USDA, Forest Service, Region 1, Procurement and Property, P.O. Box 7669, Missoula, MT 59807

D -- AUTOMATED FLIGHT FOLLOWING SYSTEMS SOL RFI R1-00-04 DUE 022600 POC For additional information contact Bob Roth at 406-329-1040 E-MAIL: click here to contact via e-mail, broth/r1_lolo@fs.fed.us. The intent of this RFI is to identify Automated Flight Following Systems that are currently available and operational with off the shelf components for Aviation Resources in Natural Resource Management and Protection to include, but not limited to, Fire and Forest Health related aviation activities. Coverage area shall be the lower 48 states and Alaska. It is very important to look at available off the shelf systems which will meet the needs of the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and other interested federal and State agencies. Off the shelf systems that meet our needs should meet the following minimum criteria: Positive automated flight following with real time information throughout continguous United States including deep canyons and throughout Alaska, including North of the Brooks Range and Southeast Alaska; Affordable hardware to accomodate eventual installation in the entire natural resource fleet including exclusive use and CWN contract aircraft; Compatable with both fixed wing and rotor wing installations; Interface successfully, and with a minimum of additional hardware, with current computer systems in the various agencies; Have proven high reliability with a minimum of maintenance required; and Be FAA approved for installation in civil aircraft. Reporting requirements are for positive position reporting from aircraft at least every 15 minutes. There are two specifications which will be important: the sampling interval at which positions are taken and transmitted; the maximum delay in getting those reports displayed at the dispatch desk. Slower moving vehicles present less demanding needs. Sampling interval, Upper limit is 5 minutes to allow for variable delays, and possible missing points. We expect to need at least three (3) position reports each 15 minutes. Lower limit is one (1) minute. The lower limit is determined by how far we want to limit the search areas for missing aircraft. We use aircraft with cruise speed int the 100-200 nm/hr range. One (1) minute represents 3-5 nm travel. There could be other mission related parameters in the future that would indicate even lower sampling intervals. Expected range is 2-5 minutes for flight following only. Maximum delay, the upper limit is 5 minutes. This barely allows for a maximum sampling interval of 5 minutes, one missing point in a row and guaranteed positive contact at least every 15 minutes. Lower limit is zero (0) minutes, the sooner we are aware of a possibly missing vehicle, the sooner search and rescue operations can be initiated. Sometimes personnel survival time is measured in minutes. Expected range is 2-5 minutes. Information may be submitted electronically to broth/r1_lolo@fs.fed.us or by mail to Attn: Bob Roth, Lolo National Forest, Bldg 24, Fort Missoula, Missoula, MT 59804. See web site http://www.fs.fed.us.fire/aviation/aff. Posted 01/25/00 (W-SN418913). (0025)

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