NOAA Gulf Survey Aircraft

The Department of the Interior, National Business Center, Acquisition Services Directorate, Boise, Idaho plans to issue a commercial item solicitation, evaluate offers and award a contract for a contractor operated and maintained, exclusive use, high-wing, multi-engine turbine airplane on behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 13.5, Test Program for Certain Commerial Items. The contractor's airplane will be used to transport personnel and/or cargo in support of natural resource management activities, aerial survey, administrative and related activities as directed by the Government. Visual line transect surveys will be conducted in the Gulf of Mexico over the continental shelf and inner continental slope waters, up to 90 nautical miles offshore, in support of marine wildlife surveys. The area will range between Brownsville, Texas, and the Florida Keys. The surveys are flown offshore along the coastline in proximity to headlands with significant turbulence. This survey typically is flown at 100 knots indicated airspeed and 600 feet above the surface with transient altitudes less than 500 feet above the ocean. The contract period is 62 days. The NAICS Code is 481211, Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation. The small business size standard is 1,500 employees. This action is 100% set aside for small business. The contractor shall provide a high-wing, multi-engine turbine aircraft and two member flight crew(s) as required by the solicitation. An electronic copy of the solicitation will be available for download at www.fedbizopps.gov on or before May 27, 2011. Offers will be due on June 10, 2011. The apparent successful offeror must be registered in CCR (www.ccr.gov) to be awarded the contract.