Introduction
The U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville, has programs such as Energy Savings Performance Contracting, Energy Engineering Analysis, Army Metering, Commercial Utilities, Facilities Reduction, and Facilities Repair and Renewal that are applicable to Civil Works projects.
Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPC)
ESPC is a partnership between the Army and an Energy Service Contractor (ESCO). In consultation with a garrison, an ESCO provides capital and expertise to make comprehensive energy and water efficiency improvements on facilities or implements new renewable energy capabilities and maintains them in exchange for a portion of the resulting utility savings. With an ESPC task order, (a) savings guarantees are mandatory; (b) savings must exceed payments in each year; (c) measurement and verification (M&V) is mandatory; and, (d) the contract term cannot exceed 25 years. Garrisons provide their available J Account OMA funding to implement this effort. An ESPC task order is but one of the acquisition vehicles an installation can use to meet the Army's 30 percent energy and 15 percent water reduction goals by 2015 without up-front capital costs.
Huntsville Center supports Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in meeting the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) goal of awarding $2.5 million in Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) by December 2013.
§ Little Rock District ESPC – McClellan Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS). Feasibility Study and proposal are currently under development. Initial estimate shows a potential project around $1 million (larger than expected). Projected Savings: $89,000 per year.
§ Mobile District ESPC – Initial estimates put this project at $1-2 million capital investment value with a scope including lighting, HVAC, water conservation and building envelope. The site survey that will provide information leading to a go/no-go decision will be completed this summer.
§ Kansas City District ESPC – ENABLE is a Department of Energy (DOE)/Federal Energy Management Program ESPC pilot tool that targets facilities that are dispersed and less than 200,000 square feet. A pilot project is under way at NWK (Harlan and Melvern County Lakes). This project will likely be less than $200,000 in capital investment, but will be key in proof of concept for this tool.
Energy Engineering Analysis Program (EEAP)
EEAP leverages expertise and the capabilities of USACE and DOE labs and other organizations. This effort includes: 1) energy consumption assessments for selected facilities/ installations, 2) evaluation, identification and recommendations of implementation options for energy conservation projects (renewable and non-renewable), 3) overseeing implementation of selected options, 4) assistance in sustaining local energy programs, 5) providing energy-related training and 6) water conservation and waste water treatment.
In partnership with HQUSACE, Huntsville Center is performing EEAP surveys at Corps-owned Civil Works facilities. Five sites were successfully audited as a pilot project during FY11, and EEAP audits will be completed at seven USACE sites in FY13. A programmatic energy survey of USACE pumping plant facilities was conducted for nine facilities using in-house HNC personnel. The results of this audit will be extrapolated across all USACE pumping plant facilities. The results of all audits will feed a comprehensive Capital Investment Strategy (CIS) for each site which will feed into a combined CIS for HQ USACE use in strategic planning. All audits will be completed by the end of FY14.
Army Central Metering Program
The statutory requirement for metering in EPACT05, with additional requirements imposed by EASA 2007, stem from the requirement to accurately report energy consumption by individual facilities on Army Installations and the need to manage that consumption. Army responsibility and accountability in the data reported by installed meters is paramount to supporting those basic drivers for the metering statute requirements. Army installation facility energy and water use will be metered as directed, and incorporated into energy monitoring systems to provide effective, accurate and compliant collection and reporting for timely energy management and accountability.
Two pilot Covered Facilities were awarded in June 2013. The remaining 21 Covered Facilities to follow through early FY14. Also developing templates for facility-level advanced metering and energy management configurations and draft guidance for MSCs based on architecture and templates/specifications.
Commercial Utilities Program (CUP)
The CUP ensures reliable utility services are purchased at best terms by providing utility rate intervention support, utility rate reviews and special utility contracts. Utility agreements and contracts for Military and Civil Works facilities present the opportunity for utility savings and cost avoidance.
CUP can perform rate analyses to determine if a Civil Works facility is on the best rate tariff or if the facility is making the best use of rate tariff options and opportunities. If necessary, CUP can engage the designated regulatory law agency and utility consultants to provide utility rate intervention on behalf of the facility at the various state and/or Federal regulatory agencies.
Facilities Reduction Program (FRP)
FRP eliminates excess facilities and structures to reduce fixed installation costs and achieve energy savings. Using the DoD Facilities Pricing Guide (UFC 3-701-09) as the cost reference, FRP achieves a simple return on investment in four to eight years based on energy savings. When all cost factors are included, the simple return on investment is in the range of two years for the majority of facility removal projects. FRP is working with SWF to remove 33 structures in a flood plain reclamation project in Salt Creek, Texas. Demolition is scheduled to begin this summer.
Facilities Repair and Renewal (FRR)
FRR's objective is to provide a quick response for facility repair, renovation, conversion, alteration, additions, minor construction and maintenance services on installed equipment at government installations and facilities. Performance based design-build is ideal (though can do prescriptive design-bid-build type task orders). FRR was developed to provide installations quick support to projects that have budget and schedule constraints and provide a contractor solution to the government’s needs. FRR is also a “Relief Valve” for Districts and/or installations that may not have resources available to execute smaller SRM projects.
Huntsville Center partnered with St. Louis District and Little Rock District to execute American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus funding. FRR executed 15 ARRA-funded projects valued at $49 million, to include the construction of several new visitor centers (repair by replacement). Huntsville Center provided the project management and contracting support, and the districts provided the COR/QA field oversight.