RFI Responses.docx

W911RZ-24-Q-0010

Question and Answers

Q: What is the desired schedule of courses that are to happen consecutively? What is the desired order of start/end dates of Snowmobile Instructor Course with assessment, Snowmobile Mentorship, AIARE REC, 1, 2 and rescue, and Backcountry Snowmobile Mentorship? Do these types of instructions start all at once? This will be helpful to know for planning how many instructors will be needed.

A: The training POI will start on 03 FEB 2024 and will end on 17 FEB 2024, the order of training will be as stating in the PWS; snowmobile mentorship, AIARE REC 1 & 2, Avalanche rescue, then Backcountry snowmobile mentorship. Phase two of the training pipeline with be the snowmobile instructor course and will be conducted in the national forest and on private land in the approximate area of Rabbit Ears, CO for two weeks in mid-April 2024; hard dates are TBD due to pending land usage agreements.

Q: Does the contractor have access to an indoor facility for indoor instruction? If so, what is the location and size of this facility?

A: No, all training will be conducted in the national and state forest/parks. Additionally, the training exercise will be ran out of a Forward Operating Base with very limited resources (located in very austere conditions in said National and State forest/parks.)

Q: What is the desired amount of snowmobiles for each of the Polaris RMK 850 and Polaris Titan 800? If not available, is there willingness to accept similar models of snowmobiles in lieu?

A: The contractor needs to utilize the same to similar models of both Titans and RMKs as the students/trainees, in order show and have transferability with the student learning aspects. This will allow students to learn from the instructors via visual and hands on means.

Q: Please provide more detail about the IR Night Visions Lights for the snowmobiles? There isn't any option that is built for snowmobiles from the manufacturer or aftermarket. Would you be looking for standard front lights for the operator to see at night or additional lights for upgraded visibility?

A: No, all snowmobile will need to outfitted with a blackout function (a switch that turns both front and rear running lights and brake lights off, and an aftermarket IR Night vision capable front facing light will need to be installed to be able to operate the snowmobile with night vision). Additionally, all contractors will need to possess their own night vision googles. When conducting the back country military mobility operations at night the students will be utilizing PVS-31a night vision googles and the snowmachines will be in Blackout mode (using IR headlights that are installed on to the Snowmachine) to navigate to the objectives. Thus, the instructor’s snowmobiles will need that exact same equipment to not degrade the training realism.

Q: For the 15 day phasing period to allow contracted instructors to trade out and conduct R3, what do you mean by "trade out and conduct R3"? Also, what is the start and end date of the phasing period?

A: The contract well start on the 3nd of FEB and instruction will begin, the 15 day phase period allows the contractor time and space in order refuel and supply themselves for the next phase of training. The phasing time frame will be approximately 48hrs.

Q: Is Whitefish, MT the main training location? There is snow optimal for the training needed there currently. Are the Ovando, MT, and Taylor Park, CO considered optional training locations? If not, what is the reasoning for these additional locations needed?

A: Stillwater state forest is the primary training location, it is in the approximate area of Whitefish, MT. the current snow depths are ranging for 47” – 87”. Additionally, D2 and D3 avalanche threat is considerable at this point of time. We observed a D3 avalanche less than 36 hrs ago that produced an avalanche field of 300” of depth.

Q: What specific insurance coverage/deductible requirements are there of the contractor?

A: N/A – consult with your insurance agency for this RFI.

Q: Do you have permits or some kind of permission already to operate training on the Flathead National Forest, or other? Furthermore, is it the contractor or government responsibility to obtain necessary permits at training locations?

A: 10th SFG(A) holds permits and permissions for only 10th SFG(A) personnel and other supporting military personnel that are OPCONed to 10th SFG for the duration of the training exercise. Outside entities and Contractors will need to obtain their own permits to conduct the training due to the fact they will not fall under the USASOC RMT1.

Q: Is Rabbit Ears, CO an additional optional training location that is dependent on weather conditions? Furthermore, will training need to be happening simultaneously at both locations?

A: Rabbit Ears, CO is not an additional optional training location, it is the primary training location for phase two of the training pipeline. Phase two will be conducted in the national forest and on private land (the same obligation of permits and permissions will apply as in Q#1) in the approximate area of Rabbit Ears, CO for two weeks in mid-April 2024; hard dates are TBD due to pending land usage agreements.

Q: It states First Call has flexible timelines due to training objectives and phases of the operation. The contractor is required to have flexibility within the period of performance due to availability of training instructors and snowmobiles, is that what you mean by this?

A: Correct, Due to the unpredictable nature of weather, environment conditions, and potential taskings for high headquarters the dates of training have to be flexible within the blocked timeframe of the period of performance stated in the PWS.

Q: You state “in addition to the AIARE certification, the Colorado parks and wildlife snowmobile safety instructor in order to utilize the Colorado National Forest parks for training locations”. What is the specific certification required?

A: The minimum certification to qualify for this contract is Montana and Colorado AIARE instructor qualified and Colorado Parks and Wildlife Snowmobile Safety Instructor certified. All certifications and qualifications will need to hold by the contractor prior to biding on the solicitation due to the relatively short time frame to the first call for training.