Aircraft Operations Support

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC) is conducting market research to identify potential sources capable of performing the regional Aircraft Operations Support (AOS) requirement.  The requirement will be capable of accommodating AFRC and Ames Research Center (ARC), and is a follow-on to AFRC's current AOS requirement.Information received in response to this sources sought notice will be used for market research only and shall not be viewed as NASA's intent to solicit proposals.  If NASA decides a requirement exists and there is a need to solicit for this requirement, NASA will solicit the requirements using a method of solicitation defined within the FAR and NASA FAR Supplement.ARMSTRONG FLIGHT RESEARCH CENTERThe required services are in support of the NASA Flight Operations Directorate.  Branch support (operated by civil servants) is required in avionics and instrumentation, fabrication, life support, aircraft maintenance,

aircraft records and aircraft back shop support.  Priorities are identified to the Contractor by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR).  The AFRC aircraft are operated to meet both Center and Agency platform, research, and support aircraft requirements.  AFRC aircraft are located at Main Campus (Edwards Air Force Base, California) and Building 703 (B703) located in Palmdale, California.  Deployment aircraft operations support may be conducted at other locations, including Outside the Continental United States (OCONUS).The functional elements to be performed at AFRC include, but are not limited to:1) Maintenance and Modification ServicesAll maintenance shall be performed in accordance with the approved aircraft technical data and the Quality Management System procedures.  Operations shall include servicing, preventive and routine maintenance on AFRC aircraft and their respective systems.  Remove, dissemble, inspect repair, overhaul, adjust, test, assemble and re-install components when required by the aircraft inspection program.  Support NASA directed maintenance on Government transient aircraft.  Comply with all branch specific training requirements.2) Maintenance Operations OfficeMaintain currency of permanent record/historical databases according to processes.  Operate and maintain aircraft in required maintenance software.  Maintain aircraft schedule for scheduled and unscheduled maintenance or related activities to include inspections, calibration, weight & balance, in-flight operational checks.  Process all electronic or manual documentation required for aircraft flight release.  Provide updated aircraft status to include the Estimated Time to Complete (ETIC) of the maintenance in work.  Ensure aircraft are not released for flight until safety or flight discrepancies, inspections or Life-Limited components have been completed and coordinated.3) MaintenanceThe proposed services will require support to all aircraft operations, including aircraft maintenance (Organizational [O], Intermediate [I], as well as Limited Depot [D] level for all platform, research, and support aircraft under this contract. Scheduled/Unscheduled Maintenance - Perform maintenance, modification and repair at the O and I level.Flightline Services - Support flightline services on all AFRC assigned and transient aircraft including aircraft handling, launch, and recovery.Off Site Recovery - Repairs required on aircraft off site shall be performed by the Contractor when required and authorized by NASA.4) Quality Management System (QMS)Perform aircraft inspections of quality procedures, processes, and change requests.  Perform toolbox inventory inspections.  Monitor currency and filing of technical publications at aircraft.  Witness operational tests/checks on equipment in accordance with approved technical data.  Ensure the requirements for Continued Airworthiness are satisfied prior to the aircraft being returned to service. Corrective Action: The Contractor shall establish and maintain a documented procedure for identifying and preventing deficiencies in the QMS.Inspection and Test Status: Record all Contractor inspections and/or Quality Assurance Report (QAR) inspection coverage on the applicable quality records.5) Technical Training: The Technical Training Instructor shall prepare, schedule and conduct classroom instruction for initial and re-certification training of Government employees and other Government contractor employees requiring training.6) Technical Documents Group Maintenance Planner: The Contractor shall assist in the development of the maintenance program for SOFIA.7) Operations Scheduling Officer: Contractor shall provide Operations/Scheduling support.8) Maintenance SupportAircrew Life Support: Inspect, maintain, repair, and modify passenger and aircrew life sustaining equipment, including ground servicing equipment.Avionics and Instrumentation: Layout, fabricate, install, modify, maintain, repair, test, calibrate, and troubleshoot airborne avionics, electrical, video, and associated systems and components.Aircraft Backshop Supporta) Electronics LabInstall, modify, maintain, repair, test, calibrate and troubleshoot avionics hardware, research instrumentation systems, and avionics sensors and components.  Devise layouts and/or fabricate, install, modify, repair, and troubleshoot data acquisition and integrated avionics systems.b) Environmental TestingSet up and operate environmental simulation test systems, including vibration/shock systems and high altitude (thermal vacuum chambers) systems.  Conduct acceptance testing, vibration, shock, and combined environmental testing (temperature cycling/thermal vacuum cycling).  Devise layouts, fabricate, install, modify, and assemble test fixtures.c) Metrology and CalibrationThe Calibration Laboratory manages the calibration database software and provides for the periodic recall of enrolled Measuring and Test Equipment (MTE).  The Laboratory shall perform initial and recurrent processing of MTE, acceptance testing, calibration and status tagging of NASA furnished measurement standards, precision test equipment, instruments, weigh scales, pressure gauges, torque tools, adjustable hand tools and other equipment.  Performs routine maintenance and internal cleaning of various instruments as required repairs equipment when technically and financially feasible.d) Engine ShopSupport aircraft engine, component and sub-assembly O, I, and D level maintenance and non-standard modifications on NASA operated engines.  Operate engines in accordance with applicable maintenance instructions.e) Experimental FabricationHydraulic Shop: Perform fluid/pneumatic system and component inspection, repairs, modifications and integration.Machine Shop:  Interface with engineers, scientist, researchers, investigators, mechanics and other authorized staff to develop proto-type components and provide design inputs necessary for high quality experimental machined parts.  Fabricate, modify and repair machined parts, tooling, fixtures or assemblies from blueprints, sketches, CAD models and engineering drawings using various types of hardened and non-hardened steel, stainless steels, aluminum and other exotic materials.  Use computer aided design (CAD) systems and Numerical Controlled (NC) equipment to complete proto-type one-of-a-kind experimental hardware or assemblies.  Set-up and operate all shop equipment including manual and NC milling machines, lathes, grinders, electric discharge machining (EDM) machines and other shop equipment to fabricate research and development (R&D) or experimental aircraft parts.Sheet Metal Shop:  Interface with engineers, scientists and mechanics to provide design inputs for unique and one-of-a-kind components.  Fabricate, modify and repair sheet metal or composite parts, tooling, fixtures or assemblies from blueprints, sketches and engineering drawings.Welding Shop:  Interface with engineers, scientists and mechanics to provide design inputs.  Assembly welded structures using Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) or Oxyacetylene Welding (OAW) as required from blueprints, sketches and engineering drawings.  Utilize powered and non-powered hand tools to accomplish design objectives.  Perform welding on aircraft, engines, aircraft components, aerospace ground equipment and other equipment or facilities to support NASA aircraft operations and activities.f) ProcurementThe Contractor may be requested to purchase aircraft parts.9) Current AFRC Aircraft listed by # of Aircraft, Aircraft Type, and Mission1 Beechcraft, King Air B-200, FAA Certified1 Beechcraft, King Air B-200, Program Support1 Gulfstream, G-III, FAA Certified1 Gulfstream, G-III, Research1 Gulfstream, C-20/G-III, Science Platform3 McDonnell-Douglas, F-18A/B, Program Support2 Lockheed, ER-2, Science Platform1 Boeing, 747 SP, Science Platform1 McDonnell-Douglas, DC-8-72, Science Platform1 Raytheon, T-34C, Program Support1 General Atomics, MQ-9A, Program Support1 McDonnell-Douglas, F-15B, Research2 McDonnell-Douglas, F-15D, Program Support1 Aermot, AMT 200S/TG-14A, FAA Exp/Research2 Northrop-Grumman, RQ-4A, Science Platform1 X-56, UAS, ResearchAMES RESEARCH CENTER1) Task BackgroundThis outlines the NASA requirements for contract services in support of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) at NASA Ames Research Center. These aircraft are used to develop and test new instruments, to support NASA satellite calibration and algorithm validation, as well as to support process studies of earth system phenomenon. These missions are typically in remote locations requiring significant planning, logistics, and travel.This Task Order only covers SIERRA Ship B (estimated at 95% effort) and Viking-400's (estimated at 5% effort) as program requirements materialize.SIERRA-B (Sensor Integrated Environmental Remote Research Aircraft version -B) is a NASA Category III, 400lb UAV that provides a low altitude platform for delivering payloads up to 100lbs into remote or dangerous locations at low altitudes. The aircraft will have a flight duration of over 10 hours and can fly up to 10k ft. Avionic upgrades for Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) and Air Traffic Operations Laboratory (ATOL) will also be incorporated into the aircraft. Once qualified, the aircraft will be available as an asset for NASA UAS missions.Aircraft may be added, deleted or substituted during the period of performance of this task if required a modification will be authorized by a Contract Task Order. More information on these aircraft can be found at http://airbornescience.nasa.gov.The Contractor shall be responsible for overall aircraft maintenance the NASA Category III aircraft. Maintain NASA Category III UAS in accordance with NPR 7900.3.The Contractor is required to deploy with the CAT III aircraft for all flight missions. The Contractor shall prepare the CAT III aircraft and all support hardware for deployments as required. The contractor shall assemble/disassemble all CAT III aircraft at deployed locations as required and maintain and provide operational support of aircraft.The Contractor shall be responsible for ensuring all Category III UAS be managed according to the NASA Aircraft Management Information System (NAMIS). The Contractor shall be responsible for maintaining current information within the following NAMIS modules: Logistics and Asset Management, Aircraft Maintenance, and Work Card.2) Task DescriptionMaintenance and Operations SupportThe Contractor shall be responsible for scheduled and unscheduled maintenance of the airframes and aircraft subsystems. The Contractor shall work with the Government to provide integration support as required for support ground and flight testing.The Contractor shall be responsible for fabrication of hardware, wiring harnesses and other items needed by the program or individual projects in order to support platform upgrades and in support of instrument integration onto the aircraft.Contractor Responsibilities:The Contractor is required to follow the Center maintenance manual. Including:- A documented aircraft release procedure that ensures all maintenance release authorities are designated in writing. Any individual with maintenance release authority shall have at least 6 months experience in the preceding 24 months in inspecting, servicing, or maintaining an aircraft or system, in accordance with Center maintenance procedures.- A documented METCAL Program that establishes policy, responsibilities, and requirements to ensure that calibrated and tested tools/special equipment performance is compared to reference CALSTDs of known and sufficiently greater accuracy.- A documented foreign object damage (FOD) control program that addresses periodicity and inspection criteria and effectively reduces the risk of FOD both during maintenance and during flight operations.- A documented tool control program (TCP) that ensures tool inventories are accurate at specific intervals, contains a lost tool process, and prohibits aircraft from flying until all tools used on an aircraft have been accounted for.- A documented process to ensure all GSE used on aircraft are safe and operable.- A documented program that ensures aircraft maintenance complies with Center Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)/Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) programs.- A documented program that ensures aircraft maintenance is conducted in compliance with the Center Hazardous Material Program and the Protection of the Environment Act, 40 C.F.R. §§ 260 to 265, which shall include use, disposal, and both long-term and worksite storage of hazardous materials.- A documented Weight and Balance (W&B) Program for each aircraft in compliance with any existing Center program.- A configuration control process (CCP) established to determine applicability and ensure compliance with Product Improvement Publications (PIP), which are defined as airworthiness directives, technical orders, service and safety bulletins, or other pertinent requirements including those from FAA, DoD, or OEMs.- A documented aircraft component inspection program to determine the serviceability, authenticity, traceability, and airworthiness of parts, components, accessories, and assemblies by subjecting them to inspections, tests, or operational checks.Persons signing entries in the aircraft logbook and/or entries on Serviceable Parts Tags shall:- Be authorized in accordance with the NASA requirements and applicable FARs and have satisfactorily completed maintenance training or possess the equivalent current experience on the applicable-type appliance, aircraft, engine, or propeller.- Understand and have knowledge of FARs, and the applicable types of maintenance or overhaul manuals, and follow the applicable procedures set forth therein.- All flight operations personnel shall be constantly on lookout for material that could be ingested into engines, struck by propeller blades, and/or blown by the exhaust of engines or propellers, causing injury to personnel or damage to aircraft.- Maintenance personnel shall be assigned to perform a general inspection of hangar and ramp areas on a weekly basis at a minimum.All applicable Ames Policy Requirements apply to this task. Including JO-4 Aircraft Maintenance Manual and JO-6 Ramp and Hangar Safety Manual.3) Technical SupportThe Contractor shall provide technical support for Airworthiness and Flight Safety Review Board (AFSRB) presentations including flight readiness reviews.The Contractor shall provide updates to support the development of component, system, fabrication and installation drawings.Responsibilities- Support development of the aircraft for flight testing including support for the AFSRB and FRR reviews- Support flight testing- Support payload integration into the aircraft including support for the AFSRB and FRR reviews- Deploy with the aircraft for all flight missions.- The Contractor is required to deploy with the CAT III aircraft for all flight missions.The Contractor shall prepare the CAT III aircraft and all support hardware for deployments as required. The contractor shall assemble/disassemble all CAT III aircraft at deployed locations as required and maintain and provide operational support of aircraft.SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONSPotential sources shall include the following information within their submitted Capability Statement: Company point of contact, including name, e-mail address, mailing address and telephone number; Company size standard/type classification and applicable NAICS code(s); DUNS number and cage code.Please provide detailed documentation of your company's ability to meet or exceed the requirements for AFRC and ARC.  The documentation shall address each of the stated requirements and describe the company's specialized experience in performing each task.  Specialized experience shall include a description of applicable aircraft operations support experience, as well as information related to how the company will successfully execute the requirement.  Any same or similar past performance experience shall also be provided.  For all information provided that is related to Government contracts, please provide the referenced contract number and value.Historically, the requirement for AFRC has an average annual workload estimate of 155 full time Work Year Equivalents (WYEs).  ARC has a historical average annual workload estimate of 2 full time WYEs.  The WYEs estimated shall not be used as a defined number required by the Government to perform this requirement.  It is a number that potential vendors should take into consideration when reviewing the proposed requirements.The NAICS Code is 488190 and the Size Standard is $32.5M. Potential vendors may submit comments regarding potential discrepancies or concerns regarding the information provided.  The comments must be related to discrepancies or concerns relating to common industry's practices related to these services.  The comments shall be submitted in a separate document and cross reference the specific requirement to which it is related.  The Government will not consider comments or recommendations that are submitted based on preferences.The Capability Statement (including any attachments) must not exceed 15 pages in length and the font size shall not be less than 12 points.  The comments document will not be counted against the 15 page limit.Please submit the documentation electronically, via e-mail, to the point of contact (POC) listed below, no later than 12:00 p.m. Pacific, 11 January 2018.  Please reference the Sources Sought Notice No. 80AFRC18R0002 in all responses to this notice.  The Government will not be accepting or responding to any questions at this time.  If additional information is needed, the Government will reach out to industry for that information.DISCLAIMERThis synopsis is for information and planning purposes only.  NASA is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals.  It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for information submitted in response to this synopsis.  Respondents will not be notified of the results of the market research.  All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable.