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Commercial Aviation Services — Airborne Science Support IDIQ (Snow4Flow EVS-4) — Notice of Intent to Sole Source
Contact and place of performance
Joshua Taggart
Anchorage, AK
USA
NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) has a requirement for commercial aviation services in support of the Snow4Flow Earth Venture Suborbital-4 (EVS-4) mission, a NASA airborne mission to improve the ability to interpret ongoing and future changes in Northern Hemisphere glaciers. The requirement is for the provision, modification, and operation of a Basler BT-67 aircraft in a science configuration, including aircraft, crew...
View moreNASA/ARC intends to issue a sole source contract to acquire these services from ALCI Aviation Ltd., doing business as Enterprise Aviation Group, of Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.103-1, Only One Responsible Source. Market research determined that only the Basler BT-67 aircraft type can execute this mission in the remote arctic operating environment with the endurance required, that only two commercial operators offer the Basler BT-67 in a suitable science configuration, and that Enterprise Aviation Group is the only operator with aircraft availability that meets the mission schedule across the three years of Snow4Flow science flights. The Snow4Flow instrument package will be integrated and approved for flight on the Enterprise Aviation Group aircraft prior to the start of the ordering period, and award to another source would require the Government to duplicate integration and check flight costs and repeat airworthiness reviews that cannot be accomplished within the available seasonal flight window.
The Government intends to acquire a commercial service using FAR Part 12.
Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort electronically via email to Joshua Taggart at [email protected] not later than 12:00 PM CDT on July 1, 2026. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct this acquisition on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this acquisition on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.
NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at: https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/Procurement-Ombuds-Comp-Advocate-Listing.pdf
NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) issued this pre-solicitation notice of intent to award a sole-source contract to ALCI Aviation Ltd., doing business as Enterprise Aviation Group, for commercial aviation services. The requirement supports the Snow4Flow Earth Venture Suborbital-4 (EVS-4) mission, an airborne initiative designed to improve the interpretation of changes in Northern Hemisphere glaciers. Under NAICS code 481219, Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation, and PSC V999, Transportation/Travel/Relocation- Other: Other, the contractor will provide, modify, and operate a Basler BT-67 aircraft in a science configuration. Services include aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) support; engineering for the Snow4Flow instrument suite; and compliance with FAA/Transport Canada and NASA airworthiness standards.
The scope of work encompasses check, transit, and science flights for three Arctic campaigns scheduled between 2027 and 2029 across Alaska, Canada, Svalbard, and Greenland, with Anchorage, Alaska, designated as a primary place of performance. NASA anticipates awarding a single firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract with a five-year ordering period and a six-month option to extend services. The initial task order is planned for February 23, 2027, through March 2, 2027, to cover instrument integration and the start of the Alaska campaign. This acquisition is categorized under set-aside NONE; explanation: NONE.
The decision to sole source under 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1) is based on market research indicating that only the Basler BT-67 can meet the mission’s endurance and remote arctic requirements, and Enterprise Aviation Group is the only operator with the necessary aircraft availability during the mission window. Awarding to another source would result in a duplication of costs and delays in airworthiness reviews. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to Joshua Taggart by July 1, 2026, to be evaluated for the purpose of determining whether to conduct the acquisition on a competitive basis. The solicitation number for this notice is 80ARC026R0007.
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