Smokey Bear Wildfire Prevention Outreach Services

Closed Special Notice Posted

Solicitation number
1202SA26Q9700
Agency
Responses due
Set-aside
No set-aside

Opportunity facts

Place of performance
United States

Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .

About this opportunity

The USDA Forest Service announced on May 22, 2026 its intent to establish a sole-source Firm-Fixed-Price Blanket Purchase Agreement with Friends of Smokey Bear Balloon for nationwide wildfire prevention education and public outreach services, with a response deadline of June 6, 2026. This acquisition is restricted to a single source and conducted under FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), Simplified Acquisition Procedures.

The Government requires official Smokey Bear wildfire prevention outreach services utilizing authorized Smokey Bear inflatable imagery for public education events, fairs, festivals, and prevention campaigns. Required services include static and aerial Smokey Bear inflatable displays, wildfire prevention educational outreach, public engagement activities, transportation and logistics support, operation of inflatable imagery up to 3,000 feet AGL, maintenance, insurance, fuel, and operational crew support services. The BPA is valued at less than $350,000 over a five-year ordering period.

The Forest Service determined Friends of Smokey Bear Balloon is the only responsible source reasonably available because the Smokey Bear image and likeness are federally protected and subject to authorized-use restrictions; the contractor possesses authorized rights to utilize Smokey Bear imagery; the contractor owns and operates specialized Smokey Bear inflatable assets; and no other identified source possesses both authorized Smokey Bear usage rights and aerial operational capability. Market research evaluated multiple balloon and aerial display vendors including Firebird Balloons, Four Corners Balloon Rides, and Reach for the Stars Hot Air Balloon Foundation; all alternative vendors lack authorization to use Smokey Bear imagery.

Interested sources may submit a capability statement demonstrating authorized Smokey Bear imagery usage rights, aerial and static Smokey Bear inflatable display capability, and nationwide operational capacity.

Notice text

The USDA Forest Service intends to establish a sole source Firm-Fixed-Price Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) with:

Friends of Smokey Bear Balloon
9010 Cordova Ave NE
Albuquerque, NM 87112
UEI: CDSLKKTGRFC1

This acquisition is being conducted on behalf of USDA Forest Service Fire & Aviation Management in support of nationwide wildfire prevention education and public outreach activities.

This acquisition is conducted pursuant to:

FAR Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services;
FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures;
FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), Soliciting from a Single Source; and
FAR 13.303, Blanket Purchase Agreements.

The Government requires official Smokey Bear wildfire prevention outreach services utilizing authorized Smokey Bear inflatable imagery for public education events, fairs, festivals, and prevention campaigns.

Required services include:

static and aerial Smokey Bear inflatable displays;
wildfire prevention educational outreach;
public engagement activities;
transportation and logistics support;
operation of inflatable imagery up to 3,000 feet AGL;
maintenance;
insurance;
fuel; and
operational crew support services.

The Government has determined that Friends of Smokey Bear Balloon is the only responsible source reasonably available capable of satisfying the agency’s requirements because:

the Smokey Bear image and likeness are federally protected and subject to authorized-use restrictions;
the contractor possesses authorized rights to utilize Smokey Bear imagery;
the contractor owns and operates specialized Smokey Bear inflatable assets; and
no other identified source possesses both authorized Smokey Bear usage rights and aerial operational capability necessary to support official Forest Service wildfire prevention outreach.

Interested sources may submit a capability statement demonstrating their ability to provide:

authorized Smokey Bear imagery usage rights;
aerial and static Smokey Bear inflatable display capability; and
nationwide wildfire prevention outreach services.

Capability statements must be submitted within fifteen (15) calendar days of publication of this notice.

Responses shall be submitted electronically to:

Amelia Velasco, Contracting Officer
amelia.velasco@usda.gov

The Government will not reimburse respondents for any costs associated with submission of capability statements.

ATTACHMENTS: Decision to Restrict Competition under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold

Files

File Type Posted
SoleSourceJustification.pdf PDF

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