WHEREAS, on 01 December 2011, Department Circular No. DC2011-12-0010 entitled "REITERATING A TRANSPARENT AND COMPETITIVE SYSTEM OF AWARDING SERVICE AND OPERATING CONTRACTS FOR PETROLEUM AND COAL PROSPECTIVE AREAS REPEALING FOR THIS PURPOSE DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR NOS. DC2009-04-0004 AND DC2010-03-0005" (the "PECR Guidelines") was promulgated by the Department of Energy (DOE) providing for the framework of submission and evaluation of proposals for coal and petroleum exploration, development and utilization;