Helicopter cargo leadlines, 3, 000 LB capacity

The U.S. Forest Service's Washington Office of Procurement and Property Services is seeking to procure 982 helicopter cargo leadlines with a 12-foot length and 3,000-pound capacity for wildland fire suppression operations. These specialized leadlines, catalogued as NFES 0528 item, must comply with Forest Service Specification 5100-503a and feature wire rope construction with plastic coating, eyelet hooks, and pear-shaped links capable of withstanding exposure to fire retardants and other harsh environmental conditions. The procurement requires first article testing, though this will be waived for vendors who have successfully passed testing within the last three years without field use issues. The government plans to award a single firm-fixed-price purchase order for delivery to multiple Incident Support Cache locations nationwide by September 30, 2025. The solicitation is expected to be posted in mid to late June 2025, with questions directed to Theresa Hood at theresa.hood2@usda.gov.

This opportunity is designated as a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 332510 (Hardware Manufacturing) with a size standard of 750 employees. No incumbent contractors or current service providers are identified in the pre-solicitation notice. While specific contract values are not disclosed, the procurement involves a substantial quantity of 982 leadlines that must meet rigorous technical specifications including a 3,000-pound working load limit and 12,000-pound ultimate strength. Prospective offerors must be registered in the System for Award Management and associated with the appropriate NAICS code prior to award. The timeline is compressed, with delivery required by September 30, 2025, following the anticipated mid to late June solicitation release.