C38_SOA_Bell_Helos_Redacted_1.pdf

United States Department of the Interior

INTERIOR BUSINESS CENTER

Washington, DC 20240

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

AUTHORITY: Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) 6.103, 41 U.S.C. 3304

Solicitation: 140D0426R0016

Pursuant to the requirements of the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA) as implemented by RFO 6.103 and in accordance with the requirements by RFO 6.104-1, the justification for the use of the statutory authority under RFO 6.103 is justified by the following facts and rationale required under RFO 6.104-2 as follows:

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity, and specific identification of the document as a “Justification for other than full and open competition.”

This document is a justification for other than full and open competition for the Department of the Interior, Interior Business Center, Acquisition Services Directorate, Division II, Branch V, to support the Office of Aviation Services (OAS) and National Park Service (NPS) United States Park Police (USPP).

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

This is a new, sole source requirement to procure two new Bell 412EPX helicopters and one Bell 407GXI helicopter from the sole source manufacturer, Bell Textron, Inc., for the NPS USPP to replace their current, aging aircraft used in its Washington DC Aviation Unit.

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).

The USPP has one Aviation Unit which is based in Washington DC. It supports the NPS missions in and around Washington DC including law enforcement, Medevac, search and rescue, visitor security, high-risk prisoner transport, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams, and Presidential and dignitary security.

The contract type will be firm-fixed-price (FFP) with delivery required no later than 31 March 2028.

a. Aircraft Required: Two medium helicopters (Bell 412EPX)

Minimum Helicopter Requirements:

Seating: Able to be rapidly configured from standard Law Enforcement Operations (LEO)/Search and Rescue (SAR)/Medical Transport/Hoist operations with medical seat and stretcher, to add 4 additional passenger seats not including pilot, copilot and medical seat in an aircraft, normally single pilot operated.

Solicitation: 140D0426R0016

Configuration: Right Hand (Right Seat) Pilot in Command

Landing gear: Skid-Type

Powerplant: Turbine Twin Engine Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) (electronic engine control)

Certification: 14 CFR 29

Fuel System: Crash Resistant (49 USC 44737)

Flight Data: Cockpit imaging and flight data monitoring device

b. Aircraft Required: One Light Turbine Helicopter (Bell 407GXI)

Minimum Helicopter Requirements:

Seating: Factory seating for 7, Including single pilot, with option for ability to configure with a litter kit for medevac transport.

Configuration: Right Hand (Right Seat) Pilot in Command

Landing gear: Skid-Type

Powerplant: Turbine Single Engine FADEC (electronic engine control)

Certification: 14 CFR 27

Fuel System: Crash Resistant (49 USC 44737)

Flight Data: Cockpit imaging and flight data monitoring device

4. An Identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

RFO 6.103-1 -- Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1)

5. A demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

The USPP requires two Bell 412EPX (primary aircraft) and one Bell 407GXI (backup aircraft). The Bell 412EPX is nearly identical to their existing Bell 412EPs; and the Bell 407GXI (backup aircraft) is manufactured on the same Type Certificate Data Sheet as their existing Bell 206L3, ensuring seamless transition in crew, spare parts, maintenance, training, operations, and other associated costs.

The Bell 412EPX is the only helicopter in the size class that possesses the performance capability required for USPP missions, including hoist, Medevac, search and rescue, surveillance, law enforcement support, dignitary protection, and mass casualty capabilities without changing configuration. The requirement to be outfitted for all of the above missions, at the same time, renders any other aircraft too heavy to be safely operated in the applicable environment. Aircraft in the same twin engine category do not have the lifting capability, endurance, or mission versatility of the Bell 412 platform, and would jeopardize mission success if utilized. These attributes are critical for operating in a confined and urban environment to include landing at local specialized and Trauma One (Level 1) hospitals’ rooftops and direct access helipads. It is the only aircraft that meets all mission variable and configurations, in a moment’s notice, that provides the required power and is light enough to land at the specified helipads.

In addition to the Bell 407GXI sharing a common Type Certificate Data Sheet as the existing 206L-3, it provides USPP with a fully capable backup aircraft which shares design characteristics with the two primary aircraft. The 407GXI and the 412EPX have similar four bladed rotor systems and cockpit displays, which offer similar flight characteristics, emergency procedures, and seamless transition between airframes.

The USPP Aviation Unit has been utilizing Bell aircraft for over 50 years and is staffed with seven pilots to perform the missions outlined above. It has been long recognized that pilot performance during high task loading situations is optimized when pilots are consistently flying the same make and model of aircraft and are not having to pause to consider the differences in emergency procedures, performance, and limitations between various makes and models of aircraft. The use of the same platform as the existing fleet increases the likelihood of mission success and greatly decreases safety risks.

Procuring the same manufacturer’s aircraft, Bell Textron, Inc., that the USPP already operate allows for an expedited transition. The use of a platform other than Bell would require pilots, rescue technicians, and maintenance personnel to learn and adjust to an entirely new airframe, which would require approximately two years of time and training to fully transition, and may result in an inability to perform critical missions in a safe and timely manner. The current unit infrastructure is already set up to handle the Bell platforms, significantly reducing the safety risks associated with a complete platform change.

Additionally, many of the spare parts currently in USPP’s possession, will be usable on the new aircraft. These parts would become obsolete if a different platform were to be procured.

6. A description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by RFO Subpart 5.1 and, if not, which exemption under RFO 5.101 applies.

A Notice of Intent to Sole Source was posted to SAM.gov on 29 January 2026 and closed on 03 February 2026. This special notice provided an opportunity for any business to submit documentation of their capabilities and qualifications demonstrating their ability to fulfill this requirement.

7. A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the

Government will be fair and reasonable.

The aircraft being procured are considered to be commercial type aircraft that are available to the public and regularly sold on-line and in various trade manuals. The Contracting Officer has determined that the anticipated price will be fair and reasonable based on a comparison with pricing available to the general public for the same or similar aircraft and the Independent Government Estimate (IGE). A detailed price analysis will be conducted in accordance with FAR 15, as required by DOI-AAAP-0024, since only one quote/proposal will be obtained.

8. A description of the market research conducted (see RFO Part 10) and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Market research was conducted in the Fall and Winter of 2025, in order to determine which makes and models of helicopters would meet the USPP mission requirements. The result of this research establishes that Bell helicopters are the only aircraft capable of doing so.

No responses were received in response to the special notice, which confirms the information gathered during market research and further supports the conclusion that adequate competition does not exist and that only one source is capable of satisfying agency requirements.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition;

such as:

Bell Textron, Inc. is the sole manufacturer and provider of the aircraft to be procured.

They do not utilize distributors in the sale of their aircraft. Therefore, the aircraft will be procured directly from them.

10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

No sources expressed interest.

11. A statement of any actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required.