ARCEX 2025 - Air Charter PWS - Pioneering Single Engine - HTC71125QCC03.docx

Performance Work Statement Air Services – Arctic Ice Floe Pioneering To Undersea Warfighting Development Center Detachment Arctic Submarine Laboratory

13 December 2024

HTC71125QCC03

BACKGROUND

The U.S. Navy’s Undersea Warfighting Development Center Detachment Arctic Submarine Laboratory’s mission is to support the fleet as the “center of excellence” for Arctic matters to enable the submarine force to safely and effectively operate in the unique Arctic Ocean environment, develop and train forces in the tactics, techniques, and procedures required for Arctic operations and exercises; develop and maintain personnel with expertise in Arctic-specific knowledge, skills, and capabilities; plan and coordinate technical development, operations test and evaluations and employment of systems that assure access for Navy forces to engage in the Arctic region; and coordinate with organizations on Arctic-related matters.

Scope This performance work statement (PWS) describes the tasks required of the contractor to support the Undersea Warfighting Development Center Detachment Arctic Submarine Laboratory by providing air charter services as described in Section 3, Requirements, in compliance with applicable documents listed in paragraph 2.1. The tasks are designed to support analysis of the sea-ice environment in the Arctic, which includes a daily flight from Deadhorse Airport onto the drifting sea-ice for training and research.

Note: The requirement under this PWS is in addition to the requirements under RFQ HTC71125QCC02.

Reference Documents Reference Documents

a. CFR Title 32 Part 861, DOD Commercial Air Transportation Quality and Safety Review Program.

b. DOD Instruction 4500.3, DOD Commercial Air Transportation Quality and Safety Review Program.

Requirements Charter Aircraft Services

Air Operators do not need to be DoD approved, per reference (a) and (b), to submit proposals for chartered air services as the aircraft will not carry Department of Defense (DoD) personnel or cargo. Two pilots are required for all flights, even with single engine aircraft if that aircraft supports a second pilot.

The aircraft will conduct operations from Deadhorse Airport (IATA: SCC/ICAO: PASC) and support flights to ice floes approximately 100 nautical miles (NM) to 225 NM from the airport in the northern direction (i.e. this is one-way distance from Deadhorse Airport and there is no fuel available en route or at the target ice floe). The aircraft must be equipped with GPS, navigation, and communication equipment. Air Operators are expected to procure fuel for their aircraft.

Contractor shall conduct charter aircraft service to cover a Pioneering Landing. The Pioneering Landing flight is the aircraft that conducts the initial landing on the sea-ice; there is no person on the ice at this time, the snow/ice is not groomed for a runway or skiway (i.e. unimproved landing site), and no measured ice thickness is available (although predicted ice thickness may be available). The plane may use wheels, skis, or a combination and have endurance minimum of five hours to travel to various ice floes, which have been selected by the Navy through satellite imagery analysis, approximately 100 NM to 225 NM from Deadhorse Airport (SCC) in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. The aircraft must be able to operate without a groomed runway. The aircraft operator and pilots must have experience with Pioneering Landings. The aircraft must be able to take off and land on the sea-ice in under 1,500 feet but a distance of 1,000 feet or less is highly preferred. Conventional landing gear (i.e. tail-wheel gear) equipped aircraft is highly preferred for this operation. Preferred aircraft for this specific operation is the de Havilland Otter (DHC-3) with wheel-ski configuration.

The aircraft shall accommodate at least four passengers, although the capability to accommodate more passengers is preferred. The experienced pilot will select a suitable landing site on the ice with the guidance and concurrence from an onboard, contracted subject matter expert. The aircraft must provide payload capacity for at least 2,000 lbs. to accommodate personnel and equipment. Contracted personnel may bring ice augers, scientific equipment, communications equipment, emergency survival gear, electrical generators, and shelters. The contracted representative will provide survival gear (e.g. survival tent, insulated air pads, sleeping bags, Iridium phones with GPS) to accommodate passengers.

It is expected that the aircraft will remain on the sea-ice for approximately 1 – 3 hours during Pioneering Flights to conduct ice surveys.

Schedule / Period of Performance Projected Service Period: 23 – 26 February 2025

· 23 – 26 February 2025: One Pioneering Flight per day projected Minimum Guaranteed Flight Hours: 15 total flight hours Potential Total Flight Hours: 20 total flight hours Government Furnished Government Furnished Information The government will provide information pertaining to the ice floe selection. This information may include satellite imagery, meteorological forecasts, ice floe positions (GPS coordinates) from deployed tracking buoys, and sea ice measurements as available.

Contractor Key Personnel Aircraft Pilot The aircraft pilot is considered Key Personnel. Any proposal must include a résumé or curriculum vitae (CV) which provides evidence of expertise and experience landing the proposed aircraft on drifting sea-ice.

Evaluation Criteria The contractor will be evaluated on the following criteria using a Best Value Continuum Tradeoff Process (IAW FAR 15.1.1-1): Section 6.1 (Air Operator Capability and Experience (Past Performance)), Section 6.2 (Pilot Experience), and Section 6.3 (Aircraft Capability), when combined, are more important than Section 6.4 (Price).

Air Operator Capability and Experience Describe the aircraft operator experience in operating aircraft over sea-ice and conducting Pioneering Landings on drifting ice floes.

The aircraft operator must provide evidence of past performance with references. Complete Attachment A, Past Performance.

Describe the air operator’s capability to provide a backup aircraft if the designated aircraft becomes unavailable or stranded on the sea ice.

State any factors that may limit operational support during the period of performance. For example, daily/weekly crew rest requirements, flight hour limitations, other aircraft tasking during the event, known maintenance requirements during the period of performance, etc.

Pilot Experience Provide a résumé or CV for all pilots. Include applicable experience and expertise landing the proposed aircraft on drifting ice floes, including as a Pioneering Landing.

Aircraft Capability Provide information to include manufacturer, model, age, cruising speed, and condition of the aircraft proposed to conduct the Pioneering Landings.

Provide the payload capability in regard to number of personnel (passengers) and equipment (in pounds) and the take-off and landing distances on the un-groomed sea-ice. Shorter take-off and landing distance are preferred, higher passenger capacity if preferred, lower aircraft weight is preferred.

Provide the operational range capacity (distance for each leg of a round trip without refueling) for varying payloads (in pounds). For example, when carrying 1,000 lb payload, the range of the aircraft is XXX nautical miles. When carrying 2,000 lb payload, the range of the aircraft is XXX nautical miles. A chart depicting these values is recommended. Values should assume the aircraft is equipped for ice landings.

Provide minimum ice thickness required to land and take off from the sea ice.

Provide information on any additional support equipment or requirements that may be useful for operations on the drifting sea ice.

Price The aircraft operator may provide a firm-fixed-price (FFP) hourly rate under CLIN 0001 that includes all costs associated with performing the missions, to include aircraft relocation fees, incidentals (e.g. hangar/apron fees, equipment rentals, room and board in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, etc.), fuel costs, and other fees as appropriate.

As an alternative, the aircraft operator may provide a firm-fixed-price (FFP) hourly rate for aircraft flight hours and separate charges for other incidental costs associated with performing the missions, such as aircraft relocation fees, hangar/apron fees, fuel surcharges, equipment rentals, room and board in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, and other fees as appropriate.