Attachment 1 SOW_St Lawrence Island_Charter_rev 1.pdf

Statement of work St. Lawrence Island Helicopter Procurement

USDA-NRCS ALASKA

Description of Project:

Helicopter charter service for NRCS-Alaska to perform range assessment on St. Lawrence Island (SLI), in support of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). NRCS Alaska needs a twin-engine helicopter to access the interior locations of the rangeland on the island (Island is 160 miles from Nome, off the coast of Alaska).

1.0 Scope of work:

One Mission: One day of field work by helicopter on remote St. Lawrence Island during the last two weeks of May 2024 to conduct range assessment.

Helicopter charter will provide crew transport for two NRCS employees to and from Nome, AK, and one guide to and from the island (Savoonga, SLI), required to be present when non-island residents are doing work on the island. Crew will be transported to 10-12 key locations on the island to assess range conditions, with each stop lasting approximately 30 minutes.

Approximate locations to be visited during the mission (Exact locations will be determined in the field):

Site# Lat Long Elev �

1 63 24' 23" 171 34' 40" 562 2 63 33' 44" 171 19' 8" 506 3 63 26' 46" 171 6' 59" 302 4 63 33' 51" 170 41' 12" 702 5 63 29' 42" 170 20' 42" 68 6 63 35' 56" 170 10' 46" 1,023 7 63 20' 14" 170 21' 34" 58 8 63 20' 26" 169 44' 29" 546 9 63 10' 59" 169 57' 31" 136

10 63 12" 59" 169 38" 29" 384 11 63 16' 42" 169 22' 53" 243 12 62 59' 24" 169 36' 52" 783

*Approximate locations are marked in red.

2.0 Requirements

• Aircraft will be a twin-engine Bell 412 helicopter or similar type aircraft (Twin engines are required as the island is located 160 miles off the coast of mainland Alaska in the Bering Sea.

• Vendor must understand date are flexible and contingent on flyable weather conditions, and vendor must promptly work with customer to reschedule flights as needed.

• Vendor adheres to parameters of 135 certificate – Vendor must show proof both aircraft & pilot hold interagency carding for mission type by DOI or USFS.

• Helicopter must support 4 or more passengers and 100 lbs cargo for all flights. Examples of helicopters that meet payload and capacity requirements: twin-engine Bell 412 helicopter or similar type aircraft.

• Vendor must provide a short narrative of their experience flying in these specific mountains or similar.

• Pilot and Aircraft must meet requirements as listed in the General Manual 420.123 and 420.124 o https://directives.sc.egov.usda.gov/directive/35

420.123 Approval Requirements

a. The pilot-in-command shall have a valid class II (two) medical certificate.

b. The aircraft shall have and air worthiness certificate displayed and be inspected in accordance with Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR).

c. At least $75,000 liability insurance coverage shall be in effect for each passenger.

d. The pilot-in-command shall have a valid, current, FAA unrestricted Commercial Pilot Certificate or Airline Transport Pilot Certificate and appropriate aircraft ratings. The minimum flight requirements are:

FIXED WING AIRCRAFT

Category Minimum Hours

(1) Total time 1500

(2) Pilot-in-command total 1200

(3) Pilot-in-command, as follows:

Category and class to be flown 200 Cross country 300

Operations in typical terrain 200 Night 100

Instrument actual/simulated 100 Make and model to be flown 25

Preceding 12 months 100 Preceding 60 days 10

HELICOPTERS

Category Minimum Hours

(1) Helicopter 1500

(2) Weight class* 100

(3) Turbine 100

(4) Make, model, and subsequent series 50

(5) Make and model in previous 60 days 10

(6) Make and model in previous 30 days 5

(7) Typical terrain** 200

(8) Typical terrain in make and model 10

*Weight Class: Light (up to 6000 lbs. Normal gross), medium (6001 to 12,500 lbs. Normal gross), heavy (12,501 lbs. and over, normal gross).

**Typical terrain experience requirement is defined as: Pilot experience in mountainous terrain with varying elevations of over 5000 foot pressure altitude at temperature ranges above 75 degrees F., rugged slopes, mountaintop helispots, mountainside landing spots surrounded by trees, brush or rocks, persistent wind, and weather that includes strong winds in the mountains with sudden up-and-down drafts and direction changes.

e. The provisions of 420.113(d) do not apply when the pilot-in-command is an NRCS employee on official travel and is the sole traveler. In such a situation, all applicable federal laws and regulations shall be followed.

420.124 Approval Policies to Contract Aircraft Services for Snow Survey Operations

a. Flying in mountainous areas requires special equipment and procedures. The use of aircraft in which NRCS personnel are passengers is usually in remote areas where over snow travel is especially hazardous or in situations where important economies can be achieved or for emergency rescue work.

b. If an aircraft is used under the conditions outlined in §420.114(a), it is to be either for taking aerial readings for snow survey markers or for making landings in remote areas to conduct snow surveys or site installation/maintenance activities. Landings by conventional airplanes on other than authorized airports or airstrips are prohibited except as specifically approved on a case-by-case basis. Landings on open water may be made by properly equipped aircraft. Landings on snow may be made by a helicopter or ski-equipped airplane if the pilot and the NRCS representative agree on the need and feasibility and if the normal safety requirements of the operations can be maintained. This determination shall be made by aerial reconnaissance and/or advance ground reconnaissance prior to the snow survey season. The pilot always has the final decision on whether a landing will be made.

c. The pilot-in-command shall have the same qualifications as shown in §420.113(a). Pilots certified by another federal agency for operating in mountainous areas in snow conditions are considered to be particularly well qualified for snow survey operations.

d. The aircraft shall meet specifications of §420.113(c) with special consideration for the last inspection. Aircraft certified by another federal agency are considered to be particularly well qualified for snow survey operations.

e. If NRCS personnel are involved with snow survey work as passengers in contact aircraft, the contract is to specify that

1. A flight plan shall be filed by the operator with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) when required as a minimum. An itinerary which includes estimated departure and arrival times will be filed with the appropriate responsible organization prior to departure. Where radio-communication facilities exist, position- reporting procedures established by the agency owning or responsible for the aircraft will be followed for helicopter operations. If NRCS is responsible for the contract, the minimum requirement will consist of a report prior to descent to a site that includes the estimated time on the ground and a report after lift-off with the destination and estimated time of arrival.

2. The aircraft shall be of a color that can be distinguished against a snow background and shall be equipped with signal flares, first-aid kit, approved fire extinguisher, radio equipment, emergency locator transmitter (ELT), and survival equipment for the pilot. All seats will be equipped with FAA approved lap belts. Front seats in helicopters will also be equipped with FAA approved double-strap shoulder harness, with automatic- locking inertia reels.

f. Only NRCS personnel who have had survival training and are equipped with survival gear (including a Gentex SPH-4C with communications or equivalent flying helmet), Nomex or equivalent fire-retardant flight suit and gloves, above-the-ankle boots, and a minimum 3-day emergency food supply may be passengers on aircraft used in snow survey activities.

g. Sling load/hover hook-up operations should only be undertaken by personnel who have received formal training such as that which is offered by the United States Forest Service and the Department of the Interior-Office of Aircraft Services.

h. Prior to any fueling operation, all aircraft engines must be shut down, all passengers off-loaded, and proper grounding assured.