Questions and Answers for 1202SA25Q9301.pdf

Questions and Answers for 1202SA25Q9301 Government Responses are in RED:

1. Section 7 Background. It is stated that “The same methodology developed in 1990 has been applied for all subsequent flight hour rate Studies”. Is it the US Forest Service’s intent for the contractor to utilize the same methodology? If so, is there a stated methodology document that the contractor should utilize? The statement regarding the same methodology being applied is referring to the general methodology stated in the background that precedes the sentence in quotes above. There is no stated methodology document other than what is stated in the background.

2. 8.d. Referencing the “Direct Operating Cost Survey”. Does the US Forest Service have an existing Cost Survey which they will provide? No. It is necessary that the contractor have existing data and knowledge as well as prior performance experience to develop their own cost survey which enables satisfaction of the deliverables. If so, will the contractor need to update it to include helicopters which are configured from surplus military aircraft? A response to this question is not applicable. Will the government provide a review of the revised Direct Operating Cost Survey for approval? A response to this question is not applicable either.

3. 8.e. Will US Forest Service provide a copy of or link to the “nonfuel portion of the EPA” and requirements? The non-fuel portion of the economic price adjustment (EPA) are maintenance and other costs. Maintenance costs include both labor as well as the parts and components needed for the maintenance, repair, overhaul and replacement of the helicopter parts, systems, and engines. Other costs may consist of incentive pay per hour for the flight and maintenance crews, insurance surcharge per flight hour for firefighting, and other hourly costs not covered elsewhere. It is imperative that the contractor has the knowledge and performance experience to give consideration of the effect other costs will have on the EPA.

4. What is the number of the current contractors for submission of the survey? The answer to this question is the number of current Type 1 , 2, and 3 helicopter contract holders. We provide the awardee a list of all the email addresses for the contractors enabling the awardee to contact each of them for receipt and response to the survey provided by the awardee.

5. Are we able to request past award information for prior contractor surveys? No, the

Government is not able to provide that information. Is there as estimated number of hours and rates that the prior contractor was awarded? No, prior contractors have not been awarded an estimated number of hours and rates.

6. Does the US Forest Service currently collect mileage rates for service vehicles that support the helicopters. No. The Forest Service does not collect mileage rates. The Forest Service collects service miles that are driven by helicopter contractors providing service and multiplies those miles by the applicable mileage rate which is a deliverable from the awarded contract to pay for the cost of the vehicle utilization in service. Is this for individual vehicles? A response to this question is not applicable. If so, how many vehicles are currently surveyed? A response to this question is not applicable.

7. 12. Contractor Key Personnel: Please provide clarification on “Past performance has been satisfactory without the need for this designation.” This statement is not applicable and not needed for a response, however the vendor must provide Past Performance References.

Offeror shall include (Point of Contract, Email Address, and Contract Numbers) for up to 2 contracts that have ordered and received similar services as described in this solicitation. If the offeror has not performed similar services, they must inform the Government.

8. Will the contracting office issue the SF 1449 form as part of the solicitation? I don’t see it on the

Sam.gov downloads. No, vendor will be able to submit as needed documentation to include filling out Section 2.Schedule of Items/Price Schedule.