Questions_&_Answer.pdf

Section A, Page 6, Note 3 Compliance with 14CFR Part 107

Question: If the proposed unmanned aircraft meets CFR 14 Part 107 requirements, which grants airworthiness as part of its registration process, does the DOI require any additional airworthiness reviews other than DOI crew and aircraft carding?

Answer: Part 107 requirements are not sufficient for airworthiness. DOI will facilitate the airworthiness review with NASA for vendors that have been selected for award but who do not have a flight release from DOD, FAA or NASA. Vendors will need to provide a copy of an airworthiness certificate or flight release from DOD or NASA after award and prior to inspection. Language added to 52.212-4 page 19.

Section A, Page 9, A2-Item 3, Pricing-Other Pay Items

Question: Does the hourly rate for Mobilization Travel and Demobilization Travel apply to each crewmember who is mobilizing and demobilizing?

Answer: Section C, Paragraph C24.2: The Government will reimburse the Contractor for each authorized employee’s travel time, not to exceed four individuals, at the rate stipulated in Section A2-Item 3 Pricing– Other Pay Items.

Section: A, Page: 9, Paragraph: Note 3.

Question: Can the Government explain the meaning of “one Government provided pilot and aircraft inspection in this context?

Answer: The inspection of pilot(s) and aircraft will be provided by the government.

Section B, Page 10, Paragraph B1.1

Question: We have contractor pilots who fly missions for us and wanted to know if we were eligible to sign them up under us if they are not employees?

Answer: No. The purpose of this contract is to obtain fully contractor-operated and maintained Call When Needed (CWN) Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to support wildland fire operations, Search and Rescue (SAR), emergency management and other resource missions in the Contiguous 48 States and Alaska (See B1.1).

Section B, Page 10, Paragraph B1.2

Question: What are all the remote sensing programs a Contractor provided UAS services could potentially support?

Answer: Vendors awarded a CWN contract will be able to compete for non-fire related projects across DOI as the projects are identified and defined.

Section B, Page 10, Paragraph B1.5.3

Question: Will the Government provide the static ground data terminals? Is the expectation that the static ground terminal display a live web based stream? If the static ground terminal isn’t going to consume live web based video, will there be software (i.e.VLC) on the static ground terminal that can display a digital video stream (i.e.H.264)? Can the Contractor provide software to put on static ground terminals to display video?

Answer: Vendor provides video terminal at ICP and at the Ground Control station. DOI will supply additional as needed including software.

Section B, Page 10, Paragraph B1.5.5

Question: Is telemetry here referring to video with embedded metadata, which is referenced in B.2.4.1, or is the actual telemetry files of where the aircraft flew (i.e. Telemetry files from autopilot)? Is the assumption that the Contractor is not creating the points, lines and polygon products?

Answer: 1. Embedded telemetry as well as flight log files are needed.

2. Correct. Vendor is not responsible for creating GIS products beyond the point, line, polygon data

Section: B, Page: 10, Paragraph: B1.6

Question: No standards reference found by going to the link provided in the paragraph. Please provide link to the standards required.

Answer: https://www.nwcg.gov/sites/default/files/publications/pms936.pdf Solicitation updated.

Section B: Page 11, Paragraph B1.9

Question: Does a 12-hour day include setup and teardown, or is the intention for 12 continuous hours of flight over and above set up and teardown?

Answer: Available to fly 12 hours per day exclusive of setup/teardown. Flight time up to 8 hours during that 12-hour availability period.

Section B, Page 11, Paragraph B2.1.1.2

Question: Service Ceiling: Please clarify if B2.1.1.2 or Section B – Technical Specifications - Exhibit 1 (Service Ceiling) defines the requirements for the UAV service ceiling.

Answer: The service ceiling is the altitude at which the maximum rate of climb is 100 ft/min.

Section B, Page 11, Paragraph B2.1.1.2

Question 1: Relating to subparagraph B2.1.1.2, Capability of flying 12,000' density altitude. Our understanding is that current regulation prohibits UAS flight above 400 feet. Will DOI be responsible for https://www.nwcg.gov/sites/default/files/publications/pms936.pdf securing waivers to fly beyond this regulation, or is this an instance where you would prefer the contractor provide contracted manned flight?

Answer: DOI will secure necessary authorizations.

Question 2: Related to the above, in any instances where a DOI requirement exceeds the current regulation, will you confirm that DOI will be responsible for obtaining the necessary waivers or clearances from FAA and/or any governing body.

Answer: DOI will secure necessary authorizations.

Section B, Page 11, Paragraph B2.1.1.3

Question: Flight Duration: Please clarify if B2.1.1.3 or Section B – Technical Specifications - Exhibit 1 (Flight Duration) defines the requirements for Flight Duration.

Payload – Gimbal – IR: Please clarify if B2.3.1 defines the minimum specification for IR at (3-5 microns) or Section B – Technical Specifications - Exhibit 1 (Payload Gimbal-IR) defines this specification.

Answer: Minimum specification is thermal infrared dual EO/IR payload. Target specification is MWIR.

Section B, Page 11, Paragraph B2.1.1.3 & Exhibit 1, Flight Duration

Question: We are not aware of any UAS that weigh less than 55 lbs and can achieve a 2-hour flight time with EO/IR payload. Will a UAS with less than 2 hours flight time be considered?

Answer: There are multiple platforms that meet the solicitation specifications of 2 hours continuous flight. All UAS must meet the minimum requirements of the solicitation.

Section B, Page 11, Paragraph B2.1.1.3 & Exhibit 1, Flight Duration

Question: Does being capable of more than 2 hours of flight time include the use of two UAV's and pilots in rotation? In order to maintain poi contact for longer periods of time, one UAV can be returned home to replace the batteries and swap positions again on return to poi. Is this acceptable?

Answer: Each UAS proposed must be capable of minimum 2-hour flight endurance.

Section B: Page 11, Paragraph B2.1.1.3 & Exhibit 1 Flight Duration

Question: The two-hour endurance requirement effectively eliminates all sub-55-pound VTOL aircraft currently available, as well as most fixed-wing aircraft under 55 pounds capable of carrying the required gimballed sensors. If you would like to include VTOL capabilities (and thereby provide the option to perform tasks that are best done from a slow-moving or stationary platform) and still stay within FAR Part 107 rules, will the government consider lowering the minimum endurance requirement to one hour of continuous flight, the current state of the art for sub-55-pound, battery-powered VTOL platforms? Battery swaps can be accomplished quickly and the aircraft back in action with only short breaks in coverage primarily driven by transit distance to the scene of action.

Answer: There are multiple platforms that meet the solicitation specification of 2 hours of continuous flight. All UAS must meet the minimum requirements of the solicitation.

Section: B, Page: 11, Paragraph: B2.2.7

Question: Define programmable. Is the transponder required to squawk a code other than Charlie/ALT?

Answer: Programmable squawk codes with altitude encoding.

Section B, Page 11, Paragraph B2.2.12.

Question: In Exhibit 1, page 16, the ICP requirement lists a 50" monitor. Is this in addition to the GCS or a discrepancy?

Answer: In addition to GCS and located at the incident command post.

Section B, Page 14, Exhibit 1 Flight Duration

Question: Notionally, a platform that is able to fly a longer duration flight will be more expensive than a platform on the lower duration side of the spectrum. What is the Flight Duration stratification strategy regarding where the different duration platforms fit on the CWN list? For instance, will there be a list for 2-4 hour flight duration, 4-6 hour flight duration, etc.?

Or will they all be on one list?

Answer: Vendors can submit multiple platforms and multiple pricing. Each will be evaluated separately.

Section B, Page 16, Exhibit 1 Ground Terminal

Question: Is the 50” monitor displaying video at the ICP one of the static ground terminals referenced in B1.5.3? Are the 50” monitor and the laptop driving the display Contractor provided, or is a 50” display provided by the Contractor connected to the static ground terminal?

Answer: 1. Yes this monitor would be considered one of the terminals.

2. Yes the monitor and necessary equipment to run the monitor are vendor provided.

Section B, Page 17, Exhibit 1 Miscellaneous Training

Question: Please confirm that this is a Government funded activity that will be reimbursed per the vendor’s hourly rate on a per attendee basis?

Answer: No, the attendance of this training is part of the certification and inspection process. The vendor is responsible for funding attendance at this training. The requirement for training has been moved from Exhibit 1 to 52.212-4 as part of inspection and acceptance (pg 19).

Section C, Page 27, Paragraph. C9.1.4

Question: Can DOI provide insight as to where we can find the costs, timeframe and requirements for a NASA airworthiness review process?

Answer: The cost associated with this review is generally for the time needed for the personnel at NASA to do the review based on the vendor provided questionnaire. This can range between $2-$3K.

Depending on the level of review and any issues identified that number could go up.

Section C, Page 27, Paragraph. C9.1.4

Question: Will the DOI Carding inspection by itself be sufficient to meet the airworthiness requirements for this contract, as determined by OPM-11?

Answer: So long as that carding was based on the airworthiness review outlined in OPM-11 then yes. No additional airworthiness requirements will be required.

Section C, Page 27, Paragraph. C9.1.4

Question: Would other federal agency inspection approvals (DoD) be sufficient to meet DOI requirements for this contract?

Answer: NASA, DOD, FAA would all be acceptable

Section: C17.3 Page: 30 Paragraph: C17.3.1

Question: Is it possible for a contractor to submit a proposal for only Non-Emergency Operations?

Answer: Need to meet all the requirements of Section B to include fire suppression and search and rescue operations.

Section: D, Page: 44, Paragraph: D4.4.3.2

Question: In section B exhibit 1 under aircraft type, it states the UAS be under 55 pounds, which clearly means a UAS capable of being flown under Part 107, and not 121 or 135. The FAA Airworthiness Standard or Experimental Certificate (which also does not apply in this case, but at least could be obtained) is not issued by the DOD or NASA, so if not a contractor flying a UAV purchased from, or for the DOD or NASA, how is any contractor supposed to obtain such a certificate before the contract is awarded?

Answer: DOI will facilitate the airworthiness review with NASA for vendors that have been selected for award but who do not have a flight release from DOD, FAA or NASA. Paragraph D4.4.3.2 has been deleted. It is no longer a requirement to provide in the proposal an airworthiness certificate or flight release from the DOD, FAA or NASA. Vendors will need to provide a copy of an airworthiness certificate or flight release from DOD or NASA after award and prior to inspection. Language added to 52.212-4 page 19.

Question: If contracted to the DOD to provide drone service, they would then certify the aircraft to meet the standard, but the DOD and NASA does not certify non- contracted aircraft.

Answer: See above

Question: So, the question is; how to get DOD or NASA Airworthiness Certification without being contracted to the DOD or NASA, let alone before the DOI would award this contract

Answer: See above.