Inactive Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)

**************************************************************************************************** 03/17/2021: Presentation from 03/08/2021 (two parts). *********************************************... **************************************************************************************************** 03/17/2021: Presentation from 03/08/2021 (two parts). **************************************************************************************************** 03/01/2021: SAVE THE DATE! The Type I Helicopter Forum will be held on 8 March 2021 starting at 1:00 pm (MST). The purpose of this engagement is to connect with industry as the Forest Service looks to modernize its acquisition strategy for Type 1 Fire Suppression Helicopter Services. Agency leadership, contracting officers, and program managers responsible for directing and administering Type I contracts will discuss the high-level strategy for acquiring Type I helicopter services beginning in calendar year 2022, anticipated changes to future contracts, and provide a venue for submission of questions. Due to ongoing concerns about COVID-19, the Type I Helicopter Forum will be held virtually via MS Teams. Space for this event is limited and only two (2) participants per Type I helicopter company will be able to be accommodated. To receive a link to the Teams meeting, please provide your company affiliation and full email address to tonya.rymer@usda.gov no later than March 8, 2021 at noon (MST). Additional information about this meeting may be released by updating this Save the Date notice. ***This Vendor Forum notice does not constitute a solicitation or a promise of a solicitation in the future. This Vendor Forum is for informational purposes only and does not commit the Government to any contractual agreements or arrangements. PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE SOLICITED UNDER THIS NOTICE.*** **************************************************************************************************** 01/30/2021: 1202SA21R0001-DRAFT - Q&A. **************************************************************************************************** 01/19/2021: U. S. Forest Service National Helicopter Program Helicopter Services Contractor End of Season Questionnaire Requirements: 1. Are the aircraft performance requirements consistent with most environmental conditions that you typically operate in while under your contract(s)? If so, or not explain. 2. If you had an aircraft on a CWN agreement or surge agreement were the requirements clear to you and your personnel? If not explain. 3. Were the requirements of the solicitation 1202SA21R0001-DRAFT well understood requiring little or no clarification from the CO or other govt representative? 4. What performance measures with respect to the government requirements could the government consider in future solicitations? 5. What requirement(s) would you suggest the government consider changing to take advantage of current and new technology (e.g. avionics, maintenance, aircraft, multi-mission capability, etc.)? 6. Are the current contract periods consisting of a base year plus 3 option years working from a business or operational standpoint? If not, what other contract periods would you propose and why? Communication: 1. Was the government request for proposal or other mechanism of solicitation advertised in a timely manner enabling adequate time for your offer to be made? 2. If there was an absence of clarity with respect to the contract requirements was this reconciled readily? At what level of the contracting chain of command was the absence of clarity most often encountered? At what level was it reconciled (e.g. Helicopter manager, COR, CO, etc.)? Utilization 1. Were your aircraft that were awarded a contract used as you expected? If not please explain. 2. Is there any concern with how your aircraft was utilized that you would like to share? Pricing: 1. Do you have any recommendations for the government to consider regarding pricing? 2. What increases in costs are you experiencing? What decreases in cost are you experiencing? 3. What percentage of those costs are represented in the cost to government for your flight services? Request comments no later than 1200 hours local on February 19, 2021. Comments shall be submitted in a MS Word or Excel document that is easy to both read and follow, referencing ‘1202SA21R0001-QUESTIONNAIRE’ in the subject of email. **************************************************************************************************** 12/23/2020: 2021 Exclusive Use (EU) Type 1 Helicopter Services: Industry comment received in response to 1202SA21R0001-DRAFT, Draft Request for Proposal (DRFP) for Helicopter Services, is appreciated and will be used in the development of the next RFP. 1202SA21R0001-DRAFT is hereby cancelled. The USFS is currently evaluating alternate acquisition strategies. Some factors influencing the consideration of alternate acquisition strategies are related to budget modernization, competition, and best value to the government. The Government intends to issue a DRFP Summer 2021. The Government will utilize the existing National Call-When-Needed (CWN) Type 1 & 2 Helicopter Services Agreement to award 28 Type 1 helicopters for 2021, having designated bases and mandatory availability periods (similar to 2020), which is typically fulfilled through the competitive procurement process. CWN T1 28 (Type 1, 28 each): CWN BOA with typical EU 120 MAPs. The government also intends to award up to 20 Type 1 surge helicopters for 2021, also utilizing the National Call-When-Needed Type 1 & 2 Helicopter Services Agreement (similar to 2020). CWN T1 Surge 20 (Type 1 Surge, 20 each): CWN BOA with 120-day MAPs (06/01/2021-09/30/2021). **************************************************************************************************** 10/23/2020: The purpose of this Draft Request for Proposal (DRFP) is to assist the Government in developing the highest quality Request for Proposal (RFP). Prospective offerors are invited to: (1) provide comments on all aspects of the DRFP, including pricing structure, contract clauses, requirements, schedules, proposal instructions, and evaluation approaches; (2) identify unnecessary or inefficient requirements; (3) comment on any perceived safety, health, security, environmental, or other issues associated with performance of the work; and (4) identify any areas in the DRFP that are confusing or ambiguous, which may warrant additional information or clarification in the final RFP. Prospective offerors are strongly encouraged to submit comments. Prospective offerors are requested to submit comments no later than 1200 hours local on November 13, 2020. Comments shall be submitted in a MS Word or Excel document that is easy to both read and follow (provide matrix for multiple revisions), referencing ‘1202SA21R0001-DRAFT’ in the subject of email. Prospective offerors are requested to notify the undersigned at steven.b.peterson@usda.gov, of their intent to submit a proposal. The DRFP is not a solicitation and the Government is not requesting proposals. The DRFP is for planning and information purposes only. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for any information submitted. Any subsequent final RFP will be synopsized prior to its release and published on https://beta.sam.gov. It is the offeror’s responsibility to monitor https://beta.sam.gov for the release of the RFP and any amendments. Prospective offerors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the RFP and any amendments. NOTE: It is the Government’s intent to change the submission requirements to electronic only in the final RFP. Offerors may contact the Contracting Officer, Steven B. Peterson, at steven.b.peterson@usda.gov.