V -- Logistics Aircraft and Drone Recovery Services

This is a Request for Information (RFI). The information received will be used to assess the capability of an air carrier to provide air transportation and drone recovery services for NAWCWD, Point Mugu CA. The air transportation is for (1) fixed-wing aircraft capable of carrying four passengers or any combination of passengers and cargo for a payload capability of 800 pounds for flights within a range of 200 miles (approx. 150 hours per year). (2) fixed-wing aircraft capable of carrying eight passengers or any combination of passengers and cargo for a payload capability of 1600 pounds within a range of 200 miles (approx. 150 hours per year). (3) Rotary-wing aircraft capable of carrying three passengers or any combination of passengers and cargo for a payload capability of 600 pounds for a flight duration of at least 1.5 hours (approx. 150 hours per year). (4) Rotary-wing aircraft capable of carrying five passengers or any combination of passengers and cargo for a payload capability of 1000 pounds for a flight duration of at least 1.5 hours (approx. 500 hours per year). (5) Rotary-wing aircraft capable of locating, recovering and transporting 500 pound drones from the open sea. There will be a total of approximately 50 hours of aircraft standby time for the fixed-wing aircraft and approximately 200 hours for the rotary-wing aircraft. Please provide the following information and any other information you think might be helpful in the acquisition of this air transportation: a) Type of aircraft with capabilities (speed, range, etc.); b) Payload of the aircraft; c) Estimated price, or price range, per hour; d) Are you a DOD approved carrier?; e) Your business size(large or small); f) Have you flown the aircraft to be offered for 12 continuous months of comparable service or will you have done so by the time of contract award?; g) What is the normal length of contract in this industry?; h) How is service usually priced and is per-mile acceptable?; Are reimbursibles a standard practice? If so, what is paid?; i) Describe your security policy; j) Describe your inspection methods used to ensure satisfactory performance; k) How much advance notice do you require prior to scheduling a flight?; l) What are your policies/charges when user cancels?; m) Describe your liability for loss and/or damage to passenger baggage and/or personal equipment; n) What are some of the problems currently encountered within the industry?; o) What is the standard commercial practice if the contractor is late for mission or fails to perform?; p) What are customary types and amounts of insurance in the commercial market?; q) Where does billing begin? When you take off en route to a pickup point, or once you pick up the passengers?; r) Where would your base of operations be located and how long would it take for you to arrive at the pick-up point? This agency has not made a final commitment to procure the stated requirement and this RFI should not be construed as a commitment or authorization to incur costs in anticipation of such procurement. This agency is interested in obtaining responses to this RFI from prospective contractors but no contractor shall be reimbursed for providing this information, therefore, the Air Force will accept the requested information in whatever format is provided. The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes are 481211, 481212, and 481219. All information provided by the contractor will become the property of the Air Force and will not be returned. Responses are requested by 23 March 2006 and should include a point of contact, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address. The anticipated period of performance is 1 Oct 06 through 30 Sep 07 with three 12-month option periods. This acquisition is 100% set-aside for small business concerns. Interested parties capable of performing this requirement should send an e-mail with responses to the above questions to: cliff.beasley@scott.af.mil.