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The Department of Interior, Interior Business Center, Acquisition Services Directorate is requesting qualified and capable offerors to respond to this Sources Sought synopsis as a means of conducting ... The Department of Interior, Interior Business Center, Acquisition Services Directorate is requesting qualified and capable offerors to respond to this Sources Sought synopsis as a means of conducting market research to identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support requirements for any of the services listed below. Specifically, this market research is to determine if there are options within the fixed wing industry for medium ski-equipped airplanes with greater capabilities than the Basler BT-67 (DC3T) that has historically supported the contract in Antarctica. NAICS code-481219 Other Non-Scheduled Air Transportation FSC- V211- Transportation/Travel/Relocation- Travel/Lodging/Recruitment: Air Passenger This requirement is for exclusive use flight services October through February each year to support research activities of the National Science Foundation¿s (NSF) United States Antarctic Program (USAP) utilizing fully functional aircraft equipped to meet specifications and is operated and maintained by qualified personnel. The primary role for the aircraft will be utility transportation services, bulk fuel delivery, and ferrying personnel and materials to remote, often unprepared, field locations at McMurdo Air Station in Antarctica. The Government is contemplating a five-year (5), firm-fixed-price IDIQ for two medium aircraft, capable of a minimum of 10,000 lbs. available cargo load to distances of 800NM, preferably round-trip with little fuel on-load needed at remote destinations. This aircraft must be ski-capable to land on prepared and unprepared snow surfaces. The Antarctic is characterized by very hostile operating conditions that consist of high winds, cold temperatures, and minimal facilities for maintenance and support operations. Maintenance is conducted outside with no hardstand or hangar support. Experience in these harsh conditions is essential to safe operations and warrants significant considerations to support aviation operations in the Antarctic. Other conditions that may affect the acquisition are the risk of the unknown as many operators that will be interested in submitting a proposal in response to the acquisition are unfamiliar with the environment other than by reading publications. Operations will be conducted at significant distances from the United States and possibly the contractor¿s home base of operations and, therefore, the contractor must show experience in maintaining a small fleet of aircraft at remote locations with limited support capabilities. Self-supporting is key to operational success in the Antarctic environment. The contractor shall be experienced and capable of providing fully contractor-operated and maintained flight services to programs that are considered to be similar in nature to the missions of the National Science Foundation¿s United States Antarctic Program. The contractor must maintain an Airworthiness Certificate IAW 14 CFR Air Carrier Certificate or Operating Certificate and have engineering support for continued air worthiness from the current to the supplemental certificate holder. All equipment must be FAA approved. The Contractor is responsible for and must comply with all laws and regulations, and otherwise have or obtain all needed licenses, permits, and certifications, including, but not limited to, those necessary for the carriage of persons or property for hire to support contract requirements. Likewise, the Contractor is also responsible for obtaining all country clearances necessary to deploy its airplanes to Antarctica. SAMPLE MINIMUM AIRCRAFT REQUIREMENTS I. Medium Multiengine Fixed Wing Utility Ski Plane (wheel/ski combo preferred) (Qty 1-2, 85-120 days each) a) Must have a Standard Airworthiness Certificate. b) An aircraft make and model for which engineering and logistical support, for continued airworthiness, is provided from the current type certificate holder or supplemental type certificate holder. c) Aircraft must be approved for use with AN8, JP8, and JP5 fuel. d) Approved for flight into known icing. e) Approved for operations to minus 54° Celsius (C). f) Approved for takeoffs and landings at 12,500 pressure altitudes (PA). g) Maintain 2.4% second segment gross climb gradient at maximum gross takeoff weight, 5,000 feet PA and 5°C in the clean configuration (no skis, standard doors and windows installed and no external sensors). h) Minimum of 200 knots true airspeed at 10,000 feet PA and minus 5°C in the clean configuration. i) Range of 1,900 nautical miles with 45-minute fuel reserve at optimum altitude and airspeed/power for maximum range at maximum takeoff weight (MTOW), fuel 7 pounds/gallon in the clean configuration. j) Minimum payload of 10,000 pounds, equipped in accordance with this contract, to include skis, required flight crew, with 5-6 hours of fuel (7 pounds per gallon). k) Seating for minimum of 20 passengers in a standard approved seating configuration. l) Capable of taking off from and landing on unprepared snow areas. m) Ability to deliver bulk fuel to remote locations. n) Must be capable of being self-supporting. To ensure ownership and the ability to operate each aircraft proposed, offerors will be required to submit the following certificates/operations specifications at the time of proposal. 1. Air Carrier Certificate 2. Operations Specifications Sections a) A003 Aircraft Authorization b) B034 IFR Class I Terminal and En route c) B036 Remote Navigation using M-LRNS d) B040 Operations in areas of magnetic unreliability e) B050 Authorized Areas f) D085 Aircraft Listing This and other supporting documentation will be mandatory at the time of proposal. Foreign equivalency will be considered. THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AT THIS TIME. This request for capability information does not constitute a request for proposals; submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary; the government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred. If your organization has the potential capacity to perform these contract services, please provide the following information: 1) Organization name 2) Address 3) Email address 4) CAGE and DUNS number 5) Web site address 6) Telephone number 7) Size and type of ownership for the organization 8) Tailored capability statements addressing the particulars of this effort, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability. If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capability, organizations should address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements. The government will evaluate market information to ascertain potential market capacity to 1) provide services consistent in scope and scale with those described in this notice and otherwise anticipated; 2) secure and apply the full range of corporate financial, human capital, and technical resources required to successfully perform similar requirements; 3) implement a successful project management plan that includes: compliance with tight program schedules; cost containment; meeting and tracking performance; hiring and retention of key personnel and risk mitigation; and 4) provide services under a performance based service acquisition contract. BASED ON THE RESPONSES TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE/MARKET RESEARCH, DEPEND ON HOW THIS REQUIREMENT WILL BE PROCURED. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions. Submission Instructions: Interested parties who consider themselves qualified to perform the above-listed services are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice No Later Than 10 Jan 2022 1400 MT. All responses under this Sources Sought Notice must be emailed to Paula Teague at paula_teague@ibc.doi.gov.