On Call Type III Helicopter Flight Services

The Department of the Interior Interior Business Center seeks on-call Type III helicopter flight services in the Lower 48 States, with proposals due November 3, 2026 at 1200 Mountain Time. This is a total small business set-aside; however, the solicitation documents contain conflicting set-aside designations—one identifies the procurement as Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) unrestricted, while another specifies total small business. The contract is an indefinite quantity agreement with a five-year performance period from May 1, 2027 through April 30, 2032.

Contractors must provide a minimum of one light helicopter with three to seven insured passenger seats, turbine engine (minimum 317 takeoff horsepower), jettisonable payload capacity of 550 pounds, Pilot-in-Command, and fuel servicing vehicle. Aircraft must hold FAA Air Carrier Certificate (14 CFR Part 135), Rotorcraft External Load Operations Certificate (Part 133), Agricultural Aircraft Operations Certificate (Part 137), Standard Airworthiness Certification, and meet extensive avionics and maintenance specifications detailed in the solicitation.

Pricing is structured for daily availability rates (pay item code AV) and project flight rates per flight hour, with and without fuel truck (pay items P30 and P31), subject to economic price adjustment based on jet fuel rates (base price $8.60 per gallon as of May 1, 2027). Contractors may offer optional equipment including longline/remote hook systems, GPS mapping, concrete buckets, seeders, helitorch services, and offshore/vessel landing capabilities. The NAICS code is 481211, Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation. Proposals must be submitted in three volumes: Offer, Technical Capability, and Past Performance. Amendment 0001, posted October 21, addresses offeror questions and modifies solicitation language; receipt of this amendment must be acknowledged by the proposal deadline.