Worldwide Aviation Support Services

Added: Aug 13, 2014 11:07 am AMENDMENT 001 AND Q&A SET #1 ARE HEREBY RELEASED.

AMENDMENT 001 EXTENDS THE PROPOSAL DUE DATE TO OCTOBER 2, 2014. 

Added: Jul 18, 2014 2:31 pm The U.S. Department of State is soliciting offerors for provide worldwide Aviation Support Services in the areas of Flight Operations, Aviation Maintenance, Aviation Logistics, Safety, and Management.

Introduction:
The Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Office of Aviation (INL/A),interchangeably referred to as DoS Air Wing, provides aviation support for the eradication and interdiction of illicit drugs, training of contractor and host nation personnel, movement of personnel and equipment, reconnaissance, personnel recovery (PR), medical evacuation, security of personnel and equipment, and ferrying of aircraft.
Operational missions may include but are not limited to: aerial eradication, manual eradication support, interdiction support, air assault, border security, external load, forward resupply, aerial transportation of personnel and cargo, Search and Rescue (SAR), SAR/MEDEVAC, disabled aircraft recovery, armed helicopter escort, maintenance test flights, aerial reconnaissance, surveillance and verification. Applicable missions are performed by contractor personnel at CONUS and OCONUS.
Historical Information:
The Department of State Aviation Program, Air Wing, has been an instrument of national policy for over 30 years in drug producing countries. Aviation provides crucial mobility for reaching remote locations not accessible by other means due to poor road networks, security concerns and travel time. In many locations, the Department’s air assets provide the only means of medical evacuation, search and rescue and humanitarian support.
INL/A Vision, Mission, Goals, and Objectives to be Accomplished Under this Contract:
INL/A seeks to select a contractor to accomplish the following vision, mission and goals:
Vision: Contractor shall provide aviation services for the Department of State. Provide safe, secure and flexible aviation support to manage the aviation needs of the Department.
Mission: Contractor shall provide aviation management, expertise and resources to strengthen law enforcement, support counter-narcotics, counter-terrorism efforts and provide safe and efficient aviation support to meet all Department of State aviation requirements.
Goal 1: Human Capital – Contractor shall recruit and retain a highly adaptable, technically competent and diverse workforce. This goal focuses on the need to improve recruitment and retention of Office of Aviation technical and management personnel.
Objective 1.1:Recruit and retain exceptional aviation professionals.
Objective 1.2:Train and support incumbent professionals.
Objective 1.3:Support our professionals’ need to balance work-life with home-life.
Goal 2: Aviation Support – Contractor shall provide safe and professional aviation support, while providing the best value in aircraft and technical integration services.  This goal focuses on improving platform performance and cost efficiency by reducing the overall age of the fleet and providing more capabilities and upgraded technology.
Objective 2.1:Improve platform performance, reliability and cost efficiency by reducing the overall age of the fleet and providing more capabilities and upgraded technology
Objective 2.2:Strengthen responsiveness, and requirements analyses for current and future programs.  Continuously evaluate the fleet to best meet safety, security, responsiveness, and reliability requirements.
Objective 2.3:Act as the airworthiness authority for all Department of State titled aircraft.
Goal 3: Responsiveness to Customers – Contractor shall provide high quality aviation support that responds to customers’ needs -- aircraft operations, maintenance, logistics, acquisitions and technical integration, to include outsourcing.  This goal focuses on improvement of service to INL/A customers by providing all aircraft operations, including integration of technology on INL/A platforms and charter aircraft.
Objective 3.1:Improve customer satisfaction in aviation services by evaluating requirements in providing cost effective and reliable aircraft.
Objective 3.2:Recognition as the sole provider for all aviation support requirements within the Department.
Objective 3.3:Support the QDDR intent of “Preventing and Responding to Crisis and Conflict”: by providing aviation services quickly and securely to move diplomats and support personnel to global hotspots on demand.
Goal 4: Strategic Plans- Contractor shall review, assess and develop plans for current and future Department of State aviation needs.  This goal focuses on developing the Departments aviation requirements based on current and forecasted diplomatic missions.
Objective 4.1:Develop plans to provide aviation systems to emerging global requirements.  
Objective 4.2:Determine the “fleet modernization” way forward to meet current and future operational needs.
Objective 4.3:Develop contingency plans (Risk Management) for Department of State aviation missions.
Mission Environment:
The mission is performed in several overseas nations under conditions which may be permissive or non-permissive, and which can be austere.  INL/A may operate in denied areas under extremely hostile and very austere conditions.  Operations are currently performed in Central Florida, Colombia, Peru, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
Mission Objectives:
INL/A is primarily responsible for supporting the U.S. Embassy Country Teams (generally through the INL- Post of each Embassy) in their effort to assist host nation governments in the eradication and interdiction of illicit crops as mandated in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. Other missions include border patrol and other security-related aviation activities. INL/A also supports the Embassy Country Team to instill these aviation capabilities within the host nation where applicable. In addition to foreign assistance support, INL/A also supports passenger and cargo movement as required by post.
Mission Requirements:
In order to fulfill its core mission of providing aviation management, expertise and resources to strengthen law enforcement, support counter-narcotics, counter-terrorism efforts and provide safe and efficient aviation support to meet all Department of State aviation requirements, INL/A will perform operational missions which may include, but are not limited to: aerial eradication, manual eradication support, interdiction support, air assault, border security, external load, forward resupply, aerial transportation of personnel and cargo, Personnel Recovery (PR), CASEVAC/MEDEVAC, disabled aircraft recovery, armed helicopter escort, maintenance test flights, aerial reconnaissance, surveillance and verification. Applicable missions are performed by contractor personnel at CONUS and OCONUS locations.
Each associate contractor on the INL/A team is responsible for conducting and overseeing their respective functions to ensure overall INL/A air operations and aviation support missions are accomplished successfully and safely, while complying with all established ITAR/EAR, and other applicable regulations. Missions include conducting operations within the allocated flight hours for each aircraft, by country program. Where applicable, the goal is to transition all specified mission requirements to host-nation personnel at the earliest date possible.  Due to the evolving nature of the mission, the contractor must remain flexible and be able to react to changing conditions.

 The North American Industry classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 541330 (Military and Aerospace Equipment and Military Weapons).