FCF_Questions_Answered.pdf

Page 3 of 43, RFP, Schedule B indicates two (2) Items – CLIN 0002 however page 41/43, Instructions … para 1 Price does not indicate a CLIN 0002 – I assume this CLIN was left out or was it intentional?

Amended to add CLIN 0002.

Is there an incumbent, if so who is it and what is the length of the incumbent contract?

The current contract was awarded to Gauss Management Research And Engineering, Inc. (CAGE: 47SD5) as a base contract plus 4 option years.

PWS Para 4.6 states “The Contractor will fund all travel and expenses for employee certification requirements” Please clarify, recertification/currency is an annual requirement at Kirtland AFB – the contractor has to project those costs over 5 years?

Yes.

Page 41/43, RFP Instructions para t states “Quotes must be submitted in Adobe PDF.”

However no mention on where to send or if can be submitted by email. If email acceptable please indicate email address?

Please use jeffrey.clarke.10@us.af.mil and megan.baer@us.af.mil.

PWS para 2.1.6 states “Contractor aircrew personnel shall perform previously defined flight profiles during nighttime visual conditions with a minimum four man crew ….”

However, para 1.1.2 states “The purpose of this contract is to provide one (1) pilot and one (1) Special Mission Aviator…” please confirm if other two members referenced in para 2.1.6 are, or are not contractor personnel?

The other pilot and SMA will be current and qualified active duty members.

I am hoping to learn if this is a new requirement or is there an incumbent contract/contractor that is currently providing similar capabilities at this time? If so, are you able to provide a contract number and the vendor’s name?

The current contract was awarded to Gauss Management Research And Engineering, Inc. (CAGE: 47SD5) under FA558717C0007

RFP Paragraph 1.1.2.4.1 states that the contractor will assist in performing basic aircraft flight currency for contact maneuvers, instrument approaches and emergency procedures training.

Discussion: Instrument approach training may be accomplished in simulators and aircraft, in VFR and IFR conditions.

Question 1: Will the instrument approach training occur in a compatible simulator or aircraft, or both?

There is no HH-60G simulator at Aviano AB. All flight currencies will be logged in the actual aircraft.

Question 2: Is there any requirement to train instrument approaches in the aircraft under Actual Instrument (AI) conditions?

There is no written requirement to conduct instrument approach training in actual IMC but we can accomplish instrument approach training in actual IMC as long as AFMAN 11-202V3 and AFMAN 11-2HH60 Vol 3 ceiling and/or visibility minimums are met.

Paragraph 1.1.2.4.2 states that the contractor will assist in providing ground instruction that includes Theater Indoctrination.

Question: Please clarify what are the major components of the theater indoctrination, and are any special skills or experience (such as intelligence and threat training) required for the contract instructor?

Theater Indoctrination includes local Aviano procedures, local meteorology, local hazards, and MAJCOM (USAFE) supplements to published guidance.

Paragraph 1.1.2.4.3 requires the contractor to assist in providing Basic Functional Check Flight (FCF) qualification training.

Discussion: This paragraph appears to confirm that initial qualification as an FCF pilot can occur through local training at home station – which is different than US Army, which requires maintenance test pilots to attend AMOC in the school house.

Question: Is there a USAF standardized FCF training curriculum for local station training, and will that standardized document be made available to the contractor upon award?

A syllabus does exist for USAF FCF certification and it will be made available upon contract award. The USAF syllabus does not specifically follow the US Army syllabus and does not require attendance at the US Army AMOC.

However, the proposed pilot must have completed either the US Army AMOC and/or the USAF HH-60G FCF syllabus. Proposed pilot must also possess FAA commercial and instrument helicopter ratings and have proof of qualification in any variant of the UH-60.

Paragraph 1.1.2 states that the purpose of the contract is to provide one (1) pilot and (1) Special Mission Aviator to perform HH-60G functional checks and test flights.

Paragraph 1.3.5 states that the contractor will provide the names and contact information of key personnel to the CO prior to start of the contract.

Question: Since the RFP sets the staffing requirement as one Pilot and one SMA, but does not specifically call out key personnel, should the contractor assume that both the Pilot and the SMA are the referenced key personnel?

Yes.

Paragraph 1.7.4 requires the contractor to have a valid Facility Security Clearance to perform this work.

Question: Is the facility clearance certification required at time of proposal or upon award?

A minimum of US SECRET security clearance is required for both the pilot and SMA at time of award to ensure that the crew is certified to access the aircraft.

Paragraph 1.1.2 states the purpose of the contract is to hire one Pilot and one SMA;

Paragraph 2.1.5 and 2.1.6 state respectively that the defined flight profiles for this work during daytime require a crew of three and during the night a crew of four.

Question: As the contractor will have only one Pilot and one SMA according to paragraph 1.1.2, please clarify that the additional crewmembers mentioned in Paragraphs 2.1.5 and 2.1.6 are USAF uniformed personnel.

The additional aircrew members to meet the USAF minimum crew requirements will be uniformed USAF personnel.

Paragraph 2.3.2 states that the USAF may not be able to provide the contractor personnel the Class II physical, and that the contractor will need to seek this service on the economy.

Question: Please clarify that the contractor will be responsible for the cost of flight physical, and whether that cost is reimbursable.

The cost of travel and expenses for the Class II physical is the contractor’s responsibility.

Paragraph 2.3.4 states that a US Army AMOC graduate who is not instructor pilot qualified can support this contract.

Paragraph 2.3.5 states that the Contractor may substitute a US Army AMOC graduate for this contract.

Paragraph 2.3.4.1 states that contractor personnel will be required to train contact maneuvers, instrument approaches and emergency procedures training.

Discussion: US Army regulations prevent an AMOC graduate who does not have an Instructor Pilot certificate from conducting emergency procedures training in the actual HH or UH-60.

Question: In order for an AMOC qualified pilot to conduct this contract’s training, he would have to be an instructor pilot also by US Army Regulations. Please clarify how the USAF customer intends to accomplish this within regulations.

The pilot and SMA do not need to be an instructor at time of contract award. If the pilot and/or the SMA are not instructors at time of contract award, the customer will utilize them as instructors for FCF training only until the USAF customer can accomplish a USAF instructor evaluation for HH-60G Qualification and Instrument flight.

Paragraph 4.5 states that the contractor will fund all travel and expenses for employee certification requirements.

Discussion: In the life cycle of aircraft, modernization efforts sometimes require additional training or retraining as software packages or component upgrades are made. Sometimes, these upgrades require instructor personnel to receive specific enabling training at the OEM site.

Question: If additional training is required for the contractor to address modifications or other changes, will the Government reimburse such travel or follow guidelines in Paragraph 4.5?

I (the GFR/MO for this contract) have been flying the HH-60G since 2002. In that time I have never needed to travel to receive training on any modification made to the helicopter. Training for new systems/software/etc. has always been accomplished in-house. There are currently no expected modifications to the HH- 60G in the next 5 years that would require travel to another location to receive training.

PWS Section 2.1.4 Per DCMA INST 8210.1C, Change 1 (AFI 10-220) the GFR (Government Flight Representative) is responsible for oversight and enforcement of contractor ground and flight operations. In the PWS this has been changed to the MO (Mission Owner) (pg 72, 7.8). Will the MO be acting as the GFR or is there a separate

GFR?

The MO and GFR are the same person.

PWS Section 2.3.2 Class II FAA Flight Physicals are required per DCMA INST 8210.1C, Change 1 (AFI 10-220) in order to perform contractor flight duties (pg 37, 4.3.5.1.1.).

Class II FAA Flight Physicals currently require travel outside of Aviano AB. Should this travel cost be accounted for in the Travel CLIN’s (0002, 1002, 2002, etc.)?

The cost of travel and expenses for the Class II physical is the contractor’s responsibility.

PWS Section 3.1 Suggest the Government change the 100% Performance Threshold requirement in the Services Summary, Section 3, to 95%. The 100% requirement puts an undue burden on the support crew, not allowing them the traditional time off (vacation and sick leave) afforded to all personnel.

The performance threshold will remain at 100% and cannot be reduced due to mission requirements.

PWS Section 4.2 Is it the Government’s intent that approval for travel go both through Contracting (MO or CO) channels AND the squadron resource advisor (56 RQS/RA)?

Many times, our crew has been tasked to leave within an hours’ notice to reposition aircraft. Suggest the Government makes provisions for quick reaction travel to better support the end user.

Yes-the GFR/MO needs to verify through the squadron RA and/or contracting office that funds are available to cover reimbursement costs for contractor travel.

PWS Section 4.5 Could the Government please define and state what “employee certification requirements” entail?

The contractor is responsible for ensuring the pilot and SMA have proof of qualification on the first day of contract work.

PWS paragraph 4.2 states that travel costs are “reimbursable”. The solicitation clearly states that item(s) 0002, 1002, 2002, 3002, 4002 are Firm Fixed Price. Is travel Cost Reimbursable per the JTR or Firm Fixed Price?

Travel directed by the GFR/MO is reimbursable per the JTR.

Is it the government’s intent to infer that the FCF crew stay the complete 5 years with the Firm Fixed Price relocation CLIN’s (0003, 4003)? If one of the crewmembers needs to be replaced due to unforeseen circumstances, will this be paid for under one of the relocation CLIN’s?

Relocation CLINS are firm-fixed priced throughout the duration of the contract.

There is one CLIN for mobilization and one CLIN for demobilization per life of the contract, not personnel. In the event, an employee must be replaced due to unforeseen circumstances, replacement relocation cost is at the Contractor’s expense.