DOE - Programmatic Financial Advisory Services - MRAS

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), on behalf of the Department of Energy (DOE), is conducting market research to identify capable service providers for a specialized contract. The focus of this research is to support the Western Area Power Administration (Western), a federal agency under the DOE, which plays a crucial role in marketing and transmitting wholesale hydroelectric power generated at federal dams across the western United States. Western operates an extensive high-voltage transmission system spanning 17,000 circuit miles across 15 states, ensuring that federal hydropower reaches its customers in compliance with federal law.

The primary goal of this acquisition is to secure Programmatic Financial Advisory Services for Western's Transmission Infrastructure Program (TIP). This initiative falls under Section 402 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which empowers Western to borrow funds from the U.S. Treasury Department. These funds are intended for activities related to constructing, financing, planning, operating, maintaining, or studying new or upgraded electric power transmission lines and facilities within Western's service area. Additionally, these efforts support the delivery and facilitation of power generated by renewable energy resources developed post-Recovery Act implementation.

The scope of work involves providing expert financial analysis and support services critical to TIP's operations. The selected contractor will offer insights into financial risks and develop mitigation strategies for borrowing authority decisions throughout a project's life cycle. This comprehensive service includes program-level advisory tasks as well as individual project transactions focusing on repayment certainty from initial loan decisions through completion.

To fulfill these requirements effectively, the contractor must provide a qualified Programmatic Financial Advisor with expertise in electrical transmission projects and related infrastructure technologies such as high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) systems, electrical substations, energy storage solutions, and generation tie-line technologies linked to transmission systems. This expertise is vital for assisting TIP in making informed decisions that align with its strategic objectives while leveraging new borrowing authorities.