Questions and Responses.pdf

National Aerial Supervision (ASM) Module Solicitation Questions and Responses USFS National Office

1. Section B.1, for CLIN 0001 states “Total Availability [shall be] (Daily x 183 Days)” however in

Section C.4, for Period of Performance, the Base period is defined as “date of award to 30 June, 2021.”

Question: Should Section B.1, CLIN 0001 be revised to read “Total Availability (Daily x 365 days)?

Government Response: Yes. The CLIN schedule of items will be updated to be the same as C.4

2. The footnote to section B.1 states that “The Government intends to exercise these items at award of the contract. Before exercising Option Years 1 and 2, the Government may choose not to award the CLINs for the Optional Line Items.” Section B.2(b) then states, “This acquisition is for 10 minimum and up to 15 multi-engine turbine aircraft to be rented on a dry lease basis ……”

Question: For clarity, is it the Government’s intention to dry lease 15 aircraft for the base year and a minimum of 10 for Option Years 1 and 2 and the Optional Extension period?

Government Response: Yes

3. The following key dates are referenced in the solicitation:

Award Date – as determined by the government (Section C.4) Inspection Date – 30 days prior to the Period of Performance start date (Section C.8 and C.20) Delivery Date – 1 July 2020 (Section C.20) Sections C.8 and C.20 state that all aircraft must be ready for inspection 30 days prior to the Period of Performance start date. Section C.4 provides that the Base Period begins on the date of award. Section C.20 states that all aircraft must be delivered by 1 July 2020.

Question: May we assume that aircraft may be presented to the Government for inspection a minimum of 30 days prior to the required delivery date of 1 July 2020?

4. Section B.2(d) states that “One award of all Contract Line Item Numbers (CLINs) will be made.” However, Section E.3(h) states “The Government may accept any item or group of items of an offer, unless the offeror qualifies the offer by specific limitation.”

Question: Can the Government confirm that this solicitation is for 15 aircraft and that offers for fewer than this number would not be considered compliant?

Government Response: Yes. 15 aircraft are required

5. Section E.1 states “proposals shall be submitted on USB storage devices. CD’s and hard paper copies will not be accepted.” However, Section E.3(b) calls for one copy of the legal offering and five copies of the Technical Proposal.

National Aerial Supervision (ASM) Module Solicitation Questions and Responses USFS National Office

Question: Can the Government please clarify if either USB or printed or both types of submissions are required?

Government Response: A hard-copy is required for the Business Proposal. The Technical proposal needs to be on the USB Thumb drives as specified.

6. B.5.(b)(4)(iv)(B) – The 1/1/2020 FAA requirement was for ADS-B “out”. The RFP request is to have ADS-B “out” and “in” providing TIS-B traffic and FIS-B weather to a MFD. Section

B.5(a)(3)(xv) requires one Traffic Advisory System (TAS) with 1-mile display selection. This requirement is an active system on the aircraft giving real-time traffic advisories. Section

B.5(a)(3)(xxiv) requires one Satellite Weather system with XM Aviator subscription or equivalent. This requirement gives the aircraft satellite weather that can be received at all altitudes unlike the ADS-B in. The requirement for ADS-B on the MFD would reduce the operational effectiveness of the other required systems and the MFD cannot display both.

Question: Can the ADSB “in” requirement be excluded from the request?

7. B.12.b – The Government is requiring an alternate means of payment for non-reimbursable flights.

Question: Will this alternative method also be used in certain cases if the government card can not be used for reimbursable flights?

Government Response: This is completed in IBS via “other charges” or “credit”. Actual receipts can be sent to the vendor by the COR or pilot as agreed to between the vendor/government upon award.

Question: Does the Government have a procedure for suppling invoices/receipts in a timely manner to justify the expenses?

Government Response: Same as above.

8. B.4(a) states “The contractor shall provide specific written authorization from the aircraft manufacturer by make, model, series, and serial number for operation in the firefighting environment. The aircraft must have a manufacturer approved maintenance and inspection program that accounts for usage in the firefighting environment.” In previous contracts the documentation was accepted by the wing inspection SIRM or the ‘Wing durability and damage tolerance evaluation’.

Question: Does the requirement actually require written authorization from the aircraft manufacturer beyond these approved documents?

Government Response: No, as long as the manufacturer has approved the maintenance and inspection program accounting for usage in the firefighting environment.