IFB PMAA 2017_0084 Q&A v.2.pdf

Helicopter Inventory Services

IFB1 PMAA 2017*0084

Q&A

1. The bid form appears to only address the Exclusive Use Period. Are you requiring that the Helicopter provider will operate under the same hourly rates for the CWN work also?

We are looking for an annual contract that is both for exclusive use (dates specified in IFB) and a call as needed basis. The same hourly rate is expected to cover both periods.

2. What is the expectation (contractual obligation) for the CWN portion? Are you requiring the provider to guarantee a helicopter will be available when called upon?

The IFB notes that a helicopter be made available within 48 hours of notice during the CWN periods. However, this short of notice is not typical during the CWN period. We typically can provide 2-4 weeks and work with the vendor in scheduling during this period.

3. Can 1 aircraft service both the East and West projects providing it meets the high altitude specification?

Yes

4. Does P&W truly expect to land at 14'000 msl with 2pax and gear? If so will P&W allow for reduced fuel loading and other weight saving measures required to safely land at these altitudes?

We currently do not have any projects where we expect to land at 14,000 msl, but want vendors to understand that we survey bighorn sheep and mountain goats at these altitudes and therefore want a helicopter that is adequately powered to potentially land at these elevations if necessitated.

5. Will P&W negotiate with providers If bids prove to high and P&W decides to reduce the guaranteed hours? Will bidders/awardee be able to decline if guaranteed hours are reduced?

CPW generally has a fixed dollar amount to conduct surveys under this contract, and therefore the numbers of hours that can be flown are dependent on the bid price. If the hourly price is higher than anticipated, CPW can decide to re-solicit this solicitation or to reduce the number of guaranteed hours included in the contract. Bidders will not be able to decline their responses at that time. We expect all vendors to hold their bid for a reasonable amount of time so that a contract can be fully executed.

6. Please confirm there are no agency (i.e. USFS/DOI) carding requirements for aircraft or crew?

There are no regulatory carding requirements for aircraft or crew. However, vendors that are not carded may be subjected to a pre-inspection of pilots or crew prior to the final award. (see pre-inspection section of the IFB)

7. What is the expected response time for the Exclusive Use period? I.e., does the flight crew need to be positioned with the aircraft on a daily basis waiting for someone to call, or will there be a bit of planning prior i.e. 8, 12, 24 hr notice?

8. During the exclusive use period, we typically start flying on December 1 and with appropriate flight conditions, continue to fly until the job is complete and all the survey work during that period is completed. Therefore, it’s not expected that a vendor would leave and then have to come back on short notice.

9. We noted that at present, the R66 is not among the aircraft listed as acceptable for work west of I-25. Is there any way that the capabilities of the R66 could be demonstrated, both with the performance charts of the aircraft and in flight, in order that the R66 might be considered for operations in that sector? The cost savings to the state would be considerable. Might there be intermediate areas where the R66 would outperform - and provide a far better power margin than- a piston, but where the more expensive larger turbines might not in fact be necessary?

Vendors are welcome to prove to us that the R66 meets the required specifications listed in the solicitation documents.