Plan Colombia supply and troop flights to operate from Panama

by Eric Jackson

Though it is the policy of both the Panamanian and US governments to deny any Panama connection with Plan Colombia and any significant US military presence in Panama, the following advertisement in the US government's Commerce Business Daily indicates otherwise. It seems that the Pentagon is looking for a civilian contractor to operate from Panama, flying military forces and supplies in and out of Colombia.

The text to the advertisement follows:

[Commerce Business Daily: Posted in CBDNet on April 4, 2001]
[Printed Issue Date: April 6, 2001]
From the Commerce Business Daily Online via GPO Access [cbdnet.access.gpo.gov]
PART: U.S. GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENTS
SUBPART: SERVICES
CLASSCOD: V--Transportation, Travel, and Relocation Services
OFFADD: Department of the Air Force, Air Mobility Command, HQ AMC/DOY Contract Airlift, 402 Scott Drive, Unit 3A1, Scott AFB, IL, 62225-5302

SUBJECT: V--AIR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR US SOUTHERN COMMAND

SOL F11626-01-R0015 DUE 051101

POC John Sheahan, Contracting Officer, Phone (618) 229-1180, Fax (618) 256-2804, Email john.sheahan@scott.af.mil - Donald Pierre, Chief, Support Airlift Section, Phone (618) 229-1180, Fax (618) 256-2804, Email

DESC: Cargo, passenger, and combi, air transportation services for US SOUTHERN COMMAND (Central and South America and the Caribbean) utilizing two (2) contractor furnished aircraft plus one (1) back up. The planes must be IFR equipped, multi-engine, turbine powered, short take-off and landing (STOL) aircraft capable of operating in/out of semi-prepared 3,000 ft airstrips with a minimum California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of 7. Cargo requirements include transporting 3,000 lbs of palletized foodstuffs, parts, and helicopter blades crated for shipment in 29'0" x 3'8" x 1'6" containers. Passenger requirements are the transportation of up to 19 passengers and baggage totaling 3,000 lbs. Combi operations require transporting passengers and cargo totaling 3,000 lbs. All flights must comply with FAA guidelines flying under FAR Part 121 or 135. The contractor must be able to operate multiple missions simultaneously, seven days per week, 24 hours per day. Contractor will have a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to a requested mission. Operations will be based in Panama with a majority of missions staged from Soto Cano, Honduras or Columbia. There will be approximately 1,800 hours of airlift flights per year. The contract will have a base year and four, one-year options.

LINKURL: http://www.eps.gov/cgi-bin/WebObjects/EPS.woa/wa/SPF?A=P&P=F11626-01-R0015&L=470

LINKDESC: Visit this URL for the latest information about this notice

EMAILADD: john.sheahan@scott.af.mil

EMAILDESC: John Sheahan

CITE: (D-094 SN50I364)

 

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