ICEX2026 - Air Charter Services PWS_DRAFT.pdf

Performance Based Statement of Work

For

ICEX 2026 Operation Ice Camp Air Charter Services

To

Undersea Warfighting Development Center Detachment Arctic Submarine Laboratory

August 1st, 2025

BACKGROUND

The U.S. Navy’s Undersea Warfighting Development Center (UWDC) Detachment Arctic Submarine Laboratory’s mission is to support the fleet as the “center of excellence” for Arctic matters to enable the submarine force to safely and effectively operate in the unique Arctic Ocean environment, develop and train forces in the tactics, techniques, and procedures required for Arctic operations and exercises; develop and maintain personnel with expertise in Arctic-specific knowledge, skills, and capabilities; plan and coordinate technical development, operations test and evaluations and employment of systems that assure access for Navy forces to engage in the Arctic region; and coordinate with organizations on Arctic-related matters.

A primary means to meet this mission is through an Ice Exercise (ICEX) or Operation Ice Camp (OIC).

ICEX/OIC is the Navy's RDT&E exercise used to validate and assess operational readiness of the submarine force in the Arctic while continuing research and military training in extreme cold conditions and the undersea environment. The U.S. Navy has been conducting Arctic and undersea exercises since the 1940's, to include the first under-ice dive by the USS Boarfish (SS 327) in 1947. These exercises extended to arctic exploring and submarine operations under the polar ice canopy became known as Ice Exercises. The frequency and scope of these ice exercises have changed over the years to include a more robust submarine support capability on the ice through an "ice station" or "ice camp." Aircraft that can take off and land on drifting sea ice is required to support these ice camps.

1 SCOPE

This performance work statement (PWS) describes the tasks required of the contractor to support the Undersea Warfighting Development Center Detachment Arctic Submarine Laboratory by providing air charter services to the drifting ice camp. 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.

2 REFERENCES

Reference Documents

a. CFR Title 32 Part 861, DOD Commercial Air Transportation Quality and Safety Review Program.

b. DOD Instruction 4500.3, DOD Commercial Air Transportation Quality and Safety Review

Program.

3 REQUIREMENTS

Charter Aircraft Services 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.

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. 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

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 higher payload is preferred.

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

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.

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.

4 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED

Government Furnished Equipment / Services

a. The government will provide fuel containment systems (i.e. berms) for the helicopter fuel at the ice camp. The government will transport the Air Charter Service-procured helicopter fuel to the ice camp if it is in 55 gallon drums or other similarly sized containers. The government can assist in fuel movements at the ice camp. Helicopter crew should bring an aviation fuel transfer pump.

b. The government will provide a heated working space up to 100 square feet at the ice camp for the helicopter crew equipment.

c. The government will provide 2KW portable inverter generators at the ice camp. The government will provide a higher rated portable inverter generator at the ice camp (e.g. 4.5 kW) if required. The government will also provide the fuel to run these portable generators as necessary to support aircraft electrical requirements.

d. The government will provide lodging and sustenance for helicopter personnel while at the ice camp. Lodging will be provided at the ice camp through tents that are shared with other ice camp personnel. All meals will be provided for the helicopter crew at the ice camp.

e. The government will rent a hangar facility in Deadhorse, Alaska. All aircraft supporting the ice camp will be able to utilize the hangar apron, and supplied electrical power, for the aircraft. Limited space inside the hangar may be provided for aircraft maintenance equipment. Limited space in the hangar facility may be utilized daily as office space for personnel.

Government Furnished Information

a. The government will provide information suitable for the ice camp operations. This information may include radar and satellite imagery, meteorological observations and forecasts, and sea ice measurements.

5 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The overall projected period of performance is 19 February 2026 through 25 March 2026, but each aircraft requirement has its own period of performance as delineated in PWS 3.1.1 – 3.1.4.

6 SERVICE DELIVERY SUMMARY (SDS)

Performance Objectives PWS Paragraph (s)

Performance Threshold

All aircraft arrive within one (1) hour after the scheduled arrival time.

3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3, and 3.1.4

95% or higher computed on average of all flights

Carry the scheduled loads of passengers/cargo on each flight.

3.1.3 100% of the time

Provide aircraft and services free of discrepancies. 3.1 95% of the time