High Altitude Long Endurance Request for Information

Synopsis:

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This is an RFI released pursuant to FAR 15.201(e). This RFI is issued solely for information, planning purposes, and market research only; it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP. This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service. The USDA Forest Service (USFS) is not at this time seeking proposals. USFS will not pay for any cost associated with responding to this RFI. All costs will be solely at the interested party's expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP. If a solicitation is released, it will be posted in the Federal Business Opportunities (http://www.fbo.gov). Interested parties are advised to monitor this website for any information that may pertain to this RFI or any future RFP. The information provided in this RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. All submissions become the property of the Federal Government, and will not be returned.

The USFS Capabilities, Development and Integration Branch is issuing this RFI as part of their market research and information gathering for the potential evaluation or future contracting of this technology. Information sought includes capabilities, system information and any limitations for an evaluation or demonstration of a mobilization phase during the 2019 fire season. Additionally, information is being sought for the planned future capabilities of systems for 2020 and beyond.

For this mission HALE would be defined as any aircraft or system that would be able to remain on station above an altitude of 60,000 feet for multiple days or longer during a wildland fire or all-risk incident. Incidents often encompass large geographic areas sometimes spanning multiple states and lasting for multiple months. The interest in HALE is to have a lower cost solution to continually monitor a large geographic area for the duration of significant fire activity or all hazard events. The Intent of the designed system would focus primarily on but not limited to these four major systems and technology:

Imagery - Primarily focus on day and night wildland fire monitoring with low visibility due to smoke and sensor data to gather fire intelligence data. Tasks would include updating fire perimeter every 15 minutes, calculating rates of spread and fire intensity, identifying values at risk, infrastructure, and other decision support features.

Data link - Data-link would be able to provide multiple communications solutions to a targeted area. This would include voice and internet data services. Solutions could be private, internet protocol (IP) based networks or an airborne cell tower.

Weather Sensors - Weather data would be collected in an effort to improve incident forecasting and fire behavior.

Platform performance - Amount of support personnel required, time from launch to data collection, ability to stay on station, and time to relocate to new area of interest. This would also include safety features and recovery process.

Responses to this RFI are solicited from all interested parties. Please respond using the attached Response Form along with your product capabilities. Interested parties must respond to this requirement no later than midnight PST, May 17, 2019 to the following address:
U.S. Forest Service, Contracting
Owyhee Building - MS 1100
3833 S. Development Ave
Boise, ID 83705-5354
United States
A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. NO TELEPHONE REQUESTS WILL BE HONORED. Questions can be submitted via e-mail to the technical point of contact listed below.

Primary Technical Point of Contact:

Name Gwendolynn Boyle

E-mail: gwendolynn.boyle@usda.gov
Phone: (208) 387-5632

Secondary Technical Point of Contact:

Name Delphine Arizana

E-mail: delphine.arizana@usda.gov

Phone: (208) 387-5609

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