V3241146_SSJ_FinVer_Redacted.pdf

V220T.12 (01/15)

Procurement Request No. V3241146

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

VOLPE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS CENTER (VOLPE CENTER)

ENVIRONMENTAL MEASUREMENT AND MODELING DIVISION (V324)

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

A. Description of Supplies/Services.

The ability to quantify and mitigate aviation environmental effects such as aircraft and rotorcraft noise and emissions is crucial to the success of aviation as a mode of transportation. The Volpe National Transportation Center (Volpe Center) has provided technical expertise and support to FAA’s Office of Environment and Energy (AEE) for several decades in the area of aircraft and rotorcraft noise measurement, analysis and modeling and has initiated similar efforts in the fields of emissions and ambient air quality modeling.

In order to undertake noise abatement research and operator outreach activities, it is necessary for Volpe to collect source noise information for civilian helicopters. In close cooperation with the FAA and the National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA), the Volpe Center is conducting helicopter acoustics measurements in a joint NASA-FAA acoustic test of Robinson R-44 and R-66 helicopters at Eglin Air Force Base Test Range C-62, near Valparaiso, Florida, (Latitude 30.646788, Longitude -86.227224) from August 14-26, 2017.

Between August 14-26, 2017, an R-44 helicopter with pilots and crew and an R-66 helicopter with pilots and crew, all provided by Timberview Helicopters Inc., shall participate in five (5) days of acoustic testing at Eglin Air Force Base Test Range C-62 per the schedule listed in the Statement of Work (SOW) and provide between 4 to 6 hours per day of flight time.

B. Market Research.

Planning for this aircraft measurement requirement began on September 22, 2016, at a planning meeting with NASA, FAA, and Volpe. Shortly after this meeting, Volpe Center technical staff began performing market research on chartering an R44 and an R66 helicopter for the planned noise measurement. Market research was concluded May 12, 2017.

(1) The budget for these aircraft is limited. Thus, it is in the best interest of the government to find these aircraft in a location close to the testing site. This allows the aircraft to be flown from their basing site to the test range daily and thus not incurring per diem or aircraft hosting costs. These aircraft have a 2.25 hour endurance and at least 1.5 hours of testing time per flight is required to acquire sufficient data to meet the test objectives. This dictated that the aircraft be located within a 25 mile radius of the test range.

(2) Privately owned or financial institution owned operators were eliminated from consideration for liability and maintenance considerations.

(3) Two tour operators (Beach Helicopters and Timberview Helicopters) were identified at Destin Airport which is 22 miles from the test range.

(4) The Government requires that the same operator have at least one R-44 and at least one R-66 in its fleet and a single pilot for both helicopters. This requirement will allow for a single safety briefing and pilot flight briefing (Task 1) required for the Tasks 3, 4, 6, and 7 flight operations plus flight test consistency. Multiple safety briefings and pilot flight briefings are unacceptable due to scheduling difficulties and flight test time constraints. Beach Helicopters has only one R-44 and no R-66 Helicopters. Timberview operates four R-44’s and one R-66. Timberview, therefore, can provide both the R-44 and R-66 helicopters and one pilot .

C. Supporting Rationale.

(1) Sole Source: Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

Based on the market research above, Timberview is the only operator that meets the test charter criteria: within the maximum 25 miles of the test range, is a commercial helicopter operator, has multiple R-44 helicopters, and one R-66 helicopters and therefore is the only contractor that can meet the Government’s requirement.

(2) Brand Name: N/A.

(3) Unusual and Compelling Urgency: N/A.

V220T.