Notice of Intent to Sole Source - Installation and Testing of NASA's Goddard Lidar

This is a Notice of Proposed Contract Action Synopsis. There is no solicitation available at this time. Requests for a solicitation will receive no response. This Proposed Contract Action is published to notify potential sources that The Rocky Mountain Research Station intends to award a sole source firm-fixed price contract, on behalf of the USDA Forest Service, to the Dynamic Aviation Group for the installation and testing of NASA Goddard's Lidar, Hyperspectral and Thermal (G-LiHT) airborne imager on an A90 King Air project for the Moscow Lab located in Moscow, ID.

This procurement is for the 1) installation and testing of NASA Goddard's Lidar, Hyperspectral and Thermal (G-LiHT) airborne imager on an A90 King Air operated by Dynamic Aviation (Bridgewater, VA), and 2) aircraft ferrying and approximately 100 hours of science flights for 3 post-fire data collections at 3 fires located in central UT, northern CA, and southwestern OR in late June 2019.
The following are additional reasons why only this aircraft provider and platform are suitable for the mission:
1) A twin engine platform with up to 4000 lb payload and 1000 nm range is required for a non-stop transit from New Mexico to Oregon. The central Utah collection is conveniently situated at the midpoint of the transit route, and it is small, such that it can be accomplished en route and in conjunction with a refueling stop.
2) A large (23 x 25 inch), nadir-looking camera port is required to accommodate the field of view of G-LiHT's instruments.
3) A custom mount on top of the aircraft is required for the GPS antenna and cosine diffusor that is used to measure downwelling solar irradiance spectra.
4) Aircraft provides up to 800 W of auxiliary power to power G-LiHT instruments and data acquisition system.
5) Integration hardware, test flights, and airworthiness and safety approvals will be completed for use of G-LiHT on this aircraft. (NOTE: Instrument installations and NASA airworthiness and safety approvals are linked to specific providers, aircraft and tail numbers).
6) Provider must be FAA Part 135 Certified, as required by NASA Procedural Requirements for Aircraft Operations and Management (NPR 7900.3D).
7) Aircraft provider must maintain and operate multiple aircraft of this type (Dynamic Aviation has a fleet of twelve, A90 King Air) as part of the campaign's risk reduction plan (i.e., avoiding scheduling conflicts and maintenance issues).
8) Provider must have prior experience flying remote sensing campaigns for NASA, including approval by NASA following an on-site inspection and flight readiness and safety review.
9) Pilots must have Class 1 medicals and experience with flight line following for remote sensing acquisitions.
10) Close proximity to NASA GSFC (.