Exclusive Use Amphibious Single Engine Scooper Flight Services in Support of th

The Department of the Interior's Interior Business Center is seeking contractor-operated Single Engine Amphibious Water Scooping Aircraft flight services to support the Bureau of Indian Affairs' fire suppression operations at Bemidji, Minnesota. The procurement requires one exclusive-use aircraft capable of dispersing water and fire retardant, with a minimum of 1,600 Shaft Horsepower and 799-gallon tank capacity to meet specified operational standards. This is a full and open competition under NAICS code 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), with a small business size standard of $34 million or less. The solicitation was announced on November 17, 2025, with offers due by December 29, 2025, and an anticipated contract award by February 2026. A prior Request for Information was posted on July 30, 2025, which received one response determined to be incapable of meeting the requirements.

This procurement includes no set-aside designation and represents a five-year ordering period from February 1, 2026, through January 31, 2031, with a possible six-month extension. The aircraft will be required for an estimated 60-day performance period each fire season, running approximately from April 14 to June 12. While specific budget information has not been disclosed in the pre-solicitation notice, the contract value will be based on the rates and terms proposed by contractors. All contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) to be eligible for award. The formal solicitation is planned for release on or after November 19, 2025.