Oversized Cargo Airlift Support

This is Modification 4 to Request for Information (RFI) entitled - Oversized Cargo Airlift Support is to notify you that the Government released a Special Notice Synopsis, 80JSC0210CA1, entitled - Oversized Cargo Aircraft on May 20, 2021. For further information see Special Notice Synopsis 80JSC0210CA1. https://beta.sam.gov/opp/5a36d994bbbb47d6a4c2e41124f92ac9/view ___________________________________________________________________________ This is modification 3 to Request for Information (RFI) entitled Oversized Cargo Airlift Support, which was posted on February 25, 2021. The due date for responses has changed from 3:00 PM CDT, Tuesday, April 27, 2021, to 3:00 PM CDT, Friday, April 30, 2021. This modification provides the following information to provide additional clarity in response to questions received regarding the RFI and subsequent modifications: The purpose of the RFI is to gather information on the acquisition of an aircraft at the earliest available date. The anticipated payload, which is described in Question 4. of Modification 2 of the RFI, cannot be rotated. The payload must remain orientated as described within the description provided in Question 4. The anticipated payload does not have a constant cross-section. Rather, the given cross-section is constant for the forward 240 of the payload and is reduced slightly for the remaining length. All comments or questions shall be submitted electronically via email to Alice Pursell, alice.j.pursell@nasa.gov, and Damian Gillette, damian.p.gillette@nasa.gov when responding reference - 80JSC021OCAS in your response. Interested parties are responsible for monitoring this site for any additional information and/or changes to this RFI. This RFI is for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited. ___________________________________________________________________________ This is modification 2 to the Request for Information (RFI) entitled oversized Cargo Airlift Support which was posted on February 25, 2021. This modification is being posted to request additional information from companies who have already responded to the initial RFI. Those companies are requested to provide a response to the additional questions below. Parties who did not respond to the initial RFI dated February 25, 2021 are requested to provide the information contained in the initial RFI, as well as the information being requested by this amendment to the RFI. Responses are subject to the page limitations noted below. Questions: 4. For aircraft capable of accommodating the payload described in Question 1 [20 feet in diameter (i.e., 20 feet wide at maximum point and 20 feet tall at maximum point), 48 feet long and weighing 48,000 lbs.], can the aircraft also accommodate a payload with elliptical cross-section 23 feet (276 inches) wide and 14 feet (168 inches) tall, 67 feet (804 inches) long and weighing 31,000 lbs.? Note the two payloads described above will not be carried simultaneously. 5. For aircraft capable of accommodating the payloads described above: a. What ground support equipment is required to facilitate payload on-loading and off-loading? b. Is such ground support equipment readily available at airfields or readily transportable to airfields visited on an ad hoc basis? 6. Pursuant to all the information requested, what is the earliest possible availability date to acquire the capable aircraft? SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS Companies who have already responded to the initial RFI need only provide a response to the questions above. Any interested parties who did not respond to the initial RFI and want to respond to this amended RFI are also requested to provide the information requested by the initial RFI as well as the additional information requested by this amendment to the RFI. Responses are subject to the page limitations noted below. Please limit responses to no more than five single-sided pages in length. If you have provided a response to the initial RFI, you can submit 5 pages for the additional data elements requested to go with your initial submission or resubmit the entire response in the amount of 10 pages total. All comments or questions shall be submitted electronically via email to Alice Pursell, alice.j.pursell@nasa.gov. When responding reference - 80JSC021OCAS in your response. The due date for responses is extended to April 27, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. CST. Interested parties are responsible for monitoring this site for any additional information and/or changes to this RFI. This RFI is for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited. ___________________________________________________________________________ This is a modification to the Request for Information (RFI) entitled Oversized Cargo Airlift Support (80JSC021OCAS) which was posted on February 25, 2021. You are notified that the following changes are made: Response Date Extension. The due date for responses is extended to March 23, 2021, 05:00 PM CST. Offerors are responsible for monitoring this site for the release of the solicitation and any amendments. Potential offerors are responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments (if any). ____________________________________________________________________________ THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes - it does not constitute a solicitation or any other form of request for quotes or proposals, nor is it a commitment to issue any such item in the future. This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Further, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is not seeking proposals at this time and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Please do not request a copy of the solicitation, as no solicitation currently exists. Responders are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in responding to this RFI; all such costs shall be solely at the interested party's expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future procurements. If NASA releases any related solicitation in the future, it will be synopsized on the beta.sam.gov and the NASA Acquisition Internet Service (NAIS) websites. It is the responsibility of interested parties to monitor these sites for additional information pertaining to this RFI. Respondents will not be notified of any results of this RFI. The information received in response to this RFI will not be released in its submitted form outside of the Government, but may be used to develop and refine requirements and NASA's acquisition strategy. Therefore, the information may be recognizable. NASA's preference is to not receive proprietary or confidential/business-sensitive information in responses. However, if respondents believe such information is necessary for NASA's informational purposes in order to be responsive to the questions presented below it shall be properly marked as such. NASA will not publicly disclose such proprietary information, and will protect it in accordance with all applicable laws and Agency policies. Description: NASA has identified a potential need to acquire an aircraft to maintain or expand the oversized cargo airlift capability currently provided by the Super Guppy Turbine (SGT) aircraft. NASA is seeking information from industry and potential sources for aircraft that can be used to provide oversized cargo airlift consistent with NASA airworthiness requirements and processes. Information from this RFI will be used to assess the feasibility of replacing the SGT in a cost-effective manner with a similarly capable aircraft that is currently available. Submittal Requirements: NASA requests that interested entities submit responsive information on company letterhead with proprietary markings and restrictive legends as appropriate. Responses should include the name, address, and telephone number of the firm, as well as the name of the author. Please limit responses to no more than five single-sided pages in length. Respondents are requested to focus on the questions presented below, as well as to provide any related, relevant information identified by the respondent. NASA will not disclose the specific feedback received from one firm with any other interested entities. Questions: What aircraft currently exist that can satisfy NASA's contemplated minimum future requirements to transport payloads 20 feet in diameter (i.e. 20 feet wide at maximum point and 20 feet tall at maximum point), 48 feet long and weighing 48,000 lbs? Additional capacity beyond the minimum requirements may be of value to NASA in formulation of future planning and should be described when responding to the following questions: For aircraft capable of accommodating the payload described in Question 1, what is the maximum allowable payload weight? For aircraft capable of accommodating the payload described in Question 1, what is the aircraft range with the described payload? For aircraft capable of accommodating the payload described in Question 1, what is its demonstrated fleet history of safe operations? For aircraft capable of accommodating the payload described in Question 1, what are typical hourly operating costs, per categories defined in The Aircraft Cost Evaluator published by Conklin & de Decker, or equivalent? For aircraft capable of accommodating the payload described in Question 1, what are the typical major maintenance intervals, costs and what sources provide such maintenance commercially? For aircraft capable of accommodating the payload described in Question 1, what provisions are available for payload support and monitoring (aircraft power available for payload usage, cargo bay temperature control, data monitoring from cockpit, etc)? For aircraft capable of accommodating the payload described in Question 1, are such aircraft currently available for purchase/acquisition? What is the aircraft availability timeframe? Are spare parts commercially available for the aircraft cited in the response and, if so, how long into the future are those spare parts expected to remain commercially available? The respondent shall state whether or not it is able to sell to the Government the aircraft cited in its response to this request for information. If the answer to 2.2. is affirmative, the respondent shall state whether or not a future sale of the aircraft cited would include either the provision of or the use of telecommunications and video surveillance services or equipment as covered in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provision at 52.204-24 and the FAR clause at 52.204-25. Are there partnership opportunities with other entities, including federal agencies, that may be exploring similar capabilities on which NASA might be able to capitalize? All comments or questions shall be submitted electronically via email to Alice Pursell, alice.j.pursell@nasa.gov, no later than 5:00pm CT on March 5, 2021. When responding reference 80JSC021OCAS. NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/Procurement-Ombuds-Comp-Advocate-Listing.pdf. If a solicitation is released, then it and any additional documents will be available on www.beta.sam.gov. It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor the Internet site for the release of the solicitation and amendments (if any). Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments, if any.