National smokejumper aircraft services

Added: Dec 16, 2015 4:22 pm The intent of this solicitation, and any resultant contracts, is to obtain services of commercially provided aircraft fully operated by qualified personnel and equipped to meet specifications for use in administration and protection of Public Lands. The Government intends to award multiple firm fixed priced, hybrid Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) type contracts, with economic price adjustments, for a base year and three option years not to exceed four years total. This procurement will result in multiple awards of a hybrid Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity Type (IDIQ) contract with fixed priced availability rates and economic price adjustments for the flight rates. Due to the volatile fluctuation in aviation fuel prices; the flight rates will be adjusted based on increases and decreases to the prices of aviation fuel as indicated in the economic price adjustment clause specified in the contract. This smokejumper contract program requires the Contractors to provide their aircraft services during certain Mandatory Availability Periods (MAPs) for the exclusive use of the Government. They are paid a daily availability rate during the MAP and an hourly flight rate when they are flown. They are a hybrid IDIQ in the fact that we have a definite quantity for the daily availability period. We specify an exact period of time the aircraft must be available and the Contractor receives a firm fixed priced payment for each day of availability. We also have fixed hourly/unit flight rates that the vendor receives for each hour that the aircraft is flown. However, if the aircraft is never flown the vendor does not receive any payment for flight time.

During the Mandatory Availability Period (MAP) and any extensions thereof, the aircraft will be made available for the exclusive use of the Government.

Aircraft furnished under this contract will be operated from the designated or alternate bases throughout the contiguous United States.

Use will include, but is not limited to, the following:

(1) Transportation of personnel, equipment, and supplies for fire suppression and other Forest Service administration activities.
(2) Transporting and dropping smokejumpers.
(3) Transporting and dropping paracargo.
(4) Reconnaissance.
(5) Testing of parachutes and other aerial equipment.
(6) Air Tactical Operations

Aircraft will be required to perform over rough, mountainous terrain typical of National Forest areas in the western United States at elevations varying from sea level to 13,000 feet, often encountering extremely unfavorable atmospheric conditions.
Standby Hours Per Day: 9 Hours Standby per day

The following line items and MAP dates are subject to change in the final solicitation that will be posted at a later date. (See attachment "Line Items")