PMAA, 3560, Helicopter Inventory Services

The State of Colorado, Department of Natural Resources, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), is soliciting helicopter services through Invitation for Bid (IFB) PMAA 2017_0084 for exclusive use and call-as-needed aerial wildlife population surveys in the Colorado Springs-Pueblo area (Southeast Colorado Region). The primary scope requires qualified contractors to provide one or more helicopters based in the designated area to conduct big game inventory work and wildlife management missions from December 1, 2016, through November 30, 2017. The contract encompasses two operational phases: an exclusive-use period from December 1, 2016, through January 31, 2017, during which helicopters must be stationed at the designated base and available from sunrise to sunset, seven days per week, with CPW potentially guaranteeing up to 30 flight hours east of Interstate 25 and 100 flight hours west of Interstate 25; and a call-as-needed phase from February 1, 2017, through November 30, 2017, requiring 48-hour availability notification with historically averaging approximately 20 hours annually. Bidders must provide all labor, materials, and equipment, including appropriately equipped helicopters meeting specific altitude and capacity requirements (MD530 or AS 350 with 14,000-foot capability for western areas; R-44, Bell 206, or MD 500 with 6,500-foot capability for eastern areas), qualified pilots meeting stringent experience requirements (minimum 1,500 total helicopter hours, 100 hours in weight class, 100 hours in applicable engine type, 50 hours in specific aircraft make and model, 200 hours in typical terrain, and 100 hours in the preceding 12 months), Part 135-qualified maintenance facilities, service trucks with drivers or mechanics proficient in aircraft fueling, and comprehensive avionics systems including GPS, VHF communications, and emergency locator transmitters. The IFB was posted September 16, 2016, with written inquiries due by September 23, 2016, at 4:00 p.m. Mountain Time; responses to solicitation questions were posted by September 26, 2016, at 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time; and bid responses were due October 6, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. Mountain Time, with an expected award date of October 10, 2016. Award will be made on a best-value basis considering cost per flight hour, total estimated contract cost, and responsiveness to minimum requirements, with the State reserving the right to award to one or more contractors.

No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises or restrictions limiting organizational types are identified in the solicitation documents. Prospective bidders must be registered on the Colorado Vendor Self-Service (VSS) system, submit completed W-9 tax identification forms, and comply with standard Colorado Purchase Order terms and conditions. Bids shall be submitted F.O.B. Destination, with all costs including delivery, trade-in value, and discounts incorporated into the final bid price; ferry time to and from the designated base is compensated at the hourly flight rate and counts toward guaranteed hours, while service truck mileage is reimbursed at the contractor's submitted rate. The contract does not identify incumbent vendors or current contractors in the available documentation. Pricing is structured on a fixed annual dollar budget, meaning CPW will determine the number of guaranteed hours flown based on submitted hourly bid rates; if bid prices exceed CPW's budget projections, the agency reserves the right to re-solicit or reduce guaranteed hours without allowing bidders to decline modified terms. While specific award values are not disclosed in advance, the contract structure contemplates potential guaranteed hours of up to 130 hours annually (100 hours west of I-25 plus 30 hours east of I-25) during the exclusive-use and call-as-needed periods, with actual contract value dependent on submitted hourly rates and evaluation outcomes. Contact for additional information is available through Raven Lopez, Department of Natural Resources Purchasing Office, at (303) 866-3292 X8625.