Doing Business with BPA Directory of Contacts
A guide to selling products and services
Introduction
The Bonneville Power Administration is an agency within the Department of Energy, created under the Bonneville Project Act of 1937. The agency purchases a wide variety of products and services from commercial sources every year. This guide describes our purchasing system so those potential suppliers will understand how to do business with BPA.
Basic Operations
BPA markets and transmits electric power. The marketing and transmission operations are independently performed by two separate BPA business line organizations. BPA’s Power Business Line markets electric power from generation facilities – primarily 31 federal dams and one nuclear plant – to the utilities it serves throughout the Northwest. BPA owns, and its Transmission Business Line operates, approximately 15,000 circuit miles of transmission line and over 350 substations that cover an area of 300,000 square miles.
Although BPA is a federal agency, it is in the electric utility business and must operate competitively to carry out its business responsibilities. BPA’s self-financing status and other special statutory authorities give it greater purchasing flexibility than other governmental bodies.
Therefore, while its purchasing system involves certain basic federal policies, BPA attempts to follow business practices that are in the best interests of its ratepayers. BPA’s purchasing system is a sharp departure from the Federal Acquisition Regulations used by most federal agencies and is designed so that BPA can conduct its activities with a minimum of time-consuming procedures.
What BPA Buys
Generally speaking, BPA buys high-voltage electric power system equipment, automatic data processing equipment and services, administrative and technical support services, transmission line and substation construction, and various standard commercial supplies in support of its operations. The Directory of Contacts in this guide gives a more detailed list of the types of goods and services BPA buys and the names of the responsible contracting officers.
Bonneville Purchasing Instructions
BPA purchasing operates under guidelines called the Bonneville Purchasing Instructions that are designed to provide a short, simple and less costly means of buying goods and services. Contract and solicitation clauses were minimized to reduce unnecessary paperwork. The list of potential suppliers will only be long enough to assure adequate competition among qualified suppliers.
Contractor Qualifications
BPA wants to contract with businesses with a customer service orientation as demonstrated by a record of successful past performance either for BPA or for clients who will serve as references. Contractors must furnish quality products at reasonable prices and be ready to service the product should the need arise. For more complex buys, BPA is looking for contractors that are willing to share their expertise to assist BPA in meeting its needs. Written solicitations for specific purchases provide more detailed information about these requirements.
- Special Note: To comply with current security requirements, all contractors must obtain BPA's pre-approval for their non-U.S. citizen employees to gain access to BPA facilities.
Sensitive Countries List
For non-U.S. Citizen employees who are NOT from a Sensitive Country as denoted by the US State Department: fill out this form.
For employees who are from a Sensitive Country as denoted by the US State Department: fill out this form.
Visa types for use on above registration forms.
Steps for Doing Business with BPA
Potential suppliers may contact BPA purchasing personnel at any time regarding the general categories of goods and services listed in the Directory of Contacts of this guide. Below are steps for contractors who want to contract with BPA for their products or services:
- Gain an understanding of what BPA does in general. You can get general information in several ways.
- Explore the BPA web site at www.bpa.gov
- Order via e-mail by selecting "Publications" on the on-line BPA Information Request Form. Please do not use this on-line form to send marketing materials to BPA. Use the e-mail address in below to present your corporate information.
- Call the Public Information Office at (503) 230-3478 or 1-800-622-4520. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time...
- Visit the Public Information Officer, located on the first floor of the BPA Headquarters Building, 905 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon Please be aware that BPA Headquarters is a secure building and all persons and packages/bag entering the building are subject to search.
- Find out what BPA's needs are. Meet with contracting and ordering office personnel to find out about purchases that may be of interest.
- Present your qualifications. The best method is to submit your information on-line via e-mail to ProcurementOpps@bpa.gov. Doing this will ensure that your company information is received by the purchasing staff, and is recorded/retained as appropriate. You may also provide written materials by US Mail or in person, or conduct an oral presentation (if requested) to purchasing and program personnel. In addition to a list of goods and/or services that your firm offers, include information such as management and technical capabilities, past performance record, customer service policies, and quality improvement programs.
Best Buy Purchasing
Contract awards based on low price alone are not necessarily in the best interests of BPA. Instead, BPA considers all factors that may affect a particular purchase including quality, innovation, past performance, time of delivery, warranties and commitment to customer service. The best combination of these factors is considered a "best buy."
Selecting Firms to Solicit
BPA continually reviews the qualifications of all firms seeking to do business with BPA. The staff of the purchasing organizations listed in the Directory of Contacts continually engages in market analysis to keep up on the competitive environment. Therefore, it is important that BPA contracting officers who may buy your product or service have current information about your firm.
After comparing contractor qualifications, BPA will solicit offers, either orally or in writing, from a limited number of suppliers deemed capable of providing quality products or services. This approach will assure that BPA will receive quality proposals without delaying the purchase or imposing unnecessary paperwork on potential offerors.
Offers from Unsolicited Sources
BPA is not obligated to consider offers from sources not solicited. However, such offers may be considered at the discretion of the contracting officer when such consideration is in the best interests of BPA.
Written Solicitations
Written solicitations defining BPA needs are used for complex purchases. These solicitations will minimize the need to submit elaborate and costly proposals by limiting the amount of information to be submitted by potential contractors. If features or expertise are unique or significant to BPA’s requirement, they will be identified in the solicitation. If, during the evaluation process, additional features are discovered which would result in a better buy for BPA, the contracting officer may consider them without modifying the solicitation. BPA does not publish a formula for ranking proposals.
Evaluation of Proposals
All solicited proposals received will be evaluated to achieve the best buy for BPA. The contracting officer will determine a system of ranking for a particular purchase and apply it to all proposals. The contracting officer will typically select the top ranked firm for contract negotiation. However, the contracting officer may select more than one firm for negotiation when offers are nearly equal.
Offers for Unique Items
When potential suppliers believe that they have new products or services that may be of interest to BPA, the supplier should make preliminary contact with BPA before spending extensive time and effort to prepare a proposal. The appropriate contracting officer listed in the Directory of Contacts can give you the name and telephone number of a subject matter specialist. While BPA is receptive to reviewing new and innovative ideas, such proposals will not be accepted unless they meet all of the following criteria:
- It is not within the scope of a pending solicitation;
- BPA has a need for the product or service;
- Its basic concept is technically acceptable and program funding is available, and,
- The product or service proposed is particularly unique or innovative and open solicitation would reveal the proposer’s trade secrets.
BPA Preference Awards
As a socially responsible federal utility, BPA awards a significant portion of its purchases to small, disadvantaged and women-owned businesses. BPA policy is to take all reasonable action to place a fair portion of its purchases with such businesses. BPA’s small and disadvantaged business specialist is available to help these businesses understand BPA’s needs and contracting procedures. This staff member can match interested firms with specific contracting officers to identify opportunities.
Standards of Conduct
Like any governmental entity — or commercial business — BPA must guard against carelessness or improper actions in its purchasing. The BPI describes in some detail the policies and controls that discourage bias or improper conduct on the part of either BPA employees or contractors and potential contractors. Following is a summary of these policies and controls:
- Organization conflicts of interest. BPA will avoid situations that place offerors in positions where their judgment may be biased. Such situations could occur because of financial or other interests that relate to the work to be performed under the proposed contract, or where the offeror’s performance on one contract may provide it with an unfair competitive advantage on another.
- Purchasing Standards of Conduct. BPA contractors or potential contractors must not:
- Offer or promise future employment or business opportunity to any BPA purchasing official while a purchasing decision is pending;
- Offer, give or promise to give any money or gratuity to any BPA purchasing official; or
- Solicit or obtain from any BPA employee, prior to the award of a contract, any proprietary data or information regarding selection of a contractor.
- Confidentiality. BPA recognizes the need to protect the confidentiality of all offers and proposals to the extent permitted by federal law. However, the Freedom of Information Act applies to BPA and sometimes requires the disclosure of information that suppliers would prefer to withhold. Information required by a court of law or other federal agencies may also necessitate disclosure. BPA attempts to consider the confidentiality claims or concerns of a BPA supplier or potential supplier when asked to provide contracting information.
Directory of Contacts
Most purchases made by Bonneville are made by purchasing offices located in Portland, Oregon or Vancouver, Washington. The purchasing office in Portland, Oregon supports the Corporate, Power Business Line, and Energy Efficiency offices. The Vancouver, Washington purchasing office and its field offices supports the Transmission Business Line. Following are the types of goods and services purchased and the buying organization, which specializes in those commodities.
Supplies, Materials and Equipment
Transmission system maintenance and operating materials and equipment—including substation equipment and materials; communications and control equipment; and construction supplies and materials. These include, but are not limited to: Insulators; wire and cable; power circuit breakers; switches; transformers; equipment rental (w/o operator); shop supplies; general hardware; tower steel; non-ferrous metals; pole line hardware; poles; bolts and nuts; screws; concrete; rock; fabrication of parts and equipment; fiber optic cable and equipment; microwave equipment; radios and control systems; relays; meters; test equipment; switchboard materials and accessories; chemicals; herbicides; paint; etc.
Services, Construction, and IT
Professional, technical, and clerical services in support of BPA’s Corporate, Power Business Line and Energy Efficiency offices. Professional and technical services, include but are not limited to: information technology support services; financial consultation; training; architect-engineer services; analytical services; program evaluations; energy services, etc. Support services include, but not limited to: Clerical; security; facility management; etc. In addition, the BPA Environmental and Fish and Wildlife programs require professional and technical services, including but are not limited to: Environmental studies; audits; bio-remediation; EIS/EA assistance; and construction of fish-related projects.
Non-power system automated information technology hardware, software and services, and corporate operating supplies. Operating supplies include, but are not limited to: Furniture; office equipment; office supplies; paper; supplies and equipment for fish and wildlife program operations, etc.
Services (professional, technical, clerical) and construction to support transmission system operation and maintenance for BPA’s Transmission Business Line. Services include, but are not limited to: A wide range of professional services; landscaping; brush clearing, etc. Construction includes, but is not limited to: Construction of substations; transmission lines; fiber optics; buildings; roads, site preparation; plumbing; etc.
Contacts:
Vancouver, Washington office
Materials: Telephone (360) 418-2350
General Services, Architect-Engineering Services, Construction Services:
Telephone (360) 418-2646
FAX: (360) 418-2363
Mailing address:
Supply Chain Services
Vendor Information
PO Box 491, Mail Stop TLOS-MODW
Vancouver, WA 98666
Portland, Oregon office
General Services, Information Technology:
Telephone (503) 230-3310
FAX: (503) 230-4508
Mailing address:
Supply Chain Services
Vendor Information
PO Box 3621, Mail Stop TLOS-4
Portland, OR 97208
In addition, the Supply Chain Services organization has two field offices that provide purchasing support for supplies and services required by the TBL Regional Offices.
TBL, Supply Chain Services – Spokane area Office
Telephone: (509) 358-7363
FAX: (509) 358-7460
Bonneville Power Administration
Contract Specialist – TLOS/Bell-1
2410 E. Hawthorne Rd.
Mead, WA 99021
TBL, Supply Chain Services – Pasco Office
Telephone: (509) 547-4602
FAX: (509) 545-0544
Bonneville Power Administration
Contract Specialist - TLOS/Pasco
3404 Swallow Ave.
Pasco, WA 99301
Finally, you are welcome to contact
BPA’s Small Business Point of Contact:
Telephone: (360) 418-2696
FAX: (360) 418-2362
Bonneville Power Administration
Small Business Specialist - TLOS-MODW
PO Box 491
Vancouver, WA 98666
If you have any further questions about how to sell to BPA, please send us
an e-mail to: ProcurementOpps@bpa.gov.
Primary coordination point for this information is Hamid Habibi at (360) 418-2696, e-mail: hhabibi@bpa.gov. Any comments, additions, or corrections are welcome.
|
Doing Business
