ICEX_19 AUG25_REQUEST FOR INFORMATION.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

FOR

UNITED STATES TRANSPORTATION COMMAND (USTRANSCOM)

ICEX 2026 Operation Ice Camp Air Charter Services

TRANSCOM25CC01

1. RFI Overview

In 2026, USTRANSCOM plans to have a contract in place for air charter services to support the U.S. Navy’s Undersea Warfighting Development Center Detachment Arctic Submarine Laboratory during ICEX 2026 Operation Ice Camp. These services will enable safe and effective operations in the Arctic Ocean environment, including pioneering landings on drifting sea ice, personnel and cargo transport, and rotary wing operations for emergency medical evacuations and equipment recovery.

USTRANSCOM is seeking information about what solutions currently exist in the market and is interested in learning about what information industry may need to scope a logical roadmap to succeed.

This announcement constitutes an RFI for informational and planning purposes only.

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP), nor is it to be construed as a commitment by the Government. No contract will be awarded as a result. Industry’s response to the RFI—or lack thereof—will have no impact on the evaluation of responses to any subsequent RFP or Request for Quote (RFQ) released. The information requested will be used within USTRANSCOM as market research to facilitate decision making (e.g., determining acquisition strategy, small business concerns) and will not be disclosed outside the Government.

Proprietary information submitted shall be appropriately marked. Do not submit confidential information in your response.

**Note** USTRANSCOM will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by interested parties responding to this RFI.

1.1. RFI Contact(s)

We have designated the following individual(s) to serve as the official point(s) of contact (POCs) for this RFI. This individual(s) is the only authorized contact(s) permitted to communicate on behalf of USTRANSCOM about this RFI.

Contact information for RFI POC(s):

NAME TITLE OFFICE EMAIL PHONE

Ms. Brenda Marshall

Contracting Officer TCAQ-C brenda.l.marshall10.civ@mail.mil 618-817-

1.2. Submission Details

Please submit your response to this RFI via email to the RFI POC(s) identified in Section 1.1. and ensure it is received prior to the due date identified in Section 1.3. If you have any questions about this RFI, please direct them to the RFI POC(s) listed in Section 1.1.

Physical (paper) copies of RFI responses will not be accepted.

1.3. RFI Timeline

The RFI timeline is outlined below. Dates may be modified by USTRANSCOM and posted as an amendment to this RFI.

RFI Released: 19-AUG-25 Deadline for Questions*: 01-SEP-25 Responses Due: 16:00 (CT) on 08-SEP-25

*By close of business, or 4:30 P.M. Central Daylight Time.

2. Background Information

USTRANSCOM conducts globally integrated mobility operations, leads the broader Joint Deployment and Distribution Enterprise, and provides enabling capabilities in order to project and sustain the Joint Force in support of national objectives.

2.1. Scope of the Requirement

The United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) requires air charter services to support the U.S. Navy’s Undersea Warfighting Development Center Detachment Arctic Submarine Laboratory during ICEX 2026 Operation Ice Camp.

These services are critical to enabling safe and effective operations in the Arctic Ocean environment, including the establishment and sustainment of a drifting ice camp approximately 100 to 225 nautical miles from Deadhorse, Alaska. The contractor shall provide fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft capable of operating in extreme Arctic conditions. The scope of the requirement includes, but is not limited to:

1. Pioneering Landings: Conduct initial landings on drifting sea ice to identify and prepare a suitable location for the ice camp. Aircraft must be ski-wheel equipped and capable of operating without a groomed runway.

2. Personnel and Cargo Transport: Provide rear-loading fixed-wing aircraft for the transport of personnel, equipment, and supplies to and from the ice camp. Aircraft must have sufficient payload capacity and be capable of operating on compacted snow or ice runways.

3. Rotary-Wing Operations: Provide helicopter services for personnel transport, sling load operations, emergency medical evacuations, and recovery of exercise equipment.

Helicopters must be capable of operating in Arctic conditions and refueling at the ice camp.

4. Sustainment Operations: Support the ice camp throughout the period of performance, including routine flights for resupply, personnel rotation, and contingency operations.

The contractor shall ensure all aircraft are equipped with GPS, navigation, and communication systems suitable for Arctic operations. All flights will originate from Deadhorse, Alaska (ICAO: PASC, IATA: SCC), and the contractor is responsible for procuring fuel for their aircraft.

The projected period of performance is from 19 February 2026 to 25 March 2026, with specific service periods and flight hour requirements for each aircraft type outlined in the PWS. The contractor must provide experienced pilots with expertise in Arctic operations, including landing on drifting sea ice.

2.2. Place of Performance

The primary place of performance for this requirement is Deadhorse Airport (ICAO:

PASC, IATA: SCC) in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, and the surrounding Arctic Ocean environment. Aircraft operations will support a drifting ice camp located approximately 100 to 225 nautical miles from Deadhorse Airport and Utqiagvik, Alaska (formerly Barrow) for emergency medical evacuations.

2.3. Anticipated Award Timeline

The contract is anticipated to be awarded on or about 01-JAN-26. Projected period of performance from 19 February 2026 to 25 March 2026.

3. Information Requested

Parties interested in assisting USTRANSCOM with this market research are requested to submit the following information in the format outlined below. The response should be detailed (but no more than ten (10) pages). Title pages and cover letter will not count against the page limit. Respondents are highly encouraged to submit a tailored response rather than a generic capability statement to ensure the requested information is provided.

3.1. Company Information

• Company Name

• Unique Entity ID

• CAGE Code

• POCs, to include name, title, phone number, and email address

3.2. Business Size

The anticipated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) for this effort are 481211—Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation and 481212— Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation. The Small Business Administration’s small business size standard for this NAICS is 1500. Based on this NAICS, identify your business size as a LARGE or SMALL business. If a small business, identify any of the following socio-economic categories that apply to your business under this NAICS: Historically Under-utilized Business Zones (known as “HUBZone”), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, Veteran-Owned, Small Disadvantaged Business, 8(a), Women-Owned, or Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned.

3.3. Who We’re Looking For

USTRANSCOM highly encourages responses from capable businesses of all sizes, including large and small business concerns and all socioeconomic categories.

3.4. What We’re Looking For

Interested Parties are invited to provide information on the following subjects of interest, specifically describing your capabilities in successfully executing the following:

Contracts for Air Charter Services will be contingent upon air operators approval from the DoD Commercial Airlift Review Board (CARB) in accordance with References 2.1.a and 2.1.b. Air Operators do not need to be DoD approved to submit proposals for chartered air services but they will need to go through the DoD approval process and contract award is contingent upon receiving the DoD Approved Air Carrier authorization.

Two pilots are required for all flights, even with single engine aircraft if that aircraft supports a second pilot.

All aircraft will conduct operations from Deadhorse, Alaska Airport (ICAO: PASC, IATA: SCC) and support a drifting ice camp approximately 100 NM to 225 NM from the airport. All aircraft must be equipped with GPS, navigation, and communication equipment. The ice camp will have VHF and Iridium communications, heated shelters, electrical power, real-time weather observations and forecasts, berthing, and food as required. Air Operators are expected to procure fuel for their aircraft.

The projected dates, service periods, service durations, and flight hours are notional and subject to change pending planning during the duration of the contract. All listed preferences are not requirements and aircraft that do not meet preferences will still be evaluated.

1. Ski-Wheel Equipped Aircraft #1 (Pioneering Landings, General Purpose) (CLIN 0001)

Contractor shall conduct Pioneering Landings. The Pioneering Landing flight is the aircraft that conducts the initial landing on the sea-ice; there is no person on the ice at this time, no physically measured ice thickness, and no groomed runway. The plane may use wheels, skis, or a combination and have endurance minimum of five hours to travel to various ice floes selected by the Navy through satellite imagery analysis, approximately 100 NM to 225 NM from Deadhorse Airport (SCC) in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. The aircraft must be able to operate without a groomed runway. The aircraft operator and pilot must have experience with Pioneering Landings. The aircraft must be able to take off and land on the sea-ice in under 2000 feet but a distance of 1500 feet or less is highly preferred. It is anticipated that this aircraft will support up to five planned Pioneering Landings on drifting sea ice to conduct pioneering efforts to select a suitable location to build an ice camp. It is expected that the aircraft will remain on the sea-ice for approximately 1 – 2 hours during Pioneering Flights to conduct ice surveys.

The aircraft shall accommodate at least the pilot and four passengers during Pioneering Landing flights. The experienced pilot will select a suitable landing site on the ice floe with guidance and concurrence from Operation Ice Camp personnel. Pilot must be capable of landing the aircraft on first year sea ice.

Passengers will carry approximately 250 lbs. of ice auger equipment, scientific equipment, and emergency survival gear. Aircraft capacity to support at least 2000 lbs. payload while in ski-wheel configuration with 200 NM range (i.e., 200 NM from airport to sea ice and then 200 NM from the sea ice back to the airport without refueling) is required. The ability to take extra fuel and refuel on the drifting sea ice is preferred (up to 100 gallons of fuel).

After the pioneering stage, the ice runway will be built, and these aircraft will continue to support the ice camp by utilizing the ice runway. The ski-wheel configuration is still required throughout the duration of the period of performance as a contingency for ice breakups where landing on ungroomed ice may be required until a new ice runway is built. When operating from a runway, the aircraft must be able to operate from a 1500 ft. compacted snow or ice runway for both takeoff and landings with a payload of at least 2000 lbs. and seating capability for at least nine passengers. Aircraft must be able to support at least two round trips to the ice camp each day; three round trips per day capability is preferred assuming the ice camp is 225 nautical miles from Deadhorse Airport.

Total Projected Service Period: 19 February – 25 March 2026 Projected Flight Hours: 148 total flight hours Minimum Flight Hours: 111 total flight hours

2. Ski-Wheel Equipped Aircraft #2 (Pioneering Landings, General Purpose) (CLIN 0002)

Contractor shall conduct Pioneering Landings. The Pioneering Landing flight is the aircraft that conducts the initial landing on the sea-ice; there is no person on the ice at this time, no physically measured ice thickness, and no groomed runway. The plane may use wheels, skis, or a combination and have endurance minimum of five hours to travel to various ice floes selected by the Navy through satellite imagery analysis, approximately 100 NM to 225 NM from Deadhorse Airport (SCC) in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. The aircraft must be able to operate without a groomed runway. The aircraft operator and pilot must have experience with Pioneering Landings. The aircraft must be able to take off and land on the sea-ice in under 2000 feet but a distance of 1500 feet or less is highly preferred. It is anticipated that this aircraft will support up to five planned Pioneering Landings on drifting sea ice to conduct pioneering efforts to select a suitable location to build an ice camp. It is expected that the aircraft will remain on the sea-ice for approximately 1 – 2 hours during Pioneering Flights to conduct ice surveys.

The aircraft shall accommodate at least the pilot and four passengers during Pioneering Landing flights, although the capability to accommodate five or more passengers is preferred. The experienced pilot will select a suitable landing site on the ice floe with guidance and concurrence from Operation Ice Camp personnel.

The aircraft must also provide capacity for 250 lbs. of ice auger equipment and emergency survival gear; capacity to support a higher payload is preferred. The ability to take extra fuel and refuel on the drifting sea ice is preferred.

After the pioneering stage, the ice runway will be built, and aircraft will continue to support the ice camp by utilizing the ice runway. The aircraft may switch (highly preferred) to a wheel configuration (i.e. remove skis) after the ice runway is built and keep the skis in the Operation Ice Camp hangar in Deadhorse, AK to allow for higher payload capacity. When operating from a runway, the aircraft must be able to operate from a 1500 ft. compacted snow or ice runway for both takeoff and landings with a payload of at least 2000 lbs. and seating capability for at least nine passengers. Aircraft must be able to support at least two round trips to the ice camp each day; three round trips per day capability is preferred assuming the ice camp is 225 nautical miles from Deadhorse Airport.

Total Projected Service Period: 19 February – 25 March 2026 Projected Flight Hours: 167 total flight hours Minimum Flight Hours: 125 total flight hours

3. Rear Loading Aircraft (Personnel and Cargo) (CLIN 0003)

Contractor shall conduct charter aircraft service for a Rear Loading Aircraft to transport cargo and personnel. This aircraft will be required to support the ice camp to include the ice camp deployment, heavy load operations, and the ice camp demobilization. The aircraft must be able to operate from a 2500 feet compacted snow or ice runway for both takeoff and landings with a payload capacity of at least 4000 lbs.; 5000 lbs. payload capacity is preferred. Rear loading ramp and rollers (internal and rear ramp) are preferred. Aircraft must be able to transport objects with lengths up to 19 feet.

Aircraft will be used primarily for cargo and secondarily for personnel transport.

Removable aircraft seating required for at least 16 passengers for occasional personnel transport. Ability to support aerial delivery operations is preferred (e.g.

dropping small Ice Tracker buoys from the aircraft or parachute rigged pallets/equipment). Aircraft must be able to support at least two round trips to the ice camp each day, three round trips per day capability is preferred, assuming the ice camp is 225 nautical miles from Deadhorse Airport.

Projected Service Periods: 27 February – 25 March 2026 Projected Flight Hours: 168 total flight hours* Minimum Flight Hours: 126 total flight hours

*Project Flight Hours for Cargo Aircraft based on capability of a Casa 212 aircraft. Other aircraft may provide different cargo transport capability (higher or lower), which accounts for the spread between minimum and projected flight hours for this requirement.

4. Rotary Wing Aircraft (Personnel and Cargo, 2 Aircraft) (CLIN 0004)

Contractor shall conduct charter aircraft service for helicopter services at the ice camp. This shall include helicopter transport of personnel and equipment between the ice camp and remote ice locations (e.g. several miles from the ice camp), emergency medical evacuations (from ice camp back to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska or Utqiagvik, Alaska depending upon location of the ice camp), and recovery of exercise equipment. One helicopter must be able to conduct external sling load operations with a 2900 lbs. object for a 20-minute flight, the other helicopter must be able to conduct sling load with at least 2000 lbs. Helicopters must have passenger capacity of at least seven passengers comfortably with passengers wearing Arctic grade clothing, although eight-passenger capacity is highly preferred. For reference, a Bell 212 and Bell 412 helicopter have provided adequate support for these requirements in the past. Rotary aircraft must be able to fly to the ice camp without refueling enroute, assuming the ice camp is 225 nautical miles from Deadhorse Airport. Rotary aircraft will be able to refuel at the ice camp.

The ice camp can provide fuel containment for the helicopter fuel at the ice camp along with other aircraft support equipment (e.g. berms, generator, aircraft heater). The air operator is required to procure the helicopter fuel and barrels for the fuel; the Navy can transport the fuel to the ice camp (see PWS 4.1.a).

Recommend air operator provide their own aviation-grade fuel transfer pump at the ice camp. The ice camp will provide lodging and food on the ice for the helicopter crews, at no cost.

First Helicopter Projected Service Periods: 27 February – 22 March 2026 Projected Flight Hours: 67 total flight hours Minimum Flight Hours: 50 total flight hours

Second Helicopter Projected Service Periods: 3 March – 20 March 2026 Projected Flight Hours: 60 total flight hours Minimum Flight Hours: 45 total flight hours

Service period at the ice camp for the helicopter with 2900 lbs./20-minute sling load requirement is 4 – 19 March 2026; helicopter that meets this heavier lifting requirement must be at the ice camp for at least this duration.

PLEASE NOTE: INTERESTED AIR OPERATORS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO PROVIDE ALL

SERVICES IN THE PWS. AIR OPERATORS MAY PROPOSE TO MEET ANY ONE OR MORE

AIRCRAFT REQUIREMENT IN THE PWS.

Provide the following project or contract information for requirements deemed similar to this effort:

• A brief description of the project

• Contract number

• Period of performance

• Was your company a prime or subcontractor?

• Dollar value of the project

• Scope of the portion of the effort your company supported

If your company is a large business, specify whether you partnered or subcontracted with small business concerns to provide the same or similar services as this requirement.

If your company has no direct performance or experience with the above, explain how you will perform tasks utilizing experienced subcontractors through a proposed teaming arrangement or the hiring of qualified personnel.

3.5. Commercial Availability

Commercial Practices. Request responses to the following questions as they pertain to providing ICEX 2026 Operation Ice Camp Air Charter Services support.

1. Are Arctic air charter services, including pioneering landings on drifting sea ice, available commercially?

2. What commercial aircraft models and solutions are commonly used to meet similar requirements?

3. List your company’s type of aircraft and the number of crew necessary to meet the mission requirements for any of the CLINs (CLIN 0001 through CLIN 0004).

4. Indicate which CLIN(s) (from CLIN 0001 through CLIN 0004) your company is interested in and capable of providing an offer on.

5. How is aviation-grade fuel typically procured and transported for remote Arctic operations?

6. Are there commercial solutions for refueling aircraft on drifting sea ice?

7. What challenges do commercial operators face when conducting Arctic air operations, such as extreme weather, ice thickness, or runway grooming?

8. What risk mitigation strategies are commonly employed in the commercial marketplace for Arctic air operations (e.g., backup aircraft, contingency planning)?

9. Are there emerging technologies or innovations in Arctic aviation (e.g., advanced navigation systems, ice thickness sensors) that the Government should consider adopting?

10. What types of contracts are typically used in the commercial marketplace for Arctic air charter services (e.g., fixed price, cost reimbursement, time-and-materials)?

11. What pricing structures are most commonly used for Arctic air charter services (e.g., hourly rates, per-flight costs, or fixed monthly fees)?

12. What are the largest cost drivers for Arctic air operations (e.g., fuel, maintenance, pilot expertise, aircraft configuration)?

13. What evaluation criteria are typically used in the commercial marketplace to select contractors for Arctic air charter services?

14. Provide a brief explanation of your company’s ability to meet the requirements for each selected CLIN, including payload capacity, operational range, and takeoff/landing capabilities.

15. Please provide a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) estimate in an Excel file (this file will not count against any page limitations). Prices shall include all costs associated with performing the missions, including aircraft relocation fees, incidentals (e.g., equipment rentals, room and board in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, etc.), fuel costs, and other fees as appropriate.

16. Separately, please explain any assumptions used in developing your ROM estimate

(e.g., personnel footprint, insurance, supply chain considerations, etc.).

17. Identify any additional suggestions or concerns to assist the Government with defining this requirement.

4. Other Important Information

Please list existing contract vehicles available for use in procuring this effort to include Federal Supply Schedules, GSA Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts, DoD Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contracts (known as “IDIQs”), or any other Government Agency contract vehicles. (This information on available contract vehicles is for market research only and does not preclude your company from responding to this notice.) Please list any existing contracts you have which could be used to procure this effort.

Specifically provide: Aircraft Capability

• Provide information to include manufacturer, model, age, cruising speed, and condition of the aircraft proposed as applicable.

• For all aircraft, provide the payload capability in regards to number of personnel

(passengers) and/or equipment (pounds) and the take-off and landing distances on the sea-ice (for fixed wing aircraft only). Shorter take-off and landing distances are preferred and higher passenger and payload capacity is preferred.

• Provide the operational range (distance for each leg of a round trip without refueling at the ice camp) capability in regards to varying payloads (in pounds). For example, the range of the aircraft is 200 nautical miles when transporting XXX lbs. payload (cargo or personnel); with an operational range of 200 nautical miles, the aircraft can carry XXX payload. A chart depicting these values is recommended. Values should assume the aircraft is equipped for ice landings (i.e. ski-wheel configured for Pioneering Landings and wheel configured for runway landings as appropriate).

• Provide minimum ice thickness required to land and take off from the sea ice.

• Provide information on any additional support equipment or requirements if available, such as a powered winch (for Cargo air craft), cargo ramp (for side loading aircraft), sling/rigging equipment (for rotary aircraft), or any other equipment that may be useful for operations on the ice.

• Provide any other suggestions or considerations to improve this procurement. Are there software advancements, industry developments, or innovative solutions to be considered?

• Please feel free to provide questions and/or comments on the draft Performance Work Statement (attached), citing any information you feel may improve/innovate this requirement.

5. Conclusion

USTRANSCOM would like to thank you for taking the time to review this important RFI, and we look forward to reviewing your response.

Brenda L. Marshall Contracting Officer 618-817-9385 brenda.l.marshall10.civ@mail.mil

Attachment(s):

Atch 1 – DRAFT PWS AFRICOM DPACS Atch 2 – ROM Estimate Worksheet mailto:brenda.l.marshall10.civ@mail.mil