Engineering Support Services of the H-1 Helicopter Platforms

The Department of the Air Force Materiel Command Lifecycle Management Center at Robins Air Force Base is seeking engineering support services for the H-1 helicopter platforms, specifically the TH-1H and UH-1N models. The primary objective is to obtain Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) engineering expertise, proprietary data access, and technical support necessary to maintain operational, safety, suitability, and effectiveness of the H-1 fleet through resolution of maintenance issues, mishap investigations, and technical order development. Key contract requirements include responding to urgent Engineering Service Task Requests within one business day with solution recommendations within three business days, providing qualified test pilots and flight engineers for mishap investigations, maintaining AS9100-compliant quality management systems, and furnishing all material, support equipment, tools, and test equipment. The contractor must demonstrate multi-disciplinary engineering expertise, access to OEM proprietary structural and component data, and the ability to conduct logistics reachback support and technical data package development. Responses to the Contractor Capability Survey must be submitted electronically by 5:00 PM EST on May 2, 2026.

This is a non-set-aside procurement with Bell Helicopter anticipated as a sole-source contractor due to its exclusive access to proprietary data and engineering expertise required for the H-1 platforms. The contract will be performance-based and structured for a five-year period consisting of one 12-month basic option period followed by four additional 12-month option periods. The USAF currently operates 85 H-1 helicopters distributed across multiple units with the fleet expected to remain in service until 2042, with estimated flight test hours not exceeding 50 hours per ordering period. The contractor must maintain and calibrate all support equipment at their facility or a subcontractor's facility and provide monthly status and financial reports, with performance standards requiring no more than two late deliveries and two rejections per quarter. No specific budget range is disclosed in this pre-solicitation notice, and participation in this market research does not guarantee participation in future solicitations or contract awards, with the government offering no reimbursement for survey participation expenses.