pre sol memo with questions attached 24R9100.pdf

Solicita�on: 1202SA24R9100 Smokejumper Aircra� Services

Pre-Solicita�on Q&A Session for Na�onal Smokejumper Aircra� Services

Where: Northern Rockies Training Center, 5765 W Broadway St, Missoula, MT 59808 in the Bob Marshall Room.

Remote Atendance: There will also be a virtual op�on as well. Please email David Hershey, David.hershey@usda.gov and a Teams link will be provided for you.

When: 0900-1500 MT

The program will go over the ques�ons submited and any follow up ques�ons that vendors may have.

Please email David Hershey, David.hershey@usda.gov for the atendance link and/or to let us know how many you plan on having in atendance at the mee�ng.

All ques�ons are atached to this memo.

David Hershey

208-985-6266

David.hershey@usda.gov mailto:David.hershey@usda.gov mailto:David.hershey@usda.gov

Solicita tion Se

Section

Specific Subsection:

B.9 (a)(3)(iii).

Recommended Action Recommended Insertion:

Reason for Insertion Question or Comment Answer

A 0 A - Continuation of SF 1449, Block 20 Schedule of Supplies/Services

Question or Comment

In the section listed for Performance Group the choices are 1A, 1B, 1C, 2A, 2B, 2C, and 3 which is different from what is listed in B.3 A-1, A-2, A-3, B-1, B-2, B-3, and C. Is it correct to correlate that the numbers and letters have been transposed and which way will be the proper way they will be referenced.

Related to this is in D.7 Exhibit 5 - Exclusive Use Bases, all the bases reference the Alpha/Numeric version except for Winthrop which references the numeric/alpha version.

Corrections will be made to the final RFP so all performance groups are identified the same.

B 4 B.4 (o) Question or Comment

Is it acceptable to use times recorded on a flight log? Some aircraft do not have a Hobbs meter.

For example, aircraft flight log has entries for Time Out, Time Off, Time On, and Time In (out of blocks, takeoff, landing, in to blocks).

Further, as stated in B.33(b), payment will be predicated on Block Time.

No. Installation of an hour meter is the contract requirement.

B 13 B.13(a)(2)(iv) Question or Comment The requirement stated as "FAA 'English Proficient' Endorsement". As a matter of clarification, there is not an endorsement per se, English Proficient is listed as a limitation on the pilot certificate.

Please refer to the following FAA web site.

https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airmen_ certification/english_proficiency

B 4 B.4(e)(3) Question or Comment Is it correct to assume ONE transponder can be deferred in a dual transponder installation?

Yes, provided the remaining transponder meets contract requirements.

B 4 B.4(s)(1) Question or Comment Cabin passenger and side-facing seats do not have shoulder belts in current aircraft. Was this requirement intended to include all aircraft classifications?

B.4(s)(1) will be revised to clarify requirements.

B 13 B.13(a)(2)(v) Question or Comment B.13(a)(2) states "All proposed pilots shall..."

Does this apply to copilots?

For PICs, is it permissible to apply the currency provisions of 14 CFR 135.247(a)(3)?

1. yes, 2. no

B 4 B.4(s)(4) Question or Comment So long as the seatbelt meets the current FAA operating requirement (Part 135), is it acceptable for the part to carry a previous revision of TSO 22? Part 145 repair stations reidentify the belt or harness with the original TSO when performing overhauls or re-webbing.

Previous versions of the TSO-C22 do not meet the current contract requirements and will not be accepted.

B 5 B.5(b) Question or Comment Please clarify the intent is to use FAA SDR reportable requirements, or that there will be defined criteria for what is reportable under this requirement?

Per B.19, the requirements are listed: "identified in 14 CFR 21.3(c), 135.415, 135.417 or as requested by the Government for what is considered a significant discrerpancy."

B 5 B.5(c) Question or Comment This provision state recommended AN mandatory SB must be complied with, while remaining documents references only mandatory, which is correct?

This requirements states: "Shall comply with all OEM programs (recommended and mandatory) ICA's, SBs, CAP, SID, SSID, CPCP, and EWIS.

B 5 B.5(h) Question or Comment Is the intent of this requirement to notify the COR when a scheduled inspection interval has 16 FH REMAINING or to provide notice of when the inspection is scheduled to be accomplished?

Yes.

B 5 B.5(h) Question or Comment Are normal line-replicable -items (LRU, such as instruments, control heads, receivers) considered major airframe components? Please define.

Components or repairs that will require FCF, Test flights, engineering or additional funtional testing would be considered major. If the aircraft is being removed from availability, they will require an RTCA and the COR/AMI will be notified regardless per B.5(n).

B 5 B.5(i) Question or Comment Please define the reporting timeline expectation. Is it acceptable to report a revised mechanic roster on the next day or will the added mechanic be prohibited from working on the aircraft until the revised roster has been received by the COR?

The mechanic will not meet contract requirements until the updated roster is submitted and accepted by the COR.

B 5 B.5(n) Question or Comment Please define the scope of unscheduled maintenance/repairs that must be reported to the ASI for return to availability. Is the intent to include servicing fluids, changing light bulbs, changing aircraft interior configurations?

Servicing is not intended to be reportable as long as the manager does not remove them from availability. Changing aircraft interiors would require an AMI signoff. If it requires a logbook entry per CFR 43.9, an AMI will have to review and

RTCA.

B 7 B.7(b)(2)(ii) Question or Comment Is it acceptable to have different audio panels at mission positions, than are installed in the cockpit, so long as mission audio panels are identical and meet contract requirements?

The cabin audio panels must be of the same series as the cockpit audio panels but don't need to be the same model.

B 7 B7.(d)(3) Question or Comment Is it acceptable to use paint with RF transparency, in the field, to maintain antennas which incur rock chips, etc., to prevent further degradation?

No

B 22 B.22(d) Question or Comment Please define "major" in terms of unscheduled maintenance. Is it correct to assume if "major" unscheduled maintenance required, normal ASI approval procedures are to be followed prior to

MAP?

The intent of this is to not allow any major inspections or repairs to take place after pre-use inspection (carding) and before MAP. It will be at the discretion of the AMI, at the time of reporting, whether or not it is major and would require another pre-use inspection.

B 31 B.31(d) Question or Comment Should the reference "without loss of availability" be interpreted as the aircraft availability rate payment is not interrupted?

Yes. B.31(d) will be revised to - During the MAP, aircraft on an FAA-approved aircraft maintenance program(s) (for example one hundred (100)-hour inspections, phase, or progressive type inspection), and after having flown fifty (50) or more hours following the start of the MAP or task order in excess of thirty (30) days, the Contractor may perform scheduled inspection or scheduled maintenance without loss of availability per the requirements in (1) thru (3) below.. From that time, after every subsequent one hundred (100) hours of flight (plus or minus ten percent (±10%)), scheduled inspections or scheduled maintenance may be performed without loss of availability per the requirements in (1) thru (3) below.

E 1 E.1(15)(ii)(A)(1)(ii)/(iii) Question or Comment With transition to electronic record keeping, will a maintenance software report, stating date, personnel, and method of compliance suffice to meet this requirement?

Yes.

E 1 E.1(15)(ii)(A)(3)(i)(2) Question or Comment Will photos of the audio panel and radio layout suffice to meet this requirement? Yes

B 13 B.13(a)(7)(i)(B)(2) Question or Comment

What is the justification for such high requirements that are then spelled out in B.13(a)(7)(i)(C)?

Under Part 135, we are held to a higher standard for training and qualification of our pilots.

It would be better that we should be able to use copilots that are trained and qualified per Part 135.

These are the minimum standards for the Smokejumper mission.

B 13 B.13(a)(7)(i)(B)(4) Question or Comment Can you clarify why Part 61 is referenced versus Part 135? As a Part 135 Air Carrier, our pilots are trained and qualified under Part 135.

They may be qualified under part 135 but they still are required to meet part 61 requirments.

B 5 B.5(0) Question or Comment Can the weighing be accomplished to establish an empty weight than all configuration "calculated"?

yes

B 13 B.13(a)(7)(iii)(B)(3) Question or Comment As this is read/interpreted, a PIC isn't required to have current checks under Part 135?

B.12(a)(1)Regardless of any status as a public aircraft operation, the Contractor shall operate in accordance with approved FAA Operations Specifications and all portions of 14 CFR 39, 43, 61, 91, 135 (including those portions applicable to civil aircraft) and each certification required under this contract unless otherwise authorized by the CO. This requirements makes currency checks under 14 CFR 135 a requirement.

The requirement is also on the checklist for the pilot record form.

A 13 A.13(a)(5) Question or Comment Was this suppose to be PIC vs SIC? Removed SIC from parapgraph

B 13 B.13(a)(7)(iii)(B)(4) Question or Comment The draft solicitation verbiage is "...under supervision of an approved and current Smokejumper Training Pilot (SMJTP) or USFS Smokejumper Inspector Pilot." Does this mean that an agency Inspector Pilot could be providing supervision of one of our smokejumper pilots in training?

yes

B 13 B.13(7)(iii)(C) Question or Comment SMJP/MSJTP minimum requirements table notes starts 25 hours PIC in the past 36 Months. What if a type rated pilot with 3,000 hours in M/M last flew 40 moths ago. Does that mean that pilot must fly 25 hours as PIC before carding.

no. Would require 10 hours and 5 missions

B 13 B.13(a)(7)(iii)(b)(6) Question or Comment If more then 1 flight for evaluation is required, who bears this cost of this flight?

Evaluation flights require droping of smokejumpers and paracargo and would be compensated.

Training flights with out smokejumpers are at the cost of the contractor.

B 13 B.13(a)(13)(i) Question or Comment For SIC, PIC IP designated in another aircraft...Sub-paragraph (b) states 25 hours PIC-does that apply to an SIC?

SMJC will be removed from (13) and the NOTE

B 13 B.13(a)(7)(i)(B)(5) Question or Comment The verbiage states "For initial qualifications... by authorized smokejumper pilot." How do we get a smokejumper pilot 'authorized' ? Or, is this supposed to say inspector pilot?

Sentence corrected to state. authorized smoke jumper inspector pilot

B 32 B.32(b) Question or Comment Shouldn't the 'Status' categories apply to Mandatory Availability Period (MAP) aircraft as well?

Yes, Change made to the Title of B.32 to reflect Daily Availability Requirements. The requirements of B.32 would applly to either EU or CWN Task Orders.

B 33 B.33 Question or Comment Second sentence refers to "Contract Line Item Numbers", where are these located?

Offerors shall fill in the Schedule of Supplies/Services (reference Section A) for proposed aircraft information, and the following rates for evaluation:

B 34 B.34(c) Question or Comment Fuel associated with mobilization/demobilization - is this for all or just with 'Dry Rate' ? This is for all mobilization and demobilization.

B 38 B.38(b) Question or Comment Since flight time is paid "block-to-block", can the flight hourmeter (Hobbs) requirement in B.4(o) be dropped?

no

B 14 B.14(b)(2) Insert B.14(b)(2) add additional sentence

"The twenty-four(24)-hour off-duty period need not be consecutive. Similar to B.14(a)(5)

Language ammended to align with B.14(a)(5)

B 43 B.43 Question or Comment Please confirm that this is everyday - or is this only when away from designated base?

This is for everyday while ordered on an EU or CWN task order. Overnight allowances should not be included in the daily availability or flight rate

B 31 b.31(e) Question or Comment If a Maintenance day is used , and is not paid, does that day count in the MAP # of days?

The following will be added to the end of the paragraph. Non paid approved mainenance days will be added to the end of the MAP.

B 45 B.45(a) Question or Comment What constitutes "approved in advance" ? If the airplane is moved to an alternate base a day or two prior to scheduled relief days, how would we get approval on such short notice?

The paragraph will be modified to state, "…approved in advance by the CO or COR"

D 8 D.8 Exhibit 6 Question or Comment Can the same information be presented from similar platform i.e Complete Flight?

As long as all the information is accounted for, another program is allowable

D 10 D.10 Attachment 1 Question or Comment Will a revised FS 5700 be published? This one is different from the current version. Further, will it also have the same "checklist" at the bottom. There isn't a part 135 check on there.

This is the correct form and specific to Smokejumper Pilots.

B 2 c Question or Comment

“The purpose of the IDIQ on-ramp is to create an opportunity for ... incumbent Contractors, to introduce services or aircraft not available at the time of initial contract award.”

Can incumbent contractors introduce new aircraft at any time after award or is this a scheduled event?

No. This is a scheduled event.

B 4 a Question or Comment

“... with side-facing smokejumper exit door on the left side of the aircraft aft of the main landing gear.”

Is it permissible to offer an aircraft with a rear door?

All aircraft have to meet the SASES requirements.

Aircraft offered shall have a side-facing smokejumper exit door on the left side of the aircraft aft of the main landing gear. An aircraft with a rear door only will not be acceptable.

B 2 a Question or Comment

“The guaranteed one-time minimum(s) for each contract awarded ...”

Will separate contracts be issued for Category A and Categories B & C?

No. The guarenteed minimum is based on the category the aircraft is qualified for. Reference Performance Requirements in B.3 If an aircraft is offered on performance group A but does not meet the minimum performance requirements it will not be awarded and will not recieve the guarentee.

B 33 n/a Question or Comment

“All proposed availability rates shall be evenly divisible by fifty-six (56).”

Please explain the purpose of this. Is there any situation that any rate other than the full daily rate will be used? If so, please describe those circumstances.

It is a 14 hour duty day with each hour divided by 4 or 15 minute increments. No, there is no other situation.

E 13 52.212-2 Question or Comment

“Evaluation shall be the LPTA source selection process, as described in FAR Subsection 15.101-2.

The Government intends to evaluate proposals and award multiple FFP, IDIQ contracts ...”

Please elaborate on how LPTA evaluations will be made? If the same aircraft type is proposed by multiple contractors, will the Government only award one contract to the lowest price bid?

LPTA is only used for Call-When Needed Task Orders. TOPR awards will be based on best value.

So long as all of the technical factors are met and the price is reasonable there will be multiple awards for the parent contract.

E 19 Pre-bid Conference Question or Comment Could the Government also include virtual participation for this conference so offerors can have multiple SMEs participate remotely.

Yes there will be a virtual option

B 3 3 Question or Comment Each aircraft requires reconfiguration, passenger to cargo and vice versa. How much time is generally allotted for the transition between the different LOPA’s required?

Language will be added to address the configuration change no less that 8 hours.

Additional time may be requested to the COR.

B 3 3 Question or Comment Does the government have historical flight hours for each category on an annual basis for the last five years and can that be provided to offerors?

Not all performance groups have historical usage by the USFS. The average has been approximatly 100 hrs per aircraft regardless of performance group.

A 1 (a) Question or Comment

Based on a 1 Oct 2024 RFP release date, what is the current proposed targeted award date?

Assuming award occurs in Jan 2025 and with a May PoP start, is there any concern with the potentially short timeframe between award and the 2025 fire season to allow new entrants enough time to acquire equipment, modify aircraft, train personnel and ensure a 100% readiness posture in time for the first tasking?

The RFP release date is scheduled for no later than June 1st 2024 with an anticipated award date no later than August 31st. With operations planned for April through October of 2025.

B 19 Safety Question or Comment Has the government considered DCMA 8210.1 requirements for offerors as an additional safety enhancement?

No. DCMA is DoD based. The USFS requiremens are as written.

B 10 Certifications Question or Comment Has the government considered AS9001D requirements for offerors as an additional quality standard?

No. The USFS requirements are as written.

A 1 (b) Question or Comment

It appears that 56.207-6 applies to this contract, however must Teaming Arrangements be joint ventures of can SB's use Teaming Agreements or a subcontracting agreement with another SB to compete and win this work? In other words, do SBs have the flexibility to use traditional teaming arrangements without having to be concerned with going through the arduous and drawn-out JV process?

E.6 will be removed.

B 1 (b) Scope Question or Comment Will this contract be a sole source or multisource contract?

This is a Multiple Award Task Order contract therefor there may be multiple awards for the parent contract.

B 1 B10 Question or Comment

Would the government consider allowing vendors to exclude themselves from Alaska operations or will you maintain that aircraft and crew must be available for operations in Alaska, CONUS and Canada? The way the draft is currently written, vendors have no choice but to nominate aircraft for all 3 geographic areas regardless of the challenges in doing business and conducting operations in Alaksa/outside the CONUS.

Aircraft and crews must be available for operations in Alaska, CONUS and Canada.

B 3 (a)-(c) Question or Comment How many aircraft and which type is required/preferred for each performance group?

There is no minimum or maximum number of aircraft for the performance groups. The aircraft offered have to meet the performance group bid and be of a type that is SASES approved.

B 3 (a)-(c) Question or Comment What is the estimated total blade hour requirement for each performance group per MAP/season?

The USFS does not utilize blade hour requiremts

B 3 (a)-(c) Question or Comment What is the replacement aircraft requirement for each performance group?

B.26 addresses replacement aircraft. There is no requirement to have a replacement or standby aircraft available.

D 7

EXHIBIT 5 - EXCLUSSIVE

USE BASES

Question or Comment For operations in Alaska and Canada, will the client provide locations/facilities as a base of operation, or will the contractor be required to source for locations/facilities as a base of operation?

The Government will establish base of operations.

B 10 (b) Question or Comment Which certification will be required to operate US registered civilian aircraft in Canada? And will the client be assisting or providing sponsorship for certification in order to provide airlift support for operations based in Canada?

Operations in Canada are covered in USFS Policy.

Agreements between the United States firefighting agencies and Canada establish guidance and protocols for aerial firefighting operations along the border. Landings outside the United States are not authorized unless agreed upon by the sending and receiving units and the aircraft and pilots are authorized to do so. Contractors interested in participating in Canadian firefighting or forest fire management SAS operations must submit their own application package to the FAA and to Transport Canada Instructions are contained in FAA Advisory Circular 00-60B. If contractors are approved for firefighting or forest fire management SAS operations in Canada should notify the contracting officer. B.10(b) will be ammended to make canadian operations optional.

B 10 (c) Question or Comment The Shorts SC-7 Skyvan does not reflect on the SASES Approved Smokejumper Aircraft list. Will the client consider the Shorts SC-7 Skyvan for Performance Groups A-3 and B-3?

No.

E 19 (f) Question or Comment Will potential offerors be required to attend the pre-proposal conference, scheduled on 30 April 2024 in Missoula, MT, in person? Or will there be an option to key in remotely via Zoom/Teams?

There will be a remote attendance option

E 19 E19 Question or Comment BAI is very interested in attending the proposed industry day if the government intends to have an in-person session with vendors. We respectfully ask that confirmation and details be announced soonest so we may make travel arrangements and plan accordingly.

The Contracting Office will post with these questions.

B 1 (b) Question or Comment

What is the expected timeline for this RFP? What are expected dates for:

The RFP release date is scheduled for no later than June 1st 2024 with an anticipated award date no later than August 31st. With operations planned for April through October of 2025. This is a 1 base year with 9 option year contract.