Type 3 On Ramp QA_10_2_2025_FINAL.pdf

1202SA22R9203/0012 Helicopter Support Services (HSS)

Q&A

Q1. Can you provide the average requested days and average flight hours that the USFS has utilized for CWN Type III helicopter services in the previous contract years?

A1. The average requested days for Type 3 CWN helicopter service is 22 days and the average flight hour estimate is 60, however there is no guarantee of AV or FT under the parent award, and these values are subject to significant variability.

Q2. If a vendor is currently installing required equipment on an aircraft, but is awaiting completion, is it acceptable to submit that equipment on the FORM A, B, & C, but not submit STC/337 paperwork for that equipment with the proposal? All required equipment would be on board the aircraft at the time of inspection.

A2. No allowance will be made beyond “at the time of proposal submission” unless there’s a compelling reason to take a different position based on the proposals received.

Q3. We would like to inquire about the possibility to amend the above-mentioned solicitation to include the Type 1 for qualification. When the initial solicitation was published, we were in an ownership transition and did not have access to our SAM.gov account. We have served the USFS during several seasons and would hope to have the opportunity to serve again for the coming years.

A3. No, this is only for Type 3 Helicopters.

Q4. We would like to inquire if we may submit a proposal for a Standard Type 3 helicopter in a limited capacity for work under Part 133/137 only (no passenger transportation, Part 135).

The intended authorized uses include external load (sling), fire suppression-inter agency, water, retardant bucket, fixed tank, rapid refuel (splash), longline/remote hook under our part 133 certificate.

A4. No. The Type 3 helicopter requirement found in the HSS MATOC is intended to include the carriage of passengers. Placement of aircraft in a limited use capacity is a decision which the agency makes based upon circumstances which may arise when helicopter support services are being provided after contract or task order award has been made.

Q5. Will all Type 3 helicopters offered under this MATOC On-Ramp be required to have a fully FAA-compliant Crash Resistant Fuel System (CRFS) installed at the time of inspection?

A5. No, they will be required to comply at the time of proposal submission.

B.4(d)(32) states, Crash Resistant Fuel System if commercially available, meeting at least partial compliance with Part 27.952 Amendment level 30 or 29.952 Amendment level 35. See SAIB SW-17-31R2 (or latest revision) for latest list of eligible aircraft.

This requirement was first posted within the HSS MATOC solicitation on SAM.gov on July 6, 2022.

E.4 (b) states, Proposed helicopter services not meeting the following minimum requirements, at the time of proposal submission, will be determined Unacceptable and excluded from HSS evaluation:

(1) Offer Acceptability:

Offers must assent to all terms of this solicitation and provide all Mandatory Documentation required by E.3, FAR 52.212-1, Instructions To Offerors-Commercial Items. This mandatory documentation is listed as a file structure in E.10. Offers will be deemed Unacceptable if there are exceptions to any term of this solicitation or failure to provide required/complete Mandatory Documentation.

Q.6 Will the Government consider acceptance with conditions, or is CRFS an absolute requirement for award?

A6. No acceptance with conditions will be considered. B.4(d)(32) is a requirement for award.

Q.7 If CRFS is mandatory, will the Government provide any phase-in period or grandfathering for aircraft currently under contract that do not yet meet this standard?

A7. No phase-in period or grandfathering for aircraft currently under contract will be acceptable.

It has recently been communicated to the USFS that there may be incompatibility with anti-icing fuel filters in use on Airbus A-Star B-2 and B-3 helicopters and crash resistant fuel systems that satisfy the requirement in the HSS MATOC, B.4(d)(32).

It is the understanding of the USFS that the following are commercially available:

• A-STAR B-2's (or prior) have an STC option that is commercially available, and no TC (OEM) option is available currently.

• A-Star B-3's (all variants) have TC (OEM) options available as well as an STC option.

Airbus Tech Support offers guidance in trying to understand and comply with these requirements and the additive compatibility issues.

Q.8 Will the Government consider accepting any proposals for alternative aircraft configurations that do not fully comply with the strict requirements outlined in the MATOC, or consider granting waivers for non-compliant aircraft?

If so, which specific requirements would be eligible for waiver consideration?

A8. No allowance will be made for alternative aircraft configurations that do not comply with the requirements of the HSS MATOC. No requirements are eligible for waiver.