Solicitation HTC711-10-R-R002 Questions Answers 32-65.pdf

Solicitation HTC711-10-R-R002 Questions/Answers

Question 23: Reference paragraph 1.2.2: “The contractor shall provide passenger/cargo aircraft that are multi-engine, fixed wing, pressurized and have a capability of easy loading of palletized cargo with dimensions of 60” x 48” (wide door).” Paragraph 1.6.1 states: “Estimated largest piece is 60” x 48” with gross weight of 300 lbs each.” Cargo sized 60”x48” will not fit through a

60”x 48” door. Will the Government clarify this requirement.

Revised Answer 23: Amendment 0002 was accomplished to change the requirements to

48x40x48H.

Question 32: Reference paragraph 1.2.2, Are the dimension you listed in the RFP for

LentghxWidth of the door, 48x60?

Answer 32: Amendment 0002 was accomplished to change the requirements to 48x40x48H.

Question 33: Will you accept bids for aircraft that have smaller cargo doors than 48x60?

Answer 33: Aircraft must have cargo doors to accommodate pallet size of 48x40x48H.

Question 34: Will the contract require armor for the aircraft in the future?

Answer 34: It is not the Government’s intention to require armor for aircraft in the future.

Question 35: Will the contractor be required to fly at night?

Answer 35: No

Question 36: Will the government facilitate in acquiring CONEX for part storage and work space?

Answer 36: Yes

Question 37: Is it the contractor responsibility to supply our own trucks/vehicles to get to flight line and aircraft from housing locations?

Answer 37: The Government will provide transportation.

Question 38: Will the government accept a staggering in of aircraft? Are all aircraft required to be operational in Afghanistan by May timeframe?

Answer 38: The Government will accept staggering of aircraft. However, pursuant to the Pre-

Deployment Plan evaluation criteria, “offerors who offer aircraft that are available for operations sooner will be more favored”.

Question 39: Will the government provide billeting when Remaining Over Night missions?

Answer 39: Yes

Question 40: Reference Clin 0001, “It is not the Governments intent for there to be less than two aircraft positioned at any given location, unless agreed to by the contractor.”

Does this mean there will be no less than two aircraft per contractor at each location or that one or more contractors will be based together with no less than two aircraft total?

Answer 40: Per contractor

Question 41: If any or all of the options years are not executed for the convenience of the

Government, should capital depreciation be included in CLINs 0005 – Depositioning, CENTCOM and 0012 – Depositioning, NGA (depending on customer)? If not, where is the best place to include these costs?

Answer 41: The resultant contract will be firm fixed price. The Government cannot assist with proposal strategy.

Question 42: Clin 0001 pays for start-up costs to include “spare parts/equipment, mechanic tools, office supplies/equipment, logistics, uniforms/gear, and other non-recurring costs associated with starting operations.”

Do these items become Government property?

Are they to be included as GFE?

Will the Government offer to allow the contractor to purchase this equipment at the end of the contract if the equipment does become GFE?

Answer 42: There could be items the Government will pay for under the start-up cost CLIN that will become GFE. Without having the cost breakout it would be difficult at this time to know what those items are. The GFE will be addressed on a case-by-case basis after contract award.

Question 43: Does the Government propose a central hub to base all aircraft from? If so, where is that central hub? If not, what is the basing distribution plan?

Answer 43: The base of operations is unknown at this time. It is not the Government’s intent to base all aircraft deployed to Afghanistan at the same hub. The base of operations will be provided to any resultant awardee soon after contract award.

Question 44: Reference Paragraph 1.1.2, “The contractor shall coordinate all airlift movements with the Joint Sustainment Command-Afghanistan (JSC-A) or their designated representative prior to any mission. Aircraft routes and altitudes are in accordance with the Republic of

Afghanistan Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) located at http://ramcc.dtic.mil/afgh.htm.”

http://ramcc.dtic.mil/afgh.htm

The Web site is non-operational and eventually points to the Web site for Iraq Civil Aviation

Authority. Can you provide the correct Web site?

Answer 44: Amendment 0002 was accomplished to change the website reference to http://www.motca.gov.af

Question 45: Reference paragraph 1.1.6, “Aircraft will only operate out of airfields approved on the United States Air Forces, United States Central Command Operation Enduring Freedom approved airfield matrix.”

Will you provide the approved airfield matrix?

Answer 45: Will provide upon approval by the FAA

Question 46: Reference paragraph 3.10.1., “Contractor will be provided access to secure communications pending verification of appropriate security clearances.”

Will secure communications be required in aircraft and what are the power/connection requirements?

Answer 46: Secure communications are not required to be installed or carried in the aircraft.

Question 47: Reference paragraph 4.2.1, “The contractor is responsible for providing resource protection to ensure the aircraft and cargo are secure when aircraft are parked outside of US

Military installations.”

Please explain “providing resource protection,” use of deadly force, use of weapons, etc.

Answer 47: Contractor must protect the aircraft and passengers by whatever means are available. However, there are currently no contractors that have been authorized to carry weapons under this requirement.

Question 48: Reference paragraph 4.2.12, Facility Security Clearance, “This contract requires access to classified information, therefore the company must have a Facility Security Clearance

(FCL). An FCL is an administrative determination that a company is eligible for access to classified information or award of a classified contract. Requirements are defined in the National

Industrial Security Program Operating Manual,(NISPOM) DOD 5220.22-M. Contractors must inform the Contracting Officer of the correct address of any company agency requiring a facility clearance. A DD Form 254 is incorporated into the solicitation/contract.”

Does USTRANSCOM have an exception to the NISPOM to allow foreign operators (i.e., CAA certificate operators) to have a US facility clearance under the NISPOM?

Answer 48: No, USTRANSCOM does not have an exception to the NISPOM.

http://www.motca.gov.af/

Question 49: Reference Paragraph 1.3.1, “All aircrew and site managers performing under this contract are required to possess a Secret security clearance unless otherwise waived on a case-by-case basis.”

Does USTRANSCOM have a procedure outside of the Defense Security Service and the

National Industrial Security Program to grant non-US citizens (to include non-citizen permanent residents holding a US passport) employed by either a US FAA 135 certificate carrier or a non-

US CAA certificate carrier a US SECRET or higher clearance?

Answer 49: No, USTRANSCOM does not have a procedure outside of the Defense Security

Service and the National Industrial Security Program to grant non-US citizens a US Secret or higher clearance.

Question 50: Paragraph 1.8, Passenger and Cargo Combination (Combi) Service requires that the operator obtain FAA approval to operate in a Combi mode. However, the PWS paragraph 4.9 only addresses one element of one option provided by the FAA to obtain approval for Combi service. Do you want offererors to address how they intend to ensure Passenger Safety aboard

Combi aircraft and specifically how they will comply with stringent FAA directives for Combi service?

Answer 50: Yes. Offerors need to address how they will meet AD 93-07-15 and requirements for combi service. If offerors have another solution for fire supression other than the fire containment covers (FCCs), the Government will consider if it meets mission requirements.

Question 51: Is it possible to bid HTC711-10-R-R002 for cargo only or passenger only

Operations?

Answer 51: The requirement for combi service has been validated. Cargo only or passenger only aircraft will not meet the requirements of the Performance Work Statement.

Question 52: Amendment 0001 states that the proposal due date is 2:00 pm CST 17 March

2010. Daylight savings time starts on 14 March 2010.

Do you want the proposals due at 2:00 pm CDT 17 March 2010?

Answer 52: Yes, the FW Afghanistan RFP has a closing date of 2:00 pm CDT on

17 March 2010.

Question 53: Reference Amendment 0001, General Instructions for submittal of proposals states; "proposals shall also be submitted electronically to Emily Tift", via e-mail.

Due to the large size and volume of documents that need to be submitted, would the USG allow for the electronic documents to be hand delivered via CD-ROM format instead of via e-mail?

Answer 53: Amendment 0002 was issued to allow for electronic documents be provided via

CD-ROM or E-Mail.

Question 54: Reference question 23, Can the Government define that the door as 60” wide and

48” tall –or 60” tall and 48” wide?

Answer 54: Requirement has been revised, see Answer to Question 32.

Question 55: Reference question 23, Based on the validated requirement for a 60”x48” cargo door,pressurized service, and the minimum FAA 135 certificate requirement, does the government have a specific FAA 135 certificate vendor indentified?

Answer 55: No. Please note, pallet size requirements have changed. Refer to Answer for

Question 32.

Question 56: Reference question 23, Based on the validated requirement for a 60”x48” cargo door,pressurized service, and the minimum FAA 135 certificate requirement, does the government have a specific aircraft indentified?

Answer 56: No. Please note, pallet size requirements have changed. Refer to Answer for

Question 57: Reference question 23, Does the Government actually require a FAA 121 certificate operator wth appropriate aircraft?

Answer 57: No. Please note, pallet size requirements have changed. Refer to Answer for

Question 58: Reference question 25, Are the referenced requirements waived by CENTCOM?

Answer 58: CENTCOM will not waive any FAA requirements. However, Amendment 0002 was issued to change the passenger requirements to a max of 19.

Question 59: Would a proposal that offered one aircraft for passengers and one aircraft for cargo to satisfy a single combi aircraft requirement be acceptable?

Answer 59: No. The Government will not consider a two (cargo and passenger) for one

(combi) aircraft solution. The additional airframes would increase the Government’s fuel bill, unnecessarily occupy scarce ramp space in theater, and create other unfavorable consequences for the Government. The requirement for combi aircraft has been validated.

Question 60: Does Aircraft have to be on the certificate on the proposal due date

Answer 60: No. The aircraft do not need to be on the certificate on the proposal due date.

Question 61: Both 17 Mar 10 and 9 Mar 10 are referenced as the proposal due date, which is the correct proposal due date?

Answer 61: Refer to Question and Answer 52.

Question 62: There are two references showing that questionnaires are due on the Proposal Due

Date and one reference showing NLT 4pm on 5 Mar 10

When are the questionnaires due?

Answer 62: The Proposal Due Date

Question 63: The pre-solicitation was focused solely on Part 135 or equivalent CAA carriers.

The solicitation clearly outlines a CRAF preference but then omits the possibility for a Part 121 carrier in a myriad of places throughout the document.

Is it possible the solicitation will be amended to allow for a Part 121 carrier?

Answer 63: If the FAA were to authorize aircraft for operations in the CENTCOM AOR under

Part 121 this would significantly exceed the Government's actual requirement in terms of passengers or payload. In addition, it is not in the Government's interest to permit performance by aircraft that significantly exceed requirements. Such aircraft would increase the

Government's fuel bill, unnecessarily occupy scarce ramp space in theater, and create other unfavorable consequences for the Government. The Government does not have a requirement for Part 121 aircraft for this procurement.

Question 64: Proposal Preparation Instructions requires that each bidder provide aircraft make, model, variant, and aircraft registration number. Providing an Aircraft registration number would require that aircraft be acquired and on the certificate prior to proposal submission.

Are registration numbers required for aircraft that are not already on a certficate?

Answer 64: No, aircraft are not required to be on the certificate at the time of proposal submission.

Question 65: FAR Part 52.212-1, Part II(a) a. states: “Technical Approach: Describe your techniques, procedures and program for achieving the objectives of the specifications/performance work statement.” These techniques, procedures and programs (which are FAA approved and certified) are described in our current, proprietary and FAA-approved manuals. These are extensive and are a significantly large amount of material.

Question: Will the Government accept this material on a CD?

Answer 65: No, documentation must be submited both hard copy and electronically (via CD

Rom or E-Mail).