Sources Sought Notice for DOS INL Airwing program.docx

1. Introduction The Department of State (DoS), Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), Office of Aviation (Air Wing) is hosting an Industry Best Practice Conference to conduct market research and seeking industry input as it prepares to solicit sources for future aviation support to solve problems and execute missions.

The Air Wing’s aviation missions include counter narcotics, host nation training, maritime interdiction training, counter terrorism, embassy support, and other rotary wing, fixed wing, or Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) missions around the world, often in challenging environments.

This market research event will be a way for the Air Wing to gauge interest and identify potential business sources with the resources, capabilities, and experience to successfully deliver requisite services to sustain the Department’s aviation fleet. Industry should be prepared to discuss innovative solutions to problems, available technologies, and capabilities. The Department staff will present an Air Wing overview briefing, describe functional core and supporting contract requirements, and offer opportunities for one-on-one sessions with the Government. The conference will be held on October 28, 2024, in Melbourne, Florida with follow-on one-on-one discussions. The location and time of the brief will be provided as an amendment to the notice on System for Award Management (SAM.gov) website.

Following the overview presentations and the open discussion forum on October 28, 2024, the Government will host one-on-one sessions with interested companies from 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM on October 28, 2024, and between 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM on October 29, 2024, with October 30, 2024, as an overflow day, if needed. These sessions will require prior coordination with the Government and will be limited to a maximum of 1 hour each. Session times will be assigned, and companies will be notified of their time slot via email.

Information contained herein does not necessarily reflect all requirements to be found in any future solicitation. Unsolicited proposals or any other kinds of offers will not be considered in response to this announcement. Responses to this announcement are not offers and will not be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this announcement and attending the conference. All information received in response to this announcement that is marked proprietary will be handled accordingly but will not be returned. The Government welcomes capability statements and comments by email even if you cannot attend the conference.

2.Background The Department of State (DoS) Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), Office of Aviation (INL/A or Air Wing) is initiating these market research activities associated with the continuing requirement for global aviation services. The main requirements to be contracted are:

· Operation of rotary and/or fixed wing government-owned aircraft at sites around the world

· Maintenance of rotary and/or fixed wing government-owned aircraft at sites around the world

· Aviation training of host nation personnel

· Continuous aviation safety programs

· Rotary and fixed wing small UAS (sUAS)

· Commercial air services

· Passenger and cargo movements

· Aircraft repositioning from heavy maintenance sites to deployment sites While these services are currently under contract, the scope has changed over the years and the Department desires industry input into modern industry practices and the most cost-effective methods of meeting requirements. This is industry’s opportunity to help DoS redefine its requirements and leverage the most modern and innovative aviation practices.

3. Requirements INL/A anticipates a total contract value range of approximately $5B - $10B over the life of the resulting contract. The Air Wing has decided to pursue a multiple award Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. The IDIQ contract will have vendor pools for large businesses and small businesses. Vendors will compete for task orders within their respective pool. INL/A is determining the length of the contract but is initially contemplating a five (5) year contract with a base year and four (4) option years.

The details and ground rules of this multiple award IDIQ are still being developed, but the overall structure would look something like the following:

Large Business and a Small Business Pool will be established. The Government will decide, based on the complexity of the requirement which pool each category will be competed amongst. Both large and small businesses could be able to perform the functions in each category A-C.

Category A: Site Aviation Programs

· Operations using Government-provided aircraft

· Routine Maintenance

· Receiving, Prescribed Load List (PLL), and Bench Stock Logistics

· Training

· Safety

Category B: Special Missions and Aviation Maintenance

· Aircraft Modifications

· Phase and Depot-Level Maintenance

· Engine Repairs Category C: Commercial Air Services

· Wet and Dry Aircraft Leases for Passenger and/or Cargo Movements

· Blade-Hour Leases Category D: UAS and counter-UAS: Only qualified vendors on the blue list are eligible for this category.

· Approved Blue-List sUAS System and Spares Procurement

· Field Training

· Maintenance

The Department currently owns approximately 112 aircraft in inventory either deployed to sites worldwide in support of various missions or in maintenance, storage, or on loan to host nation programs.

Current locations of performance are in Central Florida, Peru, Panama, Costa Rica, Malta, and Iraq. However, it is possible that performance may extend into other worldwide locations such as Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean Islands, or the Pacific Islands.

The Air Wing is looking for input, ideas, and feedback on the following questions:

· Where would you fit into the multiple award IDIQ model on this program as outlined above?

· What capacities, innovations, solutions would you bring to this program to help make this multiple award IDIQ environment successful in performing missions and delivering requirements efficiently and safely?

· What risks would you identify, and what corresponding risk mitigation strategies can you offer or recommend on this program in a multiple award IDIQ environment?

· What strategies would you offer to ensure continued operations across the spectrum of pools with multiple contractors to meet the ongoing and emerging missions of the Air Wing?

In summary, the Department is requesting your assistance in helping to identify industry best practices, innovations, capabilities, and risk mitigation strategies in future solicitations for worldwide aviation operations and maintenance within a multiple-award IDIQ environment for maximum efficiency and safety. A short conference is being organized for October 28, 2024, in Melbourne, Florida. We request your participation at the conference or your comments via email if you cannot attend.

4. Industry Day Registration Pre-registration is REQUIRED. This is a no-fee event and seating is limited to two (2) individuals from each company.

Companies are required to email Randal Jenkin, AirWingACR@state.gov no later than 4:00 PM (EST) on October 14, 2024 to request seats with the following pre-registration information: (1) Company name (2) Company size under the applicable NAICS code 488190, (3) CAGE code, (4) a one page company profile, (5) names of individuals attending the conference, (6) indicate whether your company would be interested in participating in one-on-one discussions with the Air Wing.

Conference attendee substitution requests may be submitted via email to the same point of contact by 4:00 PM on October 21, 2024. All companies must be registered in Central Contractor Registry (CCR) to be eligible for award of Government contracts. All submissions shall be in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and/or Portable Document Format (PDF). Attendees will be required to present a CURRENT Government issued photo identification (Driver’s License, Military ID, Passport) matching the information provided above upon check-in at the conference or one-on-one discussions. Please allow sufficient time for the check-in and ID verification process. Late registration and “walk-in” requests will NOT be permitted.