US DEPARTMENT OF STATE AVIATION PROGRAM OFFICE SUPPORT SERVICES
Added: Nov 30, 2012 1:39 pm
1. INTRODUCTIONThe Department of State is sponsoring an Industry Best Practice and Vendor Identification Conference to identify potential business sources with the resources, capabilities, and experience to successfully deliver requisite services to sustain the Department's Aviation Fleet. The Department staff will present an Air Wing Command Briefing, present functional core and supporting contract requirements with a focus on small business set-asides, provide an open forum to ask questions, and a chance to have a one-on-one session with the Government. Industry should be prepared to discuss innovative solutions, available technology, and capabilities. This conference will be held on January 9 and 10, 2013 in Melbourne, Florida. The location will be provided as an amendment to the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website. Following the overview presentations and the open discussion forum on January 9, 2013, the Government will host one-on-one sessions with interested companies, along with their anticipated subcontractor teams, provided prior coordination with the Government is established. The one-on-one sessions give companies a chance to ask specific questions regarding the program that they did not want to share during the presentation. These sessions will be limited to 30 minutes and may begin the afternoon of January 9, 2013 and between 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM on January 10, 2013 (January 11 will be an overflow day if needed). Session times will be assigned and companies will be notified of their time slot via email.Information contained herein does not necessarily reflect all requirements to be found in any future solicitation. Neither unsolicited proposals nor any other kinds of offers will be considered in response to this announcement. Responses to this announcement are not offers and will not be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this announcement and attending the conference. All information received in response to this announcement that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly but will not be returned. Further industry comment will be requested during final definition of the requirements.2. SPECIAL OBJECTIVEThis conference will focus on the Department's intent to maximize the use of small businesses (especially HubZone, Service Disabled Veteran, and Woman owned) in providing portions of the total requirement. The Department needs small businesses to inform the Government as to their capability to perform any portion of the required services. One of the conference objectives is to allow small businesses to present their capabilities in private meetings with the Government. The Government welcomes your capability statements and comments by email even if you cannot attend the conference.3. BACKGROUNDThe Department of State (DoS) Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), Office of Aviation (INL/A) is initiating these market research activities associated with the continuing requirement for global aviation services. Chief among the myriad requirements to be contracted is the operation and maintenance of fixed wing and rotary aircraft at multiple sites in 8 or more countries in permissive and non-permissive environments and in direct support of US Government activities. Such sanctioned activities include, but are not limited to: personnel and cargo transport, aerial reconnaissance, medical and casualty evacuations, aerial herbicide application, aerial support to narcotics interdiction operations, aircraft ferrying, and emergent surge type operations. At some locations requirements include working with, and training host nation personnel in key disciplines, as defined by USG nationalization plans. While these services are currently under contract, the scope has grown and changed over the years and the Department desires industry input into modern industry practices and the most cost effective methods of providing requirements. This is industry's chance to help DoS redefine its requirements to take advantage of modern aviation practices. This is not a formal solicitation but is part of the Department's effort to better define its requirements for maximum contractor participation in future solicitations. The Government anticipates there may be a core operations contract with several ancillary functions competed separately during FY14 but this depends on industry input at this conference. 4. REQUIREMENTSThe total dollar value of services could reach $10B over the life of the resulting contracts. The Department requests industry feedback into the most effective way to provide these services. An abbreviated list of requirements is presented below.Operate and Maintain DoS Aircraft Worldwide. DoS currently has 412 aircraft in its inventory. 120 are operational globally for drug interdiction and transport of personnel. 292 aircraft are in flyable or non-flyable storage.Current locations of performance are in Central Florida, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Guatemala, and Iraq. However, it is anticipated that performance may extend into other worldwide locations and the contractor(s) must be able to quickly extend operations to new locations on short notice, for limited duration. Recent examples of such include Sudan, Honduras, Malta, Libya, and Egypt.Provide pilots and operational support for drug interdiction missions such as crop spraying, and the transport of personnel and cargo.Provide Air Traffic Controllers where necessaryProvide certified maintenance personnel and qualified aviation safety personnelProvide aerospace engineering services to include, but not limited to structural, electrical, avionics, aerospace, and metallurgy.Provide reconnaissance missions when required, which may include sensor operation and maintenanceProvide medical and casualty evacuation (MEDEVAC/ CASEVAC) flights when requiredProvide an Aviation Life Support Equipment (ALSE) program for program crews and designated host countryCreate and maintain all required aircraft maintenance and flight records on systems compatible with Government systems.Acquire and process weather and other risk information for operational planning.Operate aircraft that have been nationalized to a host GovernmentAcquire, maintain, and make available technical publications as requiredProvide wet and dry lease of aircraft on short notice for integration into DOS fleet operations.Provide cost effective logistics for maintaining the DoS and foreign agency air fleets as needed worldwide. This includes parts acquisition, tracking and accountability, as well as global shipping capacity.Provide inter and intra-theater transportation at all sites, as directed. Provide life support services such as food, housing, laundry and MWR for personnel in permissive and non-permissive environments. Provide defensive security for air fields and housing when required. This may be coordinated through USG security elements, Host Nation elements, or subcontracted, depending on the site and situation. Implement and maintain a safety program across the spectrum of the Aviation Support Services Program that ensures that all organizational activities are performed safely, taking into consideration the austere and hostile environments present throughout INL/A's operating locations. Safety of personnel is paramount. Provide tactical communication, computer, and internet services for operating and maintaining DoS and foreign agency air fleets.Assist foreign government agencies, such as police departments, to operate/maintain aircraft through training and logistics services.In summary, the Department of State requests your assistance in helping decide how our requirements in future solicitations for air operations and maintenance should be defined for maximum efficiency and small business participation. A conference is being organized for January 9 and 10, 2013 in Melbourne, Florida. We request your participation at the conference or your comments via email if you cannot attend.5. INDUSTRY DAY REGISTRATIONPre-registration is REQUIRED. This is a no-fee event and seating is limited to two (2) individuals for each company as there is limited seating. Companies are required to e-mail Jesse Lowman, @ lowmanj@state.gov no later than 4:00 PM (EST) on December 14, 2012, the following pre-registration information: (1) Company Name, (2) Company size under the applicable NAICS code 488190, (3) CAGE Code, (4) a one page company profile, (5) Name(s) of employees/representatives attending Industry Day, and (6) indicate whether your company would be interested in participating in one-on-one discussions. Attendee substitution requests may be submitted to the same point of contact by 4:00 PM (EST) on January 2, 2013. All firms must be registered in Central Contractor Registry (CCR) to be eligible for award of Government contracts. Electronic responses shall be submitted in Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel format, or Portable Document Format (PDF).IMPORTANT: Attendees will be required to present a CURRENT Government issued photo ID (driver's license, military ID, or passport) matching the information provided above upon check-in. Please allow sufficient time for the check-in/verification process. Late registration and "walk-in" requests will NOT be permitted.
SAQMMA13R0044 Department of State Office of Acquisition Management
11/30/12, 1:39 PM