Offeror_Questions_3-20.pdf

HTC711-16-R-R018

Questions and Answers 3-20

Question Reference Response

3 This paragraph requires the aircraft to have two way satellite or long range communication while in flight.

Please advise if this capability is required to talk to the customer on the ground or to communicate with our company operation?

Section: 1.3. Aircraft Requirements.

Page: 6

Paragraph: 1.3.4

Both. Refer to PWS paragraph 1.10.1.

4 Para 1.2.3 states “The Government anticipates contracting

125 hours per aircraft for 24 days per month…” which implies the Government will allow up to six (6) pre-approved or excused days for planned maintenance per month, per aircraft. However, Para 1.2.12-1.2.12.2 do not address pre-approved or excused days for planned maintenance in any way, which can be read to imply that zero (0) pre-approved or excused days for planned maintenance per month are allowed in order to receive the Full Monthly Service Rate. Please clarify.

Section: 1.2. Mission Requirements

Page: 3

Paragraph: 1.2.3 & 1.2.12-1.2.12.2

The PWS has been revised. Please review paragraph

1.2.3.

5 Para 1.2.11 states “…each aircraft and crew will be able to evacuate a minimum of 2 litter patients and up to eight medical support personnel from secure airfields…” Our understanding is that the Government currently has and utilizes the flexibility to have its contractor carry simultaneously: (a) 2 litter patients and (b) eight medical support staff and (c) up to a combined total of six additional mission critical passengers or ambulatory patients.

(1) Does the Government continue to require this capability and seating capacity?

(2) Must all three aircraft be equipped with air ambulance litters to evacuate 2 litter patients and medical support staff simultaneously?

Section: 1.2. Mission Requirements

Page: 4

Paragraph: 1.2.11

(1) The PWS defines the Governments requirement.

(2) Per PWS 1.2.11. each aircraft and crew will be able to evacuate a minimum of 2 litter patients and up to eight medical support personnel from secure airfields in the

AOR to Bagram or other apporpriate medical facility.

USSOCOM Fixed Wing Transportation Support

6 Flight time is commonly defined in one of two ways:

takeoff to touch down, or block out to block in. The PWS defines flight time as “calculated from the moment the aircraft lifts off the ground and ends when the aircraft has landed and the engines are stopped”, which is a mixture of the two different flight time definitions. Which definition of flight time is intended: takeoff to touch down or block out to block in, or the hybrid definition currently provided in the RFP?

Section: 1.2. Mission Requirements

Page: 5

Paragraph: 1.2.14

PWS paragraph 1.2.14 has been revised. Flight hours are calculated from the moment an aircraft moves under its own power for the purpose of flight (block out) and ends when the aircraft comes to rest after landing (block in).

7 The paragraph referenced above states that all aircraft submitted on Attachment 2, including alternate aircraft, are “exclusively dedicated to this contract”. Paragraph

1.3.1.2 states that “alternate aircraft are not required under this contract”. If a contractor keeps one of more alternate aircraft outside of the contract AOR is it considered not permissible to use the alternate aircraft for other purposes?

Section: Aircraft Requirements

Page: 6

Paragraph: 1.3.1.4

PWS paragraphs 1.3.1.1. and 1.3.1.2. have been revised to reflect the primary aircraft are exclusively dedicated. The alternate aircraft are not. However, the Government will not pay any ferry costs for alternate aircraft located outside the AOR. PWS paragraph 1.3.1.4. was deleted.

8 The paragraph states “Aircraft must be listed, maintained, and operated in accordance with the air carrier’s Federal

Aviation Regulation (FAR) 135 certificate or Civil Aviation

Administration (CAA) requirements.” When operating in the contract AOR, is the contractor expected to comply with 14 CFR Part 135 and the operating limitations in the aircraft manufacturer Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM)?

Section: 1.3. Aircraft Requirements

Page: 6

Paragraph: 1.3.2

Yes. PWS paragraph 1.3.2. has been revised.

9 The paragraph referenced above states that the aircraft must be “fully instrumented/equipped to fly under

Instrument Flight Rules”. Is the contactor expected to operate under Instrument Flight Rules in performance of the contract? Or is it permissible for the contractor to offer aircraft instrumented/equipped for IFR but operate the aircraft only under Visual Flight Rules?

Section: 1.3. Aircraft Requirements

Page: 6

Paragraph: 1.3.2

Yes, the contractor is expected to operate under

Instrument Flight Rules to the maximum extent possible for safety reasons. No, it is not permissible to only operate under Visual Flight Rules.

10 The minimum altitude for IFR flight in civil aircraft in

Afghanistan is 16000’ MSL. Terrain between most airports in Afghanistan requires flight at significantly higher altitudes, whether operating under IFR or VFR, due to the performance requirements of 14 CFR 135.381.

Aeronautical charts indicate minimum terrain clearance altitudes on airways leaving the Kabul area of between

16500 ft MSL and 19800 ft MSL. Is it the Government’s intention to evaluate the suitability of offered aircraft at

15000 ft MSL? Or does the Government intend to evaluate the suitability of offered aircraft at the altitudes that must be flown en route in Afghanistan? Please clarify the Government’s intent regarding evaluating the suitability of aircraft relative to altitude.

Section: PWS 1.3. Aircraft

Requirements

Page: 6

Paragraph: 1.3.3

PWS paragraph 1.3.3. subparagraph E. has been revised to 19,800ft MSL.

11 Para 1.3.3 states “all aircraft shall have the performance capabilities to takeoff, land and fly with a combined passenger/cargo load of at least 4,000 pounds (3,000 pounds from an unimproved field) given the following conditions”. For the purposes of evaluating aircraft offered for suitability with this PWS paragraph, are all of the conditions applied to the same flight: fly a 4,000 pound payload (3,000 pound from an unimproved runway) 400 nautical miles at a minimum en route altitude of 15,000 feet MSL after departing from a paved or unimproved runway 4,000 feet long at a pressure altitude of 5,500 feet at 35⁰C?

Section: PWS 1.3. Aircraft

Requirements

Page: 6

Paragraph: 1.3.3

PWS paragraph 1.3.3. has been revised to reflect the aircraft must be able to meet any and all of the listed conditions.

12 Para 1.3.3 states “each aircraft will have the capacity to transport at least three pallets with dimensions

(48”x48”x50” and weighing up to 500 pounds each)” and later states “Aircraft must have the ability to hold a minimum of 18 passengers with alternate configurations for cargo only and aeromedical evacuation.” Our understanding is that the Government currently has and utilizes the flexibility to have its contractor carry simultaneously (a) up to 21 passengers and (b) up to four

(4) pallets measuring 48”x48”x50” weighing 500 lbs each, up to a total combined payload of 7,500 lbs.

(1) Does the Government want the continued flexibility of the current capability to carry up to 21 passengers and four (4) pallets in COMBI configuration?

(2) If the Government does not require up to 21 passengers and up to four (4) pallets, does the

Government require aircraft that can carry simultaneously in COMBI configuration (a) up to 18 passengers and (b) up to three (3) pallets measuring 48”x48”x50” weighing 500 lbs each, up to a total combined payload of 7,500 lbs?

Section: PWS 1.3. Aircraft

Requirements

Page: 6

Paragraph: 1.3.3

(1) PWS paragraph 1.3.3. identifies the Government's minimum requirements.

(2) PWS paragraph 1.3.3. has been revised to clarify the configuration requirements.

13 The paragraph referenced above states the contractor

“shall carry HAZMAT in accordance with IAW AFMAN 24-

204, and their DOT approvals and exemptions”. U.S.

certificated air carriers must carry HAZMAT in accordance with either 49 CFR or ICAO Technical Instructions for the

Transportation of Dangerous Goods by Air, which may not be harmonized with AFMAN 24-204. Please clarify.

Section: PWS 1.7 Transporting

Hazardous Cargo

Page: 8

Paragraph: 1.7

PWS paragraph 1.7. has been revised. The Contractor shall carry HAZMAT in accordance with IAW AFMAN 24-

204, their DOT approvals and exemptions, and any other applicable guidance, not to exceed the most restrictive regulation.

14 The paragraph referenced above states the contractor shall accommodate two litter patients. U.S. certificated air carriers are required to check conformity with maintenance requirements with all oxygen dispensing systems carried aboard an aircraft. Does the Government intend for the contractor to make medical oxygen available to litter patients? Carry on oxygen dispensing systems may only be permitted with evidence of conformity to maintenance requirements.

Section: PWS 1.9. Aeromedical

Operations

Page: 9

Paragraph: 1.9.1

No. The Government does not intend for the contractor to make medical oxygen available to litter patients.

15 If the contractor is authorized to procure and erect a

LAMS, is the cost reimbursable under the non-recurring reimbursables CLIN?

Section: PWS 3.3 Ramp Space

Page: 12

Paragraph: 3.3.1

Yes. PWS paragraph 3.3.1. has been revised.

16 In the instructions to offerors covering Technical

Approach it states “In addition, if the aircraft has been modified, offeror shall provide description of the

Supplemental Type Certificate approved by the FAA or CC and what, if any, additional capabilities are achieved with the modification.” Since the Technical Approach is limited to 10 pages and an STC listing with descriptions of the benefits of modification can take significant page count, can the STC listing and descriptions be provided as an attachment to the Technical Approach so that it does not count against the 10 page limit?

Section: 52.212.1

Page: 62

Paragraph: (b)(3)(G)1.

Yes, any supplemental type certificates (STC) shall be included as an attachment to the offeror's Technical

Approach and will not be counted against the 10 page limit for the Technical Approach. However, the offer shall identify in the Technical Approach if they have any STC.

17 CLIN's 4003- 4008 - Option periods end 10 May 2021, CLIN 4003's period ends 30 Apr 2021. Please clarify.

Section: SF 1449 Continuation Sheet

Page: 18

Paragraph: CLINs

4004;4005;4006;4007;4008

This was a clerical error. The solicitation has been revised to change the end date for CLINS 4004 - 4009 to 30 Apr

2021.

18 "We noticed that the RFP incorporates the October 2015 deviation of clause 252.204-7012 Safeguarding Covered

Defense Information and Cyber Incident Reporting

(Deviation 2016-000001) (OCT 2015). Will TRANSCOM be revising to incorporate the revised version of this clause that was released in December 2015?"

Section: Solicitation

Page: 30

Paragraph: 252.204-7012

The solicitation has been revised to include the latest version of 252.204-7012 Safeguarding Covered Defense

Information and Cyber Incident Reporting (Dec 2015).

19 "Amendment 1 says on page 4 that the offerors should either 1) explain how any NIST SP 800-171 requirements that will not be implemented are not applicable or how an alternative control or protective measures will be used to achieve equivalent protections, or 2) confirm that all security controls in NIST SP 800-171 are currently, or will be implemented. We assume that this means

TRANSCOM does not require offerors to describe how they comply with individual NIST SP 800-171 security controls where the offeror meets those controls. Please confirm."

Section: Amendment 1

Page: 4

Paragraph: Evaluation of Cyber-

Security Controls

Yes, this is correct.

20 Solicitation, Section G. 4. , page 63 of 84 and

Amendment 1- QUESTION 3.- Is a Cyber Security

Plan that has been in place, addressing implementation and policies IAW the SANS Top 20

Security Controls acceptable for submission, if additional NISP SP 800-171 requirements are implemented upon award?

Section: Solicitation

Page: 63

Paragraph: G. 4.

No.