This is not a Request for Proposal1.1 Purpose This Request for Information (RFI) provides a description of the scope of work applicable to the transportation of Department of Defense-owned bulk jet fuel (JP5 and JP8) and marine diesel (F76), by tug and barge between all ordered United States ports and points on the Gulf of Mexico, including the Lower Mississippi River and their connecting waterways and tributaries. The purpose of this RFI is to invite potential offerors to submit information that allows the Government to evaluate capability as well as sample current market conditions. Responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Reference FAR 15.201 (e) 2.0 INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPONDENTS 2.1 This RFI does not obligate the Government to pay any costs the respondents incur in their preparation of their responses to this RFI. All costs for the preparation of the response will be solely borne by the respondent. 3.0 INQUIRIES AND CLARIFICATIONS 3.1 It is the responsibility of the respondent to inquire and clarify any requirements of this RFI which are not understood. Inquiries shall be submitted no later than 26 Mar 2008 3.2 Inquiries are to be directed to: Bill Lindquist, Contract Specialist Email:
[email protected] Phone: 618-256-6678 Fax: 618-256-6419 3.3 In the event a query necessitates the need for clarification an Addendum will be issued to all respondents. DEDICATED BARGE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS) 4.1.1. Scope. This contract covers the transportation of Department of Defense-owned bulk jet fuel (JP5 and JP8) and marine diesel (F76), by tug and barge between all ordered United States ports and points on the Gulf of Mexico and the Lower Mississippi River and their connecting waterways and tributaries, including those specified below. The contractor must provide barge transportation using contractor-supplied equipment as specified in the performance work statement. 4.1.1.1. Historical Location Information. Table 1: Loading/Discharging points: JP8 Loading Ports Exxon/Mobil Company, USA, Baton Rouge, LA Valero, Texas City, TX Placid Refining, Port Allen, LA Shell, Mobile, AL Shell, Deer Park, TX Magellan Midstream Partners LP, Galena Park, TX Valero, Corpus Christi, TX Air BP, Texas City, TX JP8 Discharge Ports Naval Air Station, Belle Chase (New Orleans), LA Air National Guard, Gulfport, Gulfport, MS Eglin Air Force Base, Fort Walton Beach, FL Hurlburt Field, Fort Walton Beach, FL Tyndall Air Force Base, Panama City, FL Naval Air Station Pensacola, Pensacola, FL Magellan Midstream Partners LP, Galena Park, TX JP5 Loading Ports Placid Refining, Port Allen, LA Shell, Deer Park, TX Magellan Midstream Partners LP, Galena Park, TX Valero, Corpus Christi, TX Calcasieu Refining, Lake Charles, LA JP5 Discharge Ports Naval Air Station, Pensacola, FL Magellan Midstream Partners LP, Galena Park, TX F76 Loading Ports Valero Refining, Texas City, TX Valero, Corpus Christi, TX CITGO, Lake Charles, LA Calcasieu Refining, Lake Charles, LA Magellan Midstream Partners, LP, Galena Park, TX Pasadena Refining System, Pasadena, TX. F76 Discharge Ports Naval Air Station, Ingleside, Corpus Christi, TX Magellan Midstream Partners LP, Galena Park, TX 4. 1.1.3. Hours of Operation. Contractor supplied equipment and crews must be available exclusively to the Government at all times, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, for transporting cargo to and between the points stipulated or as may be directed by the Government, or to stand by at an origin, destination, or intermediate point as necessary and specified by the Government. 4. 3.1. Barge and Tug Requirements. Pricing of services does not include fuel (see Bunker Fuel Expenses) The contractor shall provide the following: 4. 3.1.1. Barge. Two barge tows, each with a total deliverable capacity of not less than 50,000 barrels. Each tow must consist of either two individual 25,000 barrel barges, or not more than three barges total, one of which has a capacity of at least 25,000 barrels. Contractor is required to comply with the maximum safe navigable draft and length over all for all loading and discharge locations. The Contractor remains responsible for maximum length over all, however the government reserves the right to light load equipment where the government knows there is a shallow draft or require the tow to stand off awaiting safe berthing conditions, e.g.: high tide. 4. 3.1.1.1. On-Call Tow. These services will be ordered separately as priced within the Schedule of Rates. The government will have the option to add additional tows or terminate existing on-call tows as traffic patterns change. The contractor must provide for one additional tow when requested by the government with a minimum of 15 days notice. On-call tows must be of the same capacity as those listed in paragraph 4. 3.1.1. The equipment ordered will be in service for a minimum of 30 days. The government will provide the effective dates of service for the tow via contract modification. The government may terminate any on-call tow with a minimum of 30 days notice if that tow is no longer required. Barge and tug requirements will be consistent within the parameters as provided in paragraph 4. 3.1. The equipment must meet all government inspection requirements addressed in paragraph 4. 3.3 and must remain in dedicated service until released back to the contractor. Dedicated service is defined as the start and end date of the requested service. Payment will not commence until the tow is made available at the initial loading point, as specified in the contract modification, and will end on the last day of requested service upon cargo discharge at the destination point. Any subsequent changes to schedule details (e.g., date, loading port) required for expedience of the government shall occur only upon modification of the contract by the Contracting Officer. Otherwise, the contractor is responsible for all costs associated with positioning the equipment at the initial loading point. Payment for the on-call services will be in accordance with the prices listed in the Schedule of Rates. 4. 3.1.2.1. Cargo Pumping System A cargo pumping system with necessary hoses and connections capable of completely discharging and stripping the cargo tanks without outside power or assistance from the shore. The average load/discharge rate for all destinations shall be a minimum of 2,000 barrels per hour (BPH) at a pressure of 100 pounds per square inch (PSI) from the barge manifold including quantities stripped from cargo tanks. This effectively means that the total cargo shall be loaded/discharged as a minimum, in time represented by the total cargo stated in barrels divided by 2,000 barrels per hour. 4. 3.1.2.2. Cargo Tank Stripping System An independent cargo tank stripping system capable of stripping all but a maximum of 2 barrels of product per cargo tank, not to exceed 10 barrels for the entire barge. The discharge rate during tank stripping operations may be less than the minimum rates stipulated above. 4. 3.1.2.3. Water Stripping System A water stripping system, separate from the cargo tank stripping system, for removal of residual water, prior to discharge of cargo. All water and cargo tank stripping and discharge lines shall be fully visible from the deck. 4. 3.1.2.4. Gauge Point Marks and Calibration Permanent gauge point marks with reference height stenciled to the deck or compartment hatch, certified calibration charts not exceeding eight years in age (provided that no structural alterations have been performed subsequent to the calibration date), trim correction tables and legible draft markings. Barges shall be recalibrated as needed at the Contractor?s expense during the contract period. 4. 3.1.2.5. Stainless Steel Tanks Barges with stainless steel or epoxy-coated tanks are preferred, but barges with uncoated tanks may be offered. For the purpose of this contract, any commercial epoxy coating impervious to petroleum products, except coal tar epoxy, is suitable. 4. 3.1.2.6. Steel Valves Steel valves shall be an integral part of all barges used in the performance of this contract. 4. 3.1.2.7 Spill Rails Spill rails are required on all barges. 4. 3.1.2.8 Sectional Fuel Delivery Hose When required, the Contractor shall provide 200 feet of sectional fuel delivery hose and various coupling attachments necessary for over-the-water fuel loading to ships. The Contractor is liable for any damage or loss resulting from faulty equipment or caused by Contractor negligence. 4. 3.1.3. Tug The tug for each tow offered must have between 1,500 and 2,100 HP, and be suitable in design and power to properly navigate the lower and upper Mississippi River, the Tombigbee and Arkansas Rivers, and the Gulf Intra-coastal Waterway. 4. 3.2. Contractor Owned or Leased Equipment The Contractor shall own the equipment performing the transportation service or the Contractor shall have the equipment under long-term lease for the duration of the contract period to include the base year and all option years. The Government requires verification of this requirement at the time of contract award. 4. 3.3. Barge Inspection and Acceptance At the start of this contract, the Contractor shall provide tug and barge equipment that conforms to the specifications of this contract (see Section 4. 3.1 Barge And Tug Requirements), and that passes the Government's loading inspection. Equipment will be inspected at loading ports as specified by the COR. Government inspection and acceptance of the Contractor's equipment is a condition precedent to the Government's obligation to pay the monthly rates set forth in the Schedule of Rates. The monthly rates do not go into effect, and the Government incurs no obligation to make monthly payments, until the Government's Quality Assurance Representative (QAR) has approved the Contractor's equipment for loading in accordance with Section 4. 3.3.2. 4. 3.3.1 Performance Objective - Pre-Service Inspection Not later than 15 days prior to the initiation of transportation services, the Contractor shall make its tugs and barges available for inspection and acceptance by the Government at the loading specified by the COR. If the Contractor fails to provide conforming equipment by this deadline, the Contractor shall be subject to termination by the Contracting Officer under the Termination for Cause clause. Tows must be presented cleaned, gas free, and free of temporary patches. The Contractor shall provide a valid marine chemist certificate to the Government QAR prior to inspection. Contractor must ensure that all cargo and vent lines have been drained of previous cargo, and flushed with hot water. Cargo tanks and bulkheads must be free of water, loose rust, sludge, mud, silt, and foreign objects. The Government QAR shall take a sample of scale from inside of the cargo tanks and test it to determine the potential effects of the corrosion and gum characteristics on the cargo to be loaded. The Contractor shall prepare the barge for inspection at its own expense. Acceptance of the equipment by the Government shall in no way be construed to attest to the seaworthiness of the barge or to other requirements of the U.S. Coast Guard. The Government's QAR shall issue written confirmation of acceptance of equipment through the COR. Once inspected, the tug and barge equipment will be considered to have entered into dedicated service on this contract. 4. 3.4. Maintain, Position, and Operate Equipment The Contractor shall maintain, clean (including slop tanks), repair, position and operate its equipment to ensure its performance under the contract, including providing fuel to operate the tug and barge pump engines and shall provide all crew living provisions. The Contractor shall pay all associated costs and expenses. 4. 3.5. Provide a Licensed Tankerman The Contractor is responsible for following all governing regulations and statutes in providing licensed tankermen at all loading and discharge ports identified in the PWS. The licensed tankermen must gauge barge tanks jointly with the Government QAR and make a record of quantities on required forms including Barge Ullage (DD Form 2479), or suitable commercial equivalent. When load or delivery hours exceed the maximum tankerman hours allowed, a replacement tankerman is authorized. When exercising this option, the COR should be notified within 24 hours of replacement. Email notification is sufficient for this requirement. The optional on-call additional licensed tankerman expense will be paid in accordance with Paragraph 4. 5.4. 4. 4.1. Equipment Maintenance 4. 4.1.1. Temporary Patching/Repairs The Contractor may use temporary repairs only until the barge can return to a point where permanent repairs can be made. Barges shall not be accepted for loading if there is evidence of concrete patches or other temporary repairs. 4. 4.1.2. Performance Objective ? Continuous Service The Contractor shall provide 24-hour, seven-day a week availability of equipment and crew to the government for use under this contract. 4. 4.1.2.1. Scheduled/Required Maintenance Maintenance or repair periods shall not exceed 24 hours in duration, except when required for U.S. Coast Guard inspections or when mutually agreed between the Government and the Contractor (e.g. periodic maintenance). The Contractor shall provide notice of scheduled maintenance with expected duration of maintenance not less than 24 hours before the date it is scheduled. 4. 4.1.2.4. Substitute Equipment When Contractor owned equipment is Out-of-Service Long-Term, the Contractor shall substitute owned or leased equipment. The COR and/or QAR must approve, in advance, the substitution of equipment, provided the substitute equipment is equivalent to the Contractor's original (permanent) equipment (i.e., meets the specifications and requirements in Section 3, Contractor Furnished Equipment And Crew). The substitute equipment provided by the Contractor shall be at no additional cost to the Government. 4. 4.2. Cargo Delivery Services 4. 4.3. Performance Objective - Loading or Discharging Cargo Upon arrival at a loading or discharge port, the Contractor shall load or discharge any quantity of cargo, entire or partial, as specified by the COR. 4. 4.3.1. Performance Objective ? Transit Times The contractor shall provide an excel spreadsheet with their proposal that identifies tug speed (in knots), estimated fuel burn (in gallons) for round trip between the loading and discharge points shown in Table 1 of the PWS. The spreadsheet will also include estimated transit times for each route including return empty. 4. 4.4. Responsibility for Cargo 4. 4.4.1. Loss or Contamination Liability The Contractor shall sign the DD Form 250-1, Tanker/Barge Material Inspection and Receiving Report, as its receipt for the Government property it received for transportation. The Contractor assumes full liability for, and agrees to reimburse the Government for, the actual loss or contamination to the cargo it receives for transportation, except when loss and/or damage arises out of causes beyond the control of and without the fault or negligence of the Contractor. 4. 4.4.2. Gauging The contractor shall help investigate all gain/losses greater than .5% of the loaded amount. If the contractor is found to be negligent for losses, the contractor might be held liable for those losses. 4. 4.4.3. Carry Away Liability The Contractor shall be liable for all measurable product carried away due to failure of the Contractor?s equipment to discharge the cargo completely, excluding product remaining in equipment lines, manifolds, and sumps (10 barrels before line drop). Liability is based on the procurement and transportation cost of the cargo carried away and is to be deducted from the Contractor?s monthly invoice. 4. 4.4.4. Contamination or Degradation Liability If contamination or degradation of Government cargo occurs due to the Contractor's failure to properly maintain its equipment, the Contractor shall be liable to the Government for replacement costs and/or associated costs with returning the cargo to specification. 4. 4.4.4.1. Performance Objective ? Cleaning To Prevent Contamination or Degradation of Cargo The Contractor shall ensure that all equipment is clean and free from any condition that would contaminate or degrade cargo. The Government will reimburse the Contractor for cleaning expenses only when the Contractor can demonstrate that the equipment was contaminated by one specific cargo, the cleaning is directed by the Government to change grades of cargo transported, or when directed by the Government to complete cleaning for routine maintenance. Cleaning expenses shall be paid as an out-of-pocket expense. 4. 4.4.4.2. Minimum Requirements for the Preparation of Barge Tank Cargo Tanks In all cases, cargo tanks must be free of water, loose rust, sludge, mud, silt, ballast residue, etc. See Appendix A. 4. 4.6. Responsibility for Damage to Government Property 4. 4.6.1. Performance Objective - Damage Due to Contractor Negligence The Contractor shall be responsible and must assume liability for damage to Government property resulting from negligence on the part of the Contractor. The Contractor must also reimburse the Government for actual expenses incurred by the Government due to breakdown of Contractor?s equipment or delay due to negligence of the Contractor, which prevents prompt acceptance or delivery of intended cargo. 4. 4.6.2. Performance Objective - Prevent Damage to Facilities The Contractor shall be responsible for removing equipment, including unattended barges, during weather conditions that may result in damage to Government or Contractor-owned facilities. 4. 5.1. COR Approval All out-of-pocket expenses must be approved in advance by the COR. 4. 5.2. Tolls and Charges The COR will provide a reachable safe berth for the Contractor?s equipment at all loading and discharging ports free of dockage, wharfage, pilotage, and fleeting tolls, and other port charges. If such charges accrue through no fault of the Contractor or its employees, the Contractor shall initially pay the charges and submit the paid bill to the Government for reimbursement in conjunction with its next regular monthly invoice. When fleeting or shift boats are required and there is more than one establishment in the area that can provide the service, the Contractor shall contact the COR twenty-hours in advance with cost information from at least two sources in the area and get the approval of the COR on the facility to be used. The Contractor shall make diligent efforts to safely avoid the need for fleeting wherever possible to limit costs to the Government. 4. 5.2.1. Assist Tugs The Contractor shall be responsible for the expense of assist tugs used in transporting, berthing or maneuvering the vessel to/from docks or through locks except when such assist tugs are required by local harbor regulation or other lawful authority. The Government will reimburse the Contractor for use of assist tugs only under those conditions and on the same basis as described in Section 5.2, Tolls and Charges. 4. 5.2.2. Icing Condition Expenses The Contractor shall be responsible for additional expenses incurred while operating during icing conditions except when such expenses are expressly agreed to in advance by the COR and Contracting Officer. Authorized additional expenses shall be billed for reimbursement as prescribed in Section 5.2, Tolls and Charges. 4. 5.2.3. Barge Cleaning Expenses Barge cleaning expenses claimed in accordance with Paragraph 4.4.4.1 shall be approved in advance by the COR. Authorized cleaning expenses shall be billed for reimbursement as described in Section 5.2, Tolls and Charges. 4. 5.3. Bunker Fuel Expenses The Contractor is authorized reimbursement for tug fuel cost incurred in the performance of job requirements listed in the PWS. The contractor will select a refueling port that is economically compatibly priced with current marine diesel commercial pricing. The Contractor is required to submit to the COR a copy of the fuel receipt for reimbursement. Contractor will be notified by the COR that reimbursable bunker fuel cost have been verified and approved. Contractor will then submit a Power-Trak e-bill transaction for payment approval by the COR. Fuel obtained for performance under the contract is only for barge movements (loaded or empty) as provided for in the PWS (see appendix C). Any repositioning or additional movement of contractor's equipment to a cleaning facility having been contaminated in the course of operations unique to the PWS and through no fault of the contractor is also included. The contractor shall provide an excel spreadsheet with their proposal that identifies tug speed (in knots), estimated fuel burn (in gallons) for round trip between the loading and discharge points shown in Table 1 of the PWS. The spreadsheet will also include estimated transit times for each route including return empty. The contractor will be reimbursed for bunker fuel. The contractor is free to restock at a location of their choice, but must use good judgment to minimize fuel cost. Bunker fuel receipts will be presented to the COR for proof of purchase. Fuel expenses shall be invoiced through Power Track. 4. 5.4 Optional On-Call Additional Tankerman Expenses The Optional On-Call Additional Tankerman Expenses shall be approved in advance by the COR. The Contractor will be paid the actual Optional On-Call Additional Tankerman Expenses, not to exceed the maximum/ceiling rates indicated in the Schedule of Rates section of the contract. The Contractor must furnish documentation to show his actual expenses for the additional tankerman services. 5.0 FORMAT OF RFI RESPONSE 5.1 Section 5.0 of this RFI contains key response requirements. Every Requirement in Section 5.0 must be addressed in the response. However, additional information provided by the Contractor is encouraged. 5.2 In the case where respondents cannot supply the services requested by the key response requirements, this must be stated in the response. 5.3 All requirements must be referenced by the PWS Item Numbers assigned in this RFI. 5.4 Each Response must be arranged as follows: Title Page: showing RFI number, closing date, respondent name, address, telephone number, fax number and contact person?s name and title. Table of Contents: including page numbers. Executive Summary: Provide company?s history/background experience with similar work scope. Requirements: (Response Section 5.0) Provide narrative addressing each PWS item number