B -- FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT ASSOCIATED WITH AVIATION OPERATIONS IN ANTARCTICA

Notice Date

October 5, 2000

Contracting Office

National Science Foundation, Division of Contracts, Policy and Oversight, Contracts Branch, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 475, Arlington, VA 22230

ZIP Code

22230

Solicitation Number

CPO-010001

Point of Contact

Kristin Spencer, 703-292-4585 or Patricia Williams, 703-292-4596

E-Mail Address

Click here to contact the contract specialist (kspencer@nsf.gov)

Description

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is soliciting proposals to conduct a study on airfield rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) services for the United States Antarctic Program (USAP). The USAP operates up to six ski-equipped Lockheed LC-130 military cargo aircraft and C-5, C-17, and C-141m aircraft during the austral summer. In addition, two utility deHavilland Twin Otter aircraft and four helicopters fly intracontinental flights throughout the season. McMurdo Station has hard-surface ice runways and compacted snow ski-ways. Other sites have compacted snow ski-ways only. ARFF services are provided only at McMurdo and South Pole Station airfields and are patterned after civilian guidelines and military specifications. Typical conditions or risks addressed by those guidelines and specifications may not exist in Antarctica to the same degree as in temperate climates. Because of the unusual environmental conditions and logistics challenges in Antarctica, compliance with some aspects of these established guidelines is contra-indicated. To properly apply consensus ARFF standards to antarctic conditions, NSF requires a study to compare and contrast the performance basis of the existing guidelines to actual fire risks present in antarctic aviation operations. The Contractor will review and define basic fire risks addressed by pertinent civilian and military guidelines, and develop a comparable set of fire risks in antarctic aviation operations based on past history within the U.S. program and other national programs in Antarctica and arctic rim countries. The Contractor will visit McMurdo and South Pole stations to verify study assumptions, collect site-specific information, and familiarize the study personnel with local environmental conditions. The Contractor will conduct a performance-based comparison of fire risks present at antarctic airfields with those risks assumed under the various ARFF standards, evaluate the effectiveness of intervention strategies, and quantify the impact of strategies on the risks. NSF anticipates awarding a six-month contract. The solicitation is anticipated to be available on or about October 19, 2000. All potential offerors should download the solicitation from the following web site: http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/cpo/contract/sol.htm. All amendments to the solicitation will also be included at the web site. To receive all other special notices and other communications regarding this solicitation that may not be avilable on the web site and to ensure receipt of the solicitation if it is not available on the web site, organizations should submit requests by e-mail to kspencer@nsf.gov and include where the documents should be sent. Telephone requests will not be honored. The NAICS code is 54133 (size standard $4,000,000 in average annual receipts). See Notes 1 and 25.*****

Web Link

Click here to download a copy of the solicitation (http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/cpo/contract/sol.htm)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001010/BSOL005.HTM (W-279 SN5036G7)