 
rulemaking for energy savings performance contracts required by section 
801 of the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8287). 
The preamble to the rule referenced model solicitations which provide 
uniform formats and standardized contract provisions recommended for 
Federal agency use in energy savings performance contracts. DOE uses 
these model solicitations in training workshops for agency technical 
and procurement professionals.
    The Department's objective is to simplify the model solicitations. 
The overall goal is to streamline the energy savings performance 
contracting process and implement more projects. In order to accomplish 
these objectives, DOE recommends that the Government buy energy savings 
through guaranteed equipment performance. The contractor will guarantee 
the performance of the installed equipment; however, Federal agencies 
will also have the option to verify actual energy savings in order to 
determine contractor performance as provided by Federal Measurement and 
Verification Protocols. DOE has been leading an effort in close 
cooperation with industry to develop a national consensus industry 
protocol to improve consistency, reliability, and performance of energy 
efficiency installations. These Protocols will be available through the 
Department's Federal Energy Management Program Help Desk at 1-800-566-
2877 in January 1996.
    The model solicitations will place a new emphasis on measuring 
equipment performance or actual energy savings. The proposed changes 
include:
    Baselines. The initial baseline condition is the reference from 
which the contractor's performance will be verified throughout the life 
of the project. Adjustments for changes in usage (e.g., occupancy, 
weather, etc.) generally will not be made during the payback term, when 
equipment performance is guaranteed.
    Guaranteed Savings. Guaranteed savings is redefined to mean: (1) 
Cost savings based on guaranteed performance of energy conservation 
equipment and stipulated factors (e.g., hours of operation); or (2) 
actual cost savings which equal the measured cost of operation (pre-
energy conservation measure installation) minus the measured cost of 
operation (post-energy conservation measure installation with baseline 
adjustments as required).
    Payments. Payments to the contractor will be based on the 
Government's acceptance of equipment installation and continuation of 
the guaranteed equipment performance as specified in the contract 
(e.g., contractor continued compliance with measurement and 
verification and operations and maintenance plans).
    Technical/Price Proposal Evaluation Criteria. The technical 
proposal may be weighted substantially more than the price proposal. 
Five technical factors should generally be considered in evaluating 
technical proposals:

Past Performance
Energy Conservation Measure Description and Savings
Management Approach 

[[Page 66962]]

Measurement and Verification Plan
Operations and Maintenance

The proposed price will generally be evaluated for completeness, 
reasonableness, and realism.
    Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on the 
Department's proposed changes to the energy savings performance 
contracting model solicitations. Written comments should be submitted 
to the address indicated in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

    Issued in Washington, D.C. on this 20th day of December 1995.
Christine A. Ervin,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 95-31317 Filed 12-26-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P