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 above are only the questions received and answered up through Friday, December 6, 2018. Additional questions and answers will be posted after the closing date for questions.