Sources Sought for Bell Helicopter 429 Pilot Qualification Training
Closed Pre-Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- 6973GH-26-R-Bell429
- Agency
-
Franchise Acquisition Servies
Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 611512 Flight Training
- PSC
- U009 Education/Training- General
- Points of contact
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Federal Aviation Administration is conducting a market survey to identify sources capable of providing commercial off-the-shelf Bell Helicopter 429 pilot qualification training for FAA Flight Standards Operations Inspectors and aircraft certification test pilots, with responses due August 28, 2026. This is a sources-sought capability assessment, not a solicitation or request for proposals; the FAA will not fund response preparation costs. No set-aside is anticipated.
Training must comply with the contractor's FAA-approved training program under 14 CFR Part 121, 135, 141, or 142. Initial qualification training must enable inspectors and pilots to pass an Airline Transport Pilot practical test for Bell 429 type rating to ATP standards without limitations per 14 CFR Part 61.57(d); recurrent training must meet ATP proficiency check standards without limitations. Both categories include ground school, flight simulation device (FSTD) training on a minimum level 6 FTD, and flight training culminating in an end-of-course practical test or proficiency check. FSTD training must begin within one working day of ground school completion. Daily instruction is capped at four hours of simulator or flight instruction per inspector class, eight hours of ground school per day per class, and ten combined hours including breaks; training does not occur between midnight and 6:00 a.m. The contractor must maintain sufficient Bell 429 aircraft inventory to ensure airworthiness and FAA certification with backup availability during maintenance. All instructors must be authorized under the contractor's approved training program.
Interested vendors must submit capability statements identifying training types provided, past performance details, SAM UEI number, years in business, geographic service area, and their strategy for accomplishing the work. The NAICS code is 611512 (Flight Training) with a $34 million size standard. Questions must be emailed to the contract specialist; no phone calls are accepted.
Notice text
MARKET SURVEY CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT FOR BELL HELICOPTER 429 PILOT QUALIFICATION TRAINING
NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. ALL QUESTIONS MUST BE EMAILED TO THE CONTRACT SPECIALIST CONTACT INFORMATION BELOW.
This market survey is issued to identify sources that may provide commercial off the shelf (COTS)BELL HELICOPTER 429 PILOT QUALIFICATION TRAINING for Flight Standards Operations Inspectors and aircraft certification employed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in accordance with the attached Performance Work Statement (PWS).
The purpose of this survey is to solicit statements of interest and capabilities from all businesses that are interested in and capable of providing the trainingin accordance with the attached Performance Work Statement.
In order to make the determination, the FAA requires the following from interested vendors in accordance with the attached Performance Work Statement:
1. Capability Statement – This document should identify:
- Type of training provided by your firm for each aircraft
- Type of training provided by previous contracts (provide detailed information and past performance)
- SAM UEI number
- Number of years in business
2. Geographic area where training will be provided.
3. Expected approach – Respondents must provide their strategy for accomplishing this work.
The principle North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this effort is 611512 Flight Training, with a size standard of $34 million.
The responses to this market survey will be used for informational purposes only. This is not a Screening Information Request or Request for Proposals of any kind nor is the FAA seeking or accepting unsolicited proposals. The FAA will not pay for any information received or costs incurred in preparing the response to the market survey. Therefore, any cost associated with the market survey submission is solely at the interested vendor’s expense.
At this time the nature of the competition has not been determined. The FAA may decide to do a full and open competition or set aside all or part of the procurement for small businesses or eligible socially and economically disadvantaged business that are certified by the SBA for participation in the SBA’s 8(a) Program.
The purpose of this market survey is to solicit statement of interest and capabilities for small businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, 8(a) certified firms, and all other business types and sized, capable of providing specified Course Instruction.
This market survey is also being conducted in order to obtain the information necessary to determine whether adequate competition exists to set-aside the competition among small businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses or 8(a) certified firms.
If applicable, interested firms which are SBA 8(a) certified are required to submit a copy of the SBA 8(a) certification letter.
All responses to this market survey must be received by 5:00 p.m. CT, August 28, 2026. All submittals should be submitted by email to Federal Aviation Administration Shelley.A.Howard@faa.gov
NOTE: This original announcement was posted on BETA.SAM.gov. If you are viewing this from another source, the information may not contain all pertinent information. You may visit the FAA's website as shown above.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Bell-429 PWS.pdf |
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