Feasibility Studies

Acomprehensive, independent third-party feasibility study or detailed and comprehensive due diligence report is indispensable in identifying threats and opportunities, and is often one of the required documents when securing capital.

Our independent feasibility studies are written following the USDA guidelines, and the clients that we have conducted these studies for have experienced continued success for the USDA 9003 Biorefinery Loan Guarantee Program, the USDA 9007 REAP Grant and Loan Guarantee Program, the USDA Business & Industry Loan Guarantee Program as well as private bond offerings and equity investments.

We consider that presenting a well-balanced risk profile to potential investors and/or lenders is imperative. By analyzing and compiling economic, marketing, technology, management, and financial risks of the business or project through a written independent document, our clients gain additional credibility and analysis that internally-generated company materials cannot provide.

Investors and lenders tend to review the project more rapidly, and in many cases, more favorably, due to a complete and independent presentation. We also provide the additional risk analysis of political and social structure, terrorism, monetary policies, infrastructure, logistics, and raw materials analysis, as well as other locally identified risks. For companies that need re-financing, we have found that a detailed feasibility study has also been instrumental in obtaining rapid lending approvals.

In addition, we use the QuantaVision Risk Management System to present the risks identified from root issues, and then compile a comprehensive risk mitigation profile that will not only be applicable from a financing perspective, but can serve as a tool to be used by the company to manage and measure risk to maximize financial performance. This can also be used as a reporting tool for investors and lenders.

Analyzing Feasibility Risks

The feasibility study process involves making an independent review regarding a number of characteristics of a project:

External Risks

Economic Risks include

: interest rate, unemployment, oil prices, customer demographics, feedstock supply and availability, transportation, utilities and labor.

Political Risks include:

federal and international regulations, public perception, guidelines, policies, standards, changing political climates and key politicians.

Market Risks include:

customer needs and priorities, brand image, brand segment targeting, market price volatility, competition from current and future entrants, customer penetration, and sales volume.

Technology Risks

Financial Risks include: cost and availability of credit, international currency transactions, liquidity, commodity prices, government incentives or taxing schemes, partnership dissolution, customer loss, variable and fixed costs, working capital, and company reputation.

Process Risks include:

complex products, services or support infrastructure, integrating data, engagement of key stakeholders, changing workflow requirements, and key stakeholder identification procedures.

Systems Risks include:

access control, data storage, security over internal data, account management change procedures, network failure, IT operations and maintenance, and IT security.

Management Risks

Governance Risks include:

authority and responsibility, ethics and integrity, fraud, theft and crime, internally related challenges, authority and responsibility designation, management oversight and metrics, planning for disruptions, contracts, supervision and collaboration, corruption, and instability.

Relationship Risks include:

third party due diligence, third party provider delivery, teaming arrangements, and commitment from partners.

Social Risks include:

human capital investment, human capital development, diversity, onboarding and training, employee relations, health and safety, and labor supply chain.

Implementation Risks

Construction Risks include:

permitting, weather and acts of God, commissioning, integration and installation risk, inconsistent production, mechanical failures, spare parts, health and safety, site management and security, materials quality, workmanship quality, and capital cost overruns.

Technical Risks include:

technology design and implementation, design error, performance or control deficiencies, safeguarding of intangible assets, data collection, utilization of facilities and resources, capacity utilization, and maintenance.

Environmental Risks include:

climate change, man-made disasters, toxic releases, environmental compliance, carbon emissions, energy efficiency, water stress, biodiversity and land use, raw material sourcing, environmental impact, and renewable electricity.

Our independent feasibility studies are also written to the USDA guidelines, and the clients that we have conducted these studies for have experienced continued success for the USDA 9003 Biorefinery Loan Guarantee Program, the USDA 9007 REAP Grant and Loan Guarantee Program, the USDA Business & Industry Loan Guarantee Program, and the USDA Value-Added Grant Program.

QuantaVision thrives on supporting the growth of a Low Carbon Bioeconomy with our suite of high-quality, proprietary ESG tools and services. Accelerate your path to market, project fruition, and successful financing results by leveraging our experience and flexible fee schedules (retainer, per-project, or hourly).

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What People Say

My clients and I have worked with Cindy for several years in close association. Cindy is the absolute best government funding proposal drafter with whom I have worked. She has worked with us on approximately 12 comprehensive proposals for government funding and her fabulous work qualified each of these clients as a finalist for funding against scores of other proposals in a highly competitive setting. I recommend Cindy highly.

Mark J. Riedy, Partner

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP

As Chair of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee, Cindy led the development of recommendations to improve U.S. government trade policies and export programs. She is a thoughtful leader and passionate champion for U.S. industry. It was a pleasure to work alongside her. Thank you for your service!

Victoria Gunderson, Coordinator

Climate Task Force, Office of International Affairs U.S. Department of the Treasury

I’ve had the pleasure of serving with Cindy on the Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee to the Secretary of Commerce for the past 8 years, including her term as Committee Chair. As a leader of the Committee, Cindy inspired her colleagues and advanced the renewable energy transition agenda, drawing on her senior level experience in the biofuel sector and service on multiple industry boards and committees.

Ken Kramer, Founding Partner

Rushton Atlantic, LLC

I am pleased to recommend Cindy Thyfault and her company to any biofuels company, or fuel company stakeholder seeking grants and or loan guarantees for projects in the U.S. and elsewhere. Global BioFuture Solutions serves as a very unique resource to our over 60 fuel company stakeholders.

Richard Altman, Executive Director Emeritus

Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative

Cindy is the professional that a CEO always wants on call. Her subject matter expertise, her can do attitude, and her results for clients are exceptional. She understands the challenges, drives for results and accomplishes what others cannot. After my meetings with Cindy I leave more knowledgeable, confident in her capabilities and she produces far beyond expectations.

Duane Adelson, CEO & Managing Director

Modern Capital Strategies, Inc.

Cindy is one of the most intelligent, giving, and experienced people I know. She has a rare streak of insight when it comes to the needs of emerging companies and organizations and how to quickly and efficiently connect them to opportunity, and make sure that those opportunities are realized in actions that drive value capture. Cindy is a master of solving financial challenges through understanding risk and understanding how to structure companies and programs to ensure that companies cross the Valley of Death.

Jim Lane, Editor and Publisher

The Daily Biofuels Digest and the Weekly Circular

I’ve served with Cindy on the Board of Directors of the National Rural Lender’s Association, and her expertise in energy matters and policy has been invaluable. She is a pleasure to work with and her contributions have helped shape renewable energy policies at the national level.