Notice of Intent to Sole-Source: Multi-Platform Aircrew Support

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE-SOURCE

Notice ID N68520-26-SIMACQ-JC00000-0313, a request for information and capability statements, is being conducted under the authority of RFO FAR 6.302-1 ("Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements") as the requirement is estimated at $4,303,544.60. The Government intends to award a sole-source Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) to Gauss Management Research and Engineering, Inc. (GMRE) (CAGE 98CA8), as no other source has the necessary qualified aircrews and established operational footprint to satisfy the multi-platform flight and maintenance ground support requirements within the required schedule constraints.

Justification for Sole Source:

• Highly Specialized Flight Skills & Scarcity of Qualified HH-60W Aircrew: The USAF HH-60W combat rescue helicopter is a newly integrated platform (introduced to the fleet in 2020). Consequently, the pool of aircrews qualified to perform high-risk Functional Check Flights (FCF), Acceptance Test Flights (ATF), and Ferry Flights is exceptionally limited. Standard sortie pilots are not certified to perform these technical maintenance test flights, creating a severe operational bottleneck.


• Operational Strain and Fleet Readiness Mitigation: Due to the severe shortage of qualified HH-60W military personnel, the Department of the Navy/Air Force cannot support these depot-level flight testing requirements without pulling active-duty aircrews from critical overseas operational missions. GMRE successfully mitigated this operational strain by recruiting retired HH-60G pilots, transitioning them through HH-60W FCF certification, and maintaining a dedicated, qualified civilian aircrew team.


• Vendor's Unique Position & Contract Footprint: GMRE is the current contractor performing FCF operations for all active stateside Air Force units. They possess a singular, pre-established, and fully certified civilian pool of qualified HH-60W FCF aircrews. No other commercial vendor possesses a deployable, current aircrew pool ready to perform these services without significant training delays.


• Operational & Administrative Non-Feasibility of Splitting Requirements: While other vendors in the marketplace maintain the capability to perform C-130 ferrying and flight services, market research verified that no other commercial source possesses qualified aircrews to support both the HH-60W and the C-130 platforms. Consolidating these requirements under a single prime contractor is operationally necessary. Splitting the requirement across multiple vendors would introduce unacceptable administrative oversight strain, coordinate base/flightline access risks, and cause severe, cost-prohibitive maintenance delays at Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE).

Description of the Requirement:

The Department of the Navy, Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE), Kinston, NC (Global TransPark) and MCAS Cherry Point, NC, intends to award a sole-source Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for professional flight services and Maintenance Ground Support (MGS) for United States Air Force (USAF) HH-60W aircraft and United States Navy (USN) C-130T, KC-130T, and KC-130T-30 aircraft undergoing depot-level maintenance. This procurement falls under Product Service Code (PSC) V121 (Transportation/Travel/Relocation) and NAICS Code 488190 (Other Support Activities for Air Transportation).

The Master BPA timeframe is established for one year, beginning 1 September 2026 and ending 31 August 2027 (Base Year), with subsequent option years. The individual call limit under this agreement is set at $349,999.00.

Scope of Work:

The contractor shall provide all flight services and maintenance ground support required to safely and rapidly transit, test, and deliver depot-level aircraft. The contract includes the following core areas:

• Ferry Flights (FF): Safe, compliant, and rapid transit of aircraft to and from operational wings.


• Functional Check Flights (FCF) & Acceptance Test Flights (ATF): Rigorous in-flight operational test profiles to verify aircraft airworthiness, system functionality, and depot maintenance completion.


• Maintenance Ground Support (MGS): Highly coordinated ground operations including aircraft acceptance, launch, recovery, cockpit checks, engine runs, and taxi operations. All ground support must integrate directly under FRC East Maintenance Control and be overseen by a Ground Government Flight Representative (GGFR).


• Aircrew Qualifications and Staffing Standards:
  
  
  
  • HH-60W Aircrews: Must consist of a Pilot in Command (PIC), Copilot, and Special Mission Aviator (SMA) in strict accordance with AFMAN 11-2HH-60.
  
  
  • C-130 Aircrews: Must consist of a PIC, Copilot, Flight Engineer, and Loadmaster/FCF Scanner. The Flight Engineer and Loadmaster must hold a minimum of 1,000 flight hours (300 in category) and be fully qualified in accordance with USN C-130T NATOPS requirements.
  
  
  • GFR/GGFR Flight Approvals: 100% of deployed contractor aircrews must obtain signed DD Form 2628 approvals from the cognizant Government Flight Representative (GFR) prior to flight duties.
  
  
  
  


• Operational Risk Management (ORM) & Safety: Adherence to DCMA INST 8210.1D, FRCEASTINST 3710.1AA, and command safety programs. All flights are conducted under Public Aircraft Operations (PAO) status.

INSTRUCTIONS TO INTERESTED SOURCES

This notice of intent is NOT a request for competitive proposals. However, in accordance with RFO FAR Part 5 and FAR 6.302-1, any responsible source that believes it can meet this requirement may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency. To be considered, capability statements must clearly demonstrate:

1. Dual-Platform Qualification: Unconditional, current, and legally binding documentation showing the immediate availability of aircrews fully qualified and current in both the USAF HH-60W (per AFMAN 11-2HH-60) and USN C-130T/KC-130T/KC-130T-30 (per Navy NATOPS) platforms under DCMA INST 8210.1D.


2. Schedule Adherence: Documented capability to deploy certified aircrews to FRC East Global TransPark (Kinston, NC) to begin safe-for-flight support and ferry operations on 1 September 2026 without causing schedule disruptions or delays.


3. Depot Support Integration: Demonstrated experience in performing complex ground maintenance checks, APU/engine runs, and taxi support in a military depot environment under direct GGFR oversight.

All responses must be received in writing no later than 31 August 2026 at 12:00 AM EST and must be submitted via email to the Contracting Points of Contact:

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct competitive procurement.