Questions_and_Answers.pdf

AG‐024B‐S‐17‐9105

Questions from prospective bidders and the answers.

1. The Contract looks like it requires an autopilot, is this correct?

Answer: Correct, autopilot is required.

2. Three axis auto pilot is not available until you get into a Cessna 210. Do you require the yaw dampener for the auto pilot or will altitude hold, heading and directional control be sufficient?

Answer: A 2 axes autopilot with altitude control and heading or nav mode(s) meets the requirement.

3. The contract requires a payload of 1,000 lbs, is this correct?

Answer: No. An amendment will be issued.

4. I don’t see where I bid the “Standby” rate.

Answer: An amendment will be issued.

5. Is this a 7 day a week contract?

Answer: Generally no. Most times it is 5 days a week. This year might be a little different in that we will be shifting surveyors between Regions and they often want to fly 6 or even 7 days while in travel status. Over weekend flights will be noted in the schedule that will be available in June.

6. What are the average number of days away from base?

Answer: In the last 5 years, between the two Regions, we flew an average of 57 days per aircraft.

Approximately half of the flight days were away from designated base.

7. What does a typical day look like?

Answer: Surveyors meet the aircraft at a prearranged time (usually 9 am) or travel from motel to airport together if away from designated base, surveyor makes calls to dispatch while pilot performs preflight, load up and fly survey in the area of interest, land for sack lunch and fuel, then fly survey for the afternoon as weather permits. Land and done for the day (return to motel).

8. Will you grant an extension of time to bid this contract?

Answer: No. Our timelines are too tight to allow an extension.

9. What aircraft are you hoping for to fill the contract?

Answer: At a minimum, we are looking for high‐wing, single engine turbo charged aircraft with 4 seats

(pilot + 3) that has a useful load of 1,000 lbs with the requisite avionics.

10. What aircraft did you have on contract before?

Answer: Cessna 182RG‐T, Cessna 206‐T, Cessna 210‐T.

11. Regarding USB Port requirement, will a cigarette lighter adapter be acceptable?

Answer: No. cigarette lighter adapter will not be acceptable. USB Port must be TSO (Technical Standard

Order) approved and provide 2 amps of power. A cigarette adapter does not provide enough power (amperage) to charge adequately while in use. Also, most cigarette lighter adapters are not TSO’d.

12. Only 1 plane based at MSO? Will there be a need/option for a second aircraft on a CWN basis?

Answer: There will be only 1 aircraft based in MSO. The contract is designed to have flexibility so that contract aircraft can be utilized throughout Regions 1 & 4. At this time, we do not anticipate a need for an additional CWN aircraft based out of MSO. See B‐1.

13. Hobbs time will be required? It would be better to take a combination of Tac Time, Hobbs Time and Clock

Time.

Answer: Yes, we are aligning this contract to follow the national template. We will primarily be using

Hobbs time with an option to use Clock Time should the Hobbs malfunction. See C‐29‐b.

14. Prospective Bidder has a concern with 4 people in the aircraft. Concerned that we will be loading the aircraft too heavy and create a safety concern in the afternoons. 2 people are ok, 3 people are ok sometimes, and 4 people are too heavy in the afternoon. Backcountry airport protocol states landings will happen before 10 am or not at all. Bidder feels we will be trying to push beyond the aircraft limits. They feel non‐pilots are making management decisions to save money and thinks FS pilots might need to get involved.

Answer: We recognize this concern and we are trying to reduce risk by contracting for increased aircraft performance capabilities to better meet our mission parameters. Two‐person grid flights are a national direction for most FHP survey flights. Back country airstrip landings are allowed only in an emergency or when additional safety requirements are met.

15. Does the 1000 pounds requirement need to be included since the minimum of 4 hours 30 minutes of useable fuel at 8,000 feet is already included?

Answer: This contract is for aircraft to be used within multiple regions and varied flight environments.

These specifications were identified in order to meet the required aircraft needs within the Regions. See

E‐2.

16. B‐1. Schedule of Items – Items chart.

QUANTITY – HR. Does this need filled in? No. Base your unit price on a per hour basis.

UNIT PRICE. Is this the hourly flight rate? Yes.

TOTAL. What is this? Not applicable. See amendment.