W91ZRU24R0005_A1_QA_ao_06Mayr24.pdf

W91ZRU24R0005_QA_ao_06Mayr24

# Question Response

1-2

Non-Owned Aircraft Hull & Liability Insurance Coverage: Commercial Industry standards from Aviation Insurance companies requires training service providers that are operating/training/performing hoisting & high-risk operations on an aircraft that is not owned by the training provider to hold Non-owned Aircraft liability Insurance generally up to $10,000,000 liability coverage. - Contractor will provide instructional training only, therefore, proof of general liability coverage is sufficient.

Does the KO require the vender to show proof of aviation insurance as part of its proposal to the government, or is it permissible that an uninsured company bid on this high-risk live flight training contract? Contractor will provide instructional training only, therefore proof of aviation insurance is not required.

Does the Government require the training service provider to submit in its response to the RFQ a copy of the Certificate of Insurance (COI) for Non-Owned Aircraft Liability Insurance with coverage up to $10,000,000 per occurrence?

Contractor will provide instructional training only, therefore COI for Non-Owned Aircraft Liability Insurance coverage is not rquired.

Aviation General Liability Insurance Coverage It is general practice for training service providers working in the aviation field to maintain $10,000,000 Aviation General Liability Insurance Coverage. - Does the Government require the training service provider to submit in its response to the RFQ a copy of the Certificate of Insurance (COI) for Non-Owned Aircraft Liability Insurance with coverage up to $10,000,000 per occurrence?

Contractor will provide instructional training only, therefore COI for Non-Owned Aircraft Liability Insurance coverage is not rquired.

Worker Compensation Insurance coverage - Does the Government require the training service provider to submit in its response to the RFQ a copy of the Certificate of Insurance (COI) for Aviation General Liability Insurance with coverage up to $10,000,000 per occurrence? Contractor will provide instructional training only, therefore COI for Aviation General Liability insurance is not required.

Discussion: In PWS Section 5, the government stipulates the equipment to be trained on and used during the dynamic hoist training is as follows from Air Rescue Systems (ARS): 2-Up™, ARV-QC™ M/ARV-QC™ M19, Offset Tagline System, Cable Buddy ™, Fast Break QRD™, Hoist Hook Weights, and Hoist Safety Lanyard. Dynamic hoisting is a technique / flight profile with the helicopter moving to the target while hoisting, static (or stationary) hoisting is a flight profile where the helicopter stays in one spot during the hoist evolution.

5.2 states equpiment will also be used during static hoist training. See PWS for edits

Issue: While the primary purpose of the solicitation is to provide AKARNG with Dynamic Hoist Training, there are several ARS equipment items that cannot, or are impossible to use during Dynamic Hoist Operations. All Other items are used in both the current a stationary and dynamic hoisting profile. See table below:

5.2 states equpiment will also be used during static hoist training. See PWS for edits

5 ARS Equipment - Discussion Table

Offset Tagline System - This is Stationary hoisting equipment that cannot be used in Dynamic Hoisting - Used only when Aircraft is in stationary hover and NOT During Dynamic Hoisting as ground rescue personnel affix the tagline components to rescue equipment and control the rescue device. Aircraft must be stationary and not in a forward Dynamic flight profile) This device has no bearing on dynamic hoist training/ operations.

Correct, the tag line would only be used during static profiles as stated in 5.2. Will correct the verbiage in the highlighted portion of 5.0 and delinate what will be used dynamic and what will be used static. See PWS

Fast Break QRD™ - This is Stationary hoisting equipment that cannot be used in Dynamic Hoisting - Used only when Aircraft is in stationary hover and NOT During Dynamic Hoisting as ground rescue personnel affix this weaklink and its components to rescue equipment/Tagline and control the rescue device. Aircraft must be stationary and not in a forward Dynamic flight profile). This device has no bearing on dynamic hoist training/operations.

listed in 5.2 static skills training. Item used for safety in all modes of flight. Also on the Appendix list "Standard Helicopter Rescue Hoist Equipment used Industry Wide ( DoD, Commercial SAR Hoist Programs, UK SAR, European Foreign Militaries)"

Cable Buddy ™, - Non-approved hoist maintenance equipment, Not Used in Dynamic Hoisting, - This device cannot be used during Dynamic Histing as it is a post flight ground maintenance device and aircraft must be on the ground. This device has no bearing on dynamic hoist training/operations.

although not used for flight, in 5.0 it is listed as equipment because it is equipment we use and train our tangos on how to maintenance purposes only

Hoist Safety Lanyard - All these devices are used in both current stationary and dynamic hoisting profiles - This device is strictly used by either the Hoist Crew Chief or Rescue Specialist while inside the aircraft’s cabin as a fall restraint device. This device has no bearing on dynamic hoist training/operations.

used for safety during all modes of flight. Also on the Appendix list "Standard Helicopter Rescue Hoist Equipment used Industry Wide ( DoD, Commercial SAR Hoist Programs, UK SAR, European Foreign Militaries)"

Hoist Hook Weights - All these devices are used in both current stationary and dynamic hoisting profiles - The purpose of this device is to add weight/ballast to the rescue hook especially in high wind operations and is already used for static and dynamic hoist profiles. Additionally, there are a vast variety of hoist weight bags used for the purpose of adding weight to the hoist hook to make it plumb while hoisting.

AKARNG only has ARS hoist bags which are listed on the Appendix list "Standard Helicopter Rescue Hoist Equipment used Industry Wide ( DoD, Commercial SAR Hoist Programs, UK SAR, European Foreign Militaries)" Other weight bags would have to be provided or purchased

ARV - All these devices are used in both current stationary and dynamic hoisting profiles - The commercial marketplace has numerous suitable options for the ARV to include AVED, , Screamer Suit, CMC Helitack Hotseat, Kong Evacuation Triangle. All utilize the same principle of use during dynamic and stationary hoisting (with tagline). ARS is not the sole source provider of this type of rescue device. AKARNG only has ARS ARV purchased. Other ARV equipment would have to be provided or purchased

2-up - All these devices are used in both current stationary and dynamic hoisting profiles - The commercial marketplace has numerous suitable options of the 2-up., to include the LSC-2 Person Map, CMC Pro Anchor Plate/2 Carabiner and Kong Rigging Plate for 2 person. All these devices utilize the same principle of use during dynamic and stationary hoisting (with tagline). ARS is not the sole source provider of this type of rescue equipment, the MAP ring is also approved and in current use by the ANG/Army for double ups. AKARNG only has ARS 2-UP device purchased. Other 2-Up equipment would have to be provided or purchased

Since the majority of the ARS Equipment is NOT used during Dynamic Hoist Operations, will the government restate in the PWS all required equipment necessary for Dynamic Hoist Training? Annotated in 5.0 what will be used dynmaic and what will be used static

6-8

Discussion: Approved helicopter rescue equipment to be used on USARNG UH-60L/M and the HH-60M helicopters equipped with a rescue hoists are provided and listed in Department of Army Memorandum for All U.S. Army Units Subj: AWR for Rescue Hoist Equipment on UH-60L/M and HH-60M helicopters (AWR 980) dated 20 Jan 2023 R26. In AKARNG PWS Section

5.0 Requirements, the PWS outlines equipment to be trained on and used during dynamic hoist training as follows from Air Rescue Systems (ARS): 2-Up™, ARV-QC™ M/ARV-QC™ M19, Offset Tagline System, Cable Buddy ™, Fast Break QRD™, Hoist Hook Weights, and Hoist Safety Lanyard. AWR 980 R26 is old. R29 is current, dated 28MAR24 is current.

6-8

Issue: A review of AWR-980 finds that the M/ARV-QC™ M19, Offset Tagline System, Cable Buddy ™, Fast Break QRD™, Hoist Hook Weights, and Hoist Safety Lanyard are not approved rescue equipment to be used on the UH-60L/M or to be purchased by Army Aviation units. Note: The M/ARV-QC M19 is not approved for purchase by US Army however is approved for use by the US Navy and US Marine Corp.

AWR 980 R26 is old. R29 is current, dated 28MAR24 is current. The ARV-QC-M is an approved device. The "M" simply stands for military. The only difference is the color of the vest. It is also listed in table 1 of AWR 980. Offset Tagline System, Cable Buddy ™, Fast Break QRD™, Hoist Hook Weights, and Hoist Safety Lanyard are not load bearing equipment, and therefore not on the AWR.

These items are safety equipment that AKARNG has purchased

What is the intent and value in conducting Dynamic Hoist Training on non-approved AWR-980 equipment (i.e., M/ARV-QC™ M19, Offset Tagline System, Cable Buddy ™, Fast Break QRD™, Hoist Hook Weights, and Hoist Safety Lanyard) that the US Army cannot purchased and is not approved to be used for rescue hoisting operations?

The ARV-QC M is approved AWR 980 R29 see encl 4. The value in training with all other equipment is because that is what AKARNG has on hand. We want to train with equipment that we physically own to be better prepared for future rescue missions and/or deployments.

If rescue equipment is not approved by the AWR-980, we recommend for fair and open competition that the government confirm/restate in PWS that Dynamic Hoist Training is to be accomplished using “Best Industry Standard” helicopter rescue equipment that is acceptable and meets FAA Part 133 HEC Hoist Operations rather than ARS specific equipment, excluding the use of other AWR approved vendor equipment . ( refer to Appendix)

ARV and 2-Up are AWR approved. All other items are listed on the Appendix list "Standard Helicopter Rescue Hoist Equipment used Industry Wide ( DoD, Commercial SAR Hoist Programs, UK SAR, European Foreign Militaries)" If best industry standard equipment needed to be utilized, it would need to be brought by the vendor. However, AKARNG does not own the equipment, therefore, training on it does not seem condusive to future operations.

AWR-980 Appendix B Table 1 outlines the approved helicopter equipment the US Army can purchase and use for helicopter operations. Request Government provide a current inventory list of the approved UH-60L/M rescue equipment for use by the AKARNG during hoist missions

AKARNG has the current AWR 980 R 29 dated 28MAR24 and follows the approved list, with additional approved common use items as listed in PWS

Under Section 5.2 Static Skills Training recommend the following items be revised that are not AWR-980 approved for US Army hoist operations: (this should be more properly denoted in a separate Vendor Specific Equipment Training RFP IF they purchase the gear, and not classified as live flight dynamic hoist training) We do not wish to break up the training, since this will be conducted during our annual training. Time is valuable and limited

9 5.2.1.2

ARV-QC™ M/ARV-QC™ M19: Delete ARV-QC™ M19 as it is not approved for purchase or use by US Army AWR-980 and is only approved for use by US Navy and US Marine Corps. Deleted "19" in the PWS. ARV-QC M is approved. See AWR 980 R29 Table 1

9 5.2.1.3

Offset Tagline System: Delete requirement as it is not approved for purchase or use by US Army AWR-980; recommend restating Best Industry Standard tagline system is acceptable to be trained on. AKARNG only has Offset Tagline System. Vendor would need to provide other tag line equipment

9 5.2.1.4

Cable Buddy ™ : NOTE not approved for purchase or use by US Army AWR-980. Remove from its entirety as is not used in Dynamic Flight Operations and is a ground maintenance item. See further explanation below. removed from 5.0 specified for dynmaic flight and only have it for maintenance function/training. See PWS

9 5.2.1.5

Fast Break QRD™: NOTE not approved for purchase or use by US Army AWR-980: recommend restating Best Industry Standard tagline weaklink system is acceptable to be trained on.

on the Appendix list "Standard Helicopter Rescue Hoist Equipment used Industry Wide ( DoD, Commercial SAR Hoist Programs, UK SAR, European Foreign Militaries)" If best industry standard equipment needed to be utilized, it would need to be brought by the vendor.

9 5.2.1.6

Hoist Hook Weights: NOTE not approved for purchase or by US Army AWR-980; recommend restating Best Industry Standard hoist hook weight is acceptable to be trained on.

on the Appendix list "Standard Helicopter Rescue Hoist Equipment used Industry Wide ( DoD, Commercial SAR Hoist Programs, UK SAR, European Foreign Militaries)" If best industry standard equipment needed to be utilized, it would need to be brought by the vendor.

9 5.2.1.7

Hoist Safety Lanyard: NOTE not approved for purchase or use by US Army AWR-980; recommend restating Best Industry Standard hoist safety lanyard is acceptable to be trained on.

on the Appendix list "Standard Helicopter Rescue Hoist Equipment used Industry Wide ( DoD, Commercial SAR Hoist Programs, UK SAR, European Foreign Militaries)" If best industry standard equipment needed to be utilized, it would need to be brought by the vendor.

9 Is this the government requiring Dynamic Live Flight Training or ARS Vendor Specific Equipment Training? We are requiring both. Dynamic flight training while using the ARS specific equipment that AKARNG already owns.

10 Under Section 5.3 Flight Operations (refer to Appendix for available Best Industry Standard) referred to Appendix and all items are on the Appendix list "Standard Helicopter Rescue Hoist Equipment used Industry Wide ( DoD, Commercial SAR Hoist Programs, UK SAR, European Foreign Militaries)

5.3.13.1 Offset Tagline System: ; recommend restating Best Industry Standard tagline system is acceptable to be trained on as ARS Offset Tagline System is not approved for purchase or use by US Army (AWR-980) it is on the Appendix list "Standard Helicopter Rescue Hoist Equipment used Industry Wide ( DoD, Commercial SAR Hoist Programs, UK SAR, European Foreign Militaries).

10 5.3.20.2

M/ARV-QC™ M19: Delete M/ARV-QC™ M19 as it is not approved to be purchased and used by US Army (AWR-980) as it is approved for US Navy and US Marine Corps Deleted "19" in the PWS. ARV-QC M is approved. See AWR 980 R29 Table 1

10 5.3.20.3

Offset Tagline System: recommend restating Best Industry Standard tagline system is acceptable to be trained on as ARS Offset Tagline System is not approved for purchase or use by US Army (AWR-980) it is on the Appendix list "Standard Helicopter Rescue Hoist Equipment used Industry Wide ( DoD, Commercial SAR Hoist Programs, UK SAR, European Foreign Militaries).

10 5.3.20.4

Fast Break QRD™: recommend restating Best Industry Standard tagline weaklink system is acceptable to be trained on as the ARS Fast Break QRD is not approved for purchase or use by US Army AWR-980.

it is on the Appendix list "Standard Helicopter Rescue Hoist Equipment used Industry Wide ( DoD, Commercial SAR Hoist Programs, UK SAR, European Foreign Militaries).

10 5.3.20.5

10 Hoist Hook Weights: recommend restating Best Industry Standard hoist hook weight is acceptable to be trained;

it is on the Appendix list "Standard Helicopter Rescue Hoist Equipment used Industry Wide ( DoD, Commercial SAR Hoist Programs, UK SAR, European Foreign Militaries).

10 5.3.20.6

10 Hoist Safety Lanyard: recommend restating Best Industry Standard hoist safety lanyard is acceptable to be trained on.

it is on the Appendix list "Standard Helicopter Rescue Hoist Equipment used Industry Wide ( DoD, Commercial SAR Hoist Programs, UK SAR, European Foreign Militaries).

10 5.2.1.4 Cable Buddy:

Breeze Eastern LLC (BE) is the original manufacturer (OEM) of the external hoist system used by the USARNG for the UH-60L/M helicopters and BE further allows USARNG qualified maintenance personnel to accomplish Organizational/Flight Line Level maintenance consisting of preventative maintenance, visual inspection and schedule maintenance of the system, corrective action for fault isolation, removal and replacement of the hardware in accordance with the respective BE hoist manuals and technical documentation. A review of technical maintenance manuals reveals the Air Rescue System Cable Buddy is not and has not been approved/authorized for use by Breeze Eastern, Sikorsky Aircarft Corporation and/or US Army AWR-980 to be used for Hoist Organizational/Flight Line Level Maintenance. Breeze Eastern further states any and all actions taken by the owners / operators / maintenance facilities that deviate from Breeze-Eastern recommended procedures or using procedures not prescribed by Breeze-Eastern, shall not be the responsibility of Breeze-Eastern. As the ARS Cable Buddy procedures are not prescribed by Breeze-Eastern for use, this requirement to train on the Cable Buddy should be removed from the PWS.

Since AKARNG does own the Cable Buddy system, we want to be trained on it propertly from the manufacturer to ensure it is being used correctly, without question. BE recommended procedures are a priority, and utilizing the Cable Buddy is secondary

10 Is the Cable Buddy approved for use by Breeze Eastern for use in maintenance of ANG UH-60L/M hoist systems?

BE mentions the use of the Cable Buddy in their instructional materials. The courses that mention the CableBuddy are:

- Hoist & Cable Best Practices (13:30)

- Nature of Cables (19:16) Since it is not used during flight, I can take it out of PWS. But it is utilized for ground maintenance

11-14 Appearance of Sole-Sourcing/Unfair Competition

Origional intent was for sole source. The PWS was initially written with the intent to sole source. Moving through the contracting process, it was recommended for open competition. Old PWS was utilized. Verbiage should be corrected in current

PWS

11-13

The Government had previously identified and sought Air Rescue System (ARS) for Sole Source Determination Award for AKARNG Dynamic Hoist Training. Consequently, the government further determined other qualified training service providers exists that provide Dynamic Hoist Training and therefore determined to proceed with full and open competition. However, in proceeding, the government in its Solicitation appears to regard ARS as the preferred and/or pre-selected vendor which further provides ARS with an unfair advantage in this solicitation. The appearance exists that the government has chosen a particular supplier (ARS) when other qualified training service providers and rescue equipment exists in the open marketplace.

This is further indicated by numerous references made to Air Rescue/Air Rescue Systems/ARS in the Solicitation notably; 1) naming the solicitation “Air Rescue Dynamic Hoist Training” , 2) denoting in Section 2.2 Acronyms ARS; Air Rescue Systems when other vendors exists, 3) Section 5.0 Requirements: Government requires training to be conducted using ONLY Air Rescue System equipment when other suitable rescue hoist equipment exists, and other rescue equipment will be employed during Dynamic Hoist Training, [Skedco, LSC etc], 4) Schedule of Supplies/Services Page 4 of SF1149 denotes Air Rescue/Air Rescue Systems/ARS in CLIN 0001 in various places. Additionally, the government makes the solicitation more sole source restrictive by mandating only ARS specified equipment will be used and further requiring the vendor to purchase this equipment from ARS instead. If ARS is not awarded the contract, the strong probability exists that ARS would further restrict purchase of their equipment creating an unwarranted contract default situation for any other potential awardee.

Origional intent was for sole source. The PWS was initially written with the intent to sole source. Moving through the contracting process, it was recommended for open competition. Old PWS was utilized. Verbiage should be corrected in current

PWS

What steps is the Government taking to remove all appearances that it has pre-selected or has ARS as the preferred vendor for this solicitation. Have removed "ARS" specific items, minus the equipment

Given that the listed ARS equipment is NOT essential, and in some circumstances impossible to use for dynamic hoist training, will the Government update its solicitation/PWS and separate the Air Rescue Systems (ARS) rescue equipment training from the Dynamic Hoist Live Flight Training in TWO different RFP’s? ( i.e., One RFP limited to Vendor Specific Equipment Training and the other RFP limited strictly to Dynamic Hoist Training?)

It has been anotated what will be used for dynamic and what will be used for static. The statement that the equipment is not essential is false. It is the equipment that AKARNG currently has and utilizes for real world missions. To continue to train on the equipment is imperative. Not interested in doing two different RFPs as we are interested in conducting this training over our annual training

Will the Government outline and place the same emphasis on all relevant AWR-980 approved hoist rescue and aircrew safety equipment from LSC, Capewell, SKEDCO etc essential to actually perform Dynamic Hoist Live Flight Training (and not incongruent with dynamic hoist or already in use with stationary hoist profiles? ) yes; however, the equipment may be the responsibiliy of the vendor to provide since the unit does not have some of the other AWR listed items.

Will the Government remove all ARS vendor specific equipment to alternatively allow training on all relevant hoist rescue equipment (including Lifesaving systems, Capewell, SKEDCO, etc) conducive to best industry practices with Dynamic Hoist training?

unit is not willing to remove ARS specific equipment because that is the equipment the unit owns and needs continued training with

APPENDIX (reference 7, 8, and 10) Standard Helicopter Rescue Hoist Equipment used Industry Wide ( DoD, Commercial SAR Hoist Programs, UK SAR, European Foreign Militaries)

Dynamic Hoist Operational Missions are safely conducted worldwide by US Coast Guard US Army, US Army National Guard, US Navy, US Air Force, US Marine Corps, Commercial SAR Hoist Programs, UK SAR, and European Foreign Militaries using Standard Helicopter Rescue Hoist Equipment manufactured from a wide variety of OEMs to include LSC, Capewell Aerial Machine and Tools, ARS, Zephyr, MAP, CMC Pro, Kong, Petzl, P1AR and Skedco. The table below shows various & equivalent rescue hoist equipment approved by US Army AWR 980 & also used industry wide for Helicopter Rescue Hoisting.

ARS ARV-QC

CMC Helitack Hotseat LSC Ambulatory Victim Extrication Device (AVED) Kong Evacuation Triangle ARS 2-up LSC 2-Person Multi Attachment Point Ring (MAP Ring) & 2Carabiners CMC Pro Anchor Plate & 2 Carabiners Kong Rigging Plate for 2 person with 2 Carabiners ARS Offset Tag Line System Tagline System: Rope, Rope bag, Y-Lanyard, Quick Disconnect & weak Link LSC Tagline Assemble with trailline rope, weaklink, weight bag, handling gloves and V-Strap Skedco Helitag Helicopter Tag Line Kit ARS Fast Break QRD LSC Tagline Quick Release Device (QRD) LSC Trail Line Quick Release LSC 420 Rescue Seat ARS Hoist Hook Weights LSC Hoist Hook Bag Kong Hoist Hook Weight Bag ARS Hoist Safety Lanyard LSC Adjustable Hoist Tether CMC Fastlink Pickoff Strap LSC Quad Lock Aviation Crew Safety Belt ARS PRL Set LSC Adjustable Tether CMC SL Varible Anchor Strap LSC Restraint Tether LSC Rescue Strop (Quick Strop) LSC Rescue Strop LSC SAP 214 Quick Strop LSC Hoistable Litter Sling LSC 406 Stokes Litter Basket LSC 495 & 495L & 499B Rescue Basket LSC Stokes Litter

402-TI

LSC 404-F Medevac Rigid Litter Hoist Slings LSC Quick Splice Multi Attachment Point (MAP Ring) for Dual person Extraction Zephyr Quick Splice