A14_RFI_NPS_EU_Recompete_1_16_24_CLEAN_1.docx

Request for Information (RFI) for the Procurement of Exclusive Use Helicopter

RFI 140D0424R0032

National Park Service Recompete

THIS IS A RFI ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes, and it does not constitute a Request for Quote (RFQ) or Request for Proposal (RFP), or a promise to issue an RFQ / RFP. This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service. No funds have been authorized, appropriated, or received for this contemplated effort. Furthermore, those who respond to this RFI should not anticipate any feedback with regards to this submission; other than acknowledgement of receipt, if a request for an acknowledgement is requested by the submitter. Responders are advised that the Government will not pay any costs incurred as a result of a response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the responding party’s expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP or RFQ. If a solicitation is released, it will be via the Government Wide Point of Entry (GPE) at (http://www.sam.gov). It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor the website for any information that may pertain to this RFI. All submissions become the property of the Federal Government and will not be returned. The information provided may be utilized by the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) in developing its acquisition strategy.

RFI PURPOSE: There are two purposes of this RFI. The first is to determine the number and types of small businesses, including Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise (ISBEE), Small Disadvantaged (SDB), Section 8(a), Woman-Owned (WOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Woman Owned (EDWOSB), Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone), Veteran Owned, and Service-Disabled Veteran Owned (SDVOSB) capable of meeting the Government’s requirements for the subject procurement. The second is to determine the number and types of other than small businesses who may be capable of meeting the Government’s requirements for the subject procurement.

REQUIREMENTS: The DOI, Interior Business Center (IBC), Acquisition Services Directorate (AQD), in support of National Park Service (NPS), seeks information from companies potentially interested in providing one fully contractor operated and maintained helicopter, in Denali National Park, at Talkeetna, AK, to support NPS/Alaska Search and Rescue (SAR), resource management, law enforcement, and fire activities. Services will include, but are not limited to, retrieval and transport of passengers and cargo, initial attack, and suppression of wildland fires.

We plan to solicit in the next few months for a long term 5-year contract. This is your chance to be part of the solution and voice your opinions or ideas. We have what we think the minimum requirements and preferred requirements are. We are interested in industry input on if these requirements are realistic and financially feasible for both the vendor and the Government. We are interested in your comments regarding our potential requirements, as well as any new ideas to meet our mission that you may have. A single award is anticipated for the subject procurement.

One of the requirements of the contract is to provide flight services capable of completing missions at Denali National Park, Talkeetna, Alaska. The Park encompasses six million acres of land and is home to America’s tallest peak at 20,310 feet and was deemed a National Park by Congress in 1917.

Missions will include, but are not limited to: short-haul flights at high altitudes; cargo letdown; plastic sphere dispenser (PSD’s); single-skid, toe-in, hover exit/entry procedure (STEP) capability; longline; ACETA (aerial capture, eradication, and tagging of animals) via darting and netgunning; deep snow landings; search and rescue; mountain flying; natural resource missions; fire monitoring; law enforcement, limited to nonthreatening surveillance and reconnaissance; and, other administrative and related resource activities, to include personnel and cargo transport. The Government will direct aircraft to support its missions and objectives 24 hours per day, 7 days per week during an exclusive use period.

The contractor must maintain the appropriate Airworthiness Certificate IAW 14 CFR, Air Carrier Certificate or Operating Certificate and have engineering support for continued airworthiness from the current to the supplemental certificate holder and all equipment bust be FAA approved. The contractor is responsible for and must comply with all laws and regulations, and otherwise have or obtain all needed licenses, permits, and certifications, including, but not limited to, those necessary for the carriage of persons or property within the United States.

REQUESTED INFORMATION:

If your organization has the potential to provide the required aircraft meeting the specifications that follow below, please provide the following information:

1) Company name, mailing address, UEI number, and point of contact information

2) Email and web site address (if applicable)

3) Business Size (NAICS 481211 – Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation)

4) Business Size and Type (e.g. SB, ISBEE, SDVOSB, etc.)

Any questions or feedback are greatly appreciated and encouraged. Questions or feedback concerning this request will only be accepted via email addressed to the Contracting Officer, [Name], at [Name]@ibc.doi.gov.

Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions.

Submissions should be emailed directly to the Contracting Officer, Nicole Johnson by email Nicole_Johnson@ibc.doi.gov, Contracting Officer, Jennifer_Arthur@ibc.doi.gov by 1700 ET, on January 29, 2024.

Note: While the Government will accept response from companies with aircraft meeting minimum requirements, the Government is highly interested in responses from companies with aircraft meeting target requirements.

Item Requirement: Medium Type III Helicopter

Bureau: National Park Service

Period of Performance: One base five-year ordering period with a six-month extension of services option, IAW FAR 52.217-8 The exclusive use period is April 15th through August 12th (120 days) each calendar year starting in 2025.

Minimum Helicopter Requirements: Must have a Standard Airworthiness Certificate.

Aircraft certified under 14 CR 23 or 27.

An aircraft make and model for which engineering and logistical support for continued airworthiness is provided from the current type certificate or supplemental type certificate holder.

Non-jettisonable payload (HOGE) of 500 pounds at minus 20 degrees Celsius at 14,000 feet pressure Altitude using a pilot weight of 225 pounds, a mountain ranger at 200 pounds, a mountain rescue pack at 100 pounds, a 35-pound survival kit and Fuel for 40 minutes of flight plus 20 minutes reserve.

Insured seating for five (5) passenger seats not including pilot, but including copilot seat in an aircraft, normally single-pilot operated.

Powerplant: Turbine engine.

Performance capability to make deep snow and glacial landings at altitudes up to an elevation of 17,500-feet MSL.

Note 1: Contractor may be required to operate from an alternate base(s) when dispatched by the government.

Note 2: (Payload amounts shall be computed by using the Government’s Standard Interagency Load Calculation Method and Form and the Helicopter Fuel Consumption and Weight Reduction Chart included under Section C Exhibits along with the offered aircraft’s applicable Hover Ceiling Charts, weight and balance report and equipment list that you provide).

Helicopter Configuration (Minimum Requirements):

a. Doors: Sliding right, flight with door open or removed.

b. PIC Station: Left seat.

c. Passenger Seating: Forward facing, utility fold-up seats.

d. Landing Gear: Tundra/snow pads, skids.

e. External Cargo: Cargo hook, cargo basket with lid, long 96 inch

f. Internal Cargo: Flat cabin floor with internal tie downs.

g. Secondary hook system rated for Human External Cargo (HEC)

Specialized Equipment (Minimum Requirements):

a. Remote Hook.

b. Dual hydraulics.

c. Heater.

d. USB/3-Pin Power Source.

e. Main Rotor Brake.

f. Internal Litter Kit.

g. 150’ Longline.

h. Collapsible Primary bucket.

i. Oxygen system.

j. 50’ and 100’ longline option.

Helicopter Performance

a. Helicopter make/model: H-125 (AS350B3e)

b. .7 hours usable fuel plus VFR fuel reserve for 20 minutes

c. Typical altitude: 14,000’, Maximum Altitude: 17,500’

d. Typical Temperature: -20 degrees Celsius, Maximum Temperature: 30 degrees Celsius

Avionics Requirements

a. 406MHz ELT, 760-channel VHF-AM (COMM-1) radio, ADS-B “Out”, and Automated Flight Following (AFF), USB Power Source.

b. Standard Interagency Fire Requirements: P25 VHF-FM radio with guard & tones, AUX-FM, GPS, Dual audio system with separate transmit and receive for pilot & observer & aft exits, ICS for pilot & observer & aft passenger seats, Hot mic for pilot & observer, Transponder, IFR altimeter/pitot/static tests

c. AUX-FM Adapter Port (Aircraft Installation) (GOV must supply cord to radio)

d. VHF-FM Radio Programming Port(s)

e. ADS-B “In”

f. Portable/Panel Mounted Satellite Phone

g. Common additional fire equipment: Additional ICS: All, Data port for downloading A/C GPS data to Gov’t computer, 2nd VHF-FM (FM-2) radio