Sources Sought/RFI - Intoplane/Reserve Storage for Cairns International Airport, Australia

The Defense Logistics Agency Energy (DLA Energy), Fort Belvoir, VA 22060, issues this Notice of Intent (NOI) to inform industry of the Government’s intent to award a future Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract with Economic Price Adjustment (EPA) provisions in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 15. The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 324110, and the Product Service Code (PSC) is 9130.

This notice also serves as a Request for Information (RFI) to identify vendors capable of providing into-plane fueling services and reserve fuel storage in support of an upcoming requirement at Cairns International Airport (YBCS). The Government is conducting market research to assess industry capability, validate acquisition assumptions, and inform the development of a competitive solicitation.

Vendors responding to this RFI should be aware that any firm submitting an offer under a future solicitation may be subject to a pre‑award survey. This survey will be used to verify technical capability, operational readiness, financial responsibility, and compliance with applicable regulatory, safety, and airport authority requirements. Only vendors determined responsible and technically capable will be considered for award.

This announcement is issued solely for information-gathering and planning purposes. It does not constitute a solicitation, request for proposal, or Government commitment. Responses are voluntary and will not obligate the Government.

Although future evaluations will determine technical acceptability on a pass/fail basis, the Government is also seeking information on capabilities that exceed minimum requirements and may provide operational advantages. Vendors are encouraged to highlight any value‑added capabilities, including but not limited to:

• Existing reserve storage infrastructure available without new construction or extended lead times.
• Reserve storage capacity exceeding minimum thresholds, including the ability to rapidly scale fuel availability during surge operations or increased operational tempo.
• Enhanced into‑plane fueling throughput, equipment availability, or capabilities that reduce turnaround time, etc.

Required Capabilities

DLA Energy requires into‑plane and reserve storage capability for the following:

CLIN        Requirement            Location                                               Country        Fuel Type        Quantity (USG)

0001         Into-Plane                 Cairns International Airport (YBCS)      Australia        Jet A1               1,000,000

0002         Reserve StorageCairns International Airport (YBCS)             Australia        Jet A1               2,000,000

This Notice of Intent is not a solicitation and not a request for competitive proposals. No solicitation document is available at this time, and telephone inquiries will not be accepted. No award will be made based on unsolicited offers or quotations. Any response must provide clear and compelling evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government. Information received will be used solely to determine the availability of qualified vendors capable of competing for this requirement.

Vendors who believe they possess the capability to provide into‑plane fueling support at Cairns International Airport, along with the ability to provide reserve storage, are invited to submit capability statements. All interested parties will need to confirm their role as a fuel service provider at Cairns International Airport, and/or obtain a validated official letter of agreement, commitment, or partnership with the prospective fuel provider(s) when offering on this future requirement.

All inquiries and concerns must be submitted in writing via email to the Contract Specialists—Mr. Earl J. Brake II at Earl.J.Brake@dla.mil, Ms. Tomisha King at Tomisha.King@dla.mil, and Ms. Monica High at Monica.High@dla.mil—and to the Contracting Officers, Mr. Orlando Rodriguez, Sr. at Orlando.Rodriguez@dla.mil and Mr. Alberto Williams at Alberto.Williams@dla.mil. The subject line must reference: “Into-Plane – Reserve Storage Requirement – Cairns International Airport, QLD, Australia.”

A Government decision to compete this procurement will be based on the responses received. Information provided will be used solely for market research to assess the availability of responsible and capable vendors. All interested parties may identify their interest and demonstrate their ability to meet the requirement.

The deadline to submit capability statements is 4:00 PM Eastern Time (EST) on May 7, 2025. Submissions must be emailed to the Contract Specialists and Contracting Officers listed above. Interested parties are fully responsible for ensuring complete transmission and timely receipt of all materials.