Amendment 01-08-9006-07-11-08.pdf

AG-024B-S-11-9006

National Call-When-Needed Helicopter Services AMENDMENT 01 July 8, 2011

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

1. CONTRACT ID CODE PAGE OF PAGES

2. AMENDMENT NO. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

01 July 8, 2011

6. ISSUED BY CODE 7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6) CODE

U.S. FOREST SERVICE – INCIDENT BUSINESS

NATIONAL INTERAGENCY FIRE CENTER

3833 S DEVELOPMENT AVE

BOISE ID 83705-5354

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

June 17, 2011

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

CODE FACILITY CODE

11. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers is extended, is not extended.

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning 1 copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted;

or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (if required) None

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS.

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS PURSUANT TO: (specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A. FAR 52.212-14 – Contract Terms and Conditions – Commericial Items (Feb 2007) (c) Changes

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (specify type of modification and authority)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not, is required to sign this document and return 0 copies to the issuing office.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

This amendment is issued to answer the following bidders questions, Various changes in the solicitation have been made in answer to the bidders question and the entire specification is hereby issued as an Amendment 01.

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print) 16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

Fredrick K. Geijsbeek Contracting Officer

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 16C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

NSN 7540-01-152-8070 STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83)

Previous edition unusable Prescribed By GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

Bidders Questions for AMENDMENT 01

BQ-1… “are p-25 digital FM required in the fuel truck can’t find if it is required” … ?

ANSWER: Yes they are required. Reference C-4(21). Related notes in Exhibit 8 have been deleted.

BQ-2: Can an operator use a "Single pilot" 135 certificate to meet the 135 requirement?

ANSWER: Yes.

BQ-3: Will constant crew coverage be required for CWN type II restricted category?.

ANSWER: Crew coverage will be as specified in solicitation.

Can you revise the Scale and weighing requirements back to the previous contract language?

ANSWER: Scale weight requirement is as specified (12 months); weighing requirements are 24 months for this solicitation ONLY.

Will a 496 Garmin suffice for a GPS unit?

ANSWER: Yes, refer to Section-8 (b) (1) (ii).

Section C 17(i) Cargo Hook has been changed form pervious language to include a keeperless hook. Can you revise back to previous language?

ANSWER: No

BQ-4: Reference to form 8130-3 (8730-3) in the specification has been corrected/amended.

BQ-5: Section E-6 has been revised in it’s entirety. All data submissions are as stated therein?

BQ-6:

1. Weight and Balance: The effective date of the weighing of the helicopter is referred to in

Paragraph B-1, B-3 C-5 (15) and E-1. In each case there is a different requirement for when the helicopter must be weighed. B-1 requires weighing 12 months prior to Award, B-3 and C-5 require weighing 12 months prior to the bid date and E-1 requires weighing within 24 calendar months of the bid proposal.

Which is the correct effective date of weighing? The preferable requirement is 24 calendar months prior to the submission o f the bid proposal

ANSWER: See revised weighing requirements of 24 months in amended solicitation.

2. Paragraph B-3 (b)(2) indicates that the Contractors are responsible for the costs associated with weighing the aircraft after award. Contractors can provide weighing equipment and personnel at their facilities at minimal cost however, if the aircraft need to be weighed in the filed it is impossible to estimate the cost to do something at an undermined time and/or location.

Can this requirement be removed?

ANSWER: NO

3. Paragraph B-7, Acceptable work schedules requires all Personnel shall be under the same work schedule. Since this is the CWN program why is there a requirement to have all crew members on the same schedule? As long as all crew members meet the two days off in 14 requirement and reimbursement for travel is only paid after 12 days in the field why is there a requirement to have all crew members on the same schedule?

ANSWER: Must be the same schedule, days off may vary, as stated in specification.

4. Paragraph C-2 Certifications (2) requires helicopters to conform to the approved type design (Normal or Transport). This should also include Restricted.

ANSWER: Corrected, includes restricted.

5. Paragraph C-8 (a) (4) requires provisions for Aux –FM Portable radio. Restricted Category helicopters cannot carry passengers and should be exempt for this requirement.

ANSWER: Remains as stated in specification.

6. Paragraph C-10 (a) (1) requires the Contractor to operate in accordance with 14 CFR 135

Operations specifications. 14 CFR 135 certification is not required under this solicitation and many offered helicopter operators are certified under 14 CFR 133 and 137 only. Can this paragraph be changed to require operation in accordance with 14 CFR 135 Ops Specs for passenger operations only?

ANSWER: No, reference C-2 (a), as applicable.

7. Paragraph C-41 Relief Crew Approval and Payment. This paragraph refers to paragraph C-

39 as Transportation of Relief Crews. C-39 is payment for Fuel Transportation. C-41 refers to cost reimbursement not being applicable to “Primary” crews. Please define primary and relief crews.

ANSWER: See revised C-41

BQ-7:

Schedule of Items B-3 (b)(iii)(A) states A/C weighing shall be “accomplished within 12 months prior to the date of proposal submission,” This disagrees with pg E-3 para (a)(1) that states: “The weighing must take place within 24 calendar months prior to the submission of bid proposal.”

ANSWER: See revisions and previous answers.

Definition of Equipped Weight for Bucket Helicopters on Pg C-53 “Does not include the weight of the bucket…” This disagrees with pg E-3 para (a)(2) which specifies “Equipped weight includes the weight of the fixed tank or the weight of the empty bucket…”

ANSWER: Does not include weight of bucket.

BQ-8:

My question concerns the weighing of the aircraft timing. Section B (B-3): “The aircraft’s equipped weight is determined using weight and balance data which was determined by actual weighing of the aircraft within 12 months preceding the starting date of the agreement and 24 months thereafter….”.

Section B (B-5), B-3(iii) Weighing shall be: (A) Accomplished within 12 months prior to the due date of proposal submission, and….

The first paragraph indicates weighing timing is preceding the starting date of the agreement

(after award) and the second is 12 months prior to the due date of the proposal (July 18, 2011). My concern is the latter where we are in compliance with the 2008 CWN, where we weighed the aircraft in April 2010. To comply with B-3(iii), we would need to have your inspector validate a fresh weight prior to July 18, 2011?

ANSWER: See previous answers..

BQ-9:

Section C-4, Pg. C-10, Item 32 refers to 9 pin connectors for medium and all light helicopters for applicability. Whereas Exhibit 5, Page C-72 states for exclusive use mediums and lights.

Which is the correct regulation?

ANSWER: Exhibit 5 should read the same as C-4.

BQ-10:

B-3(b)(2) – Will the government be requiring a re-weigh of all contractor helicopters? NO.

When will this re-weigh be required?

ANSWER: Reweighing may occur at the Governments option, as per specifications.

B-7 – Clarification is requested on the sentence dealing with crew compliment being on same schedule. In my opinion this will be difficult if not impossible on a CWN contract where aircraft will be doing other work throughout the fire season if they are not assigned to a fire.

It seems to me that as long as personnel have the required days off in the previous time period all should be ok.

ANSWER: Previously answered.

C-1 – The last USFS/DOI CWN contract had two SF-1449 forms one for DOI and one for

USFS. Does this contract only require one?

ANSWER: Yes, see revised ordering section.

C-4(d) (6) – Clarification is requested on the status of the survival kit in relation to equipped weight. The paragraph states that the survival kit “shall be considered as an addition to the equipped weight of the aircraft” In the definition of equipped weight under definitions it appears that the survival kit is part of equipped weight. Which is it?

ANSWER: Part of equipped weight.

C-4(d)(27) – Does the cargo bay requirements apply to K-Max type helicopter?

ANSWER: Not applicable to non passenger hauling helicopters.

C-12(d) –Under “Additional Special Mission Requirements” a requirement for “Annual VTR

Recurrency Training” is given at 2 hours. Does this requirement apply to pilots who are engaged in Vertical Reference operations on a daily basis outside of contract?

ANSWER: YES.

C-12(h)(1-2) There appears to be a contradiction between paragraphs. Para(1) requires that mechanics have 18 of the previous 24 months “actively engaged in helicopter maintenance.”

Para(2) requires 12 months “experience as an Airframe & Power Plant (A&P) mechanic or foreign equivalent in maintaining helicopters.” Which is it?

ANSWER: Helicopter was changed to read, aircraft.

C-16(b) See question 2 above. Same question.

ANSWER: See above, same answer.

BQ-11:

Exhibit 22 - Computed Gross Weight Table of the CWN RFP is different than Exhibit 22 of the recently issued 2012 USFS Exclusive Use RFP. For example, our make and models (S-

64 E and S-64 F) are not included in the CWN RFP Table. Is there a reason for the difference? Can we use the table in the Exclusive Use RFP? NO

ANSWER: See revised solicitation. Exhibit 22 does not apply.

2) Erickson Air-Crane is requesting a 14 day extension to the closing date of the CWN RFP, from July 18, 2011 to August 1, 2011. The reason for this request is that all of our Technical

Specialists (pilots, maintenance crews and Crew Chiefs) are in the field on the devastating wildfires in Arizona and New Mexico. We need their essential input in order to fully comply with the Technical Proposal portion of the RFP. It is not feasible to call these crews in from field work at this time. Please advise us of your decision.

ANSWER: No extension.