7th Special Forces Group jump training

The U.S. Army's 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) is looking for a company that can provide dedicated contracted service for passenger air transportation within 200 nautical miles of Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., to conduct jump training (Paradrop) during daylight and night hours.

“This service is an augmentation to Air Support Operations conducted by U.S. government-owned, [military] government operated aviation assets,” the Army said in contract documents released Tuesday through the Federal Business Opportunities website. Aircraft support will involve contractor aircraft only.

Basic services

The contractor will provide all fixed-wing aircraft with side door or rear ramp capability, personnel, equipment, tools, material, maintenance, and supervision necessary to perform airdrop operations based on Short Take-Off and Landing locations in the Eglin AFB area. Aircraft will operate primarily out of airfields with improved surfaces, but shall be capable of conducting air operations out of unimproved surfaces. Specific locations will be provided at the time of mission scheduling.

The contractor must be capable of transporting foreign national personnel for training purposes.

Mission/flight scheduling.

The government will make every attempt to provide the contractor mission schedules with 72 hours advance notice of missions/flights to be performed under the contract. The government reserves the right to make notice of unscheduled mission/flight iteration with less notice (no less than 48 hours). All missions will originate and end at Duke Airfield, Aux Field 6, or other suitable airfields.

The government anticipates contracting for an estimated 250 flight hours each year. Mission time starts when military personnel / cargo are picked up from the designated airfield (Duke Field) and ends when the last military member / item of cargo exits the aircraft.

Aircraft requirements

The contractor must provide unpressurized aircraft that are turbo prop, fixed wing, and have a side door or rear ramp for paradrop operations, both static line (SL) and Military Free Fall. Aircraft must have a minimum of 16 seats installed (approved side fold-up seats), rigged for SL paradrop operations, with an allowable cabin load capable for transporting 14 combat equipped jumpers per mission. Preferred aircraft are those already approved by U.S. Army Special Operations Command for SL Operations (C-7, C-23, C-46, C-47, DC-3, or CASA-212).

Aircraft must be able to operate from an unimproved 3,000 foot runway at sea level.

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