Tampa Convention Center • Tampa, Florida

What the Government Needs from the Utility

Federal Utility Partnerships

Karen Thomas

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

August 17, 2017

NREL/PR-7A40-70086
Energy Exchange: Connect • Collaborate • Conserve

Understand the Government’s 

Authority and Objectives

• Federal Utility Incentive Authority (42 USC 8256 and 10 USC 

2913)

– encourage to participate in utility programs offered; 

– accept any financial goods and services; 

– and negotiate to meet the unique needs of their facilities 

• Energy Management Mandates by Federal Legal 

Authority 

– reduce energy intensity by 2.5% annually, participate in 

demand management programs;

– ensure 15% of energy consumed is renewable electric 

energy between 2018 and 2019

– proposed projects should be comprehensive and geared to 

help achieve goals

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Energy Exchange: Connect • Collaborate • Conserve

• Understand your Federal customers have 

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 

requirements

– Start by being familiar with the FAR requirements in 

your own GSA Areawide Contract

» here are a few of utmost importance:

• Subcontractor cost or pricing data (52.215-

12)

• Availability of funds (52.232-18)

• Competition in subcontracting (52.244-5)

– Agency-specific FAR requirements

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Be Aware of Federal Acquisition 

Regulations!
Energy Exchange: Connect • Collaborate • Conserve

• Understand the language in the Areawide 

Contract, Master Agreement, Basic Ordering 

Agreement or Interagency Agreement (BPA, TVA, 

etc.)

– In UESCs, propose energy conservation measures that 

demonstrate a net overall energy usage or cost 

reduction

– Competitively select subcontractors and make 

available to Contracting Officer all documents related 

to selection of subcontractors

– In USCs, provide services that help the site increase 

reliability, address mission requirements and critical 

assets, and enhance service

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Utility, Understand Your Commitment
Energy Exchange: Connect • Collaborate • Conserve

• Regulated utility is always the prime on utility 

contracts

• DoD legislation allows direct negotiation with 

competitively selects ESCOs, however, the 

prime should always be involved and aware

• Issues and problems that may become 

showstoppers can arise when the prime is not 

working their subcontractors

• Please stay engaged!

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Be the Prime Contractor
Energy Exchange: Connect • Collaborate • Conserve

• The Office of Management & Budget requires 

Performance Assurance Plans to verify performance 

of the installed equipment throughout the life of the 

contract 

• The Plan addresses –

– commissioning the installed equipment

– verifying equipment performance

– conducting operation & maintenance

– ongoing training of facilities staff

– resolving discrepancies

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Plan for Assured Performance
Energy Exchange: Connect • Collaborate • Conserve

• Get in on the agency energy management planning 

process

– Plan to meet short term and long range goals

– Listen and identify opportunities to:

• increase reliability 

• optimize efficiency 

• maximize energy resiliency

• Design programs with your Federal customer in mind

• Implement plan in a manner that makes most sense

– Phased approach or large project

• Stay in communication with contracting, energy and 

facility management staff of the agencies you serve!

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Be a Long Term Partner
Energy Exchange: Connect • Collaborate • Conserve

• Utilities are encouraged to take advantage of 

the assistance that FEMP offers to utilities 

serving Federal facilities

– Facilitate partnership with Federal customers

– Train utility staff

– Support Strategic Partnership meetings

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Call on FEMP for Help
Energy Exchange: Connect • Collaborate • Conserve

Karen Thomas

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

202.488.2223

karen.thomas@nrel.gov

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Thank you!