NIGP 03565: Instruments and Testers, Helicopter

NIGP 03565 Instruments And Testers, Helicopter is an Item code under which state and local governments procure helicopter operator services, maintenance and repair parts, and related flight support for routine infrastructure inspection and law enforcement operations. Recent solicitations show utilities, sheriff's offices, and police departments buying FAA-certified helicopter operator services with 4-seat aircraft for transmission line aerial surveys, repair and maintenance labor for Bell and Airbus helicopter fleets, and OEM and aftermarket parts for police aviation units. Work includes data collection, photography, visual inspection, infrared thermography, slow-speed hovering operations near infrastructure, and parts procurement on an as-needed basis. Issuing bodies include utility commissions, county sheriff's offices, and municipal police departments, with Orlando Utilities Commission, Harris County Sheriff's Office, and the City of Fort Worth appearing as recent buyers.

Activity under this code is concentrated in Florida and Texas. Representative recent opportunities include Orlando Utilities Commission's RFP 9002 (posted August 31, 2026, due June 15, 2026) for FAA-certified helicopter operator services with extended hovering and low-speed flight operations, which resulted in a Notice of Intent to Award to Chesapeake Bay Helicopters and Heliservice pending commission approval; Harris County Sheriff's Office's ITB 260139 (posted August 21, 2026, due September 14, 2026) for repair parts, labor, and maintenance services for Bell and Airbus helicopter fleets with a one-year contract term beginning October 1, 2026; and the City of Fort Worth's RFQt 26-0193 (posted April 27, 2026, due May 1, 2026) for OEM and aftermarket Bell Helicopter parts for the Police Department on an as-needed basis with a one-year initial term and four optional renewal periods subject to Fort Worth's Small Business Program. Insurance requirements and personnel qualifications (FAA certifications, background checks, training documentation) are substantial, and responses typically require detailed pricing for multiple service categories (low-speed flight time, ferry time, standby time, parts delivery) and comprehensive organizational and compliance documentation.