Fixed Wing Aerial Dispersant Capability

Overview The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is seeking a contractor to provide a Fixed Wing Aerial Dispersant Capability (FWADC) operating principally along the Australian coastline. The contract is intended to ensure the ongoing availability of a FWADC able to respond to marine pollution incidents within Australian waters. Scope The scope includes: Provision of aircraft available for activation, subject to daylight visual flight rules (VFR), seven days a week, with the contractor able to commence preparations for a response 24/7 Provision of aircraft suitably equipped to undertake aerial dispersant application activities Provision of four aircraft, each with a home base in one of the nominated zones (Western, Northern, Southern, Eastern), able to fly within a specified response time of four hours at nominated locations Provision of adequately trained personnel to support dispersant activities, including Air Attack Supervisor, loading crew and liaison officer Delivery of services within an indicative area of operation of up to 200 nautical miles from the Australian coastline closest to the nominated airfield, with AMSA able to direct any aircraft to any location within Australia For the aircraft located in the Northern zone, capability to deliver and apply a dispersant payload under ISA plus 15C conditions of a minimum of 1350 litres to an incident up to 15 nautical miles east of the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef, utilising a refuelling or loading point up to 50 nautical miles from the point of the coast closest to the incident Availability of nominated aircraft to AMSA twenty-four hours a day, seven days per week, subject to day VFR only, and maintenance of the "available" status of nominated aircraft and flight crew Provision of a weekly list of nominated suitable aircraft, their availability and location Notification to AMSA's Rescue Coordination Centre within one hour of any change to the availability of nominated aircraft Maintenance and reporting of an aircraft register including aircraft type, registration, ownership, nominated home base and nominated pilot, to be supplied to AMSA on request Operation across three contract phases: Standby (maintaining four-hour response time capability), Activation (committing aircraft and flight crew to AMSA within the four-hour response time following activation), and Operating (the period of approved flying time and dispersant loading operations) During activation, advising AMSA of commencement times for nominated aircraft, other nominated aircraft, and loading crews, liaison officers, Air Attack Supervisor and platform, within specified timeframes of 60, 90 and 120 minutes respectively, along with any operational limitations Making all necessary arrangements for aircraft operating away from their nominated home base, including refuelling, aerodrome clearances, parking, maintenance, accommodation, meals and transport for crew Maintenance of accurate flying time records calculated to the nearest 1/100th of an hour, consistent with CASA regulations Contractor Requirements Contract Material The following Contract Material must be produced and delivered by the contractor: Contract Management Plan Risk Management Plan Quality, Environment and Safety Management Plan Human Resource Management Plan and Training Plan Disengagement Plan Weekly and monthly reports Joint Standard Operating Procedures (JSOPs) These plans and JSOPs must be finalised and agreed by both parties within three months of contract commencement, and reviewed and updated at least annually. Aircraft Specifications Aircraft must remain within two hours flying time of their nominated home base Aircraft must be fixed wing and capable of low flight over water, down to a height authorised by Aviation Laws, with application of dispersants potentially requiring flight at less than 50 feet (approximately 16 metres) above water Aircraft must be powered by a turbine engine Aircraft must be capable of applying dispersant at variable rates up to 100 litres per hectare, with droplet size adjustable between 350 and 1000 microns Aircraft spray systems, including nozzles, hoses and external connections, must be maintained in good condition, free of leaks, securely fitted and lock wired where appropriate, with spray nozzles fitted with effective diaphragm shut-off valves Aircraft must be equipped with a 50mm camlock loading point for the dispersant spray or storage tank, including a shut-off valve or suitable adaptor, and spray systems fitted with visible pressure gauges and electronic flow meters, with calibration to be demonstrated to AMSA on request Tank and spray systems must be clean and able to hold dispersant prior to departing for the nominated aerodrome following activation, within the nominated activation period Aircraft must meet all Aviation Laws for low flight over water at 200 nautical miles from land, and tenderers must provide details of the requirements they need to meet to enable this Aircraft must be clean and well presented, as far as practicable when in use under the contract Aircraft should have a minimum endurance of 240 minutes and be able to operate up to 200 nautical miles off the Australian coastline Tenderers are required to provide an initial aircraft register of all aircraft that may be used throughout the contract, ensuring the aircraft meet all contract requirements, for approval by AMSA. Contract Terms and Conditions Commencement Date: 01 February 2027 Expiration Date: 31 January 2029 AMSA may, upon written notice to the contractor, extend the term of the contract for a further two periods of one year each, on the same terms and conditions Enquiries Contact: Chris Evans Phone: +61262795027 Email: contracts-enquiries@amsa.gov.au