National Imagery & Mapping Agency, PCS/D-88, 4600 Sangamore Rd., Bethesda, MD 20816-5003

A -- LEASE SERVICES FOR OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE LASER AIRBORNE BATHYMETRY SURVEY (LABS) DUE 120696 POC Point of Contact: Contract Specialist, Linda Grasso, (301) 227-2302, Contracting Officer, Lynn Martin, (301) 227-2235 Request for Information - The National Imagery and Mapping Agency is anticipating the procurement of a Laser Airborne Bathymetry Survey (LABS) System under the Defense Hydrographic Initiative. Upon delivery, the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command/Naval Oceanographic Office will be responsible for the conduct of LABS surveys. The Government is interested in obtaining information on potential leased services for the operation and maintenance of a LABS aircraft platform. The aircraft will be leased on a yearly basis, with options to extend the lease to up to 5 years. The contractor will provide for leased operations of the aircraft, to include flight crew, and maintenance while at its main operating base and when deployed. The main operating base is to be located within the US at a location to be jointly selected by the contractor and the Government. A typical deployment would include: deployment to a remote (worldwide) operating base for a period of one to two months at a time; daily transit and survey operations not to exceed 10 hours per day; average of 100-120 flight hours per month (750-1000 hours or more per year); and transit back to the US, or a remote location, following the deployment for scheduled aircraft maintenance. The aircraft must satisfy the requirements listed below. These requirements may be satisfied through the aircraft s inherent capability, or through modifications (such as additional fuel tanks), as long as the aircraft s gross weight is not exceeded. In addition, the contractor must be willing to modify and certify the aircraft to support installation of the LABS airborne equipment. The airborne equipment is expected to consist of a laser sounder and electronics suite, an operators console, a laser cooling unit, and potentially 1 - 2 additional equipment racks. The preferred installation for the laser sounder is internal to the aircraft, requiring an ~ 2 sq-ft window in the aircraft s lower fuselage. External pod mounting may be considered if it is shown to be more economical, satisfies the laser environmental considerations and provides the needed electrical and coolant plumbing. It is expected that aircraft modifications will begin in June of 1998, equipment installation and testing will begin in December of 1998, and operations will begin in June of 1999. LABS Aircraft Requirements: optimum survey speed - 150 knots (120-150 kts goal); e survey altitude range - 200-500 meters; endurance (at survey altitude and speed) - 8 hours (10 hrs goal); survey transit speed - 200+ knots (300+ kts goal); transit range (deployment) - 2000 nm minimum (2500 nm goal); autopilot - must support coupling to the LABS System via digital or analog input for survey line (track) keeping control. Altitude hold on a/c autopilot expected to be adequate for LABS mission; survey payload - LABS Sensor~750 lbs, Electronics Racks~750 lbs, Survey Operators - 2 @ ~200 lbs ea. = 400 lbs (plus 1 Observer @ ~200 lbs goal), total ~1900 lbs (~2100 lbs goal); Electrical Power - up to 15 KW of 28vdc or 400 Hz ac; air conditioning/cooling ( 80 degrees F cabin air for electronics, laser transceiver likely to be water cooled with heat exchanger to ambient air inside or outside cabin. Aircraft Cabin Space - sufficient room for flight crew and operators to move around for exercise and to support rest and galley areas; aircraft fuel - jet fuel. Deployment payload - goal: all personnel and equipment to be carried in survey aircraft including: tide gauges - 6 Gauges @ 300 lbs ea. = 1800 lbs, portable acoustic survey system ~ 1600 lbs, DGPS Station ~ 200 lbs, Ground Electronics ~ 600 lbs, spares ~1500 lbs, equipment vans (2 Vans @ ~ 5000 lbs ea.) = 10,000 lbs (Vans would hold above equipment), Total = 5800 lbs equipment, or 10,000 lbs vans; total survey crew 6 - 7 personnel (plus air crew). The responders are requested to provide the following information within 15 calendar days of this announcement: a brief description of the proposed aircraft, to include the number of aircraft needed to support the LABS mission and the aircraft availability on a yearly basis; a brief description of any aircraft modifications needed to satisfy the above listed requirements; a rough order of magnitude (ROM) estimate of the hourly and/or monthly operating costs, to include aircraft operating cost, lease cost, and flight/maintenance crew salary and per diem cost (if not included in the operating cost); and a rough order of magnitude (ROM) estimate of the aircraft modification costs to satisfy the listed requirements (if needed) and for installation of the LABS airborne equipment. Two copies of the response should be provided as hard copy (via mail or fax) and directed to: Ms. Lynn Martin, NIMA/PCS, Mail Stop D-88, 4600 Sangamore Rd., Bethesda, Md. 20816-5003, (301) 227-2158. (0309)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0006 19961105\A-0006.SOL)