SOLICITATION NOTICE
15 -- UAS Operational and Maintenance Services, CY2009
- Notice Date
- 1/12/2009
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 541330
— Engineering Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, Procurement Directorate - DC, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Room 1310 NP, Washington, District of Columbia, 20229, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20229
- Solicitation Number
- HSBP1008R1590-P00008
- Archive Date
- 1/17/2009
- Point of Contact
- Stephanie F Alexander,, Phone: 202-344-1168
- E-Mail Address
-
stephanie.alexander@dhs.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), intends to issue a modification against Contract HSBP1008C01859, for the continuation of operational and maintenance support services for CBP’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Predator B aircrafts. These services consist of procuring air vehicle operators and mission payload operators, systems airframe and equipment repairs/modification, system upgrades or engineering changes, software support services, air vehicle and mission equipment systems integration, training, material and equipment support issues resolution and technical support services, maintaining support of ground station facilities, material and equipment procurement services, and data development and documentation. These services will be procured on a sole source basis to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), 16761 Via Del Campo Court, San Diego, CA 92127. The anticipated contract period will be from date of award through 31 December 2009. GA-ASI is the sole capable prime contractor for the UAS Predator B Program. Because the MQ-9 Predator B is proprietary to GA-ASI, no other company can produce this particular aircraft nor can any other company support, operate, and maintain the CBP program at the anticipated levels that are forecasted for the future. The Predator B cannot be procured from any other source, and the attempt to transition the support services for the Predator B to a company other than GA-ASI would be impractical. No other company has the capacity like GA-ASI nor the knowledge to support the UAS program that CBP has developed. GA-ASI knowledge of the operation and maintenance of the Predator B is unique as well as their knowledge of CBP UAS program. The acquisition of any other system and services irreparably impact the CBP UAS program, cause a decrease in security at the Nations borders and cause costly delays in the CBP UAS deployment schedule. Based on these reasons, and combined with unchanged CBP UAS operational requirements as well as CBP A&Ms own ongoing research of the UAS market, GA-ASI is the one responsible source for the UAS aircraft equipment and support services required by CBP and no other supplies or services will satisfy these requirements. In August 2005, CBP awarded GA-ASI a contract for four (4) Predator B UASs. The award was based on a competitive procurement process during which the GA-ASI Predator B, with its long duration, high altitude, and persistent surveillance capability, as well as expanded payload capabilities and an agile transportability feature, emerged as the one system that met all of CBPs operational requirements. Due to the lack of a government infrastructure to support a UAS system, GA-ASI installed, integrated, operated, and continues to operate and maintain the Predator B for CBP. The Predator B provides the following Level I requirements: - Remotely piloted vehicle that meets FAA control restrictions - Capable of long range surveillance and intelligence gathering, endurance o Flexible C3ISR o 2200 lb payload capacity o 30 hour flight time o Pilot in the loop - Capable of providing direct support for ground interdiction - Meets stringent FAA requirements for a COA; acceptable level of safety o FAA review of requirements for a COA; acceptable level of safety o Only UAS to receive FAA approval of Air Worthiness Statement (November 2006) o Extensive Ground and Flight Testing - Only UAS proven in the NAS - Payload capacity makes it capable of supporting growth in sensor technology - U.S. military applications of the Predator B enable CBP to leverage inter-agency technology, training, logistics and maintenance support - GA-ASI integrated, and currently operates and maintains the Predator B for CBP GA-ASI UAS aircraft and equipment have had to meet CBP UAS performance measures (e.g., system availability rates) and its support services have had to meet service contract requirements. GA-ASI continues to meet or exceed CBP requirements in performance and reliability. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants CBP A&M a Certificate of Authorization (COA) for Predator B operations to fly in the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS), in part because of its safety record operating within the NAS. In fact, the Predator B has more hours within the NAS than any other airframe. GA-ASI successfully and satisfactorily supports CBP UAS operations. A service provider other than GA-ASI would lack commonality with the currently deployed CBP UAS and cause a lengthy operation downtime during testing, selection, and transition phases, as well as a reinvestment for integration and training. The unavoidable grounding of Predator B operations during transition would mean a significant interruption in support to CBP agents in the southwest border region, a decrease in CBPs ability to support its in homeland security, and a costly in CBPs northern border expansion efforts, Since taking delivery of CBP 104 in September 2006, the GA-ASI Predator B has been a force multiplier for CBP. During 2006 and 2007, Predator Bs flew approximately 2,000 hours in support of CBP southwest border security missions. This flexible and responsive system will also allow CBP to coordinate with organizations that share similar missions, including the U.S. Coast Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Department of Defense (DoD). CBP A&M works with the DoD to gain efficiencies in acquisition, testing, training and deployment of the Predator B. GA-ASI Predator Bs provide unique and specialized intelligence gathering, surveillance and tactical support to CBP agents on the ground in the southwest border region and will add much needed support to northern border operations. CBP UAS operations must continue uninterrupted; this is only possible with the UAS aircraft equipment and ongoing support services of GA-ASI.Companies interested in subcontracting opportunities should contact GA-ASI directly. See Numbered Note 22.
- Web Link
-
FedBizOpps Complete View
(https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=6cd861e64f125759567e159348c18ee0&tab=core&_cview=1)
- Place of Performance
- Address: 16761 Via Del Campo Court, San Diego, California, 92127, United States
- Zip Code: 92127
- Zip Code: 92127
- Record
- SN01730713-W 20090114/090112215116-6cd861e64f125759567e159348c18ee0 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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