USCG_Purchase-Aircraft_RFI_08SEP26.pdf

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Procurement Title: Multi-Mission Rotary Aircraft Purchase Procurement Type: Market Research for Capital Purchase of Aircraft Applicable NAICS Code: 336411 (Aircraft Manufacturing)

1. Purpose & Acquisition Scope

This United States Coast Guard (USCG) Request for Information (RFI) is solely for market research purposes. The objective is to identify and assess potential sources for a commercial rotary-wing aircraft that can be specialized or adapted to meet USCG special mission requirements. RFI responses inform the USCG’s understanding of available industry capabilities, technical maturity, production capacity, sustainment approaches, and rough order of magnitude (ROM) pricing. This RFI does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), a solicitation, or a commitment by the Government to issue a future solicitation or award a contract.

The USCG is evaluating platforms capable of fulfilling multi-mission requirements, with specific emphasis on USCG Special Missions.

1. Aerial Intercept (AI) – Detection, identification, tracking, and interception of airborne targets in support of Rotary Wing Air Intercept (RWAI) missions and law enforcement operations.

2. Airborne Use of Force (AUF) / Non-Compliant Vessel Interdiction – Armed helicopter operations to interdict non-compliant vessels, including the employment of warning shots and disabling fire in accordance with USCG use-of-force policy.

3. Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) – Day/night search, location, and recovery of persons in distress in the maritime environment, including operations in high sea states and adverse weather.

The USCG seeks information on aircraft that can be delivered with the ability to incorporate USCG-unique mission equipment, sensors, weapons systems (as applicable), and communications suites. The USCG will operate any acquired platform as a Government-owned, Government-operated, and Government-maintained asset.

2. Aircraft Requirements (Applicable to All Flight Profiles)

Category Specification Threshold

Airworthiness & Authority

Certified (or capable of acquiring certification) under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements for rotary-wing aircraft; Certified for day and night operations under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and

Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) in FAA, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and uncontrolled airspace.

Flight Crew Environment

Compatible with Night Vision Goggle (NVG) operations across all pilot and aircrew stations; Redundant flight controls at both pilot positions;

Helmet-Mounted Display (HMD) or Heads-Up Display (HUD) integration for night operations.

Communications

& C4ISR

Must integrate USCG/Department of Homeland Security/Department of War communications, surveillance equipment, and sensors.

Avionics & Automation

Wide Area Augmentation System-enabled Global Positioning System/ (GPS)/Area Navigation (RNAV) navigation system certified to Technical Standard Order SO-C145/C146 Operational Class 3 or 4 (or equivalent). The system shall support GPS/RNAV operations and Localizer Performance and Vertical Guidance approaches to the lowest published minima; VHF Omnidirectional Range/Instrument Landing System radios; a 4-axis Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS: pitch/roll/yaw/collective) and compatible Flight Director;

automated hover hold/assist and user defined approach to the water capability; surface-mapping and weather radar; Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) In and Out, Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) with at least TCAS I capabilities. Must explain how avionics suite is (or will be) Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) compliant.

Mechanical & Performance

Wheeled or skid landing gear system (wheels desired); folding main rotor blades; dual or single sliding main cabin door; controllable pilot lighting (visible and infrared) to observe surface or objects (landing light with controllable beam); on-flight fuel jettison capability;

minimum useful payload of at least 3,000 lbs (fuel, mission crew, and mission equipment); capable of at least 40 kt sideward flight while maintaining hover power margins; flight endurance of at least three hours with a 20+ minute fuel reserve; certified crashworthy seating.

3. Operational Flight Profile Requirements

Mission Profile Operational Requirements

Aerial Intercept (AI) • Capable of operating at speeds of at least 140 knots (kts) at 10,000 ft Mean Sea Level (MSL).

• Tactical and return-to-target maneuvering capability to intercept airborne targets from any azimuth.

• The ability of dynamic components (i.e. gearboxes) and the airframe to repeatedly operate in high stress flight regimes is critical for this mission set.

• Power and integration interface for an internal LED visual signaling signboard (3 feet by 2 feet) to signal targets at 50 to 200 feet.

• Transportable via U.S. Air Force (USAF) strategic airlift (C-17/C-5) with rapid reassembly and return-to-service away from home station.

• Rapid self-contained cold start to takeoff with no external ground support.

Airborne Use of Force (AUF) & Maritime Interdiction

• Dual-engine performance margin to conduct hover in/out of ground effect (HIGE/HOGE) in temperatures from -13°F to 122°F up to 12,000 ft MSL.

• Flight at high gross weights, low altitude (<100 feet above ground), and hot ambient environments with excess power reserve to enable and influence safe mission execution. The aircraft must hover in a hot/high-density altitude climate, even at high gross weights.

• Aggressively maneuver to locate, track, and intercept high-speed vessels at sea.

• Transportable via USAF strategic airlift (C-17/C-5) with rapid reassembly and return-to-service away from home station.

• Marinized and qualified for shipboard operations, deck securing, and traversing (mechanical/non-mechanical).

• Physical shipboard hangar envelope: Folded dimensions shall not exceed 42-feet L, 10-feet W, 13-feet 5-inches H to fit the smallest hangar-equipped USCG cutter.

• Physical airport hangar envelope: unfolded dimensions shall not exceed 50-feet L, 50-feet W to fit existing USCG shore hangars.

• Operational envelope: Shall meet the minimum obstacle clearance criteria established in the Air Capable Ship Aviation Facilities Bulletin No.1 (series) onboard all USCG Cutters.

• Hardpoints and/or structural support for high caliber rifle and machine gun mounts and ammunition storage racks.

• Certified safe in-flight discharge of high caliber weapon from the cabin door without airframe damage or flight degradation.

• Flight Director coupled approach-to-water modes and automated Instrument Take Off (ITO) from a hover to a user defined terminal altitude and airspeed.

• Helicopter In Flight Refueling (HIFR): shall be equipped with a NAVAIR approved HIFR receptacle.

Search and Rescue

(SAR)

• Dual-engine performance margin to conduct hover in/out of ground effect (HIGE/HOGE) in temperatures from -13°F to 122°F up to 12,000 ft MSL.

• Minimum range of 300 nautical miles (nm) with cruise speed of at least 120 Kts Indicated Air Speed.

• Operational combat radius of at least 125 nm with a 20-minute on-scene hover/rescue time.

• Minimum usable payload of 3,000 lbs (fuel, crew, mission equipment).

• Integrated rescue hoist rated for up to 600 lbs.

• Cabin volume accommodating a minimum of four mission personnel (two pilots, two aircrew) plus rescue basket, litter, and dewatering pump.

• Flight Director coupled approach-to-water modes, Automated Instrument Take Off (ITO) from a hover to a user defined terminal altitude and airspeed, and automated SAR search pattern execution via the Flight Management System.

4. Disclaimer

There is no solicitation at this time. This RFI is not a request for proposals; submission of any information in response to this request is purely voluntary; the Government will not pay for any costs incurred nor is obligated to respond. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.

If the USCG still plans to proceed with an acquisition after reviewing responses to this RFI, a solicitation announcement may be published on SAM.gov or distributed via existing contract holders. Responses should not include proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information.

5. Vendor Information Request

Request: If your organization has a rotary wing aircraft available for purchase to support all included USCG flight profiles in this RFI, please provide the following information:

1. Organization name

2. Address

3. Website

4. Point of contact name

5. Point of contact email address

6. Point of contact telephone number

7. Socioeconomic status

8. Unique Entity Identifier

9. What information and/or resources do you typically need from the government to perform this effort?

10. What, if any, changes are required to meet all the USCG-specific configuration requirements? Additionally, please provide a timeline and level of complexity associated with this integration.

11. Does your company currently maintain existing government-wide acquisition contracts (GWACs) or other strategically sourced contracts for these types of requirements that the USCG can leverage? If yes, please provide contract numbers, what agency it is with, and agency point of contact information.

12. What type of contract (e.g. firm-fixed-price, cost-reimbursement, etc.) have you been issued before for this type of work? Do you recommend one type or a hybrid (i.e. a contract that allows several types)?

13. Provide any general comments, thoughts, and feedback your company desires to share regarding this RFI.

14. At a minimum, provide the following technical details for your aircraft’s capabilities:

airspeed, range, maximum endurance, service ceiling, size/dimensions (length, height, width, rotor diameter), performance and operating limitations/specifications (angle of bank, gravitational-forces, temperatures, performance specifications, landing limitations, weights, payloads, etc.), radio navigation certification and capabilities, automated flight control system, auto-pilot capabilities and any other specification or technical details you believe may be relevant.

15. Is your aircraft able to integrate Department of War, Department of Homeland Security, or other secure communications into the existing aircraft communication system?

16. Is the aircraft designed for, or can the aircraft be configured with, a cabin refueling receptacle for helicopter in-flight refueling (HIFR) while in a hover alongside a vessel?

17. Is the aircraft designed for, or can the aircraft be configured with, a shipboard deck locking system compatible with the USCG’s TALON grids?

18. Is the aircraft designed for, or can the aircraft be configured with, a pilot-controlled cargo hook capable of transporting external loads up to 2,000 lbs? If not, but able to integrate a cargo hook, what is the weight limitation?

19. Is the aircraft designed, or can a flotation system be installed, to assist crew members in completing egress procedures in the event of an emergency landing onto a body of water?

20. Is the aircraft designed for, or capable of, jettisoning fuel while in flight?

21. Can the aircraft fold the rotor blades to hangar the aircraft or to reduce stress on the rotor/flight control system? If so, please provide the aircraft’s dimensions when the rotor blades are folded.

22. Can the aircraft’s tail section fold to reduce the height of the aircraft to allow for the aircraft to be hangared onboard a vessel? If so, please provide the aircraft’s dimensions when the tail is folded.

23. To traverse the aircraft onboard a vessel, does your aircraft require a tow assistance device or any specialized equipment to safely complete the evolution? If so, please specify what device or equipment is required.

24. Please specify which ships in the USCG inventory are compatible with your aircraft to meet the minimum obstacle clearance criteria established in the Air Capable Ship Aviation Facilities Bulletin No.1 (series).

25. Provide a ROM-level price estimate per aircraft. In addition, based on the needs of each mission profile above, provide a ROM-level price estimate to modify the aircraft to meet each mission profile.

6. Submission Instructions

Interested parties are invited to submit a response to the above questions by 08 October 2026 at 5:00pm ET. All responses and questions regarding this RFI must be emailed to Sharita L. Leathers: Sharita.L.Leathers@uscg.mil and Joel Gibney: Joel.M.Gibney2@uscg.mil.

mailto:Sharita.L.Leathers@uscg.mil mailto:Joel.M.Gibney2@uscg.mil