Chase_Q_ _A.xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 19 KB Posted
- Attached to
- CHASE PLANE SERVICES
- Solicitation number
- W912LA-14-R-8001
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| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Chase_Plane_Solicitation_Amendment_1.pdf | ||
| Chase_Plane_New_Wage_Determination.pdf | ||
| Chase_Plane_Solicitation.pdf |
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Sheet1
| Chase Questions | Answers | |
| 1 | Why is the variance between the guaranteed and expected Availability Days so wide? There will be approximately a 36% difference in minimum guaranteed hours based on the minimum guarantee of 2 hrs/ Availability Day. Because overhead costs must be accounted for in the hourly rate, a bidder who bids the minimum will be more expensive than one who bids the expected number of availability days. Conversely, a bidder who bids the expected Availability Days could easily lose money on the contract if the actual Availability Days fall much short of the expected Availability Days. To ensure a level playing field and to reduce the risk to the bidders we recommend that the RFP be modified to request bids to a single number for projected Availability Days and that a maximum number be provided so that the bidders can ensure that they resources to meet the highest expected OPTEMPO. Unless there is an expected difference on the OPTEMPO with Reaper RPV, based on TacAir's experience executing this contract over the last four years we would expect the actual number of Availability Days to be 200 and we recommend that this be considered as the number for projected Availability Days. Bidders could actually provide a separate rate for availability days beyond the minimum guarantee, this would reflect the savings to the government because the fixed costs for the contract would have been covered by the minimum number of availability days (hangar rent, equipment lease, insurance, etc.), leaving only the variable costs (mainly payroll) for the availability days beyond the minimum. This would allow the government to pay the minimum amount for the support, but the contractor could bid knowing that fixed costs would be covered. | Our expectation for MQ-9 OPTEMPO should be fairly close to the MQ-1 historical OPTEMPO. Night operations and Domestic Operations will be the only real significant additions/changes from MQ-1 operations. |
| 2 | FAA regulations restrict length of aircrew duty days, but the length of the duty day expected to support Chase operations is not defined. If the duty day exceeds the FAA regulations the contractor will be required to hire additional aircrew to cover the duty day. Will the RFP be modified to define the duty day so that bidders can accurately project labor costs? This was done on the previous contract, assuming one hour of duty day prior to first drone launch and one hour required after last drone recovery. A standard duty day of ten hours was defined that equated to 8 hours between first drone launch and last recovery. Any need to extend that duty day beyond ten total hours included an additional cost to the government. Will a clause defining duty days be included in this contract? Without it, bidders cannot accurately forecast their labor costs. | Contractors will need to provide the cost for the following HOURS/DAYS BEYOND THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT: |
Fully burdened Pilot rate beyond the 10th hour: _________ Fully burdened Observer rate beyond the 10th hour: ___________ Daily Rate for additional days of chase support beyond the 5th day: __________
| 3 | Will preplanned night operations be scheduled on the same days as scheduled day operations? | No. Preplanned night operations will not normally be scheduled on the same day as preplanned day operations. |
| 4 | Please provide more information about on-call night operations. Is an on-call requirement required every day of the year, or only on previously scheduled availability days? Going back to the crew day question, depending on the level of risk acceptable to the government with crew days up to the current FAA maximum, the contractor will frequently need to have a second entire crew available for the night standby operations. | There won't be a need to have a chase crew on-call for night operations every day of the year. If a short notice domestic operation order comes in, we will launch aircraft assuming there is sufficient crew rest for all operators. |
| 5 | The previous contract had to have a cancellation policy added in after the fact. Will this contract have a similar policy to the one that was used for the last four years? | Yes a cancellation policy will be added to the contract please see modified solicitation document uploaded to FBO. WEATHER CANCELLATION PROCEDURE |
18 Hours Notice Weather Cancellation Procedures:
Notice of cancellation due to weather must be given prior to 1300 hours the day before scheduled flight time. Cancellations made prior to 1300 hours the day before will incur a charge of one half day and one flight hour. Notification after 1300 will incur a charge of one full day.
Rossman, Crystal S SMSgt USAF ANG 163 MSG/MSC: Rossman, Crystal S SMSgt USAF ANG 163 MSG/MSC:
| 6 | Will there be a flight schedule? If so how far in advance will it be | ||
| determined? | Yes. The preplanned flight schedule will be posted Friday afternoon for the following week. | ||
| 7 | Is there a clearance level required? | No. | |
| 8 | We are located in Texas we would have to mobilize to Southern |
California Logistics Airport does this present any conflicts? ( We would
| base aircraft for the duration of the contract at SCLA ) | No. As long as the requirements are adhered to as outlined in the chase solicitation. | |
| 9 | Personnel requirements: 1 crew member per flight? Or is an observer |
also needed?
| Two crewmembers per flight are required. One pilot and one observer. | |
| 10 | Maintenance issues for flight scheduling. Is there a need for a |
backup aircraft for mission scheduling to avoid any mission delays?
| Yes. A backup aircraft will be required should the primary aircraft have maintenance issues. | |
| 11 | Should the per diem be included in the hourly rate for services or |
will that be billed separately at the published rates for that area?
| This should be included into the hourly all costs whould be filled in on the 1449 as laid out. | ||
| 12 | In reference to the statement of work, 3a, for the “on call” two hour and six hour notifications, do these fall within the normal workweek, or are they any day of the week? | The two hour notifications will occur during planned flying operations during the week and one drill weekend per month. The six hour notification could occur at any time, however; we will launch aircraft assuming there is sufficient crew rest for all operators. |
| 13 | Is there a minimum insurance liability required? | Please see FAR reference 52.228-7 INSURANCE--LIABILITY TO THIRD PERSONS (MAR 1996). This is the requirement for insurance and is included in the modificed soliciation. |
| 14 | Is there any special radio equipment specifically required such as VHF, UHF, or FM | In order to execute the chase operation, the chase aircraft will need two VHF radios. |
| 15 | Are employees required to have secret or top-secret clearances? | No. |
| 16 | Will there be any required briefings that the pilots will need to attend in person prior to the starts of missions? | The expectation is for the chase pilot to contact the Supervisor of Flying via telephone in the morning prior to aircraft launch to gather any relevant information for the days flying. An initial familiarization briefing for contract pilots and observers will be administered prior to executing MQ-9 Chase operations. |
| 17 | Are there any required briefings the pilots have to attend on non-flying days? | No, not at this time. |
| 18 | Do the pilots have to be on a monthly salary or can they be paid daily or hourly based on days they are actually flying? | The pay is determined by the wage determination attached in the solicitation |
| 19 | What are the requirements for having to pay a first pilot versus co-pilot versus an observer? | The crew consists of a pilot and an observer. There is not a requirement for the observer to be a pilot |
| 20 | What is the incumbent contract number? What is the name of the incumbent contractor? | W912LA-0-D-8001. Tactical Air Support Inc. However this was for a different model of UAV and did not provide for night time flying. |
| 21 | . Reference the DOL WD included in the solicitation. The WD is specific to wages for those “Employed on U.S. Postal Service contracts for aircraft services operating large multi-engine aircraft such as B-727, DC-8, and DC-9.” (quote from top of WD) If the contractor chooses to use an aircraft other than a “large multi-engine aircraft”, may the contractor utilize DOL’s general WD for San Bernadino County, CA? | See new wage determination sheet uploaded to FBO for San Bernardino Wage Determination No: 1995-0222 |
| 22 | (Only a requested question if answer to Q2 is “no”.) Reference the DOL WD included in the solicitation. The DOL WD is specific to wages for those “Employed on U.S. Postal Service contracts…” Is the solicitation for a US Postal Service contract? If not, then may the contractor utilize DOL’s general WD for San Bernadino County, CA? | See new wage determination sheet uploaded to FBO for San Bernardino Wage Determination No: 1995-0222 |
| 23 | Is there any government furnished equipment or space associated with this solicitation? | No. |
| 24 | The Service Delivery Summary (SDS) on page 81 of the solicitation references paragraphs that appear to belong to a separate document. Can you please provide all solicitation documents, or explain the references in the SDS? (For example, SDS #1 requires a properly configured aircraft and references Para. 1.2.1; SDS #3 requires contractor to provide liability and comprehensive insurance and references Para. 1.2.4.2. Where are these paragraphs or details for all of the SDS requirements?) | SDS has been modified. Please see modified Solicitation. |
| 25 | Are you requiring contract pages and inserts to be filled out, scanned and returned; or is SAM registration sufficient for compliance (where applicable); or is it sufficient for us to just certify that we are compliant with all your requirements (where applicable)? | Fill in the 1449 as required and provide a print out of your SAM registration |
| 26 | In regard to references, will letters of reference be accepted? | Please only provide contract numbers, points of contact with telephone |
numbers and other relevant information as stated on page 22. We will contact the the references in regarding the past performance.
| 27 | In regard to reporting requirements, will there be a separate contract line item number (CLIN) to account for the costs for submitting information into Contractor Manpower Reporting System as required by this contract? | No. This should be inlcuded in your total costs. |
| 28 | Can we assume that an email submittal with all requirements attached to Crystal Rossman is the proper way to submit the final proposal? | Email, mailed or hand carried is acceptable. |
| 29 | Is it anticipated that day and night flights be required within the same 24-hour period? Will two crews be required in the event of this occurrence? | Short notice domestic operations may require day and night flights in the same 24 hour period. |
| 30 | Solicitation, page 79 paragraph A.2.1.1.1 "Aspects of Technical Evaluation" states "there are three aspects to the technical evaluation. They are ... |
1- Aircraft Capabilities 2- Maintenance
Is the third aspect missing?
| There are only two. This is a typo and has been corrected on the modified solicitation. | ||
| 31 | in the Synopsis posted 12/24 it says "Size for Small Businesses is 14 Million dollars". On the 1449 posted 4/16/14 it states a set aside 100% for SB size 7.0 million. | This is a typo it should be 14m it has been corrected on the modified solicitaiton |
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