SOLICITATION NOTICE
D -- Airborne Television Broadcasting Services To Audiences In Cuba
- Notice Date
- 1/5/2011
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 334220
— Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Broadcasting Board of Governors, Director, Office of Contracts, Office of Contracts (M/CON), 330 C Street, SW, Room 4300, Washington, District of Columbia, 20237, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20237
- Solicitation Number
- 01052011-CON
- Archive Date
- 2/25/2011
- Point of Contact
- Karen S. Harper, Phone: 202-382-7857, Herman P Shaw, Phone: 202-382-7856
- E-Mail Address
-
kharper@bbg.gov, hshaw@bbg.gov
(kharper@bbg.gov, hshaw@bbg.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) is seeking information regarding industry's capability to provide airborne television broadcasting services to audiences in Cuba in the manner described below. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This RFI does not commit the U.S. Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. BBG is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. All who respond are advised that the U.S. government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the Interested Party's expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is released. In the event a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website. It is the responsibility of potential offerors to monitor the FedBizOpps website for additional information pertaining to this RFI. PROGRAM BACKGROUND. Currently, the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) utilizes Phoenix Air Group to provide highly specialized airborne television (TV) services under a firm-fixed price (FFP) contract that expires on May 31, 2011. The Incumbent uses two (2) of its own Grumman Gulfstream I turboprop aircraft for performance of this contract. The Incumbent's aircraft have installed on-board the following U.S. Government Furnished Equipment (GFE): the airborne broadcasting platform called "AeroMarti," television transmission systems made operational for broadcasting both ultra high frequency (UHF) and very high frequency (VHF) television, a 45 kilo-volt-ampere (kva) auxiliary power unit (APU) generator, and a left engine regulated 28volt 400 amp generator which is not standard equipment on a G1 aircraft, but is required to power the on-board UHF and VHF transmission systems. These systems are necessary to broadcast off-air TV signals to an audience in Cuba for up to five (5) days per week broadcast/mission flight schedule. The broadcast altitude is between 18,000 and 21,000 feet using an oval figure 8-pattern approximately 100 miles from beginning-to-end. The aircraft are operated from the U.S. Naval Air Station, Key West (NAS-KW). The required minimum air services staffing during normal scheduled periods include a pilot, co-pilot, and aircraft mechanic. The aircrew must be U.S. citizens and have at a minimum a current U.S. SECRET security clearance and must agree to comply with NAS-KW access provisions. All special equipment must be arranged in a manner that the installation does not disrupt the operational integrity of the aircraft. All work by the Contractor will be performed in compliance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations. This includes all aircraft modifications, routine operations, maintenance and inspections. The aircrew and other personnel must be fully licensed and professionally trained. In addition, the Contractor will be responsible for providing all aircraft spare parts and consumables at the AeroMarti NAS-KW Operation site. There is a possibility that the existing broadcasting schedule of five (5) days per week for two and one-half (2.5) hours per night may be increased which may necessitate the use of both aircraft simultaneously as well as a second fully trained aircrew within a three (3) day advance notice from BBG. The Minimum Performance Standard (MSR) for normal mission periods (5 nights for 2.5 hours per night) will be 96%, exclusive of weather problems or problems with BBG furnished and maintained transmission equipment. Broadcast and related equipment and maintenance of such equipment will be the responsibility of BBG. The Contractor is responsible for all necessary items (i.e., supervision, licenses, permits, parts, material, shipping, etc.) required to perform the above directed television broadcast missions. In addition, the Contractor is responsible for conducting all directed broadcast missions, perform all necessary aircraft maintenance, and submit a variety of monthly reports that will address actual flight hours, cost reimbursable charges, daily fueling reports, receipts, and summaries. REQUESTED INFORMATION. Interested Parties are requested to respond to this RFI with a comprehensive written "Capabilities Statement" describing their approach to this Notice. The "Capabilities Statement" must include, at a minimum, the following: 1. business size (i.e., small, large, etc.), 2. Evidence of specific examples of the Interested Party's successful PAST PERFORMANCE, with a desired minimum of five (5) years experience in providing specialized Air Services support; 3. SAMPLE PROJECT PLAN to include, but not limited to; a recommended operations and maintenance schedule, on-site list of materials, aircraft support equipment, description of activities performed, and a budgetary estimate, 4. REFERENCES: provide the names and title, current address, city, state, country, email and telephone number of the customer point-of-contact, 5. TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE: The Interested Party should clearly describe their ability to provide specialized TV air services support and be prepared to submit appropriate technical documentation describing the ability of all proposed team members for the above, 6. AIRCRAFT: provide evidence of having immediate access to the required Grumman Gulfstream I turboprop aircraft or equivalent, 7. OPERATIONS: State capability to install the Government's existing transmission systems on-board Contractor-owned aircraft in strict compliance with the original electronic design configuration, A. Be able to make all on-board systems operational and insure propagation parameters are met, B. Be able to perform and maintain the necessary air services to operate "AeroMarti" for up to 5 days/week broadcast/mission flight schedule, and C. Be able to install the above referenced broadcast equipment into its aircraft and make it fully operational for broadcasting without any disruption or break in services. Interested Parties may consider using a phased approach to complete the system integration of each of its two aircraft to meet the ongoing daily "AeroMarti" mission. In addition, Interested Parties may submit an Aircraft System Integration Plan with its submission for review by the Government. Additionally, Interested Parties are encouraged to submit improvements over the current commercially-available means of providing the above services. Please note that the scope of any future air services may require modifications to be made to the Interested Parties' aircraft to install additional equipment for operations and maintenance (O&M), as conditions warrant. It is also anticipated that major maintenance or modification work may be performed off-site at the Interested Party's facility/hanger. The Contractor will be responsible for installing at its own expense the Government's existing transmission systems and equipment on its own aircraft and make each aircraft fully operational for AeroMarti broadcasting without any break in services or interruption in the above broadcasting. BBG may provide fuel for aircraft flights that support AeroMarti broadcast operations. BBG will be responsible for ensuring that all installed special equipment complies with all licenses, regulations and policies of governing agencies such as FAA and Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Finally, additional GFE may include, at a minimum, the following: Ground Power Unit, aircraft jacks, air-conditioning carts, gas bottle cart, and a DC Ground Power Cart. A full list of GFE ground support equipment may be made available in a future procurement. GOVERNMENT BRIEFING. BBG will hold a briefing on the particulars of this RFI Notice. The purpose of the briefing will be to provide potential contractors with a better understanding of the "AeroMarti" program requirements and an overview of the applicable technology and GFE that must be installed on the aircraft without there being any interruption in broadcasting. All sources who are interested in responding to this Notice are also encouraged to attend this briefing and submit a written request to Karen Harper, as noted below, before January 14, 2011, to arrange for their attendance at the BBG briefing at the U.S. Naval Air Station, Key West (NAS-KW) Operations Site. The BBG briefing will be held at 2:00p.m., Eastern Standard Time (EST), on February 1, 2011. All questions concerning this RFI notice shall be in writing and received by Karen Harper before the date of the BBG briefing. All written or courier delivered responses to this RFI notice must be received by 2:00 p.m., EST, on February 10, 2011, at the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), Attention: Karen S. Harper, Office of Contracts (CON), Mary E. Switzer Building, 330 "C" St., SW., Room 4007, Washington, DC 20237. Facsimile submittals to (202) 582-7870 and email only to kharper@bbg.gov must be received before the above time and date. Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED. To aid the BBG, please segregate proprietary information. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. NO telephone or oral responses will be accepted. If it is determined to be in the best interest of the Government, interested and qualified sources responding to this Notice may be requested to provide follow-up information. Those who respond to this Notice will be notified whether their written "Capabilities Statement," as verified by BBG, is responsive to this Notice. A determination to compete, or not to compete, a future procurement will be based on the responses to this RFI notice, and is solely within the discretion of the Government. This Notice is not a RFP, IFB, or RFQ.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/BBG/ADM/MCONWASHDC/01052011-CON/listing.html)
- Record
- SN02354334-W 20110107/110105233746-63afb31ecf8bd219bfda09769b8d619c (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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