Final_Revised_RFQ_Questions_&_Answers_12639519Q0043.docx

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:

Solicitation 12639519Q0043 Aircraft Inspection, Maintenance, Repair and Equipment Installation Services

Question 1. Is this effort is a new requirement or are there incumbent contracts? If there is an incumbent vendor, would you be able to provide the contract details (such as: Vendor Name, Contract Number, Award Date, Value)?

Answer: This is not a new requirement and the information on the incumbent and contract is below.

Contractor Parowan Aero Services, Inc.

Parowan, UT

Contract Number

AG-6395-C-14-0034

Award Date January 16, 2014

Contract Award Value $450,000.00

Question 2. In the specifications under SOW it states “The USDA does not have a facility where these inspections, maintenance, repairs and equipment installation can be completed nor can the services be performed in the facility where the USDA aircraft are parked or hangered.” Are we to assume that the USDA will deliver the plane, provided that the unit is fully operational, to a sight designated as the contractor facility. If that is the intent, what are the geographical limits/requirements of the contractors sight from the USDA facility?

Answer: The sentence before the one you identified in 2.1 Scope of Work it states “All services under this contract are to be performed at the contractor’s facility.”. Under part 2.10 Delivery of Services it states: “The aircraft will be delivered to and picked up from the Contractor’s maintenance facility by a certified APHIS, WS pilot. Maintenance facility will use an APHIS, WS pilot for all run-ups and test maintenance flights.” Under section 2.12 Transportation Expenses it states “The cost of transporting the aircraft to and from the Contractor’s facility for the services to be performed shall be the responsibility of the Government.”

There are no geographical limits/requirements of the contractors sight from the USDA facility, however, please be aware proximity of the contractors service facility to where the USDA aircraft are located will be taken into consideration when evaluating the technical capability and pricing, and a contractor facility in close proximity to where the USDA aircraft are located is more advantageous to the government. This is referenced in Section 2.12 Transportation Expenses and the section entitled Evaluation of Quotes.

It’s advantageous from a technical standpoint as it generally would allow for the aircraft to be repaired sooner and would translate into less time to get the aircraft back into service. Additionally, sometimes the USDA personnel are on site for maintenance and repairs. It’s also more advantageous from a pricing standpoint because the farther away the contractor facility, the more costs the government would incur to transport the multiple aircraft to and from the contractor facility every time service is needed. The additional costs would be for fuel, travel costs such as possible lodging and per diem, and staff hours to transport the aircraft. This would also apply in the event the aircraft can’t be flown, because the farther away the contractor facility, the higher the travel costs the government would pay for a contractor to travel to the USDA facility for repairs.

Question 3. SOW 2.1: States “there could be potential transient aircraft flown to the facility in Cedar City, Utah”.

Is it possible to have a list of aircraft type that may be transient into Cedar City to ensure skill set is in place to support aircraft, and mitigate all risk?

Answer: The “transient aircraft” would be of the same type as the resident aircraft. The types of aircraft are listed in the solicitation in section 2.1 Scope of Work and listed below.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Wildlife Services (WS) has a requirement for the inspections, maintenance, repairs, and installation of specialized mission equipment of their fixed wing aircraft to include: Piper PA-18 Super Cubs, CC-18 Top Cubs, and 8KCAB-Decathlon.

The below questions were received by Thursday, December 6, 2018. Questions 4-8 were not posted previously on the Federal Business Opportunities website.

Question 4. SCOPE OF WORK 2.1: Kindly advise all serial numbers of subject aircraft and date of manufacture of USDA, APHIS, WS: Piper P-18 Super Cubs, CC-18 Top Cubs , and 8KCAB-Decathalon – to reduce workload and increase accuracy to the highest point - may we receive all N registered numbers and I can research the serial numbers and dates of manufacture of subject aircraft. This is needed to have proper parts effectivity against the actual aircraft being maintained and overhauled. Also to ensure we additionally have all proper special tooling and ground handling equipment. This ensures we are not placing an aircraft out of service due to poor planning.

Answer: The multiple USDA aircraft that would potentially be serviced under this contract were manufactured from 1956 to 2008. The two aircraft stationed at the facility in Utah are 2010 Cub Crafters Top Cub, 2002 American Champion Decathlon.

The government doesn’t have the serial numbers orN registered numbers readily available, however, the government doesn’t believe this information is necessray information for contractor’s to provide a quote, and historically in these USDA aviation procurements it hasn’t been an issue with contractors being able to provide a quote without this information. Please note the repairs and parts are time and materials line items and contractors are not being asked to provide a price for parts or a parts list at the time they submit their quote.

Question 5. Additionally, advise exact power plant variants on each aircraft as some have been upgraded (open source citing), any avionics upgrades (glass cockpit), and on all subject aircraft are there any mission sensitive equipment installed such as FLIR (thermal imaging).

Answer: All aircraft that would be serviced under this contract are upgraded with lycoming o 3060 engines. No further upgrades will be done. There is no special mission equipment at this time. There are no glass cockpits.

Question 6. Are all aircraft ADS-B complaint which is due by The FAA Jan 1, 2020? Searchaerospace, has the capabilty to work to have aircraft compliant given due date. It is also known flight mission currently undertaken by these agencies may be outside of the scope of ADS-B compliance.

Answer: Yes, the USDA owned aircraft to be serviced under this contract are ADS-B compliant.

Question 7. Additonally, if there is a link or .pdf to subject aircraft, Maintenance manuals, Illustrated Parts Catalogs, equipment list, 100 hour paperwork and annual paperwork against all three fleet types.

Answer: Since the government doesn’t perform the maintenance on the aircraft the government doesn’t have the maintenance manuals. Per the Statement of Work, the contractor is expected to obtain all the appropriate manuals for the respective aircraft. Additionally, the contractor performing the repair services obtains the necessary parts and would thereby also expected to be responsible for obtaining a parts and equipment list to perform the requested services. The government does not have access to the 100 hour and annual paperwork to provide to contractors and to obtain this information prior to solicitation closing would not be feasible. However, the government does not believe this information is relevant or necessary for contractors to quote the requested services since the 100 hour and annual inspections would be the same services regardless of the prior inspections performed on the aircraft.

Question 8.

001 CLINs Ordering Period One: January 16, 2019 – January 15, 2020 Item Description of Item Unit Estimated Unit Price Total Amount No. Quantity 001a. 100 Hour Inspection w/o Parts Each 4 -12 $_________ $_________ 001b. Annual Inspection w/o Parts Each 2 -12 $_________ $_________ Subject 100 hours for CLIN 1 – CLIN 5 & 100 HOUR CLIN 1 – 5. Is each 4 -12 defined as 100 HR inspections or 4 to 12 aircraft?

Subject Annual inspection for CLIN 1 – CLIN 5 & 100 HOUR CLIN 1 – 5. Is each 2 -12 defined as annual inspections or 2 to 12 aircraft?

Answer: The 4-12 is the estimated quantity/number of 100 hour inspections needed per ordering period. The 2-12 is the estimated quantity/number of annual inspections needed per ordering period. Contractors should quote based on the estimated quantity of annual and 100 hour inspections listed in the Schedule of Items. These estimates were derived based on services needed historically for the USDA aircraft.