Exclusive Use Light Fixed Wing Aircraft Services

The Department of the Interior's Interior Business Center is seeking an exclusive use light fixed wing aircraft to support Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) ship weapon system test and evaluation programs. The solicitation (140D0425Q0634) calls for a single-award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for one multi-engine land airplane with a pilot-in-command capable of performing missions in warning areas and military operating areas along the East and Gulf Coasts. Required aircraft specifications include standard airworthiness certification, VFR/IFR day and night operations capability, seating for two crew plus two passengers, a 150-knot cruise speed, 6.5-hour endurance, 870-pound payload, and ability to operate from 4,000-foot runways. The government will evaluate proposals based on aircraft performance capabilities, operational experience, pricing for daily availability rates and flight hours, and the contractor's ability to meet reimbursable expenses such as landing fees and per diem. The proposal deadline has been extended to October 29, 2025, at 1200 MT, with award anticipated in early 2026 and contract performance beginning April 1, 2026.

This solicitation is a 100% small business set-aside with a NAICS code of 481219 (Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation) and a size standard of $25 million. The contract has a maximum value of $5,000,000 and spans a five-year performance period from April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2031, consisting of a base period from April 2026 to March 2027 with four additional one-year ordering periods. No incumbent contractor is identified in the solicitation materials. The aircraft will primarily operate along the East and Gulf Coasts in support of Combat System Ship Qualification Trials (CSSQTs), shipbuilding tests, and Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) operations, with compensation based on daily availability rates, actual flight hours, and reimbursable expenses. The contract is being administered by the Interior Business Center's Acquisition Services Directorate in Herndon, Virginia, and multiple solicitation amendments have been issued to clarify technical requirements and extend submission deadlines.