HSCECR-17-Q-00003_Amendment_1_Questions.pdf

Daily Scheduled Large Aircraft Contract – Request for Information

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is responsible for the detention, health, welfare, transportation and deportation of alien detainees in removal proceedings, and those subject to final order of removal from the United States.

The mission of the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Program is the planning, management, and direction of broad programs relating to the supervision, detention, and deportation of detainees who are in the United States illegally. These activities are chiefly concerned with the processing and enforcement of departure from the United States of detainees who have entered illegally or have become removable after admission. In implementing its mission, ERO ICE Air Operations Division (IAO) is responsible for carrying out orders for the required departure of detainees handed down in removal proceedings, or prior thereto, and arranging for detention of detainees when such detention becomes necessary. ERO's responsibilities include providing reliable, safe, and secure mass air transportation of alien nationals placed in federal custody.

IAO requires a vendor to provide chartered flight services for daily domestic and international flights predominantly to the Caribbean, Central America, and South America from five (5) operational areas located in Mesa, AZ; Brownsville, TX; Miami, FL; San Antonio, TX; and Alexandria, LA. These daily charter flights each require an aircraft with a minimum of 148 seats with 13 security crewmembers plus a flight nurse. In addition, long range international charter flights using an aircraft with a minimum of 148 seats and minimum range of 2,800NM will also be required for approximately one flight per quarter to international destinations. The anticipated duration of an awarded contract or agreement will be one base year plus four option years.

This Request for Information (RFI) is being used to collect information about capability of qualified contractors to provide the services as described above and pursuant to the attached draft Performance Work Statement (PWS). Prospective contractors who are qualified to provide these services should provide the following information for ICE's review:

1. Company name

2. Company address

3. POC information (name, title, phone number, email address, etc.)

4. Company business size (annual revenue, number of employees)

5. Socio-economic status

6. Copy of GSA schedule(s) (if applicable)

7. Brief Company Capability statement (to include addressing all needs as stated above).

Contractors should specify their prior experience or contracts in the area; they should also specify whether they could be supporting the contract as an broker or owner/operator and expected availability levels of aircraft meeting the requirements laid out in this RFI and the attached SOW.

In addition to the general capabilities of interested firms, ICE requests responses to the following inquiries:

1. Based on the expected volume levels (attached) and ICE’s requirement of a 99% on-time mission success rate, what CLIN structure would you recommend in order to minimize cost to the government and risk to the vendor while meeting performance requirements and being able to meet surges or lulls in demand?

2. What contract requirements or performance incentives would you recommend in order to maximize mission readiness while also being able to meet surges or lulls in demand?

3. Is there a difference in expected on-time mission success rates if ICE requires exclusive use of the aircraft versus an on-demand use? If so, what is the expected impact to performance and the ability to meet surges or lulls in demand?

4. What effect does requiring exclusive use of aircraft from Monday to Friday have on the contract price in comparison to an on-demand model that requires aircraft given a certain lead time but allows those aircraft to be used for other customers when not used by ICE?

Specifically, what is the direction and magnitude of changes to the following costs: fixed costs (aircraft lease, insurance, etc.) and variable costs (fuel, crew, etc.)?

5. Under an exclusive use scenario (Monday through Friday), what is your recommended pricing method and CLIN structure? What benefits would an exclusive use structure provide to the Government? What benefits would an on-demand structure provide to the Government?

6. Based on the expected volume levels (attached) and ICE’s requirement of a 99% on-time mission success rate, what type and number of aircraft would you recommend to meet mission requirements in the most cost-effective manner possible while also being able to meet surges or lulls in demand?

7. If aircraft are assigned to ICE for exclusive use, what is the maximum number of block hours and total mission time (total time on duty including aircraft and crew staging, block time, and layovers) that aircraft and crew can be efficiently utilized per day?

8. How would you recommend the Government reimburse your aviation fuel usage?

9. How do you and how would you recommend the Government track/report on your fuel purchases? Do you or your operators report internally on gallons purchased and price per gallon on each flight stage?

10. What additional comments do you have in regards to the attached PWS?

Interested parties shall submit all requested information and responses electronically to benjamin.shih@ice.dhs.gov by 4:00 p.m., EST, on February 17, 2017.

THIS IS AN RFI ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes-it does not constitute a solicitation nor does it restrict the Government as to the ultimate acquisition approach. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Any contract that might be awarded based on information received or derived from this market research will be the outcome of a competitive process. Responders are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this announcement, and information submitted in response to this RFI will not be returned.