B09_SA_Amend_9_140D8120R0004_Cover_Letter_0009.pdf

381 Elden Street Suite 2000A Herndon VA 20170

Solicitation No. 140D8120R0004 On Call Fixed Wing flight services for use by the Department of Interior and other agencies in Alaska

The purpose of Amendment 0009 of solicitation 140D8120R0004 is to extend the proposal due date for the solicitation to add additional small business, multiple award, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract holders for the Alaska On Call Fixed Wing Flight Services in support of the Department of Interior and other federal and non-federal agencies operating in Alaska.

Current contract holders DO NOT need to take any action.

The purpose of this solicitation is to award Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts for fully Contractor operated and maintained fixed wing flight services throughout Alaska on an on-call basis to support the many DOI bureaus with natural resource and other missions in the state. This acquisition is a 100% Small Business Set Aside.

Please read this solicitation in its entirety, the highlighted passages have recently been modified and this solicitation reflects all items that will be in any subsequent award documents.

If you submit a proposal, you must include pricing beginning with “3rd option” on the pricing pages and all option years thereafter – please DO NOT submit pricing for the Base Year, 1st option, or 2nd option on the forms. Performance will begin during the third option year but may not begin on the dates listed on the form due to the evaluation process. Your best pricing should be submitted in case discussions are not held. If your pricing cannot be determined fair and reasonable, you will not be given an award/contract. All flight rates are dry, meaning you will be reimbursed for fuel separately and should not build fuel costs into your flight rate(s).

NOTE: Your proposal should be priced competitively and should be prepared independent of other contractors. Agreement or mutual understanding among competing firms that restrains the natural operation of market forces is suspect and can be seen as antitrust violations. Pricing the same as others can be considered collusion and the Federal Acquisition Regulations prohibit this. (see FAR 3.303)

If your offer is selected for an award, your prices will remain in effect for the third option year of the contract (through March 31, 2025), as well as your pricing for subsequent option years if they are exercised. No adjustments to prices will be made except as otherwise permitted in the contract.

Renewal of the contract(s) is at the option of the Government.

Section D, 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors and Evaluation, outlines what you must submit with your proposal and how the proposals received will be evaluated. Prior to submission of your proposal, please check to see that you have included all the information requested. Failure to include the information identified may adversely affect the evaluation of your proposal.

Proposals are due by 1:00 PM, EDT, April 9th, 2024. Proposals received after this time and date would be subject to the conditions of D6, Late Submissions, Modifications, Revisions, and Withdrawals of Offers.

The following is a list, included with the original solicitation, of some items worthy of your attention prior to submitting a proposal:

Schedule of Supplies/Services (A3 Pricing Schedule)

• There is only 1 flight rate per aircraft now. It is a dry rate and will be used for all types of flights (special use and point-to-point).

• Standby is applicable for all types of flights now; Daily Availability has been removed and is no longer available. (See C29.2 for more information on Standby)

• Additional Pay Item Schedule – Extended Standby has been removed and is no longer available. Receipts will be required for lodging and special charges.

Aircraft Requirements (B6)

• Tandem seat airplanes must have an approved 5 point harness installed for all occupants. (B6.5)

• A strobe light or flashing LED mounted on top of the aircraft, or otherwise visible from above, IE wing tip and tail strobes. If the aircraft certification requires the anti-collision light to be aviation red, then a white strobe or white flashing LED with an independent activating switch must be provided in addition to the red anti-collision light. (B6.6)

• Approved High Visibility, pulsating, forward facing conspicuity lighting (pulse lights) if approved for make and model of aircraft offered. (B6.7)

• One permanently installed and circuit protected dual auxiliary power charging receptacle (USB) (cigarette lighter adapter is not acceptable). (B6.8)

Avionics (B7)

• Transmitters must not open squelch on, or interfere with, other

AM or FM transceivers in the aircraft which are monitoring different frequencies. So-called “Transmit Interlock” functions must not be used with communication transceivers. (B7.2.4)

• One satellite-based aircraft tracking hardware for each aircraft offered, with the exception of aircraft flying 14 CFR Part 121 scheduled service. (B7.3.3)

• Earphone/microphone jacks: JJ-033 and JJ-034 jacks must be furnished at each required station. (B7.4.1.2)

• Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B). All aircraft furnished must be equipped with ADS-B meeting the requirements of TSO-C166b or TSO-C154C and 14 CFR

91.227. (B7.4.3)

Personal Protective Equipment (B16)

• B16.1 The Contractor must provide and require personnel to wear

PPE for in accordance with The Interagency Aviation Life Support Equipment (ALSE), Chapter 2 Personal Protective Equipment.

https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/interagency_alse_ handbook_v2.8.pdf (B16.1)

Fuel and Servicing Requirements (B18) and General – Maintenance (B19)

• Numerous changes in these sections. Please read carefully.

Supplements (B25)

• For non-tandem seat aircraft, special use aircraft shall be equipped with double strap shoulder harnesses and lap belts for front seat occupants, with the exception of the DHC- 2 series Beaver and the DHC-3 series Otter where a single strap inertia real shoulder harness is acceptable for front seat occupants. If aircraft was manufactured after December 12, 1986 the aft compartment shall have single-strap or double-strap shoulder harnesses and lap belts for each occupant, if manufactured before December 12, 1986 aft compartment shall have at a minimum lap belts for each occupant.

Shoulder straps and lap belts shall fasten with metal to-metal, single-point, quick-release mechanism.

Reconnaissance (B25.2)

• Numerous changes in these sections. Please read carefully.

Economic Price Adjustment - Insurance (C19)

• This section is new and was not in previous contracts.

Orders for Service (C25)

• For requirements over the Simplified Acquisition Threshold, task order proposal requests will be sent out to all fixed wing on call contract holders to inform them of the opportunity and allow for proposal submission. (C25.1.2)

Measurement and Payment (C29) – Numerous changes in this section. Please read carefully.

• Standby (C29.2) – Standby is only to be earned while in ready status, awaiting direction by the government. When held away from base overnight, flight time plus guarantee plus standby cannot exceed the 14 hour duty day. (C29.2.4)

• Guarantee (C29.3) - The flight hour guarantee is now three (3) hours.

General changes:

• There is no need to submit pilot information with your proposal. Pilots will be evaluated after award. Documentation will be submitted to the Office of Aviation Services prior to inspection/carding.

https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/interagency_alse_handbook_v2.8.pdf https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/interagency_alse_handbook_v2.8.pdf

• 52.204-7 Entity must be registered and active in SAM.gov prior to submitting a proposal.

If after reading the solicitation, you find you have questions, submit your questions in writing to Contract Specialist Stephen Klier at stephen_klier@ibc.doi.gov and Contract Officer Maya Maxies-Clemons at maya_maxies-clemons@ibc.doi.gov in accordance with instructions found in Section D12. They will be researched and answered via an amendment to the solicitation. Questions will be accepted until 10:00 am EDT on April 5th, 2024. Answers will be posted by solicitation amendment no later than 1:00 pm EDT on April 8th, 2024.

You are required to submit acknowledgement of any solicitation amendments with your proposal. If you submit your proposal early, you will need to check www.SAM.gov closer to the closing date to ensure you have submitted signed copies of any amendments with your proposal. If the amendment posting answers provide additional information that make you want to revise your proposal, you are free to do so and submit the revision prior to the closing date of 1:00 PM, EDT, April 9th, 2024. If you submit a revision, it must be marked as such so the Contracting Officer knows it is to replace your initial proposal.

Watch the solicitation for a potential amendment providing details on a pre-proposal conference.

mailto:stephen_klier@ibc.doi.gov mailto:maya_maxies-clemons@ibc.doi.gov http://www.sam.gov/