B01_SPCA_Synopsis_140D0425R0111_SEKI_1.pdf

Pre-Solicitation Notice: 140D0425R0111

The Department of the Interior (DOI), Interior Business Center (IBC), Acquisition Services Directorate (AQD), in support of the National Park Service (NPS), intends to solicit for fully Contractor operated and maintained exclusive use helicopter flight services to transport personnel and/or cargo in support of Government project/resource work, fire management, and search and rescue (SAR) missions. Contractor services include provision of a helicopter, personnel, fuel servicing vehicle, fuel, and all other associated equipment, as will be prescribed in this solicitation/contract. Missions will include, but are not limited to, short-haul, SAR, STEP (single-skid, toe-in, hover entry/exit procedures) landings, fire suppression, fire monitoring, initial attack, prescribed fire, aerial ignition, law enforcement, and other administrative and related resource activities.

The Government will direct aircraft to support its missions and objectives. During the exclusive use period and any subsequent extension, aircraft furnished shall be subject to the exclusive use and control of the Government 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. The Government has interagency and cooperative agreements with other Federal and State agencies and private landholders and may dispatch aircraft under this contract for such cooperative use. The contractor must possess Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 133, 135, and 137 certificates, and all aircraft proposed must meet the following minimum specifications:

Aircraft Required: One Light Helicopter

Crew Compliment Required: Pilot-in-Command (PIC) with relief pilot, fuel service vehicle driver with relief driver, and mechanic with relief mechanic. The Contractor may provide a mechanic that is also the fuel service vehicle driver.

Fuel Servicing Vehicle Required: One fuel service vehicle

Additional Fuel Trailers Requirement: One fuel cache is required for this contract. This is in addition to fuel truck required.

Designated Base: Ash Mountain Helibase, CA

Minimum Helicopter Requirements:

Seating: Five (5) insured passenger seats not including pilot, but including copilot seat in an aircraft, normally single pilot operated.

Payload: Non-jettisonable payload (HOGE) of 350 pounds at 12 degrees Celsius at 14,000 feet pressure altitude using a pilot weight of 200 pounds, a 25-pound survival kit and fuel for 1.0 hour total.

Powerplant: Turbine engine

Airspeed: 110 knots VNE at 12℃ at 14,000 feet

Performance: BLR FastFin© or equivalent system

Fuel System: Crash Resistant Fuel System

The contract period of performance is a five-year ordering period from 01 April 2026 and 31 March 2031 (estimated, actual dates based upon date of award). The exclusive use period is 160 days, subject to change as permitted in the solicitation.

The services required of this Request for Proposals (RFP) are being acquired under the authority of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items and FAR Part 15 Contracting by Negotiation. This solicitation will be issued under a 100% small business set-aside under NAICS code 481211, Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation, which has a small business size standard of 1,500 employees or less. The PSC Code will be V221, Transportation/Travel/Relocation.

The Government will award a contract in accordance with the best-value determination as stated in the solicitation.

This is a Pre-Solicitation Notice Only. Offers are not being requested at this time. AQD intends to issue the solicitation on or after 10 October 2025. Offers are anticipated to be due on 12 November 2025 with an award being issued no later than April 2026.

AQD will consider all responsible sources that submit a timely offer that conforms to the solicitation. Any contractor interested in doing business with the Federal Government must be registered in System for Award Management (SAM) at the time of proposal submission and at time of award to be eligible for a contract. SAM is a Federal Government owned and operated free website at www.SAM.gov.

Point of Contact:

Melanie Johnson Contracting Officer melanie_johnson@ibc.doi.gov mailto:melanie_johnson@ibc.doi.gov