OC/EU UAS Emergency Fire Flight Services

The Department of the Interior, through its Interior Business Center Acquisition Services Directorate, is seeking to procure on-call and/or exclusive use Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) emergency fire flight services to support wildland fire operations, search and rescue, emergency management, and other resource missions across the contiguous lower 48 states. Key requirements include the deployment of fixed-wing or VTOL unmanned aircraft equipped with stabilized dual electro-optical and infrared gimbals capable of day and night operations, 12,000-foot density altitude performance, 8-hour continuous flight time, and operation in 25-knot winds. Contractors must provide a minimum of two complete UAS per assignment with one serving as backup, and pilots must have a minimum of 25 logged flight hours on the offered UAS make, model, and ground control station. Evaluation will be based on technical capability, past performance, organizational safety program (requiring an acceptable Safety Management System demonstration), and evaluated price, with non-priced factors weighted more heavily than price. The deadline for proposal submission is February 5, 2026, and contract award is anticipated by June 14, 2026.

This solicitation is designated as a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 541370 (Surveying and Mapping Services except Geophysical) with a $19 million size standard. The contract structure includes a five-year ordering period from June 15, 2026 through June 14, 2031, with a maximum shared ceiling value of $7,500,000 and a minimum guarantee of $500 per awarded contract; the government anticipates awarding approximately three contracts, though this number is not binding. The pricing sheet indicates a 90-day guaranteed exclusive use period with an optional 30-day extension for each ordering year, separate daily availability rates and flight hour pricing structures. All contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov), hold FAA N-number certification before DOI inspection within 30 days of award, and ensure their UAS systems are NDAA compliant. Services will be performed across the contiguous United States to support DOI Office of Aviation Services operations.