Purchase Order 1333MF25P0115

Ward Air, Inc., a small business aviation charter provider based in Juneau, Alaska, was awarded a $20,000 firm fixed-price purchase order by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on October 1, 2025, to provide fixed-wing aviation charter services supporting the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Network Program. The contract, designated as a Total Small Business Set-Aside, requires Ward Air to provide on-call transportation services for NOAA Fisheries personnel and cargo to and from unknown locations within Southeast Alaska on an as-needed basis in response to marine mammal stranding events. The contract extends through September 30, 2029, with the place of performance in Juneau, Alaska.

The solicitation emphasized technical capability and past performance as significantly more important factors than price, requiring vendors to demonstrate aircraft operation and maintenance capabilities and provide references of prior performance. Ward Air's selection reflects its established track record providing aviation services to NOAA and other federal agencies across Alaska's remote terrain, including its current $7.5 million Basic Ordering Agreement with the Department of Agriculture Forest Service for wildland fire management support. This contract represents a flexible, responsive capability for NOAA to address urgent marine mammal response missions in the challenging Alaskan environment on an as-needed basis, with flights estimated to occur approximately once every two years based on stranding event frequency.