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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: June 4, 2021 PERIOD OF PROPOSAL SUBMISSION ENDS: June 25, 2021 ABOUT PROPOSALS. The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (hereafter “the Commission”) invites submi... REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: June 4, 2021 PERIOD OF PROPOSAL SUBMISSION ENDS: June 25, 2021 ABOUT PROPOSALS. The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (hereafter “the Commission”) invites submission of proposals to provide a concise, one-time unclassified report on China’s energy requirements, diversification plans, and import and export practices and policies. ABOUT THE COMMISSION. The Commission was established by Congress in 2000 to monitor and report to Congress on the national security implications of the bilateral trade and economic relationship between the United States and the People’s Republic of China. Further details about the Commission are available on its website at: www.uscc.gov. The Commission solicits this research pursuant to its Congressional mandate (contained in P.L. 113-291, Section 1259B), which states, “The Commission … shall investigate and report … on…” “(C) The effects of the need for energy and natural resources in the People’s Republic of China on the foreign and military policies of the People’s Republic of China, the impact of the large and growing economy of the People’s Republic of China on world energy and natural resource supplies, prices, and the environment, and the role the United States can play (including through joint research and development efforts and technological assistance) in influencing the energy and natural resource policies of the People’s Republic of China.” This report’s key research requirements are: 1. Assess the People’s Republic of China’s current and planned energy requirements for industrial, commercial, and residential use. Provide a detailed evaluation with graphics of energy derived from both domestic and foreign sources to include fossil fuels (oil, gas, and coal) and nuclear generation, as well as renewable sources, including hydro, wind, thermal, and solar power. a. Assess the current successes and potential challenges of China meeting its energy demand in the next decade. b. Include an assessment of China’s reliance on foreign technology (e.g., extraction equipment) in both the renewable and non-renewable energy sectors. The proposal should briefly outline China’s sector-specific energy demands, goals, and capabilities that the offeror intends to analyze in response to this research requirement, as well as technologies the offeror proposes to assess in considering China’s dependence on other countries. The offeror should identify Chinese language sources of information. 2. Describe China’s energy security and diversification plans, current practices and strategy. a. Identify policy, practice, and strategy documents which guide energy acquisition, use, and diversification. b. Describe the internal and external factors driving the strategies defined in (a). c. Identify the principal entities involved in establishing and implementing energy security and diversification plans, including state-owned enterprises. The proposal should identify major Chinese government policies the offeror proposes to cover in response to this research requirement, as well as energy requirements supporting those plans. 3. Evaluate the role of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in China’s energy plans, practices and strategy. a. Assess the number and type of Chinese-funded energy infrastructure projects around the world and identify noteworthy trends over time. Evaluate whether China’s interests are to generate capacity or services for host country use or for use by China. b. Provide a map or graphic depicting China’s investments in energy infrastructure. c. Provide a case study of an energy infrastructure investment including project purposes, timetable, terms, financing and lending arrangements and outcome. d. Assess to what extent China is exporting its carbon footprint by investing in and building infrastructure for fossil fuels abroad. Provide analysis of what internal and external factors drive this activity. Provide information, if available, on the carbon intensity of these projects. The proposal should identify general BRI energy investment trends of note and justify the selection of the case study the offeror is proposing. 4. Assess how China’s energy interests, demand, and policies are influencing its global and regional diplomatic and military strategies. Clearly define metrics to be used and case studies as appropriate. a. Identify which regions are most important for the Chinese government’s energy import and export strategies and why. b. Describe the Chinese government’s use of different regional engagement strategies to support its energy imports and exports. c. Assess the Chinese government’s use of coercion in energy acquisition, imports or exports. Provide an assessment of the government’s views of the goals, costs, and advantages of a coercive approach in energy policy. Evaluate the Chinese government’s views of consequences related to politically motivated import restrictions or purchases. d. Assess the government’s energy practices and policies to support countries viewed as partners and allies to the People’s Republic of China. Evaluate the government’s approach to supporting regime efforts to evade global sanctions. e. Evaluate to what extent is China recalibrating these strategies based on past failures or successes in individual regions or countries. The proposal should define tools used by the Chinese government, as well as identify information sources the offeror intends to use including official Chinese and independent reporting and describe their value and limitations in addressing the research requirement. Additionally, it should identify any case studies the offeror proposes. 5. Summarize China’s global environmental obligations including climate change commitments and assess how its energy policies and practices support or compromise these responsibilities. a. Assess China’s plans for participation in carbon trading markets taking into consideration the BRI. b. Define the risks and benefits of China’s current and expected domestic energy use in the context of its environmental obligations. c. Define the risks and benefits of China’s energy diversification plans on its environmental obligations. The proposal should summarize the scope of current Chinese environmental commitments including official treaties and agreements. 6. Evaluate the implications of China’s energy policy for the United States. a. Assess the potential for Chinese exporters to create international dependence on their energy infrastructure, and the potential implications for U.S. producers. b. Describe the implications for the United States of the Chinese government’s use of energy policies to support regimes that may be hostile to U.S. interests. c. Provide an overview of any limitations the U.S. government faces in acquiring data on China’s energy policy and practices. The report should include an executive summary of key findings; a list of recommendations for Congress; a brief overview of the sources and analytic methodology used for the report; and a brief explanation of the limitations of the report, if any. Additional Requirements: 1. Prior to the award of any contract, the contractor must be registered in the federal System for Award Management (SAM). 2. Once the Commission selects a contractor for this project, and a contract is signed, public notice of this may be made on the Commission’s website. 3. The Commission’s goal is to have a report prepared for review in a timely fashion. In ordinary circumstances, once the Commission selects a contractor and a contract is signed, a draft report—not to exceed 60 pages of text—must be submitted to the Commission for review no later than 60 calendar days from the date the contract is signed. The Commission will then endeavor to provide comments and requests for adjustments within 20 days; subsequently, the final report must be submitted within 20 days of formal receipt of the Commission’s comments. The Commission recognizes, under certain circumstances, a contractor may wish to have more time to prepare the first draft of the report under the contract. The contractor, in their contract proposal, should stipulate the time frame for submission of the draft report. It is to be understood; however, that time is of the essence in completing research contracts for the Commission. 4. As work on the report progresses, the Commission’s Research Coordinator shall act as the Commission’s representative in monitoring the progress, quality, and responsiveness of the report to the major issues of concern identified in this Request for Proposals (RFP). The Research Coordinator shall, on request to the contractor, be entitled to informal briefings on the status of the research work and to readings of the outline and draft in progress. 5. The report shall be free of typographical errors and conform to the Chicago Manual of Style. Upon receipt of all drafts, the Commission will inspect the document for typographical errors and deviations from the Chicago Manual of Style guidelines. At the discretion of the Commission, if a draft contains excessive deficiencies, the Commission will return the draft to the contractor and request the contractor cure the draft of deficiencies within five (5) working days (not counting weekends and Federal holidays). Upon resubmission of the draft by the contractor to the Commission, should deficiencies remain, the Commission, at its discretion, will submit the draft to its copyeditor for correction, the cost of which ($45.00 per hour) will be deducted from the final cost of the contract. The contract shall be subject to termination if the Commission deems that the work is of unsatisfactory quality. 6. At the Commission’s discretion, the report procured via this RFP may be posted on the Commission’s website. 7. Each organization or individual responding to this request must warrant they will perform this work solely for the Commission, and the resulting report will not be shared with other parties without the prior written consent of the Commission. 8. The Commission expects contractors to identify all personnel working on the contract, and that there will not be any delegation of responsibilities to other parties without prior written approval of the Commission. 9. At the discretion and request of the Commission, the contractor shall, within a year after publication of the report, agree to participate in up to two (2) separate briefings, and up to one (1) public hearing, held by the Commission, of up to two (2) hours each in the Washington, DC area, supported by at least one (1) individual affiliated with the contractor identified as “key personnel.” This could include, but not necessarily be limited to, briefing the content of the research to Commissioners and Commission staff, appearing as witnesses at a public hearing held by the Commission, and briefing the content of the research to Members of Congress and/or their staff. No additional remuneration will be provided to the contractor for these briefings or a hearing. The Commission will make a good faith effort to schedule briefings and a hearing at times that are subject to mutual agreement. Primary Selection Criteria: 1. The Commission will determine which organization or individual responding to this request will be awarded the contract based on a comprehensive “best value” analysis of the proposals received, to include costs, technical value, and ability to complete the work satisfactorily and on time, and past performance with the Commission, if applicable. 2. The primary weighting criterion in selection shall be the assessed qualifications and ability of an organization or individual to address the fundamental research points enunciated above (“key research requirements”). 3. The cost and amount of time necessary to complete the report will also be considered as criteria in the selection process. 4. The Commission is a legislative advisory committee not subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Proposal submissions should include: 1. A statement of the applicant’s relevant qualifications to satisfy the terms of this RFP, to include curricula vitae for personnel intended for work on the project. 2. Identification of the principal researchers who will be responsible for the preparation of the report. It is understood that the designation of the researchers is a critical element of the proposal, and any changes regarding which individuals will be involved in the report’s preparation must be approved by the Commission in advance and in writing. 3. A description of the research methodology the applicant proposes to employ. In describing methodology, the submission should provide detailed descriptions of the sources and methods that will be used to research the report’s topic and the extent to which Chinese language sources, if any, and other primary materials will be used. 4. A list of any entities for whom you have conducted research or provided consulting services in the past. The Commission understands you may be limited in providing such information by confidentiality agreements. 5. The applicant’s responses to FAR 52.204-24, Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment (October 2020) available at: https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.204-24#FAR_52_204_24 and to FAR 52.204-26, Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services—Representation (October 2020) available at: https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.204-26#FAR_52_204_26. 6. An estimate of the time the applicant will need to complete the required work. 7. The price the applicant will charge to the Commission to complete the work set forth in this RFP. 8. The proposal shall not exceed eight (8) pages and may be shorter. Organizations and individuals wishing to submit a proposal in response to this RFP must ensure that the response arrives at the location noted below by 5:30 p.m. (ET) on June 25, 2021, or it will not be accepted or considered. Electronic submissions are acceptable. Email attachments should not exceed 5 MB. Proposals, as well as inquiries or any other correspondence related to this matter, should be directed to: Charles Horne Contracting Officer’s Representative U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission Hall of the States, Suite 602 444 North Capitol Street NW Washington, DC 20001 phone: 202-624-1447 email: chorne@uscc.gov