Intent to Award Notice~1.pdf

The document is an Intent-to-Award (ITA) Notice issued by the Oregon Department of Forestry, posted on OregonBuys on 04/23/25, regarding RFP Solicitation No. S-62900-00013094 for a Type 3 Standard Category Turbine Powered Helicopter. The solicitation seeks an exclusive-use helicopter for wildland fire suppression operations in South Central/Eastern Oregon, specifically based near Klamath Falls, to provide 75 consecutive calendar days of helicopter services annually with a potential five-year contract term. The helicopter must be capable of personnel transport, fire suppression bucket work, and cargo movement, with technical requirements including the ability to lift 850 pounds at 7,000 feet mean sea level at 30 degrees Celsius.

The proposal evaluation considered multiple scoring factors, including aircraft performance, pilot qualifications, references, and pricing. Of the three proposers, ApexHeli Oregon, Inc. dba Apex Helicopters was ranked first with a total score of 183 (48 points for price and 135 points for technical proposal), securing the Intent to Award. Guidance Air Services, LLC ranked second with a total score of 163, and Leading Edge Aviation Inc. ranked third with a total score of 161. While specific pricing details are not provided in this notice, the evaluation suggests a comprehensive scoring approach that goes beyond simple cost considerations, emphasizing technical capabilities and operational expertise in wildland fire helicopter services.