AFUE Mission Aircraft

Added: Feb 17, 2015 12:52 pm The intent of this solicitation and the resulting contract is to obtain fully contractor operated and maintained Air Tactical Group Supervisor and Mapping services to perform fire mapping, initial attack, extended attack, and large fire project management in support of the Aerial Firefighting Effectiveness Study and nationwide wildland firefighting operations.
 

The aircraft, sensors, user interface and recording hardware, software, training, associated equipment, and personnel described within are to be utilized in support of the Aerial Firefighting Use and Effectiveness (AFUE) Study. AFUE is tasked with objectively documenting and developing a consolidated approach, metrics, and system to evaluate the use and contributions of firefighting aircraft in supporting the objectives of wildland fire incidents.

This platform may be utilized at any location in the Continental United States or Alaska in which aerially delivered suppressants are being utilized. The general mission profile, excluding ferry, consists of 30-45 minutes to and from the fire, 2-3 hours of data collection over the fire. The crew is generally comprised of the contractor pilot, one AFUE provided aerial supervisor or aerial observer occupying the co-pilot station and an aft crew station which may be staffed by an AFUE provided instructor, trainee, observer, or sensor operator. Data collection consists of the recording of incident radio communications, documenting and processing overall fire behavior (rate of spread, intensity, etc.), targeted repeated observations of suppressant drop footprints and coverage continuity, and targeted fire behavior before, during, and after interactions with suppressant drops. The US Forest Service - AFUE is the sole owner of any data (documents, imagery, audio, etc.) collected during any AFUE mission and maintains complete control of distribution.

This is a one year requirement for one airplane with sensor with the option for an additional four (4) years that may be exercised at the unilateral option of the Government. The Mandatory Availability Period is for 180 days per year with the option to extend for additional days and an estimated 300 flight hours per year. This requirement is set-aside 100% for small business and the contract will be issued in accordance with FAR part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items in conjunction with FAR part 15, Contracting by Negotiations.

A Draft Statement of Work is attached and comments on the draft will be accepted through March 9, 2015. Comments shall be submitted in writing to Michael McFarlane at michaelmcfarlane@fs.fed.us.