LIHU‘E — Soon the Kaua‘i Fire Department will have an important tool to expedite search and rescue operations. A much-anticipated rescue helicopter should be in operation by the end of January if all goes as planned, KFD Chief Robert Westerman
LIHU‘E — Soon the Kaua‘i Fire Department will have an important tool to expedite search and rescue operations. A much-anticipated rescue helicopter should be in operation by the end of January if all goes as planned, KFD Chief Robert Westerman said Tuesday at a county Fire Commission meeting.
As of Dec. 1, the county is accepting bids for contractors willing to provide labor, materials and incidentals to operate and maintain the MD530F light turbine helicopter.
KFD has in the past hired local private helicopter companies to aid in search and rescue operations as well as assist in putting out fires. KFD Deputy Chief John Blalock said in June that the department has built a “good relationship” with those companies over the years, but a KFD-dedicated helicopter will improve training and rescue.
“That was part of our biggest glaring hole that we had in our whole rescue operation,” Blalock said. “You can’t simulate hanging from the bottom of a helicopter on a long line.”
Westerman said the new helicopter should help to decrease response time for search and rescue operations.
In June, the Kaua‘i County Council approved funding for the KFD helicopter, which will be based at the Lihu‘e Airport.
County spokeswoman Mary Daubert said the cost of leasing the helicopter for seven years is $2.3 million. The county gave a down payment using $150,000 from a Community Development Block grant, plus $485,000 from a Homeland Security grant, she said.
The services for pilots and maintenance, plus fuel and parts will cost $485,000 annually, and the annual lease is $285,000, she said.
Daubert said the helicopter should be on Kaua‘i by mid-January, but there could be some delays because of the holidays.
One of the minimum requirements of the bid says that “preference should be given to contractor with most advantageous location.” Pilots should be located at or near Lihu‘e Airport to ensure a response time of less than 10 minutes during daylight hours, seven days a week.
The successful bidder should have at least two pilots and one mechanic who meet the minimum qualifications listed on the request for bid proposals.
Among an extensive list of requirements, pilots should have a minimum of 100 hours flying a MD500 series helicopter, plus a minimum of 100 hours of flying experience on Kaua‘i in the last 12 months.
The helicopter will be used for missions on Kaua‘i such as delivery of fire personnel, equipment and supplies, fire fighting, search and rescue, emergency and administrative support, law enforcement, KFD and KPD training, and other government missions authorized by KFD.
Bid proposals should include services for managing, administering, and furnishing flight operations, maintenance and support for the helicopter, including all necessary pilots, personnel, mechanics, inspectors, manuals, parts, petroleum products, labor, equipment, tools, supplies, library, appurtenance and incidentals to the county of Kaua‘i.
The helicopter should be available seven days a week, during daylight hours up to 30 minutes prior to sunrise, and 30 minutes after sunset.
On Friday, KFD will hold a non-mandatory, pre-proposal conference at its headquarters at the Hale Pumehana building, 3038 Akahi St., Suite 101, Lihu‘e.
The deadline for written inquires is Dec. 16, and they should be responded to by Dec. 23. The due date for the proposals is Jan. 4. On Jan. 14 is the deadline for best and final offers, if applicable. The tentative award date for the contract is Jan. 26.
The contract for the successful bidder shall begin on the commencement date established in the official notice to proceed, and end on Dec. 31, 2011, unless otherwise mutually agreed upon by the parties.
The contract may be extended on a month-to-month basis, up to 24 months.
Bids are available at the Purchasing Division, located directly across the Department of Motor Vehicles, in Lihu‘e.
