U.S. General Services Administration and U.S. Department of Energy announce procurement opportunity for Tribal businesses to help advance clean energy goals

April 25, 2024

WASHINGTON – The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the White House Council on Native American Affairs, seeks to purchase Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs) from a Tribal majority-owned business organization using the Indian Energy Purchase Preference (IEPP). The solicitation will lead to the first ever procurement under the IEPP in support of Biden’s Federal Sustainability Plan goal of powering all federal operations with carbon-free electricity by 2030 and the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to Tribal nations.

On Nov. 30, 2022, the Administration announced its commitment to ensure that investments in the clean energy economy reach Tribal lands. As part of that work, the Administration created a new initiative to increase federal agencies’ use of Tribal energy through their purchasing authorities, including a pilot program. This GSA procurement furthers the Administration’s goal to pilot the IEPP and provides additional opportunities for Tribes to participate in the clean energy market. 

“As we move the federal government toward 100% carbon pollution-free electricity by 2030, we’re also working to ensure that investments in the clean energy economy reach Tribal communities,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “This solicitation to Tribal majority-owned businesses is another way we can accomplish those goals while strengthening our partnerships with Indian Country.”

“It has been almost 20 years since Congress authorized the IEPP, and the White House Council on Native American Affairs has made implementing this preference a top priority. This marks yet another opportunity for Tribes to lead the way in the transition to clean energy. When clean energy generation occurs under Tribal sovereignty, it ensures that cultural values are upheld, and leads to the best outcomes for livelihoods in Indian Country,” said Wahleah Johns, Director of the DOE Office of Indian Energy.

The IEPP, which allows agencies to give preference to Tribes when buying energy products or byproducts, was established by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, but had not been used by the federal government before this procurement. After assuming office, President Biden reestablished the White House Council on Native American Affairs, which has been coordinating across agencies, including GSA, to implement the IEPP. This pilot is one of many new carbon pollution-free electricity (CFE) procurements being implemented by GSA.

“As we strive for federal sustainability and energy efficiency, partnerships with Tribal energy businesses are pivotal. Through collaboration like this, we can advance clean energy goals while honoring Tribal sovereignty and cultural values, fostering prosperity within Indian Country,” said Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) Director Mary Sotos. “Initiatives like these also exemplify FEMP’s commitment to empowering federal agencies as we work toward carbon pollution-free electricity by 2030.” 

The solicitation seeks quotes for up to approximately 47,500 MWh of unbundled EACs from generation resources that qualify as CFE with a preference for those submitted by Tribal majority-owned business organizations. One EAC is equivalent to 1 MWh of clean energy production. Transitioning to 100% CFE will advance the Administration’s federal sustainability goals, catalyze America’s clean energy industries and jobs, and build healthier communities. 

For this solicitation, EACs must have been generated between April 1, 2023, and Dec. 31, 2024, from generation sources put in service on or after Oct. 1, 2021. The electricity associated with the EACs must have been delivered to one of the balancing authorities (i.e., grid regions) identified in the solicitation. The EACs will be procured independently from physical power (unbundled).

Responses to the GSA solicitation are due June 24, 2024, at 4 p.m. ET and the solicitation is expected to be awarded in July.

DOE’s Federal Energy Management Program and Office of Indian Energy are holding office hours on this topic on Thursday May 9, from 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. ET: Register here. For inquiries about selling power to federal entities under the IEPP, see the Office of Indian Energy’s page. For more information on GSA’s leadership in tackling the climate crisis and investing in a more sustainable future, please see GSA’s Climate Action and Sustainability web page.

“This effort is just one of several ways GSA can be a partner with Tribes as the nation transitions to sustainable energy and products,” said Julie Ramey, GSA Tribal Liaison, Office of the Administrator. “When we look at the overall portfolio of GSA, there are many more opportunities ahead for Tribes to help the Administration further their clean energy goals.”

With more than 300,000 buildings and 600,000 vehicles, the U.S. Government is the nation’s largest energy consumer. In December 2021, President Biden issued the Federal Sustainability Plan, which directed the government to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 by transitioning to zero-emission vehicles, energy efficient buildings, and carbon pollution-free electricity. In particular, the plan directs the government to transition to 100% CFE by 2030, at least half of which will be locally supplied clean energy to meet 24/7 hourly-matched demand. Including last week’s agreement, over the past three years, the U.S. Government has signed memoranda of understanding to help provide federal facilities in 16 states with 100% CFE by 2030, which will increase the U.S. Government’s reliance on clean energy from 38% to 47% en route to 100% by 2030. 

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About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing approximately $100 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.