SOLICITATION LIST OF RESPONDENTS.docx

This is a Solicitation List of Respondents document issued by the State of Nebraska, Department of Administrative Services, Materiel Division, and State Purchasing Bureau for procurement solicitation number 123501. The solicitation seeks one Exclusive Use Single Engine Air Tanker with qualified pilot(s), a service truck/trailer, and a driver to support the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency for wildfire suppression operations. Four responsive bids were submitted by the following vendors: Aeronautical Technologies, Inc.; Aero S.E.A.T. Inc.; New Frontier Aviation, Inc.; and G.B. Aerial Applications, Inc. The solicitation opening date was December 18, 2025, with responses due electronically by 2:00 PM Central Time on that same date. The anticipated vendor start date is June 4, 2026, with an initial contract term of two years and three optional one-year renewal periods available.

The aircraft must be a turbine-powered SEAT currently listed on the U.S. Department of Interior On-Call SEAT Source List and capable of operating under federal regulations. Required pilots must hold Level I or Level II certification from the Bureau of Land Management, United States Forestry Service, or Office of Aviation Services. The contract mandates a minimum of 60 days of annual SEAT availability at bases in Chadron, Alliance, Scottsbluff, and Valentine, Nebraska. Evaluation will allocate 30 points for Corporate Overview, 50 points for Technical Response, and 20 points for Cost. The pricing structure includes compensation for flight hours (limited to 8 hours per day), standby costs, support truck mileage, relief crew management, mobilization and demobilization expenses, and per diem rates following federal government regulations. The state will provide fire retardant material, and the contract is subject to funding availability.