17 -- Helicopter Services

Description of Supplies/Services:Helicopter flights over test sites at the Maricopa Agricultural Center (MAC), Arizona are required between January and June 2008. Up to ten separate flight sorties will be required. Flight levels are to be flown between 500 and 3000 feet above the ground. All flights are to be coordinated with ground-level activities at MAC and may require on-site landings on non-public, paved farm roads. Contingent upon safety requirements, helicopter flights will follow paths designed by on-site USDA scientist. When requested, helicopter flights are to be flown at slowest safe speeds. Flights are to be scheduled during daytime, mainly between sunrise and 13:00. Flights are needed during clear, or mostly clear sky days. Helicopter must be able to carry one passenger who will operate USDA-supplied image equipment. The image equipment package may weigh as much as 50 pounds and must be mounted to provide a clear nadir view for all of its instruments. A mounting bracket, supplied by USDA, must be used and is a steel tube frame approximately 16 in x 16 in with an additional diagonal brace approximately 36 inches long. We need to be able to install our own custom camera systems on the helicopter. One company has agreed to these conditions, Heli-Tours based out of Deer Valley airport north of Phoenix, AZ (Brian Mitchell, 602-692-9898). In FY2003 Heli-Tours built a custom mount and acquired FAA approval; a difficult and required step before flying with our custom mount. Heli-Tours is uniquely qualified for this contract because they are the only business with the necessary FAA approval to fly the USDA image acquisition package. This approval process is specific to the aircraft type. The USDA image package is a unique collection of state-of-the-art research equipment that Heli-Tours has successfully adapted to its helicopter frame. The order requires equipment mounting that is not readily adapted to standard airborne photogrammetric installations. This solicitation has an urgency and timeliness component. Airborne image data are required over a growing crop between January and May 2008 and are also required during dominantly clear sky conditions. Heli-Tours has agreed to meet these requirements. We need to schedule our first flight by the end of January 2008. This is a multi-year project. This is a sole-source requirement to the extent that other companies have declined to provide these services. We are interested in establishing new relationships with companies that are willing to mount our equipment and obtain FFA approval. A solicitation is not available for this requirement, but interested firms may submit proposals to the attention of Regan Alexander as listed below. If no written affirmative responses are received, then this contract will be awarded to Heli-Tours without further notice. This acquisition is being conducted under the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act, Simplified Acquisition Procedures. The anticipated award date is January 28, 2008. Please provide Regan notice if you need additional time to prepare a proposal.