Leadplane

The Department of the Interior Interior Business Center seeks to lease five Beechcraft King Air B200 aircraft for leadplane flight services supporting the United States Wildland Fire Service, with proposals due November 9, 2026. The procurement is a single-award IDIQ or multiple single-award IDIQs, issued under only-one-responsible-source authority for the February 1, 2027 through January 31, 2032 contract period.

Aircraft must be model years 1984–2013 with serial numbers BB-1192 through BB-2019, IFR/VFR capable, day/night operations, carrying one pilot plus four passengers. Each aircraft must achieve a 600-pound payload with four hours of fuel plus 30-minute reserve and maintain a minimum airspeed of 215 KTAS at 15,000 feet. Aircraft cannot have winglet or cargo door modifications. Contractors must provide proof of ownership or executed purchase or lease agreements at proposal submission.

The government will furnish flight crews (trained exclusively on the King Air B200), aviation fuel, and maintenance only when required; contractors maintain the aircraft. The exclusive-use period is February 1 through September 27 annually, representing 240 guaranteed days of daily availability per aircraft per ordering year. Estimated performance is 300 flight hours per aircraft annually. Compensation is based on daily availability rates for the exclusive-use period plus flight hour rates, with extension rates for up to 30 additional days during unusually active fire conditions.

The contract ceiling is $36,900,000 aggregate across awards, with a $500 minimum contract obligation. Amendment 0001 removed FAA certificate and operation specification submission requirements. The NAICS code is 532411, Commercial Air, Rail, and Water Transportation Equipment Rental and Leasing; PSC code is W015, Lease or Rental of Equipment—Aircraft and Airframe Structural Components. Market research identified three potential vendors with qualified aircraft.