E1. M0026426Q0130 Harrier Transportation Q&A.docx

M0026426Q0130 Harrier Transportation Q&A

Q1: Please confirm the anticipated date or scheduling window for the aircraft disassembly, loading, and transportation at MCAS Yuma.

A1: The Performance Work Statement (PWS), Section IV.B.3, states: "Delivery of aircraft to MCAS Cherry Point to occur within 8 weeks of contract award." This eight-week period is the window for all activities under CLIN 0001, including disassembly, loading, and transport from MCAS Yuma.

Q2: Please confirm the total piece count the contractor should plan to transport after the required aircraft disassembly is completed.

A2: The PWS, Section III.A.2, requires the contractor to disassemble the aircraft into the following major components:

· Fuselage

· Wing

· Horizontal Stabilizer

· Vertical Stabilizer

· Six (6) palletized pieces of inert ordnance.

This results in a total of at least 10 main pieces/pallets to be transported.

Q3: Please provide the transportation dimensions and estimated weights for the individual components that are not separately identified in the existing technical documents.

A3: The attachments to the PWS (referenced in Section K and L) provide overall aircraft dimensions, hoisting weights, and some component weights (e.g., "Hoisted Wing Assembly," "Tail Assembly"). While exact down-to-the-pound weights for individual panels cannot be provided, industry can estimate based on the provided technical data. For context: the main fuselage section (stripped of engine, radar, and sensitive gear) will weigh approximately 8,000–9,000 lbs. The removed wing assembly is roughly 2,500–3,000 lbs. The horizontal and vertical stabilizers are a few hundred pounds each. The contractor must supply a transportation plan that accommodates these estimated loads safely without stressing the attachment points.

Q4: The PWS requires disassembly of the wing, horizontal stabilizer, and vertical stabilizer at MCAS Yuma and unloading of the aircraft and all components onto NMMC-provided stands at final delivery, but it does not identify reassembly as a contractor requirement. Please confirm whether the Government intends for the contractor to reassemble the aircraft at the NMMC Museum Support Facility, or whether the aircraft is to be delivered and unloaded in its disassembled state with no reassembly required.

A4: The PWS, Section III.A.5.d, states, "The aircraft and all components are to be unloaded onto NMMC provided stands." There is no mention of a contractor requirement for reassembly. The aircraft is to be delivered and offloaded in its disassembled state.

Q5: Please identify which party will be responsible for the identification, handling, transportation, and disposal of any hazardous waste generated during the aircraft-disassembly process.

A5: The aircraft will be pre-drained, but the contractor is responsible for providing drip pans and absorbent materials (PIG mats) to catch any incidental "weeping" of residual hydraulic fluid or residual fuel when disconnecting lines to remove the wing and stabilizers. The contractor is responsible for the proper disposal of these absorbent materials off-installation.

Q6: Please identify which party will be responsible for removing or otherwise addressing any residual fuel, oils, hydraulic fluids, or other hazardous fluids remaining in the aircraft before contractor personnel begin disassembly.

A6: The USMC operational squadron at MCAS Yuma will perform the standard demilitarization (demil) process prior to turning the aircraft over to the contractor. This includes defueling, draining the engine and hydraulic reservoirs, and purging the fuel lines. The aircraft will be provided in a "dry" state, though minor residual weeping should be expected upon line separation.

Q7: Please confirm whether the Government will provide the contractor access to the required aircraft maintenance manuals, technical orders, maintenance data, and other applicable documentation necessary to safely disassemble the AV-8B.

A7: Yes. NMMC and the Government Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) will provide the contractor with the necessary excerpts from the AV-8B Structural Repair Manual (SRM) and Maintenance Instruction Manual (MIM). This includes the approved jack points, crane lifting points, center of gravity data, and step-by-step procedures for wing and empennage removal.

Q8: Please confirm whether all pressurized systems and containers will be properly depressurized or neutralized before the contractor begins work.

A8: Yes. As part of the USMC demil process, all high-pressure accumulators, oxygen systems, and fire extinguishing bottles will be depressurized, discharged, or removed prior to the contractor beginning work. Landing gear struts may retain nominal nitrogen pressure to keep the aircraft elevated, which is standard for transport.

Q9: The solicitation establishes Net 30 payment terms through WAWF but does not identify milestone payments. Please confirm whether the contractor may invoice separately following completion and Government acceptance of the first transportation leg from MCAS Yuma to MCAS Cherry Point, or whether payment will be withheld until completion of the entire project.

A9: The solicitation is structured with two separate Contract Line Item Numbers (CLINs): CLIN 0001 for the first leg and CLIN 0002 for the second. Standard government contracting practice allows for invoicing upon the successful completion and acceptance of individual line items. Therefore, the contractor can invoice for CLIN 0001 after the aircraft is accepted at MCAS Cherry Point.

Q10: Please confirm whether the aircraft radar and any other sensitive military systems will be removed before contractor personnel begin work.

A10: Yes. All classified, cryptographic, and sensitive military systems (including the radar, electronic countermeasures, and ordnance release computers) will be removed by the USMC prior to the contractor's arrival.

Q11: The PWS requires a Certificate of Insurance coverage for a value of $500,000, applicable during both transportation legs. Please identify the specific type or types of insurance coverage required and confirm whether $500,000 is the total required coverage amount.

A11: The PWS, Section G.3, states, "The Contractor shall provide a Certificate of Insurance coverage for a value of $500,000." The $500,000 value represents the replacement/historical value of the artifact. The contractor should hold Inland Marine/Motor Truck Cargo insurance, as well as Rigger’s Liability insurance to cover potential damage during the hoisting and disassembly phases. The $500,000 requirement applies per occurrence.

Q12: Please identify the contractor access points at MCAS Yuma and MCAS Cherry Point, including how close the applicable access gates are to the aircraft work and delivery locations. Please also confirm whether contractor vehicles and equipment will receive direct access to the work areas.

A12: The aircraft will be staged on a flight line or designated wash-rack apron with direct, drive-up access for heavy transport trucks and cranes. The contractor will not have to manually move the aircraft long distances to reach their vehicles.

Q13: Please provide the anticipated contract-award or project-start date. The PWS requires delivery to MCAS Cherry Point within eight weeks after contract award and final delivery to the NMMC Museum Support Facility no later than April 1, 2027; however, an anticipated start date is not identified.

A13: The Solicitation (SF-1449), Block 8, lists the "OFFER DUE DATE/LOCAL TIME" as 07 Sep 2026, 11:00 AM. While not an exact award date, this provides the basis for the project timeline. The Period of Performance is listed on Page 7 as starting 15 Sep 2026, which is tentative depending on our proposed award date of 14 Sep 2026. This date may change depending on the Government’s needs but anticipate award by NLT 29 Sep 2026.

Q14: Please confirm whether contractor personnel will require Government escorts while working on or accessing the flight line and other work areas at MCAS Yuma or MCAS Cherry Point.

A14: Yes. Because flight lines are restricted areas, contractor personnel without unescorted base access/line badges will require continuous Government escorts while on the flight line at both MCAS Yuma and MCAS Cherry Point.

Q15: The PWS requires evidence that personnel performing the requirement have experience disassembling, loading, and transporting AV-8 aircraft. May a small-business prime contractor satisfy this requirement through the qualifications and experience of named subcontractor personnel proposed for contract performance?

A15: Yes, provided the prime contractor explicitly names the specialized aviation rigging/transport subcontractor in their proposal, and that provides substantiated proof the subcontractor has the verifiable experience disassembling and hauling military tactical aircraft.

Q16: Please confirm that the contractor is responsible for disassembly, loading, transportation, unloading, and related handling only, and that no reassembly of the aircraft is required at MCAS Cherry Point or the NMMC Museum Support Facility.

A16: The PWS details the requirements for disassembly (Section III.A.2), transportation (Sections III.A.3 & III.A.5), and unloading onto Government-provided stands (Sections III.A.3.c & III.A.5.d). There is no language in the PWS that requires the contractor to perform any reassembly.

Q17: Please clarify the required form of insurance coverage for the stated $500,000 aircraft value. Should the contractor provide motor-truck cargo, inland marine, bailee’s coverage, aviation liability, general liability, or another specific type of coverage? Please also confirm whether the $500,000 requirement applies per occurrence, per transportation leg, or in the aggregate.

A17: See Response, Question 11.

Q18: Will the Government provide documentation certifying that all six wing-station items are inert and approved for commercial highway transportation? Please identify any UXO, hazardous-material, packaging, marking, escort, or personnel-qualification requirements applicable to their removal, palletization, and transportation.

A18: Yes. The Government will provide a formal certification verifying the wing-station items and external tanks are 100% inert, purged, and contain no explosive material. No specialized UXO qualifications are required for the contractor’s personnel; they will be transported as standard heavy freight.

Q19: Will the Government provide applicable aircraft maintenance manuals, disassembly instructions, approved lifting-point information, center-of-gravity information, component weights, or other technical data necessary to safely disassemble and lift the aircraft? Will Government technical personnel be available during disassembly and loading operations?

A19: As stated in Q7, manuals and lifting points will be provided. Government technical personnel (NMMC staff or squadron representatives) will be present on-site to observe the lift and verify the artifact is handled safely, but they will not provide physical labor or direct the contractor's crane operators.

Q20: May the contractor use multiple trailers and separate permitted loads for the fuselage, wing, stabilizers, palletized wing-station items, and other components, provided all equipment and components are delivered within the required schedule?

A20: Yes. From a restoration standpoint, we actively encourage breaking the load across multiple trailers (e.g., fuselage on a lowboy, wing and stabilizers on a separate step-deck) if it reduces the risk of components rubbing or sustaining transport damage.

Q21: Will the Government conduct or authorize a pre-quotation site visit at MCAS Yuma so prospective contractors can inspect the aircraft, flight-line work area, access route, overhead utilities, crane positioning area, and trailer-staging conditions?

A21: A pre-quotation or pre-award site visit at MCAS Yuma is not possible. The Government will provide a package of current photographs showing the aircraft's staging location, crane positioning area, and egress route to the main gate.

Q22: What amount of advance notice will the contractor receive before the Government requests performance of the second transportation leg from MCAS Cherry Point to the NMMC Museum Support Facility? Is there an anticipated date or performance window for that movement?

A22: The PWS, Section IV.B.2, states the transportation plan for the second leg must be submitted "within 2 weeks of written request from TPOC." The NMMC anticipates the Cherry Point preservation work to take several months. The Government will provide the contractor with a minimum of 30 days advance written notice prior to the required execution date for the second transportation leg to Dumfries, VA. Final delivery must occur no later than April 1, 2027.

Q23: Will the Government coordinate flight-line access, security escorts, oversized vehicle entry, crane and trailer staging approvals, and installation access at MCAS Yuma and MCAS Cherry Point, or will any of these arrangements be the contractor’s responsibility?

A23: As per the PWS, Section J, necessary documentation for flight line access will be requested after award. The Government TPOC will coordinate and schedule the security escorts and approve the staging areas on the flight line. However, the contractor is entirely responsible for submitting all necessary base access vetting forms (e.g., SECNAV 5512/1) for their personnel and drivers to the Pass & ID office well in advance of the work.

Q24: Please confirm the condition in which the aircraft will be provided at MCAS Yuma. Will it be fully drained, de-energized, demilitarized, and cleared of fuel, oil, hydraulic fluid, batteries, pyrotechnic devices, hazardous materials, or other items that could affect disassembly or commercial highway transportation? Please identify any such materials or components that will remain installed and require special handling.

A24: Addressed in Q6, Q8, and Q10). The aircraft will be demilitarized, defueled, purged, and stripped of classified systems/pyrotechnics prior to contractor turnover.

Q25: PWS states the estimated weight of the assembled aircraft is 11,807 lbs. The furnished NAVAIR/Boeing weight report (Boeing 2001H0007) lists the Hoisted Fuselage & Tail Assembly at 8,805.2 lbs and the Hoisted Wing Assembly at 3,002.0 lbs, which together total 11,807.2 lbs and exclude the 3,739.7 lb Engine Installation. Please confirm whether the engine is currently installed in BuNo 165588.

A25: The engine (F402-RR-408) has been removed as part of the Government's demilitarization process. BuNo 165588 does not currently have an engine installed, which aligns with the 11,807 lb estimated weight provided in the PWS.

Q26: Attachment A1 provides subcomponent weights but does not appear to include lift point locations, hoist point locations, sling attachment points, or center-of-gravity data. Will the Government furnish OEM lifting or rigging drawings, jacking and hoisting fitting diagrams, or center-of-gravity data for BuNo 165588? If not, please confirm the contractor is responsible for developing the engineered lift plan without them.

A26: The Technical point of contact has requested documentation from the AV-8B Program Office (PMA) and will share publications when received by the time of award.

Q27: Does the Government have dimensional data for the aircraft in its disassembled or as-shipped configuration — fuselage, wing, horizontal stabilizer and vertical stabilizer? Attachment A1 provides whole-aircraft general arrangement dimensions only.

A27: The Government does not possess separate engineered drawings for the standalone disassembled components. Offerors should utilize standard aviation transport estimation based on the overall dimensions provided in Attachment A1 (e.g., Wing span: 30.3 ft, Fuselage length: approx. 47 ft).

Q28: Attachment A1 contains two NAVAIR general arrangement charts giving different overall lengths —one titled "AV-8B 164549 AND UP" showing 47.44 ft, and an earlier chart showing 46.33 ft. Please confirm that the "164549 AND UP" chart is the applicable configuration for BuNo 165588.

A28: BuNo 165588 falls sequentially after 164549; the chart titled "AV-8B 164549 AND UP" (showing an overall length of 47.44 ft) is the applicable configuration chart.

Q29: PWS requires removal and palletizing of six pieces of inert ordnance from the wing stations. Please provide the type, individual weight and dimensions of these six items, and confirm whether any special handling, storage or documentation applies to them.

A29: The six items consist of standard inert training ordnance and external drop tanks. Dimensions vary, but offerors should plan for items up to roughly 15 feet in length and weighing between 100 to 250 lbs each. No special hazardous handling is required, but they must be securely palletized for standard freight transit.

Q30: Does the Government require the ordnance pallets to meet any specification — dimensions, material, load rating or marking — or is pallet configuration at the contractor’s discretion?

A30: The Government does not require a specific MIL-SPEC pallet. Pallet configuration, material, and load rating are at the contractor’s discretion, provided they meet standard commercial Department of Transportation (DOT) cargo securement regulations for safe highway transport.

Q31: Attachment A1, Technical Specification Document — Harrier AV-8B, is listed in the PWS but does not appear in the solicitation’s attachment table at page 20. Please confirm A1 is incorporated into the solicitation and that offerors may rely on the weight and dimensional data it contains.

A31: Attachment A1 (Technical Specification Document — Harrier AV-8B) is hereby incorporated into the solicitation. Offerors may rely on the weight and dimensional data it contains. Its omission from the attachment table on page 20 was an administrative error.

Q32: PWS states the aircraft is stored on the flight line at MCAS Yuma. Attachment A1 includes photographs that appear to show different settings — one captioned "AV-8B Current Location on Flight Line" showing an aircraft beneath a fabric sunshade canopy on a paved surface, and others showing an aircraft on unpaved gravel with concrete pads, adjacent to overhead power lines and a perimeter fence. At least one photograph shows a different bureau number. Please confirm which photographs depict BuNo 165588 in its current position.

A32: All provided photos are of the same aircraft. This aircraft used to be on display near the entrance to MCAS Yuma, but has been taken down and now resides under the fabric aircraft cover on the flightline. The painted BuNo on the side of the aircraft does not match the actual aircraft's BuNo, as it was painted to match a different aircraft when it went on display near the MCAS Yuma gate. The other photos were provided merely as historical reference examples of prior lifting operations.

Q33: If BuNo 165588 is currently positioned beneath a sunshade or other overhead structure, will the Government relocate the aircraft to a crane-accessible position prior to contractor mobilization, or is repositioning the contractor’s responsibility? If contractor responsibility, please confirm whether the Government will furnish tow support, a tow bar, or tug equipment.

A33: The aircraft will be relocated to the preferred crane work and disassembly area prior to the contractor performing the work.

Q34: Please describe the surface and ground-bearing conditions at the aircraft’s current position — paved, unpaved or mixed — and identify any restriction on mobile crane outrigger loading or ground protection at that location.

A34: The surface is a military-grade reinforced concrete/asphalt flight line capable of supporting heavy aircraft and mobile cranes. Standard crane outrigger pads/mats are sufficient; no specialized ground protection matting for soft soil is required at the Yuma pickup location.

Q35: Attachment A1 includes a photograph captioned "AV-8B Lift (Overhead Power Lines)." Are there energized overhead lines within the crane operating radius at the pickup location? If so, please advise whether the installation can de-energize or otherwise mitigate them, and the notice required to arrange it.

A35: Q35: The photo with the overhead power lines is of the same aircraft, but at its previous display location. The aircraft is now positioned under an aircraft canopy and will be relocated by MCAS Yuma to an open area for the contractor to perform their work.

Q36: Are there restrictions on bringing commercial mobile crane equipment onto the MCAS Yuma flight line — airfield height or clearance approvals, escort requirements, or a facility permit — and what is the lead time to obtain each?

A36: The Technical Point of Contact is not aware of any clearance approvals for performing crane work in the designated spot on the flightline. Regarding on-base permits, the Technical Point of contact will contact MCAS Yuma to verify timelines to provide to the successful awardee.

Q37: Please describe the surface conditions, overhead obstructions and access constraints at the two delivery locations — Fleet Readiness Center East, Building 148, MCAS Cherry Point, and the NMMC Museum Support Facility, Dumfries.

A37: MCAS Cherry Point (FRC East, Bldg 148): Paved, reinforced concrete industrial apron with direct vehicle access and no immediate overhead obstructions. NMMC Dumfries: Paved delivery yard/loading dock area designed for heavy transport access. Both are highly accessible for standard heavy-haul lowboy/step-deck trailers and mobile cranes.

Q38: PWS requires the aircraft and components to be unloaded onto Government provided stands. Please provide the load rating, configuration and quantity of the stands at each destination.

A38: At MCAS Cherry Point the aircraft is to be unloaded on to the factory transportation stands for these components. Please see the attached document showing how these stands are typically utilized in the fleet. NMMC will have similar structures for delivery at MSF.

Q39: PWS states that MCAS Yuma flight line access requires additional security vetting and that the necessary documentation will be requested in writing by the TPOC after contract award. What is the expected processing time for that vetting, and may the screening be initiated prior to award or immediately upon notification of award? Delivery to MCAS Cherry Point is required within 8 weeks of award, and the vetting period falls inside that window.

A39: Security vetting (SECNAV 5512/1) typically takes 7-14 business days. The vetting process should be initiated immediately upon notification of award. The 8-week period of performance provides sufficient time for vetting, disassembly, and transport.

Q40: What is the Government’s anticipated award date? The solicitation states a period of performance beginning 15 September 2026 but does not state an anticipated award date, and several contractor deliverables are keyed to the date of award.

A40: The Government anticipates making an award on or about September 14, 2026, to align with the September 15, 2026 Period of Performance start date.

Q41: PWS keys the second transportation plan to a written request from the TPOC following restoration at FRC East. Can the Government provide an estimated duration for the restoration, or an estimated window for the second leg? The contractor must hold equipment and personnel availability through 1 April 2027.

A41: The restoration at FRC East is estimated to take approximately 4 to 5 months. The Government anticipates the second transportation leg will occur in the February to March 2027 timeframe. The contractor will be provided 30 days advance written notice.

Q42: SF-1449 Block 8 states quotes are due 07 September 2026 at 11:00 AM. 7 September 2026 is Labor Day, a federal holiday. Please confirm the due date and time, or advise whether an alternate date applies.

A42: The Government acknowledges September 7, 2026, is a federal holiday. The quote due date is hereby extended to September 8, 2026, 11:00 AM EST.

Q43: SF-1449 Block 27a indicates that FAR 52.212-3 and FAR 52.212-5 are attached. Neither provision appears in full text within the solicitation. Please confirm whether 52.212-3 and 52.212-5 are incorporated, and if so, provide them or confirm they are incorporated by reference.

A43: FAR 52.212-3 and 52.212-5 are no longer active provisions, having been moved to [Reserved] status. This is a limitation of the contract-writing system. Offerors are required to have an active SAM.gov registration containing their completed representations and certifications as per FAR 42.03-1(b).

Q44: FAR 52.219-14, Limitation on Subcontracting, does not appear in the solicitation clause listings. FAR 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside, is incorporated by reference at page 9. Please confirm what limitation on subcontracting, if any, applies to this acquisition, and the applicable percentage.

A44: Because the total estimated value of this acquisition is expected to fall below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT), clause FAR 52.219-14 (Limitations on Subcontracting) is not applicable and is not incorporated into this solicitation. There are no subcontracting percentage limitations applied to this small business set-aside procurement.

Q45: The Addendum to Evaluation at page 25 states the Government will award to the quoter whose quote "will be most advantageous and provides the greatest overall benefit (best value) to the Government," and also states at (a)(1) that "the basis for award is per FAR 12.204(a) PRICE," with quotes ranked lowest to highest price. The evaluation factor blanks in FAR 52.212-2 are not completed. Please confirm whether award will be made on a lowest-price technically-acceptable basis or a best-value tradeoff basis.

A45: LPTA (Lowest-Price Technically-Acceptable) or tradeoff does not apply as they are parts of FAR Part 15, Contracting by Negotiation. This procurement is governed by FAR Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services. As per the solicitation:

The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible quoter/offeror whose quote/offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous and provides the greatest overall benefit (best value) to the Government.

(a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible quoter whose quote conforms to the solicitation. (a)

(1) The basis for award is PRICE per FAR 12.204(a) (a)(2) Evaluation procedures per FAR 12.203(a).

All quotations or offers will be ranked in order of lowest price to highest price. The following factors shall be used to evaluate Quotes:

a. Technical / Conforming to all matters with respect to the solicitation: Quotes/Quoters must clearly demonstrate the quoted items meet or exceed the salient characteristics or extended description of supplies/services; must specify delivery date/coverage period; and must meet all the terms and conditions of the solicitation.

b. Past Performance: The apparent successful, prospective contractor shall have neutral to satisfactory past performance. Past Performance shall be evaluated in accordance with FAR 12.203(a)(2) and DFARS Subpart 204.76 to include the use of the Supplier Performance Risk System, available at https://piee.eb.mil/.

c. Price: In accordance with FAR 12.204(a) before making the award, the Contracting Officer will determine that the apparent successful, prospective contractor proposed price is fair and reasonable. Evaluation of the quoted prices for the services will be based on a comparison of quoted prices received in response to the solicitation and may also be based on a comparison to the Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) along with any other relevant price analysis techniques.

Q46: PWS requires a Certificate of Insurance for a value of $500,000 applicable during transportation on both legs. No coverage types or individual limits are specified. Please confirm the required coverages and limits — automobile liability, commercial general liability, cargo, and on-hook or riggers liability — and whether the Government or the prime contractor is to be named as additional insured or certificate holder.

A46: The contractor must provide Commercial General Liability, Motor Truck Cargo / Inland Marine (covering the $500,000 artifact value per occurrence), and Riggers Liability (applicable to crane operations). The U.S. Government must be named as the certificate holder.

Q47: PWS requires personnel operating machinery and vehicles to hold "the appropriate licenses." Please confirm whether the Government requires any specific certification — commercial driver’s license class or endorsement, crane operator certification such as NCCCO, or a qualified rigger designation.

A47: Drivers must possess a valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) applicable to the vehicle weight and class. Crane operators and Riggers must hold a valid, current certification from the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) or an equivalent accredited certifying body.

Q48: FAR 52.222-41 and three wage determinations are incorporated. Please confirm whether the Service Contract Labor Standards apply to the over-the-road transportation portions of this requirement, or only to work performed at the three named localities. Please also confirm the process and timing for a conformance action under SF-1444 should a required labor classification not appear in an applicable wage determination.

A48: For compliance, contractors must adhere to the Wage Determinations (WDs) incorporated for the locales where the primary loading/unloading and disassembly activities occur. Conformance actions (SF-1444) for unlisted labor categories should be submitted to the Contracting Officer within 30 days of contract award.

Q49: Please provide the maximum overall length, width, and height of the AV-8B fuselage in its required transport configuration after removal of the wings, horizontal stabilizer, and vertical stabilizer.

A49: With the wing, horizontal stabilizer, and vertical stabilizer removed, the fuselage length is approximately 47.44 feet (from nose to tail cone). The maximum width is approximately 8 to 9 feet (measured across the engine air intakes/outrigger gear fairings). The height of the fuselage alone (resting on its landing gear without the vertical tail) is approximately 9 to 10 feet. Offerors should verify exact final transport dimensions for their load planning upon contract award.

Q50: Please confirm whether the AV-8B has been fully decommissioned and drained of all fuel, oil, hydraulic fluid, and other liquids. If any fluids remain, please clarify what remains and whether the Government or contractor is responsible for draining and disposal.

A50: As previously addressed, the Government will perform standard demilitarization prior to turnover. The aircraft will be defueled, hydraulic reservoirs drained, and systems purged. The aircraft will be provided in a "dry" state. However, the contractor must provide drip pans and absorbent materials to capture any minor residual fluid "weeping" that occurs when disconnecting lines to remove the wing and stabilizers. The Government will provide demil/inert certifications for this aircraft and associated ordnance as available to the successful awardee.

Q51: Please confirm whether the engine will remain installed in the fuselage during transportation.

A51: As previously addressed in Q25, the F402-RR-408 engine has been removed from BuNo 165588. It will not be installed in the fuselage during transportation.

Q52: Please provide, if available, the approved lifting, hoisting, jacking, support, and tie-down/securement points for the fuselage and removed aircraft components. Are there any restrictions regarding where the fuselage may contact or be supported by a transportation cradle?

A52: As addressed in Q26, the Government will provide technical excerpts to the awardee as available from AV-8B PMA, which identify all approved jacking, hoisting, and lifting points. Restriction: The fuselage must be supported only at its reinforced structural bulkheads or designated jacking points. The transportation cradle/securement method must not place weight or crushing force on unsupported aluminum/composite fuselage skin.

Q53: Is the contractor expected to design and/or fabricate a transportation cradle or other support structure for the fuselage, or does the Government have an existing cradle/support fixture available at MCAS Yuma? If contractor-provided, are there Government specifications or engineering requirements that the cradle must meet?

A53: The Government does not have an existing transportation cradle at MCAS Yuma for the contractor to use. The contractor is entirely responsible for providing all necessary blocking, bracing, cribbing, or custom cradles required to safely secure the fuselage to their transport trailer. There are no strict military engineering specifications for the cradle, provided it safely supports the airframe at the approved structural points without causing damage and complies with commercial DOT cargo securement regulations. Components need only be properly supported and cribbed for the transport to MCAS Cherry Point, where government provided cradle/frame are to be utilized for unloading the aircraft onto. The government provided cradle/frame will only be used at MCAS Cherry Point, and the contractor will support and crib the components for transport to NMMC. (Note: The Government will provide display stands at the final Dumfries destination for unloading).

Q54: Would the Government permit the contractor to use an aircraft mechanic who currently works at MCAS Yuma as a subcontractor for the AV-8B disassembly, provided the individual has no involvement in this procurement and has received any required approval for outside employment?

A54: The Government does not prohibit a prime contractor from hiring off-duty military or DoD civilian personnel, provided the individual has obtained formal, documented off-duty employment approval from their command/ethics counselor, and the individual had no official role in drafting, evaluating, or administering this procurement. The prime contractor assumes all responsibility and risk for verifying this clearance and ensuring no organizational conflict of interest (OCI) exists.

Q55: Please confirm whether MCAS Yuma will provide a designated staging/work area suitable for aircraft disassembly, crane/rigging operations, and loading onto transportation trailers. If the aircraft must be repositioned from its current storage location to the designated work/loading area, will the Government be responsible for repositioning the aircraft, or will this be the contractor’s responsibility?

A55: As addressed in Q33 and Q34, the Government will provide a paved, crane-accessible staging/work area. The Government will provide the tow tractor and personnel to reposition the aircraft from its current storage location to the designated disassembly and loading area prior to the contractor commencing work.

Q56: Will the Government permit a site visit so contractors can inspect the aircraft, verify measurements and condition, and properly plan for disassembly, rigging, cradling, and transportation?

A56: As addressed in Q21, due to the procurement timeline and restricted access to the active flight line, a formal pre-quotation site visit will not be hosted. The Government is providing comprehensive technical data (Attachment A1) and will provide a package of high-resolution photographs to prospective offerors to assist with rigging and transport planning.

Q57: Has the aircraft been disassembled and reassembled before for transport or display? If so, can the Government provide information on which components were removed and how they were reassembled?

A57: BuNo 165588 is a recently retired tactical aircraft. It has not been previously disassembled for museum transport or display purposes. The disassembly will require standard field maintenance procedures (removing wing attach bolts, stabilizer pins, and disconnecting associated harnesses/fluid lines).

Item 58: Four Additional Clarifying Pictures provided by the Technical POC:

Picture 1:

Picture 2:

Picture 3:

Picture 4:

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