Attachment 1 - Performance Work Statement.pdf

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR)

Earth Systems Research Laboratories (ESRL) Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML)

Mauna Loa Observatory (MLO) Helicopter Support for Mauna Loa Observatory Facility Access

PURPOSE:

The NOAA/OAR Global Monitoring Laboratory needs non-personal services to provide helicopter flight support for facility access of the Mauna Loa Observatory.

SUMMARY:

The NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML) Mauna Loa Atmospheric Baseline Observatory (MLO) is located on the Big Island of Hawaii, at 11,141 ft above sea level on the north flank of the Mauna Loa volcano. The site is often regarded as the “premier atmospheric science site on earth” and is home to numerous high-profile data sets including the “Keeling Curve” that first documented the rise in carbon dioxide in our global atmosphere. Scientific measurements obtained at MLO often represent the global background conditions for the atmospheric research community. As such, the measurements taken at the site are highly precise and need to be safeguarded to ensure that local site contamination does note negatively impact the long-term records. During regular operations, the observatory conducts well over 250 daily climatological measurements, some as precise as 1 part in a trillion.

The MLO facility is located at the end of an 18-mile one-lane access road originating from Saddle Road.

Mauna Loa began to erupt at approximately 11:30pm (HST) on 11/27/22. As of 8am (HST) on 12/1/22, lava flow was confirmed to have crossed the MLO access road, cutting off vehicle access to the observatory, as well as power to the site. To date, lava flow has crossed the MLO access road in at least three locations.

The government (NOAA) is requesting operational helicopter flight support to continue the critical long-term scientific mission of the MLO site until the road access is re-established. Flight operations to MLO will begin after the eruption has subsided and State/County officials deem conditions safe for NOAA staff to return to the site. It is assumed flight operations will be necessary until such time as road access to the facility can be re-established (timeline unknown).

To support the MLO science, personnel will need to access the site on a weekly basis. It is anticipated personnel will need to be on site for a few hours each visit (morning times to avoid potential afternoon cloud build-up). Routine visits to the observatory by staff, research partners, and/or contractors will include transport of small, light boxes containing glass flasks for air samples both to/from the facility as samples are collected on the ground at MLO. Limited other scientific cargo may also be needed to support mission operations.

The MLO site is currently without grid power. NOAA has worked over the last year to re-establish instrument operations with battery backup units and solar panels flown to the site via helicopter.

Additional flights moving cargo and personnel to re-establish power, conduct facility repairs/upkeep, or other additional passenger and cargo needs for observatory operations shall be included under this contract.

The MLO facility has an unpaved (dirt) helicopter landing area located on the east side of the facility. A wind sock is present at this location. Above-ground power lines access the site from below (downhill of) the helicopter landing area and then to the MLO buildings from the west-northwest (downhill corner). In addition, the MLO facility has a 40-m tall sampling tower located on the west side of the property. (Note:

with power lost to the site, the red FAA-warning lights on the tower are not operational). As a result, aircraft access to the MLO facility is restricted to the eastern side of the property, with approach/departure paths to/from the east, and is limited to clear, daytime conditions when the site is fully visible.

TASKS:

1. Round trip flights from a Government specified location to Mauna Loa Observatory

a. MLO has a helicopter landing area (dirt) at 11,141 ft above sea level on east side of parcel

b. Passenger transport:

● Helicopter must be able to transport a minimum of two passengers at one time. Capacity of up to four passengers is desirable.

● Plans to fly to MLO at least once per week (weather dependent), and possibly more often if needed for facility maintenance or special projects.

● Flight times TBD – but presume to be early morning staff drop-off and then late morning or midday pickup to avoid clouds building up at the site and reducing visibility.

● NOAA staff in Hilo will monitor Mauna Kea-based webcams of Mauna Loa for cloud conditions and call the flight team if conditions are deteriorating. During flight operations and cloudy conditions at Mauna Kea, Hilo staff will be in regular contact with NOAA staff at the MLO site to monitor changing conditions.

● Passenger manifest for each flight to be set by NOAA MLO Station Lead.

c. Cargo transport:

● Helicopter must be able to transport a minimum of 500-lbs of cargo at one time at an altitude of 11,141 ft above sea level (observatory altitude).

● Cargo flights to MLO will be as needed for dedicated cargo missions (weather dependent).

● Flight times TBD – but presume to be early morning to avoid clouds building up at the site and reducing visibility.

● Cargo can be either loaded internal to aircraft or flown externally / by sling load (dependent on materials). Loads with a rigger at both ends to hook up/disconnect the cargo loads (that hang below the helicopter), at both ends of the cargo operation.

2. Safety Briefings:

● All passengers will be briefed by the helicopter vendor on safe loading/operations of aircraft including scenarios where rotors are still turning.

● Safety briefings for passengers shall be completed prior to each passenger flying on an aircraft and subsequently on a monthly refresher basis.

Briefing to be completed by staff from the helicopter vendor and be specific to operations of aircraft in use.

3. Air-Ground Communications:

● If any air to ground communication is required between the pilot and staff at MLO, helicopter vendor to provide hand-held radio and charger for temporary use at MLO.

● If required, provide simple training on use of radio and comms procedure(s).

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE:

Mauna Loa Observatory

44-2441 Mauna Loa Access Road Waimea, HI 96743