SOLICITATION NOTICE
J -- Notice of Intent to Negotiate on a Sole Source Basis with Pemco World Air Services for the Conversion of Used Boeing 737-400s from Passenger Configuation to Combi Configuration Using STC ST033387AT
- Notice Date
- 7/23/2010
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- Contracting Office
- NBC, ACQUISITION SERVICES DIVISION, BOISE BRANCH 300 E. MALLARD DR., STE 200 BOISE ID 83706
- ZIP Code
- 83706
- Solicitation Number
- D10PS30145
- Response Due
- 8/12/2010
- Archive Date
- 7/23/2011
- Point of Contact
- MICHAEL MCFARLANE CONTRACTING OFFICER 2084335027 michael_mcfarlane@nbc.gov;
- E-Mail Address
-
Point of Contact above, or if none listed, contact the IDEAS EC HELP DESK for assistance
(EC_helpdesk@NBC.GOV)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The U.S. Department of the Interior is in the process of procuring three used Boeing 737-400 aircraft in support of National Nuclear Security Administration mission requirements. As a part of this requirement, the NNSA requires the aircraft be configured in a "combi" configuration capable of hauling both passengers and cargo during the same flights. This announcement serves as notification of the U.S. Department of the Interior's intent to negotiate a sole source contract with Pemco World Air Services, Inc from Tampa, FL (previously Dothan, AL) for the modification to used Boeing 737-400 aircraft using STC ST03387AT with a rear airstair into the combi configuration in support of NNSA mission requirements. The first aircraft is anticipated to be delivered to the company so that the modification can begin by January 2011. The justification to negotiate on a sole source basis Pemco World Air Services is attached below.All reasonable sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation by the closing date of this announcement which shall be considered by the Agency. There will be no solicitation issued with this announcement, and interested parties shall contact the contracting Officer at 208-433-5027 or Michael_mcfarlane@nbc.gov for additional information on these requirements. The following Justification follows the content requirements of FAR Part 6.Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition (JOFOC) - Modification of up to Three Boeing 737-400 Aircraft to a Combi Configuration 1.The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), National Business Center (NBC), Acquisition Services Directorate (AQD), Boise Branch, plans to contract by means of other than full and open competition, for the modification of up to three (3) used Boeing 737-400 aircraft from a passenger configuration to a combi configuration with rear airstair, in support of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Secure Transportation (OST), Program Office for Aviation Operations (POAO). This document sets forth the justification and approval for the use of other than full and open competition for the Sole Source Procurement of the services as identified within.2.In support of the NNSA, AQD intends to procure services from Pemco World Air Services, a U.S. company headquartered in Tampa, Florida, to modify up to three (3) 737-400 aircraft from a passenger configuration to a combi configuration using Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) ST03387AT with rear airstair. This justification is to support the negotiation of a Sole Source contract for modification of these aircraft from a passenger configuration to a combi configuration using the above Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) STC. An STC is a supplemental type certificate issued when an applicant has received FAA approval to modify an aircraft from its original type design. The STC, which incorporates by reference the related Type Certificate (TC), approves not only the modification but also how that modification affects the original design. Modifications to aircraft must be approved by the FAA with an STC, an FAA Field Approval issued by Form 337, or both, in order to possess an FAA Certificate of Airworthiness. 3.The NNSA has a statutory requirement to transport armed Federal agents to and from convoy locations, and nuclear emergency responders to and from accident and incident sites throughout the United States and potentially overseas. Federal and contract employees aboard these flights carry automatic weapons and grenade launchers, as well as significant amounts of mission-required pyrotechnics, explosives, ammunition, hazardous materials (hazmat) and specialized cargo. Carriage of passengers, hazmat, explosives, and pyrotechnics in the same aircraft is strictly prohibited in civil aircraft. The Government conducts these missions as public use aircraft and mitigates passenger risk to the maximum extent possible; however, even after implementing the most-rigorous risk mitigation procedures, NNSA cannot protect its employees and contractors from cargo fires or from fumes emitting from hazardous materials in an aircraft where the passengers and cargo share the same cabin space without bulkhead separation. In order to fulfill the NNSA mission requirements above, the aircraft must be capable of carrying both passengers and cargo in the main cabin at the same time, in such as the combi configuration. The combi is a modification that converts a regular passenger aircraft main cabin into two separate compartments; cargo and passenger. The compartments are separated by a barrier wall (bulkhead) which isolates the passenger section of the main cabin from any possible fire and/or toxic chemicals carried in the cargo compartment area. The combi cargo compartment is sealed from the passenger compartment and incorporates very effective halon fire extinguishers. Note: Halon displaces air and is not allowed in closed compartments like airplanes where people are present. The cargo compartment is designed to vent to the exterior of the aircraft allowing halon discharge, noxious fumes, toxic chemicals, and carcinogens to flow overboard, thus protecting passengers. The Boeing 737-400 airframe combi is compliant with all 14 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) and 49 CFR requirements. This is critical to the safety of aviation and NNSA personnel as they conduct their challenging Governmental mission. Pemco World Air Services has the only FAA STC to convert the Boeing 737-400 from a passenger configuration to a combi configuration and there are no other known Boeing 737-400 combi conversions in the world. The estimated price of the combi modification and aft airstair installation is $(redacted) per aircraft, for a total estimated contract value of $(redacted) for up to three aircraft. 4.The authority used to justify this procurement of other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C. 253(c). No supplier other than Pemco World Air Services has an FAA-approved combi modification to the Boeing 737-400 airframe. 5.AMD and NNSA have reviewed the list of FAA STC's, and the only approved STC to convert a Boeing 737-400 aircraft from a passenger configured aircraft to a combi configured aircraft is the Pemco World Air Services' STC ST03387AT. Therefore, the intent of this justification is to receive approval to negotiate a contract on a Sole Source basis with Pemco World Air Services for the modification of up to three (3) Boeing 737-400 aircraft from passenger configured aircraft to a combi configured aircraft with rear airstairs. 6. Market Survey: Market research was conducted by AMD through search of the FAA database for FAA STCs on Boeing 737-400 aircraft. AMD also contacted The Boeing Company and they confirmed that the Pemco World Air Services is the only holder of an FAA-Approved STC for the conversion, and Pemco World Air Services holds the only STC available for the conversion of the Boeing 737-400 aircraft from a passenger configured aircraft to a combi configured aircraft. The Pre-Solicitation Announcement will be posted on the Government Point of Entry (GPE) for a minimum of 15 days consistent with the requirements of FAR Subpart 5.203(a), even though Commercial Items procedures allow for less time. Should World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreements or Free Trade Agreements be applicable, the announcement will be posted for a period of 40 days in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.203 (h). The synopsis will include the required content described in FAR Subpart 5.207 and specifically items (14) that identifies the intended source, with a statement of reason justifying the lack of competition and (15)(ii) that requires a statement that all responsible sources may submit a capabilities proposal or quotation which shall be considered by the agency. 7.The Contracting Officer will employ the practices of price analysis as identified in FAR Subpart 15.404-1(b) to determine that prices are considered to be fair and reasonable. Award will not be made without assurance that the prices are considered to be fair and reasonable. 8.Market research was conducted by searching the FAA website for STC's on the Boeing 737-400 aircraft, contacting various major airframe modification companies, informal discussions with large transport aircraft operators, and finally by confirming with The Boeing Company that Pemco World Air Services is the only STC holder for combi conversions on Boeing 737-400s. A significant amount of material is available and printed for the file; however, information related to this justification consisted of attempting to locate current FAA STCs for the combi modification. In addition, we contacted companies that perform major airframe modifications to large transport aircraft to see if it would feasible to develop a new Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) to modify the Boeing 737-400 airframe to make them capable of carrying both passenger and hazardous cargo at the same time. The response was that not only would it not be cost-effective to develop the STC, it would most likely take years to develop. 9.At this time, Pemco World Air Services holds the only FAA-approved STC for converting the Boeing 737-400 aircraft from a passenger configured aircraft to a combi configured aircraft. To allow someone to attempt to create and approve another combi conversion would be time-consuming, costly, and risky to the NNSA program. 10.The following companies have contacted the AMD in writing and indicated that they are interested in the requirement to modify 737-400s to a combi configuration:a.(redacted)b.Pemco World Air Services 11.The synopsis will be posted on the Federal Business Opportunity website, and should another responsible company respond that has the capability to perform the combi modification and obtain the required FAA approval, we will evaluate the capability and determine whether or not to remove the sole sources status and compete the requirement. 12.I hereby certify that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.
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