B01_SPCA_PRESOLICITATION_NOTICE_(FINAL)_1.pdf

PRESOLICITATION NOTICE SOLICITATION# 140D0425R0130

The Department of the Interior (DOI), Interior Business Center (IBC), Acquisitions Service Directorate (AQD) in support of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) intends to solicit for Exclusive Use, Fixed Wing flight services for smokejumper operations at Fort Wainwright, Alaska as follows:

DESCRIPTION

This is a Pre-Solicitation Notice Only. Proposals are not being requested at this time. The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, has a requirement for two (2) contractor operated and maintained airplane for exclusive use smokejumper services in support of fire and natural resource management activities and other government work. The aircraft shall be a multi-engine, turboprop airplane for transporting and dropping smokejumpers and paracargo, reconnaissance, testing of parachutes and other aerial equipment, transportation of personnel and cargo in support of fire suppression activities, search and rescue, natural resource missions, and other administrative and related resource activities as directed by the Government.

Aircraft will be required to perform low-level flights (below 500 feet) for the purpose of paracargo operations. Aircraft must have in-flight opening and closing side door (Air Operable Door) for parachute and paracargo operations.

The primary place of performance is interior Alaska. Aviation support may result in pilots lodging in Government-provided remote field camps (tents) without modern amenities such as running water and electricity. Temperatures may be below freezing in the spring and in the high 90’s during summer. Flights are often in remote mountainous terrain where frequent thunderstorms are common. Turbulence associated with large wildland fires and thunderstorms are often encountered during fire missions. Environmental conditions during the exclusive use period will vary from snow packed, gravel and other prepared/unprepared runways.

There will be one solicitation. The Government anticipates awarding one (1) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) firm fixed unit price contract. The contract will have an estimated five-year ordering period from March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2031. Once evaluations are complete, the exclusive use period for each year is estimated to occur on or around March 29th for Item 1 (120 calendar days) and April 30th for Item 2 (120 calendar days). The anticipated issue date of the solicitation is October 15, 2025 with a projected closing date of November 19, 2025. Bighorn Airways, Inc is currently providing services under contract 140D8121D0001. The existing contract has a $17M ceiling.

The Contractor shall possess a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Carrier Certificate or Operating Certificate which authorizes the Contractor to operate in the category and class of aircraft and under flight conditions required by this contract (e.g., airplane, multiengine, visual flight rules (VFR) day and night, instrument flight rules (IFR), passengers, and cargo). Specific certifications will be outlined in Section B of the solicitation. The contract aircraft must have a Standard Airworthiness Certificate and have engineering support for continued airworthiness from the current type certificate holder or supplemental type certificate holder. Installation of any equipment required by this contract must be FAA approved.

This acquisition will be accomplished in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 15, Contracting by Negotiation and Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services. The Request for Proposals will be solicited as a 100% small business set-aside, under NAICS code 481211. The Government anticipates awarding a single award, Indefinite Quantity, Indefinite Delivery (IDIQ) contract. The anticipated issuance date of the solicitation is on or about October 15, 2025 with a projected closing date of November 19, 2025.

It is a requirement that vendors be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at time of proposal. The solicitation will be posted under Contract Opportunities at www.beta.SAM.gov.