DPP_PNG_Request for Information (RFI).pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

FOR

UNITED STATES TRANSPORTATION COMMAND (USTRANSCOM)

DEFENSE POW/MIA ACCOUNTING AGENCY (DPAA)

Papua New Guinea Helicopter Requirement

TRANSCOM26C003

1. RFI Overview

In 2026, USTRANSCOM plans to have a contract in place for rotary-wing helicopter support services that will provide aviation lift capabilities for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) missions in Papua New Guinea. These services will include personnel and cargo transport, emergency medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), and mission planning support to enable DPAA’s mission to account for Americans missing from previous conflicts. USTRANSCOM seeks a solution that ensures cost efficiency, operational readiness, and flexibility while simplifying the current contract structure to better align with mission requirements. USTRANSCOM is seeking information about what solutions currently exist in the market, anticipated blade hour utilization, proposed CLIN/SLIN structures, and innovative approaches to streamline the acquisition process. Additionally, USTRANSCOM is interested in learning what information industry may need to scope a logical roadmap to succeed.

This announcement constitutes an RFI for informational and planning purposes only.

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP), nor is it to be construed as a commitment by the Government. No contract will be awarded as a result. Industry’s response to the RFI—or lack thereof—will have no impact on the evaluation of responses to any subsequent RFP or Request for Quote (RFQ) released. The information requested will be used within USTRANSCOM as market research to facilitate decision making (e.g., determining acquisition strategy, small business concerns) and will not be disclosed outside the Government.

Proprietary information submitted shall be appropriately marked. Do not submit confidential information in your response.

**Note** USTRANSCOM will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by interested parties responding to this RFI.

1.1. RFI Contact(s)

We have designated the following individual(s) to serve as the official point(s) of contact (POCs) for this RFI. These individual(s) are the only authorized contact(s) permitted to communicate on behalf of USTRANSCOM about this RFI.

Contact information for RFI POC(s):

NAME TITLE OFFICE EMAIL PHONE

Ms. Brenda Marshall Contracting Officer TCAQ-CR brenda.l.marshall10.civ@mail.mil 618-817-9385

Ms. Nicole Blanson Contract Specialist TCAQ-CR nicole.i.blanson.mil@mail.mil 618-817-9600

1.2. Submission Details

Please submit your response to this RFI via email to the RFI POC(s) identified in Section 1.1. and ensure it is received prior to the due date identified in Section 1.3. If you have any questions about this RFI, please direct them to the RFI POC(s) listed in Section 1.1.

Physical (paper) copies of RFI responses will not be accepted.

1.3. RFI Timeline

The RFI timeline is outlined below. Dates may be modified by USTRANSCOM and posted as an amendment to this RFI.

RFI Released: 23-FEB-26 Deadline for Questions: 12:00 P.M. (CT) on 11-MAR-26 Responses Due: 12:00 P.M (CT) on 18-MAR-26

2. Background Information

USTRANSCOM conducts globally integrated mobility operations, leads the broader Joint Deployment and Distribution Enterprise, and provides enabling capabilities in order to project and sustain the Joint Force in support of national objectives.

2.1. Scope of the Requirement

The scope of this contract requires the contractor to provide all labor, supplies, equipment, transportation, supervision, and associated costs necessary to deliver aviation support services for DPAA missions in Papua New Guinea. These services include personnel and cargo transport, emergency medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), and mission planning support.

2.2. Place of Performance

Papua New Guinea, including the following operational regions:

• Region I: North of the New Guinea Highlands mountain range (West Sepik, East Sepik, Madang, Morobe Provinces).

• Region II: East of the Owen Stanley mountain range (Oro and Milne Bay Provinces).

• Region III: Papua New Guinea’s Eastern islands (East New Britain, West New Britain, New Ireland).

• Region IV: Bougainville Island.

2.3. Anticipated Award Timeline

Contract is anticipated to be awarded on or about 01-MAR-27.

3. Information Requested

Parties interested in assisting USTRANSCOM with this market research are requested to submit the following information in the format outlined below. The response should be detailed (but no more than 10 pages). Title pages and cover letter will not count against the page limit. Respondents are highly encouraged to submit a tailored response rather than a generic capability statement to ensure the requested information is provided.

3.1. Company Information

• Company Name

• Unique Entity ID

• CAGE Code

• POCs, to include name, title, phone number, and email address

3.2. Business Size

The anticipated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) for this effort is 481211 – Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation. The Small Business Administration’s small business size standard for this NAICS is 1500. Based on this NAICS, identify your business size as a LARGE or SMALL business. If a small business, identify any of the following socio-economic categories that apply to your business under this NAICS: Historically Under-utilized Business Zones (known as “HUBZone”), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, Veteran-Owned, Small Disadvantaged Business, 8(a), Women-Owned, or Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned.

3.3. Who We’re Looking For

USTRANSCOM highly encourages responses from capable businesses of all sizes, including large and small business concerns and all socioeconomic categories.

3.4. What We’re Looking For

Interested Parties are invited to provide information on the following subjects of interest, specifically describing your capabilities in successfully executing the following:

1. Describe your ability to provide rotary-wing helicopter support services, including personnel and cargo transport, emergency medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), and mission planning support.

2. Highlight your experience operating in remote and challenging environments, such as jungle and mountainous regions.

a. What contract type (e.g., Firm-Fixed-Price, Time-and-Materials, IDIQ, or hybrid) would you recommend for this requirement to balance cost efficiency, operational readiness, and flexibility?

b. How would you simplify the CLIN/SLIN structure to reduce administrative complexity while maintaining operational flexibility?

3. Based on similar requirements or operational experience, what is your anticipated blade hour utilization, including standby hours, flight hours, and fuel hours?

4. Would an all-inclusive blade hour rate (covering standby, flight hours, and fuel) or separate rates for each be more effective? Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each approach.

5. Provide an example of a proposed pricing structure, including how rates would be calculated and applied across different aircraft types (e.g., single engine AS350, 9-pax twin engine BK117, and 12-pax twin engine Bell 212). Include assumptions or considerations that would impact pricing, such as mission duration, fuel logistics, or regional variability.

a. Describe your approach to managing fuel logistics and pre-staging in remote locations.

b. Provide innovative solutions to reduce fuel-related costs and ensure timely refueling during missions.

6. How would you structure aircraft availability and pricing to reflect variability in mission requirements (e.g., single engine AS350, 9-pax twin engine BK117, and 12-pax twin engine Bell 212)?

7. Would on-call pricing for occasional aircraft types be feasible?

8. Provide the following project or contract information for requirements deemed similar to this effort:

• A brief description of the project

• Contract number

• Period of performance

• Was your company a prime or subcontractor?

• Dollar value of the project

• Scope of the portion of the effort your company supported

9. If your company is a large business, specify whether you partnered or subcontracted with small business concerns to provide the same or similar services as this requirement.

10. If your company has no direct performance or experience with the above, explain how you will perform tasks utilizing experienced subcontractors through a proposed teaming arrangement or the hiring of qualified personnel.

3.5. Commercial Availability

Commercial Practices. Request responses to the following questions as they pertain to providing DPAA missions in Papua New Guinea support.

1. Is this service available commercially? If so, what commercial solutions can address the requirement for personnel and cargo transport, emergency medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), and mission planning support in remote and challenging environments?

2. What applicable industry standards, terms and conditions, regulations, trade journals, or process guides are relevant to this type of service?

3. Are there specific certifications or compliance requirements (e.g., CARB certification) that are standard in the commercial marketplace for this type of service?

4. What types of contracts are normally used in the commercial marketplace for this type of service (e.g., single-award, multiple-award, firm-fixed price, cost reimbursement, labor hour, time-and-materials)?

5. Are hybrid contract types (e.g., Firm-Fixed-Price with Time-and-Materials CLINs) commonly used for similar services?

6. What contract length is normally used in the commercial marketplace for this type of service (e.g., base year plus four options)?

7. Are multi-year contracts with options a standard practice for aviation support services?

8. What is the recommended pricing structure for this type of service?

9. What are the largest cost drivers (e.g., labor, equipment, leases, depreciation, fuel)?

10. Would an all-inclusive blade hour rate be feasible in the commercial marketplace?

11. Describe the competitive landscape for helicopter services in Papua New Guinea. How many qualified providers operate in the region, and is the supplier pool diverse or concentrated?

12. What evaluation criteria are typical for use in selecting a contractor to provide this type of service?

13. What Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or metrics (e.g., aircraft availability rate, on-time performance, safety incident rate) are standard in the industry to measure successful performance?

14. Are there specific metrics that should be included in the Government’s evaluation criteria for this requirement?

15. What criteria would best discriminate between offerors for aviation support services in remote locations?

16. Are there any organizational conflict of interest concerns that should be addressed for this requirement?

17. Are there technologies the Government should adopt, if feasible, to improve this requirement?

18. Are there innovative solutions or practices in the commercial marketplace that could enhance operational efficiency or reduce costs?

19. Are there challenges posed to non-incumbent interested parties that should be addressed?

20. What steps could the Government take to ensure a level playing field for all offerors?

4. Other Important Information

Please list existing contract vehicles available for use in procuring this effort to include Federal Supply Schedules, GSA Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts, DoD Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contracts (known as “IDIQs”), or any other Government Agency contract vehicles. (This information on available contract vehicles is for market research only and does not preclude your company from responding to this notice.)

Please list any existing contracts you have which could be used to procure this effort.

Provide any other suggestions or considerations to improve this procurement. Are there software advancements, industry developments, or innovative solutions to be considered?

Please feel free to provide questions and/or comments on the draft Performance Work Statement (attached), citing any information you feel may improve/innovate this requirement.

5. Conclusion

USTRANSCOM would like to thank you for taking the time to review this important RFI, and we look forward to reviewing your response.

NICOLE I. BLANSON BRENDA L. MARSHALL

Contract Specialist Contracting Officer 618-817-9600 618-817-9385 nicole.i.blanson.civ@mail.mil brenda.l.marshall10.civ@mail.mil

Attachment:

DRAFT Performance Work Statement