National Exclusive Use Large Fire Support Helicopter Services

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service Fire and Aviation Management established this Master IDIQ on May 19, 2020, to procure fully contractor-operated and maintained exclusive-use Type I helicopter services for US Forest Service wildland suppression programs. The vehicle was set aside 100% for small business and is no longer accepting orders; the last date to place task orders was October 31, 2024.

The vehicle structured 28 contract line items for helicopters stationed at 28 locations nationwide, with tier 1 or tier 2 performance requirements and either tank or bucket operations. The base contract period ran April 1, 2019 through March 31, 2020, with three one-year option periods available for a potential four-year ordering window. The solicitation (12024B19R0001) estimated combined potential value exceeding $330 million across all awards over the ordering period.

The helicopter services industry serving this requirement operates with narrow competitive depth: incumbent contractors at the time of solicitation included Erickson, Croman, and AeroFlite, firms with long operational tenure in US Forest Service fire-support aviation. The exclusive-use and geographic distribution structure—28 simultaneous aircraft commitments across forest service locations—creates significant operational and capital barriers to entry for smaller competitors. Pricing was fixed-rate hybrid requirements and indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity, meaning contractors bore demand and operational risk while the Forest Service committed to defined performance tiers and geographic coverage.

Primary NAICS code is 488190 (other support activities for air transportation) with predominant PSC code V2X (aircraft services). Performance sites span 28 forest service locations throughout the United States, concentrated in wildland fire zones.

With ordering closed since October 31, 2024, this vehicle is no longer an active pursuit path. Any remaining activity would be limited to existing task-order extensions or option-period exercises under previously awarded contracts. A successor vehicle, should the requirement continue, would likely be solicited in late 2024 or 2025 given the vehicle's original four-year option structure.

Fully contractor operated and maintained exclusive use Type I helicopter services in support of the US Forest Service wildland suppressions programs.