BATCH_2_DRAFT_QA.pdf

BATCH 2 DRAFT Q&A 7 Nov 2013

Q1: Will there be a requirement to operate all 11 planes simultaneously at any time during contract performance?

A1: The Government requirement has been revised to 10 simultaneous presentations (down from 11).

This means a requirement to be able to operate all 10 planes simultaneously at any time during the contract. This will be reflected in the Final RFP.

Q2: Being that these efforts will require considerable coordination by NAVAIR of all participants to the program, Knowledge of when these activities will occur is certainly known by the incumbent and it is requested that this knowledge be provided to all bidders. Therefore, if the answer is yes to the question above, when will there be a requirement to operate all 11 planes simultaneously?

A2: The Government information regarding when the activities will occur has been provided to all bidders in PWS Paragraph 3.3.1 as scheduling information.

Q3: A small business can perform this effort. But, due to the fact that the incumbent is a very large business and already has the aircraft and superior knowledge of the requirements, it would be difficult for a small business to compete with only a two month phase in period. Certainly NAVAIR knows when the requirements in the 3 regions will receive Task Orders. Would it be possible to extend the phase in period to allow for more time to get up to speed for all 11 aircraft, if in fact 11 aircraft are necessary?

A3: The Government requirement is a 60 day phase in period.

Q4: Please provide a copy of all STCs that have been utilized for this effort. Perhaps an on-line library of all pertinent aircraft issues, such as STCs can be established so that competitors can be afforded the opportunity to bid with adequate knowledge.

A4: The Supplemental Type Certificates are unique to a particular model of aircraft and are proprietary to the company that developed them. The Government does not own the STCs, thus cannot provide them.

Q5: The most significant issue involves the Gulf Coast requirement which is structured so that the contractor is required to provide 2 aircraft for exclusive use on the Gulf Coast (2 simultaneous presentations) with no guaranteed flight hours and no way to recover the fixed cost of having the aircraft available 24/7/365 except when they fly. Therefore, if CLIN 0X03 were to remain as it is, there should be a minimum number of guaranteed flight hours. Another option would be to separate CLIN

0X03 into fixed and variable cost much the same as CLINs 0X01 & 0X02. Would also like to highlight that the Draft solicitation stated maximum of 300 flight hours annually on these two aircraft will result in an extremely high cost per flight hour due to the low flight hour aircraft utilization. Can CLIN 0X03 be changed to reflect either one of the above suggested options?

A5: The Final RFP will be revised to remove the Gulf Coast requirement.

Q6: Can page 12 of Section B & 14 of Section C, which are blank, be eliminated?

A6: Yes, page 12 of Section B & 14 of Section C will be removed in the final RFP.

Q7: Para 2.0; Applicable Documents: Comment: This listing includes: “FAA PUBLIC USE CIRCULAR FAA

ADVISORY CIRCULAR (PUBLIC USE) AC NO: 00-1.1A PUBLIC AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS REQUIREMENTS.”

This Advisory Circular is currently posted on the FAA website as a draft for which the FAA is soliciting comments. It will be difficult to build a proposal that meets the requirement of a advisory circular that is not yet formalized or promulgated for compliance. Can the aforementioned reference be removed?

A7: The reference to the draft FAA Aviation Circular (AC 00-1.1A) will be removed in the Final RFP.

However, the requirement to comply with FAA Public Aircraft Operations notification procedures is still applicable.

Q8: Para 3.2: Clarification: The first sentence states “……in accordance with Para 3.10.2”, but there is no Para 3.10.2 in the Draft PWS. Is this an oversight and can it be corrected?

A8: The reference to paragraph 3.10.2 has been removed from paragraph 3.2. This will be reflected in the Final RFP.

Q9: Para 3.5.4.6.1: Comment: This paragraph states: “PIC shall meet the currency requirements of 14

CFR 135.247.” This requirement fulfills landing currency for passenger flights. Per the Draft RFP, there is no longer a requirement for Type II aircraft to conduct passenger missions. Can the RFP be changed to reference 14CFR 61.57 for PIC landing currency requirements which is sufficient for current CAS missions flown under Part 91?

A9 Yes. The PWS will be changed to require PIC currency that meets 14 CFR 61.57 (vice 14 CFR

135.247). This will be reflected in the Final RFP.

Q10: Para 3.5.4.6.2: Comment: This paragraph states: “SIC shall meet the currency requirements of 14

CFR 135.247.” This requirement fulfills landing currency for passenger flights. Per the Draft RFP, there is no longer a requirement for Type II aircraft to conduct passenger missions. Can the RFP be changed to reference 14CFR 61.57 for SIC landing currency requirements which is sufficient for current CAS missions flown under Part 91?

A10: Yes. The PWS will be changed to require SIC currency that meets 14 CFR 61.57 (vice 14 CFR

135.247). This will be reflected in the Final RFP.

Q11: Para 3.5.4.6.2: Comment: This paragraph states: “SIC. The Second in Command (SIC) shall meet

14 CFR Part 135.243©(1) and 135.243©(3) and meet the currency requirements of 14 CFR 135.247.

Additionally, the SIC shall have a minimum of 50 hours of experience in the type of aircraft being operated.” Paragraph 4.2.2.4..7(L) provides guidance on initial qualification of aircrew. Assuming the contractor’s initial qualification program meets the Navy’s requirement contained in Paragraph

4.2.2.4.7(L), can the 50 hour in type requirement be removed from paragraph 3.5.4.6.2.?

A11: Paragraph 3.5.4.6.2 will be changed to "The SIC shall meet 14 CFR Part 135.245 requirements and meet the currency requirements of 14 CFR 61.57. The SIC shall have a minimum of 10 hours of experience in the type of aircraft being operated. The SIC shall have a current 14CFR 135.293 competency check.

Q12: Para 4.1.1: Clarification: This paragraph states: “The contractor shall ensure that all aircraft are equipped with the applicable communication and navigation capability to operate in the National Air

Space or foreign nation airspace requirements, as applicable.” Does the Navy require “all” aircraft on the contract to meet National and Foreign communications and navigation requirements? There is a vast difference between National Airspace and Foreign Airspace communication and navigation equipment requirements, especially in regards to European Airspace requirements. Considering the limited amount of European Type II CAS tasking in recent years, limiting this requirement to a specific number of aircraft on the contract would result in a considerable cost savings to the Navy.

A12: Revised PWS language will state " The Contractor shall ensure that all aircraft are equipped with the applicable communication and navigation capability to operate in the U.S. National Air Space. In addition, tasking requirements will require aircraft to deploy worldwide. The Contractor shall ensure that a sufficient number of aircraft are equipped, as applicable, to operate in foreign nation airspace.

The Contractor shall comply with other FAA, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), or foreign nation equipment pre-requisites, and shall be solely responsible to provide such equipment. This will be reflected in the Final RFP.

Q13: Para 4.1.5: Clarification: The term “Public Use” is no longer applicable. Recent FAA references

“Public Aircraft Operations.” However, the subsequent requirement in Para 4.1.11 states: “The contractor shall operate aircraft in accordance with 14CFR”. Is the aforementioned statement in direct conflict with Para 4.1.5?

A13: The PWS will be changed to use the term "Public Aircraft Operations" vice “Public Use”. This will be reflected in the Final RFP.

Q14: Para 4.1.13: Clarification: “All aircraft must be operated and maintained IAW 14 CFR” –That statement is very broad. We operate our aircraft under FAR part 135 and maintains them under FAR parts 91 and 145. Can the Government please clarify if there are additional FAR parts that the USG requires?

A14: While operating as a Public Aircraft Operation, the Government is responsible for providing oversight of the Contractor's operations, maintenance, and safety. The Navy elects to require as a contract requirement via PWS paragraph 4.3.10, Aeronautical Regulations (was 4.1.11 in previous PWS dated 5/15/13), and paragraph 4.3.12, Waiver Requests (was 4.1.13 in previous PWS dated 5/15/13), that the Contractor comply with 14 CFR in the operation and maintenance of the aircraft. If there are elements of 14CFR (operations or maintenance) that the contractor cannot comply with under the contract when operating as a PAO, then a written PCO waiver is required (per paragraph 4.3.12) in the absence of a NAVAIR issued Interim Flight Clearance.

Q15: Para 4.2.2.3.11: Hydraulic Fluid Contamination Surveillance Program -- Would a program that does the aircraft sampling based on the requirements of the manufacturer meet this requirement?

A15: The intent of the Hydraulic Fluid Contamination Surveillance Program is to prevent contamination of hydraulic fluid in both the aircraft and ground support or testing equipment. These procedures are not intended to modify, in any way, the OEM maintenance requirements and are in addition to the OEM requirements.

Q16: Can the following RFP clauses be reviewed to reflect the observations listed below?

1q) Section B, page 10 , Clause 252.232-7006 “ Wide Area Work Flow Payment Instructions” is duplicated in Section G and the duplicate should be deleted from Section B.

1a) There will be no duplication of Clause 252.232-7006 in the Final RFP.

2q) Section I, pg. 28 – 52.204-7, “Central Contractor Registration” change date to December

2012 to match current FAR;

2a) The FAR Clause 52.204-7's date will be revised in the Final RFP.

3q) Page 29 – 52.229-3, “Federal State and Local Taxes” change date to February 2013 to match current FAR;

3a) The FAR Clause 52.229-3's date will be revised in the Final RFP.

4q) Page 29 – 52.229-6, “Taxes—Foreign Fixed Price Contracts” change date to February 2013 to match current FAR;

4a) The FAR Clause 52.229-6's date will be revised in the Final RFP.

5q) Page 19 of Section D – 252.247-7023, “Transportation of supplies by Sea” is duplicated in

Section I. Recommend one of these clauses be deleted.

5a) There will be no duplication of Clause 252.247-7023 in the Final RFP.