0001 1202SA24R9100 questions.pdf

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1202SA24R9100

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1 copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted ; or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BE

RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR

OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted , such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

x

02SA

BOISE ID 83705-5354

3833 S DEVELOPMENT AVE

INCIDENT PROCUREMENT AVIATION BRANC

03/01/20240001

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) is not extended.is extended, Items 8 and 15, and returning

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended , by one of the following methods: (a) By completing

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

FACILITY CODE CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6)CODE 6. ISSUED BY

PAGE OF PAGES

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.3. EFFECTIVE DATE2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

03/01/2024

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority) appropriation data, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not is required to sign this document and return __________________ copies to the issuing office.

ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

UEI: Not Available

National Smokejumper Aircraft Services

The purpose of this modification is to post questions that were submitted. See following 9 pages for details.

Period of Performance: 01/01/2025 to 12/31/2034

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 16C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

DAVID P. HERSHEY

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 11/2016)

Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

Previous edition unusable

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9 A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect .

The # Section/Para./ Page Questions/Comments

B.2 (c ) (2) (i) (B) (i) Segment 1 on page B-2 and E.1 (b) (15) (ii) (A) (3) Sub Folder 3 – Operations Assessment NOTE on page E-8

Question:

“(B) Paper aircraft submitted with original proposal shall be carded by May the following year …”

“NOTE: Paper aircraft shall meet the requirements of the solicitation and be approved no later than 1 March 2025.

Does “carded” and “meet the requirements” have the same meaning, or if different, can the difference be described?

Answer:

Each aircraft is issued an aircraft approval card after award and after the aircraft and vendor successfully pass an annual pre use inspection “Carding” which includes a physical inspection of the aircraft, aircraft records and contract requirements. The Note on page E-8 and in B.2 identify that Paper aircraft must be physically presented in a conformed to the contract configuration by 1 March 2025 for Segment 1.

The pre use inspection is accomplished by USFS Airworthiness Inspectors and may include Smokejumper Program SME’s.

B.3 Performance Requirements and Flight Profile Page B-3

Question:

“Aircraft, contract personnel, and equipment shall be tasked in one of the following Performance Categories and flight profiles:”

Some of the Performance Groups have very similar requirements.

Are offerors permitted to proposal the same aircraft for multiple Groups?

For instance, if a proposed aircraft meets all of the requirements for B-1 and B-2, will the Government allow the offeror to respond to task orders for both groups with a single aircraft?

Answer: Yes.

B.3 (a) (1) (ii) (A) Performance Group A-1 page B-3

Question:

“(A) Pressurized for passengers and cargo only flights” is listed as a requirement for this Performance Group but none of the other groups. Is this requirement applicable to any other groups?

Answer: No.

4 B.13 (a) Personnel page B-34

Question:

“All proposed pilots shall be evaluated in accordance with Section B.12 or more sections.”

Should this refer to Section B.13?

Answer:

B.12 is the operational requirements that will be evaluated along with other sections to include but not limited to B.13, B.22, and B.25.

E.1 (b) (15) (iv) Past Performance (Offeror Name-PP) page E-9 and E.12 (d) (4) Organizational Past Performance, page E- 22 and D.17 Attachment D-8, page D-53

Question:

“The Government shall evaluate Offeror’s 2020-2022 past performance …”

“References shall be no more than three (3) years old.”

Please clarify the applicable period for past performance references. Should Attachment 8 allow project to be listed up until the solicitation was released? We are also requesting 5 years for past performance qualification.

Answer: Attachment 8 can allow projects up until the solicitation was released initially. 3 years is the timeframe.

B.19 Accident Prevention and Safety Page B-51

Question:

“The Contractor shall furnish the COR with a copy of all reports required to be submitted to the FAA in accordance with 14 CFR that relate to pilot and maintenance personnel performance, aircraft airworthiness, or operations.”

Please confirm that the USFS expects these reports to be furnished post award as part of contract execution? If any are required as part of the proposal, can they be identified?

Answer:

The paragraph referenced above is post award. All proposal requirements are identified in E or identified as required for proposal in the contract.

B.22 Inspection and Acceptance, pages B-54-55

Question:

“(b) Contractor shall furnish a copy of the FAA Operations Specifications, Operations Manual, GMM, and revisions as required by 14 CFR 135 (as applicable). The contractor shall provide complete copy of the current POH or AFM, performance planning documents and applicable FAA approved supplements.

The documents listed above shall be in electronic format as a searchable PDF. Additionally, these documents shall be provided to the government upon request by the CO at any time.”

Please confirm which of these documents are post award requirements versus required with the proposal. Please also clarify if any of the documents listed following this statement which are clearly shown as to be made available at the pre-use or renewal inspection, are solely post award requirements. In particular documents for pilots such as (i) Complete Airplane Pilot Qualifications and Approval Record Form, (ii) FAA pilot certificates, (iii) Current FAA pilot medical certificate, (iv) Pilot logbooks showing last twelve (12) months of flight time, etc..

Answer:

The documentation requirements are not exclusive to either proposal or pre use inspection. Documentation may be asked for at any time during the contract period to ensure compliance with the contract requirements or as part of quality assurance/contract compliance audits. The documentation reviewed under the technical proposal may be the same or similar documentation during the pre-use inspection(s). As identified in B.22 (c)(3)(xx) other items may be requested at the time of inspection. E.1 identifies the minimum required documentation to support the proposal.

E.1 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors, page E-3

Question:

“(14) Part I – Business Proposal include in… (v) Schedule of Items, Price Worksheet – Proposed pricing shall be evaluated on each acceptable offer

Does the USFS anticipate providing a Price Worksheet for pricing.

Answer: The pricing is in the solicitation for three years of time. We will ask for revised toward the three year mark. You may need to submit separate of these, an extra will be included in the amendment.

B.3 Performance Requirements and Flight Profile, Pages B-3-7

Question:

Can the government define the meaning of “Payload” please

Answer:

The maximum allowable weight (passengers/smokejumpers/cargo and/or any combinations) that can be carried in any one mission. This does not include contract required fuel, flight crew, installed equipment such as static line, seats, or other contract required items.

10 B.3 Performance Group C, pages 6-7

Question:

B3 Group C states that this category may be required to operate out of USFS approved back country airstrips. Is this capability required or “beneficial” for the other aircraft groups?

Answer:

Backcountry capability will only be evaluated for the parent award for aircraft in Performance Group C. Additional capabilities may be evaluated under a TORP.

B.8 (4) (i) On-Board WI-FI Equipment and Satellite Communication (SATCOM), Page B-26

Question:

Minimum data rate states 700kb. Can you confirm this is an accurate minimum data rate?

Answer: Yes, that is the correct rate.

12 B.13 (2) All proposed pilots shall, Page B-35

Question:

In this section, proposed pilots must meet requirements (A) – (H) in order to issue a card prior to flight operations. Our company has its own training program for these qualifications and would like to propose pilots who will meet the training requirements prior to flight operations for the government and NOT at proposal submission. Please confirm this is acceptable.

Answer: The proposal shall have at least one pilot that meets the pilot requirements of B.13. Proposed pilots not meeting the requirement shall submit as much documentation to support the proposal as possible and will be considered “Paper pilots”.

Proposed pilots will be required to meet the contract and pass a pre use inspection prior to operations.

Important – Notice to All Prospective Offerors, page 2

Question:

“…submit the following as part of its proposal:… (v) Section E.13

- 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial Products and Commercial Services …”

If the offeror has completed the annual representations and certifications electronically in SAM, are we required to submit the entire E.13?

Answer: No, an active SAM registration will have this section already complete and will be downloaded by the CO after proposal is received.

B.5 (g) Time-Between Overhaul (TBO), and

(h) Maintenance Schedule pages B-13-14

Question:

Offerors are required to follow the OEM published Time-Between Overhaul (TBO) schedule and maintenance schedule. We track this in an automated system. What documentation, if any, is required as part of the proposal?

Answer: If the OEM TBO schedule is being followed and tracked via tracking software (CAMP, WinAir, etc.). Please provide the time item sheets.

15 General Question

Question:

Can the government provide historical data for the previous 5 years providing the hours contracted, number of aircraft utilized / approved in each category and total contractors on the IDIQ.

Answer: For the previous five years we have had five Exclusive Use (EU) aircraft with guaranteed mandatory availability periods ranging from 106-157 days. Additionally, on average two CWN aircraft have been activated each year for approximately 30 days each. Flight hours planned for each Exclusive Use aircraft around 100 hours each, but this is not a guarantee. Occasionally, one or two of the EU aircraft will exceed the planned flight hours.

B.5 (j) Mechanics Requirements, page B- 14 and B.13 (b) Mechanics Experience and Training Requirements, pages B-47-48

Question:

“See Section B.13 Personnel for additional mechanic requirements.

This list shall be submitted with the proposal …”

Please clarify the list referenced.

In Paragraph (3) “Mechanics and maintenance facilities identified in Section B.5(i) – The following requirements shall be met by the Contractor mechanics and/or maintenance facility mechanics …” describes experience, training, etc. in items (i) to (iv). Are these the items for which the USFS requires documentation?

Answer: Yes

17 B.39 Payment for Data Usage, page B-68

Question:

The Contractor will be reimbursed for SATCOM data usage.

Will this be as an Other Direct Cost (ODC)

Answer: Yes, if approved an ODC and will be paid with the submissions of the 122’s through the IBS system. Verification will be required for this charge.

18 E.5 Pilot in Command (Page E-12)

Question:

Requires the Offeror to “Submit the names(s) of current carded PIC9s) with experience on FS-5700-0020 Airplane Pilot Qualifications and Approval Record (Section D, Attachment 1).

Given the difficult pilot recruiting market, will the government accept the Offerors plan to train and obtain the Card for each pilot post award and prior to flight operations on the contract?

Answer: See question 12. One qualified pilot would be required to perform the training.

B.13 (b) Mechanics Experience and Training Requirements, pages B-47-48

Question:

(iv) Recurring Human Factors Training. Does the USFS require documentation on this training, i.e., a course syllabus?

Answer: Correct. An internal syllabus or the syllabus provide by a third-party trainer. OR can be accomplished via FAA human factors training.

E.12(4) Organizational Past Performance, Page B-23

Question:

The past performance is limited to three (3) years. We are requesting that the limit be changed to five years. Is this acceptable?

Answer: The Past Performance of 3 years is the standard used.

52.212-2 Evaluation,

(4) Organizational Past Performance, page E-23

Question:

“Non-Federal references shall e-mail information directly to the Contracting Officer, prior to the closing date of the solicitation …”

Can the USFS provide additional guidance on the information commercial customers should provide? Is there any information beyond the topics covered in a CPAR that would be meaningful to the TEB?

Answer: The sections covered in a CPAR are what is evaluated. An outside reference can provide as much detail as desired.

No. PWS Section Ref. Question Answers 1 SASES Approved List The SASES approved list is from 2015, are there plans to update it to include types such as DHC-6 400, Cessna C408, C-23B?

2021 list https://fs-prod-nwcg.s3.us-gov-west- 1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2023-06/sases-approved-smokejumper-aircraft2021.pdf

The C-23B (SD3-60) final approval was in 2022.

C408 is NOT an approved aircraft, but there has been some interest in evaluating it.

DHC-6 400 may be considered as long as the aircraft meets the requirements of the contract.

Performance, equipment, avionics, airworthiness, certification, etc.

2 B.4(a) “Turbine powered, multi-engine landplanes , certificated in normal or transport Category...”

The SASES approved list includes the Cessna C208B, can you reconcile the two? A:

This solicitation is for multi-engine turbine powered aircraft the C208B is not a multi-engine aircraft.

There are aircraft listed on the Approved aircraft list that do not meet the solicitation requirements. The SASES does not dictate contract requirements. This list is an interagency document and covers the Department of Interior as well. Each agency establishes its own contract requirements.

3 B.4(p)(1) “Cargo Restraint. For point-to-point passenger configuration flights, the Contractor shall furnish tie downs, net(s), or cargo straps meeting requirements of 14 CFR 135.87 to restrain cargo while in flight. Task orders may require smokejumper mission cargo restraints be provided by the Contractor.”

Does this constitute a combi flight per Operation Configuration in the Carrier’s A003 Ops Spec?

The point-to-point flights are not Public Operations and would need to follow the requirements of the operators 135 certificate. All cargo carried with passengers on board the aircraft would need to be secured by means meating 14 CFR 135.87. Point-to- Point flights will not change to public or special missions mid flight, no jump operations are conducted on Point-to-Point flights.

4 B.7(b)(2)(ii) “The PIC and SIC shall have separate identical audio controllers. The Spotter shall have audio controller and audio jacks adjacent to the aft left exit door in the location approved for the aircraft model. Assistant Spotter audio jacks shall be installed opposite of the aft left exit door. Dual pilot aircraft shall have a Mission Coordinator audio controller and audio jacks in the forward cabin in the location approved for the aircraft model. Audio controller installed in the cabin shall be identical and the same series as the Pic and SIC but do not require Nav audio. Audio controls shall be labeled as COM 1, COM 2, FM 1, FM 2, PA etc. as appropriate with the corresponding transceiver labeled to match. Each audio controller shall have a master ICS volume control, master radio…”

Does each audio controller pertain to the cabin controller? For instance, must the spotter have the ability to xmit over the VHF frequency?

The spotter must have the ability to control master volume, and ICS volume. They require that ability to transmit on COM 1 and COM 2 (both VHF frequencies) and all installed FM radio

5 B.8(a)(2)

B.8(a)(3)

“One (1) externally attachable jump step as outlined by NTDP Smokejumper accessories requirement drawings.”

“Handrail of smooth contour that shall encircle the entire top and forward side of the left side jumper exit/paracargo door opening. The handrail shall be designed and installed so as not to restrict the size of the door opening and not to hinder the opening or removal of the door. The diameter of all handrail sections shall be three-quarters (¾) inch. The "standoff" dimension from the cabin wall shall be one and one-half (1½) inches with anchor strength sufficient to withstand a six hundred

(600) pound load in any direction. Install in accordance with NTDP drawing.”

Are these applicable to the C-23? If so, are there drawings available?

C-23A and SD3-60 do not have external jump step.

Handrails are required but differ between C-23A and SD3-60. Drawings will be provided for both aircraft

Drawings will be provided to offerers upon request for specific aircraft types already approved.

6 B.8(b)(2) “Fiberglass jump door boot shall fit standard configured door and Contractor shall be responsible for “boot” on non-standard door.”

Does this apply to the C-23?

This is optional equipment. If offered it needs to meet the minimum data rate stated in solicitation.

7 B.8(c)(4)(i)(B)(2) “Minimum data rate of seven hundred (700) kilobit per second (kb/s) on the upload/download.”

Will a 88 kb/s solution be technically acceptable, or are you able to share what function is driving the need for this 700 kb/s bandwidth?

This is optional equipment. If offered it needs to meet the minimum data rate stated in solicitation.

8 D.5 EXHIBIT 3 Can we have the drawings listed in Section D Exhibit 3? A:

Yes. Which specific drawings are requested. The majority of can be found here.

9 N/A Are satellite communications optional equipment or required equipment?

Optional

10 N/A Are Part 91 operators eligible to submit a proposal? B.10 Operator shall have an FAA Air Carrier Operating Certificate. The requirements in the solicitation and any resultant contract require a 14 CFR 135 Operating Certificate.

11 N/A Does the transportation of personnel in passenger configuration constitute a Part 135 operation?

Point-to-Point passenger or cargo transposition are civil flights and would be in accordance with the operators 14 CFR 135 Certificate and Ops Specs.

Special Mission Flights may be public aircraft operations. Special Mission flights may have passengers on board the aircraft. See definitions if Forest Service Manual 5700 and Forest Service Handbook 5709.16.

Smokejumper Aircraft Screening and Evaluation Subcommittee | NWCG https://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies/national-directives https://www.nwcg.gov/committee/smokejumper-aircraft-screening-and-evaluation-subcommittee#:%7E:text=The%20Smokejumper%20Aircraft%20Screening%20and,in%20smokejumper%20and%20paracargo%20operations.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies/national-directives https://www.nwcg.gov/committee/smokejumper-aircraft-screening-and-evaluation-subcommittee#:%7E:text=The%20Smokejumper%20Aircraft%20Screening%20and,in%20smokejumper%20and%20paracargo%20operations.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies/national-directives