The Department of Energy (DOE) owns the land and facilities, and large facility management contractors (FMCs) manage and operate it on a daily basis.  As a result, DOE, the largest Civilian buying agency, has a workforce of approximately 15,000 and a contractor workforce of approximately 100,000.

These FMCs are:

• Limited Liability Corporations (LLC) – only responsibility is to manage and operate specific facility.
• Performance-Based, Award Fee, Award Term Contract.
• FMCs represent the primary procurement model utilized at DOE for the operations of its network of government-owned contractor laboratories and other facilities.
• FMCs include Management and Operating (M&O) contracts, Management and Integrated (M&I) contracts, and environmental restoration management contracts. Through the FMCs contracting model, DOE directs the mission-related areas, and the overall performance objectives that it wants to accomplish.
• DOE obligates approximately 85% of its procurement dollars to FMCs.

Rules of Engagement

• Register with Central Contractor Register (CCR) at: http://www.ccr.gov.
• Currently, companies should register with DOE’s e-Center for acquisitions under $100,000 and the Interactive Procurement System (IIPS) for acquisitions greater than $100,000 at: http://e-center.doe.gov.
• Register with FedConnect – to view current business opportunities, receive solicitations, and submit proposals at: 
  https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/.
• Review SBA's "Sub-Net" at: http://web.sba.gov/subnet.  SubNet is equivalent of FedBizOps for subcontracting opportunities posted by prime contractors.
• DOE Business Forecast – http://hqlnc.doe.gov/forecast. 
  • The forecast provides timely status information for ongoing prime contracting actions that are valued in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold. 
  • Data and information contained in the forecast should be considered as informational and planning purposes only – it does not represent a pre-solicitation synopsis, nor does it constitute an invitation for bid or request for proposal, or a commitment by the Government to purchase the described supplies and services.

For specific information on doing business with the Department, including obtaining specific information regarding public announcements on initiated acquisitions, registering to receive a solicitation and submit proposals for specific transactions, and obtaining information and guidance on the Department’s acquisition and financial assistance award processes, interested parties are encouraged to visit the Department’s e-Center (http://e-center.doe.gov) and the Federal Business Opportunities website (http://www.fbo.gov).

Small businesses should familiarize themselves with the Department’s various program offices and laboratories, narrow the search, study the Small Business Program Managers (SBPMs) directory and establish relationships with the SBPMs.