Exclusive Use Helicopter Services Modernization

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION National Exclusive-Use Helicopter Modernization Special Notice Number: SN-2019-10 Agency: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office: Forest Service Location: National Interagency Fire Center - Boise, ID RFI Issue Date: March 06, 2019 RFI Response Date: April 26, 2019 Submittal of information: The information requested by this RFI shall be provided, in writing (hard-copy or electronic), by close of business (4:30 p.m. Mountain Time) April 26, 2019 to the following address: U.S. Forest Service National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) 3833 South Development Avenue Attn: Mr. Michael McFarlane, Owyhee Building 106, Suite 1101-1 Boise, Idaho 83705-5354 or michaelmcfarlane@fs.fed.us, Synopsis: This Request for Information is for Market Research and Planning purposes only. Product Service Code: V221 NAICS Code: 481212 Business Size Standard: 1,500 employees THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INTEND TO AWARD A CONTRACT ON THE BASIS OF THIS RFI OR TO OTHERWISE PAY FOR THE INFORMATION SOLICITED. This RFI does not constitute a solicitation for proposals or the authority to enter into negotiations to award a contract. No funds have been authorized, appropriated, or received for this contemplated effort. This RFI is for planning purposes only and shall not be considered as a request for proposal or as an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of contractor submission of responses to this RFI or the Government's use of such information. The Government reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part, any contractor's input resulting from this RFI. Responses to this RFI will not be returned. Whatever information is provided in response to this RFI may be used to assess tradeoffs and alternatives available for future needs. The information provided may be utilized by the US Forest Service in developing its acquisition strategy and in its Statement of Objective, Statement of Work, and/or Performance Specifications. The information resulting from this RFI may be included or combined with other submissions in one or more options considered in the analysis of alternatives. Any proprietary information that is submitted may be used in establishing requirements of the future system but specific information will be safeguarded as proprietary. Contracting Office Address: Owyhee Building - MS 1100 3833 S. Development Ave. Boise, ID 83705 Primary Point of Contact: Michael McFarlane, Contracting Officer michaelmcfarlane@fs.fed.us 208-387-5695 Technical Point of Contact John Nelson, Washington Office, Branch Chief-Airworthiness john.a.nelson@usda.gov 208-387-5617 Or Don Campbell, Washington Office, National Helicopter Operations Specialist dcampbell05@fs.fed.us 208-387-5593 Or Eric J. Bush, Washington Office, National Rappel Specialist ejbush@fs.fed.us 208-809-0903 Description The purpose of this announcement is to obtain market research associated with modernization of the Exclusive-Use (EU) contracted helicopters. Specifically, the FS is seeking interested vendors capable of providing helicopter services for the US Forest Service (FS) Fire and Aviation Program with aircraft that meet 14CFR29 standards (or equivalent) and our operational requirements as identified below. Background The FS has implemented a process to access availability and applicability of twin engine helicopters with upgraded technology, safety attributes, with increased range, and payload. This Request-for-Information (RFI) is not limited by helicopter type. The FS relies on various makes and models to deliver firefighters, fire suppressants, and supplies to wildland fire incidents throughout the United States (resources are nationally shared). The FS utilizes 4-year EU contract cycles for T1, and T2 helicopter services (1 + 3 option years) but may extend for a period of up to 5 years. Aircraft Utilization The FS utilizes EU helicopters for firefighting and resource management. The primary mission for T1 and T2 helicopters is wildland fire support. 19 T2 EU helicopters are configured for helitack (13 are contracted with a bucket, 6 with an internal tank), and 15 T2 EU helicopters are contracted with bucket and are configured for rappel missions. The current T2 EU fleet responds to over 1,000 incidents nationally. EU T2 aircraft transport 35,000 passengers, drop 9 million gallons of water, move 3 million pounds of cargo, and fly 7,500 hours per fire-year (10-year average). The FS responds to incidents located in areas where temperatures can exceed 40 degrees Celsius in high-elevation mountainous and desert terrain. Conditions on-incident may place the aircraft in high-density altitude areas performing continuous low-slow missions such as aerial ignition, or hover work such as rappel, hoist, and delivery of external cargo. Aircraft Configuration The T2 contract requirements for rappel and helitack configurations are nearly identical, with the exception of the human external load system requirement (rappel bracket and rappel spotter tether attachment) for rappel contract line items. The examples below identify our existing needs in Configuration 1 and our desired needs in Configuration 2 for both helitack and rappel programs. We are seeking parties with existing aircraft, or willing to obtain aircraft, meeting the requirements specified in the Technical Information requested below to support the operational needs of the USFS identified below. Configuration variations REQUESTED INFORMATION: Vendors/contractors who respond to this Request for Information (RFI) are requested to provide all of the following information in writing and in accordance with the directions below: COMPANY INFORMATION: 1. Company name 2. Company mailing address 3. Company point of contact (name & title) 4. Point of contact's telephone numbers 5. Company's size standard for the NAICS information provided above PRICE INFORMATION: All interested vendors/contractors shall provide a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) that includes the following costs: Helicopter Services consisting of fully contractor operated and maintained helicopters that meet the requirements below - Daily Availability Rate: Estimated daily costs for aircraft, including pilot(s), maintenance, and fuel service driver to support the aircraft on a 14-hour availability day (9-hour duty day, extended standby rate paid by government thereafter). The daily cost should be estimated based on a continuous 120 day exclusive use period. - Flight Rate: Flight rate should be based on an estimated 200 hours per 120 days period specified above. TECHNICAL INFORMATION: Interested vendors/contractors should provide Aircraft information in the chart below on Make and Models that meet the following requirements: Aircraft - Turbine Powered Helicopter Helicopter Specifications 1 - Seating o Seven or more passenger seats not including pilot, but including copilot seat in aircraft. - Payload o Provide an estimated non-jettisonable payload (HOGE) using 25 degrees C at 7,000 feet pressure altitude with a pilot weight of 200 pounds and useable fuel for one hour and 30 minutes. ? Complete attachment 2, Load Calculation - Power-Plant o Two Turbine Engines - Certification Basis o 14CFR29 1 or equivalent Helicopter Specifications 2 - Seating o Nine or more passenger seats not including pilot and co-pilot seat. - Payload o Provide an estimated non-jettisonable payload (HOGE) using 25 degrees C at 7000 feet pressure altitude, using 400 total pounds for the pilot and co-pilot weight, and useable fuel for 2 hours. ? Complete Attachment 2, Load Calculation - Power-plant o Two Turbine Engines - Certification Basis o 14CFR29 or equivalent Note: You may provide any other pertinent information that may contribute to efficiencies related to this RFI that will assist the Government in developing specifications for future solicitations such as: - Performance charts - Weight and balance - Estimated timeline that discusses timelines from acquisition to mission configuration of the helicopter to meet helicopter services specifications for firefighting. Attachment 1 See attached document for a formatted version Attached Amendment updated Aircraft Make/Model Daily Availability Aircraft Price per/day Passenger Seats Human External Load System Y/N HIGE 7000', 25c HOGE 7000', 25c HOGE-J 7000', 25c Attachment 2 Empty Weight: Means the weight of the airframe, engines, propellers, rotors, and fixed equipment. Empty weight excludes the weight of the crew and payload, but includes the weight of all fixed ballast, unusable fuel supply, undrainable oil, total quantity of engine coolant, and total quantity of hydraulic fluid. Equipped Weight: Bucket Helicopters: Equipped weight equals the Empty Weight (as listed in the Weight and Balance Data) plus the weight of lubricants and onboard equipment required by contract (i.e., including but not limited to survival kit, rappel anchor, first aid kit). Does not include the weight of the bucket and any associated suspension hardware.