Aviation Consulting Services USFS Region 8

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice and in accordance with the simplified acquisition procedures authorized in FAR Part 13. The Government has a need for aviation consulting services to lead a strategic risk assessment and learning for the Southern Region Fuels (prescribed fire) Program for the US Forest Service, Southern Region Fire and Aviation Management (FAM) office. The solicitation requires two Key Personnel positions (Program Manager and Aviation Safety and Operations Consultant) with an estimated 1500 hours per year depending on the position. Offeror's must ensure that they provide personnel that meet the requirements identified in the solicitation. Services will include the following:

(1) Conduct analysis of government provided or contractor collected aircraft data.

(2) Evaluate Agency provided manuals, reports, safety action plans, programmatic risk assessments, emergency preparedness plans, and other work.

(3) Conduct ongoing safety impact analyses (risk assessment and safety assurance) as well as program audits and quality assurance projects to facilitate change management and analyze aviation related data for the national aviation management program.

(4) Perform gap analysis of agency standards and policies against actual performance and production in field operations.

(5) Identify changes to documentation to reflect an actual operations system. The contractor may assist in the development and improvement of the system and conduct post and pre-season audits as follow-up quality assurance.

(6) Perform or participate in scheduled and unscheduled meetings, workshops, audits, inspections, and reviews in accordance with Forest Service manuals and documents.

(7) Provide classroom instruction and presentations to meetings of fire and aviation managers. The contractor may be asked to facilitate the same meetings.

(8) Develop reports, briefing papers, and project proposals related to the tasking issued by the Director of Fire and Aviation.

(9) Provide change or transition management process guidance or facilitation to agency programs undergoing operational, policy, procedural or other change or transitions.

(10) Provide technical writing support to US Forest Service Personnel in development of USFS Policy, Handbooks, Directives, and other USFS documents as directed by the Government.

(11) Serve as a member of safety and operations review teams such as Safety and Technical Assistance teams, Contract Compliance teams, Helibase and air tanker base review teams, and other Fire and Aviation review teams.

(12) Assist in the investigation of incidents and accidents and the development of recommendations for accident prevention.

The resulting contract will be an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract for one year with the option to extend the term of the contract at the unilateral discretion of the Government for an additional four, one year options. The contractor shall propose hourly rates and task orders will be issued predominately on a fixed price bases based on the number of hours estimated to perform the work times the offered rates. The services are set-aside for small business. Performance may be conducted at location throughout the US and travel to support services will be authorized by the orders in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations. The solicitation will be a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued in accordance with FAR Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items, and FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures as authorized by FAR Subpart 13.5, Simplified Procedures For Certain Commercial Items. Solicitation will be awarded using tradeoffs between the price and non-price factors identified in the solicitation. Estimated award date is September 18, 2017.