Flight Activity Support and Aircraft Maintenance

MARKET SURVEY: US Army NVESD Flight Activity Support and Aircraft Maintenance. The US Army Contracting Command - Aberdeen Proving Ground, Belvoir Division is seeking sources on behalf of the U.S. Army Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD), Air Systems Division (ASD), with the capability to provide aircraft maintenance and modification, technical observers and flight operations logistics and operations management, aviation ground support and tool reset and life support equipment inspections for NVESD flight test aircraft located at Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir ,VA and other CONUS and OCONUS location as required. This effort will require that all Contractor employees possess a current SECRET security clearance at a minimum before the commencement of work. NVESD has the need to perform flight test aircraft maintenance at Davison Army Airfield on a fleet of approximately 8 test aircraft. The fleet includes two (2) UV-18A, two (2) UH-60A, two (2) UH-1H aircraft and two (2) Yamaha RMAX Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS) assigned to NVESD. The Contractor will provide manpower support as required in the following areas: Aircraft Maintenance & Modification, Technical Observers/Flight Operations, Logistics/Operations Management, Aviation Ground Support/Tool Reset, Aviation Life Support Equipment Inspections. The contractor will be required to perform Aviation Unit Maintenance, Aviation Intermediate Maintenance, and limited depot level services on the aircraft assigned to the NVESD. The contractor will also be required to provide non-rated crewmember night vision goggle observer positions that meet the requirements of AR 95-1 and the appropriate aircrew-training manual, a UH-60 maintenance test pilot, semi-annual aviation life support equipment inspections and aviation logistics functions as a part of the scope of maintenance effort. The UH60 Test pilot must have not less than 1,000 hours first pilot time in category and type i.e. airplane, multiengine land. Currency requirements will be in accordance with FAR Part 91 and include currency as pilot in command for day, night, and instrument flights. All flight crewmembers shall maintain a current FAA Medical Second Class. Additionally, the Contractor will perform modifications such as Modification Work Orders (MWO), Special Modifications (SM), Technical Orders (TO), Airworthiness Directives (AD), Factory Bulletins (FB), Technical Bulletins (TB), and Letters. The Contractor shall also be responsible for modifications to aircraft IAW safety of flight bulletins or research and development changes to the airframe. The purpose of this synopsis is to conduct Market Research and to gain knowledge of interest, capabilities and qualifications of potential sources interested in providing the above discussed services. It is anticipated that a contract will be negotiated for a one year base contract with options for two additional years of services. Industry feedback is vitally important and the Government will be receptive to any and all ideas received from industry. Proprietary information is not being solicited. This is a market survey for information purposes only. This Request for Information shall not be construed as a formal solicitation or an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services. Any information provided to the Government is strictly voluntary and shall be at no cost to the Government. Any formal solicitation will be announced separately in accordance with FAR 5.2. The results of this market survey will be used to refine the Performance Work Statement requirements as well as complete the Acquisition Strategy/Approach, Program Cost Estimate and other acquisition documentation required to support procurement of this capability. Responses should include a cover letter (not part of the page count) providing the following information: the company name, address, CAGE code, point of contact, phone number, fax number, email address. The cover letter should also include up to three references for similar efforts either currently or previously performed by your company. The references should include contract number, customer organizational name, point of contact, email address, phone number and fax number. The Government requests that interested offerors submit an electronic response of not more than twenty (20) pages, 8.5" x 11" paper, 12 pitch, Times New Roman font, with a minimum of one (1) inch margins all around. Responsible sources having relevant experience may submit their statement of interest and technical capabilities. Responses to this Sources Sought shall include a statement of capabilities as it relates to this effort. Please also discuss professional qualifications and specific experience of personnel identified to perform the work as well as any other information that would enable the government to assess your firm's capabilities. Any information submitted by respondents to this sources sought synopsis is voluntary. The Army does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this notice or to otherwise pay for the information solicited. Respondents should not construe this synopsis as a commitment for any purpose. Respondents will not individually be notified of the results of any government assessments. The Government's evaluation of the capability statements received will factor into whether any forthcoming solicitation will be conducted as a full and open competition or as a set-aside for small businesses, or any particular small business designation (e.g. SDVOSB, HUBZone, 8(a), SDB, WOSB, VOSB, etc.). Responses to the Sources Sought should be submitted electronically to ACC-APG (Belvoir) attention Ms. Rosetta Wisdom-Russell, Contracting Officer, at: rosetta.wisdom-russell.civ@mail.mil with a copy to Ms. Erin Lunney at erin.e.lunney.civ@mail.mil. The email response subject line must read: "Market Research Response - Airfield Support - Company Name". Responses to this market research shall be submitted no later than 1200 Eastern Standard Time on 20 November 2012. In addition to the above, the government is seeking additional information from small businesses to aid in the acquisition planning for this requirement. The response must identify whether the respondee are a Large Business, Small Business, Very Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, 8(a) Program Small Business, Women-owned Small Business, HUB Zone Small Business, Veteran-owned Small Business, Service-disabled Veteran-owned Small Business, and/or a Native American Small Business. The NAICS code provided is anticipated at the time of release of this notice. It is not to be considered final and is not indicative of an approved small business strategy. Small Businesses interested in this opportunity may decide to partner/team with other businesses in order to meet the requirements of the acquisition. The North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) code is set as 488190 with a size standard of $30.0M. Responses from small businesses shall also include responses to the below questions (no more than 3 pages, not included in the page count provided above) 1. Please identify your company's small business size standard based on the above information. For more information, refer to http://www.sba.gov/content/table-small-business-size-standards. Large Business Concern Small Business (SB) Concern 8(a) Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) Woman-Owned Small Business Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Veteran-Owned Small Business Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business 2. If you identify your company as a Small Business or any of the SB subcategories as stipulated in Question # 1, then is your company interested in a prime contract for the upcoming PWS? 3. Under the current SB recertification regulations, do you anticipate your company remaining a small business, under primary NAICS Code 488190? If you are a SB answer questions 4A & B. All others skip to Question #5. 4A. If your company is awarded the contract, will you be able to perform at least 50% (percent) of the work? 4B. If you are a small business, can you go without a payment for 90 days? 5. Does your company possess the capabilities to provide the entire range of services called for in the RFI? ______ YES _______ NO 6. If you answered YES to Question # 5, please provide specific capabilities and examples for how your company can provide these services. 7. If you answered NO to Question # 5, please list what services in the RFI your company can provide? Please provide specific capabilities and examples. 8. Is your company currently providing similar services to another government agency (you may also include contract #s for government) or other non-government customer? If so, please identify the agency or non-government customer. If you are unwilling to share your customer's identity, please address whether your company offers the same or similar services commercially 9. Has your Company performed this type of effort or similar type effort (to include size and complexity) in the past, if so provide Contract Number , Point of Contact (POC), e-mail address, phone number, and a brief description of your direct support of the effort? 10. Does your firm possess an approved Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) accounting system? 11. If you are a small business how do you select your partners and/or subcontractors? All information received in response to this Sources Sought Synopsis that is marked "Proprietary" will be handled accordingly. Responses will not be returned nor will receipt be confirmed.