Schneider Electric Metering Software and Data Hosting (VA-24-00108100)

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Health Administration (VHA) intends to award a sole source firm-fixed price contract to Schneider Electric for its Power Monitoring Expert (PME) and Energy Enterprise Management (EEM) software license and data hosting services for historic and current utility metering data. The proposed contract action is for services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b). The proposed NAICS is 518210 Computer Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services, with an SBA small business size standard of $40 million.

Background: VHA is required by law to maintain an advanced utility metering system (AUMS) by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and the Energy Act of 2020, as well as VA Directive 0055. AUMS refers to an integrated network of advanced utility meters, communication networks, and data management systems.

As part of its AUMS, VHA has been utilizing Schneider Electric s advanced utility meters and utility metering software since 2010. Over the years, VHA has installed approximately 4,100 Schneider Electric advanced utility meters throughout VHA facilities across the United States.

Renewal of the PME and EEM software license and data hosting services is required to maintain access to historical VHA metering data and to continue to gather current metering data as VHA conducts a comprehensive assessment of its AUMS infrastructure. The software is proprietary to Schneider Electric. The software and historic and current metering data reside on a server owned and operated by Schneider Electric. This Notice of Intent is not a request for competitive quotations.

However, interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. All responses must be received within seven calendar days from the posting of this notice to be considered by the Government. A determination by the government not to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.

Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

Small businesses responding with a proposal to provide Schneider Electric s software license and data hosting on Schneider Electric s server should include in their response how the firm will comply with the limitations on subcontracting under FAR Part 19 and VAAR Part 819. Firms proposing an alternative solution to Schneider Electric s software and data hosting should include in their response an explanation on how they propose to maintain VHA s historic metering data, how the alternative metering software integrates with the existing Schneider Electric utility meters currently installed in VHA facilities, and any advantages the VHA can expect to gain by switching to an alternative solution. The Government will not reimburse firms any costs related to replying to this notice.