Airfield Management Services, Columbus AFB, MS

The Air Force Air Education and Training Command seeks airfield management services for Columbus Air Force Base and Gunshy Auxiliary Airfield, Mississippi, with proposals due August 14 and questions due July 30. This procurement is a 100% service-disabled veteran-owned small business set-aside, restricting competition to SDVOSB firms.

Place of performance is Columbus, Mississippi (main base) and Gunshy Auxiliary Airfield, approximately 40 miles away. The contractor must provide daily complete airfield inspections covering aircraft parking, airfield markings, pavement and infrastructure, and runway arresting systems, along with all personnel, equipment, materials, and supervision necessary to maintain safe operations in compliance with USAF and FAA standards. Operating hours are Monday through Friday 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with extended hours to 11:00 p.m. during night flying weeks; Saturday is normally closed except for contingencies.

Key positions required include Airfield Manager, Assistant Airfield Manager, Airfield Management Operations Manager, Airfield Management Training Manager, and Airfield Management Shift Leads. Airfield Manager and Assistant Airfield Manager positions require USAF AM 9-level certification or equivalent education with three years of management experience, and must complete the Advanced Airfield Managers course within six months at contractor expense. The contractor must provide one four-wheel-drive vehicle with emergency lighting; the government furnishes a secondary vehicle, facilities, base station radio, computers, and government-furnished equipment. Minimum two Shift Leads must be present during operating hours. Secret-level security clearances are required for minimum two upper-management personnel to access required government systems; the government covers clearance processing costs, with contractor responsibility for training costs to achieve clearance level.

The contract covers a five-year period from September 24, 2026 through September 23, 2031, structured as a base year plus four option years. NAICS code is 488119 (Other Airport Operations) with a $40 million size standard. The incumbent contractor is SysCom, Inc., currently staffing the position with three full-time non-union and five full-time union-governed employees. A collective bargaining agreement with International Union of Operating Engineers Local 624 applies through September 30, 2028, with Airfield Management Shift Lead wages at $31.78 per hour as of October 1, 2025, increasing to $33.63 effective October 1, 2026, plus health and welfare fringe benefits of $8.00 per hour. Pricing is structured across three line items: base personnel and services (12 months annually), contingency support hours (approximately 450 per year based on historical data), and annual training travel expenses.

Evaluation weighs technical acceptability and past performance combined more heavily than price. Technical acceptability is an acceptable/unacceptable threshold; unacceptable submissions are ineligible for award. Past performance evaluates relevant contracts valued $1 million or more from the past three years using CPARS and FAPIIS data, with confidence ratings of Substantial, Satisfactory, Neutral, Limited, or No Confidence. Award goes to the responsible, technically acceptable offeror with the best past performance value and fair, reasonable price; if tied on past performance, lowest price prevails. The PWS was amended July 20, 2026 with changes to sections 2.1, 2.4.4, 2.4.5, 2.4.6, 3.1, and appendices F, I, and K. The pricing schedule was amended July 29, 2026. The solicitation incorporates FAR clauses 52.212-1, 52.212-2 (tailored), and 52.212-4, plus DFARS cybersecurity, continuation of essential services, and small business subcontracting limitations clauses. Offers must be submitted in two volumes—Volume I (Price) and Volume II (Technical, limited to 20 pages, 12-point font)—with prices held firm for 60 days. There is no Past Performance Questionnaire requirement. The contracting officer is Suzy Jago (susan.jago.1@us.af.mil, 662-434-3350). Funds are contingent upon appropriated funds availability.