Special Warfare Training Wing (SWTW) Fixed Wing Airlift Support
Closed Pre-Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- FA3002SWTWFixedWing
- Agency
-
Air Education and Training Command
Air Force, Department of Defense
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 481219 Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation
- PSC
- Not on record
- Place of performance
- San Antonio, Texas, United States
- Points of contact
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of the Air Force Air Education and Training Command (AETC) is requesting information from contractors capable of providing fixed-wing aircraft airlift support services to the Special Warfare Training Wing (SWTW) at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. The contractor must supply all fixed-wing aircraft, personnel, equipment, fuel, maintenance, and supervision necessary to conduct air operations within the Continental United States in support of pararescue (PJ), combat rescue officer (CRO), combat control (CCT), and special tactics officer (STO) training. Key requirements include maintaining a minimum 95% aircraft availability rate and 95% mission-capable rate, providing AMC Paratroop Commercial Operator Part 91 certified aircraft capable of operating from both improved and unimproved airfields, and employing FAA-certified commercial pilots with military parachute operations experience and a minimum of 200 hours pilot-in-command time in the aircraft type. The contractor must also provide FAA-certified Senior or Master Riggers for parachute operations and submit comprehensive program documentation including trip reports, quarterly status reports, and risk mitigation plans. This is a Request for Information (RFI) only, issued for information and planning purposes; interested parties must submit responses by March 31, 2026.
No set-aside designation has been applied to this procurement. The baseline requirement encompasses 395 wet blade fixed-wing flying hours and 310 ferry hours annually, with a minimum guarantee of 80% of baseline hours funded per option year, representing substantial ongoing support operations. Primary operating locations include Pope Army Airfield in North Carolina, Coolidge and Lake Havasu in Arizona, Hondo and Belen Regional Airport in Texas and New Mexico, with alternate locations at Marana Arizona, Lackland AFB Texas, and Patrick Space Force Base Florida. The contract will support airdrop operations including Static Line, Military Free Fall, HALO, HAHO, and Double Bag Static Line capabilities for up to 18 personnel, with operations occurring in both day and night conditions over land and water. No incumbent contractor or award value information has been disclosed in this RFI; specific contract terms and financial details will likely be established when a formal Request for Proposal is issued following this information-gathering phase.
Notice text
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
SPECIAL WARFARE TRAINING WING
FIXED WING AIRLIFT SUPPORT
17 March 2026
1.0 Description
1.1 The Special Warfare Training Wing (SWTW) is seeking information on how interested contractors would provide services necessary to conduct aircraft lift support to the Special Warfare Air Force Sustainment Center’s (AFSC) Career Field Education and Training Plan (CFETP) schoolhouses. The purpose is to ensure that all required Pararescue Jumpers (PJ) / Combat Controller Specialist (CCT) / Combat Rescue Officer (CRO) / Special Tactics Officers (STO) candidates receive required air support. In both day and night, land and water, this training supports:
- Static Line (SL), including Double Bag Static Line (DBSL)
- Military Free Fall (MFF)
- High Altitude, Low Opening (HALO)
- High Altitude, High Opening (HAHO)
- Cargo Delivery System (CDS)
- Medevac Training
- Mission Planning
- Real-world support to medical emergencies (life, limb, eyesight, or urgent transport during training iterations)
- Terminal Area Control (TAC) / Call for Fire (CFF)
All of these support services serve as instruction to complete the curriculum requirements provided in the CFETP.
1.2 An effective solution must provide all services necessary to conduct aircraft lift support as mentioned in Section 1.1 and also in Section 2.0 of the attached Draft PWS for Fixed Wing. Additionally, the contractor shall provide all services necessary to conduct aircraft lift support for AETC assigned SW instructors to meet parachuting related training/proficiency requirements. The aircraft shall be provided to the Government fully configured for the scheduled operations. All hardware connected to the aircraft will be Contractor-configured and provided to the activity supported.
1.3 THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes – it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This request for information does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Further, the Air Force is not seeking proposals at this time and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Respondees are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party's expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued.
2.0 Background
Current DoD military training air support does not have the capacity to support DoD, AETC training requirements. Additionally, military air support is tasked with operational requirements that prevent consistent access to training assets. This makes it increasingly difficult to schedule and plan training with local assets that have higher operational priorities resulting in the inability to meet training requirements.
- 2.1 Limitations: Vendor must be able to travel and meet the deliverables as set forth in the Performance Work Statement (PWS).
- 2.2 Security Requirements: There are no classified information requirements.
3.0 Purpose
This effort focuses on the technical solution to conduct airlift support for Fixed Wing Aircraft IAW the attached Draft PWS (Fixed Wing).
4.0 Response Format
4.1 Please provide answers for each of the following questions, utilizing the existing numbering scheme for each response and limiting your total response for this RFI to no more than four (4) pages. All interested parties are invited to provide the following information:
- Company Name, Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code and Unique Entity ID (UEI) Number.
- Point of Contact (to include phone and email).
- Website URL, if applicable.
- State if your company is SAM registered under NAICS code 481219.
- State whether your firm is large, small business, small disadvantaged business (SDB), 8(a)-certified small business, historically underutilized business zone (HUBZone) small business, veteran-owned small business (VOSB), service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB), woman-owned small business (WOSB) based upon the for North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 481219.
- Can your company meet all the description of supplies/services task described in the attached draft performance work statements (PWS)?
- What specific experience does your company have that would be applicable to the requirements stated in the draft PWS? Can you provide a description of your experience with device-level identity management and authentication solutions?
- Detail your approach to maintaining and supporting aircraft lift support.
- Describe your previous experience providing fixed-wing support services. Include the contract number and contracting agency and provide a POC at that agency if possible.
- How would your company transition from the current contractor to ensure no interruption in services? Please address the transfer of knowledge, data, and systems.
- What, if any risk or unknowns would hinder your ability to meet the requirement?
- Should the Government consider a different NAICS for this requirement?
- If your company is on a GSA schedule, please provide your contract number, labor categories, and rates that are applicable to the scope of work described in the draft PWS.
- Do you see an innovative solution to providing fixed-wing support?
- Aircraft Fleet and Configuration: Please provide a comprehensive list of the specific aircraft (including make, model, and year) you propose to use for the fixed-wing requirements. Describe how your proposed fleet meets the specific airframe and configuration requirements detailed in the PWS, including:
* Fixed Wing: Detail the tail ramp, inward-folding side paratroop door, and electric-powered static line retrieval system on your proposed aircraft. - Aircraft Certification and Compliance: What is the current certification status of your proposed aircraft fleet?
* Are your proposed fixed-wing aircraft currently listed on the AMC Paratroop Commercial Operator Part 91 list? - Personnel Qualifications and Specialized Experience: Describe your methodology for recruiting, training, and retaining personnel who meet the specific qualifications in the PWS. How do you ensure your pilots, aircrew, and support staff (e.g., parachute riggers) possess demonstrated experience with the following military-specific operations and systems?
* Flight Operations: Static Line and Military Free Fall (MFF) airdrops, Container Delivery System (CDS) operations, and NVG operations.
* Parachute Systems: Military Freefall, Non-Tactical Ram Air (NTRAPS), and Tandem Parachute Systems. - Logistics for Geographically Dispersed Operations: Describe your logistical framework for managing and executing simultaneous flight operations at the geographically separated primary locations identified in the PWS (e.g., North Carolina, New Mexico, Arizona). How will you manage crew scheduling, maintenance, and aircraft positioning to ensure consistent and reliable support across all required locations?
- Maintenance and Aircraft Availability: The PWS requires providing a replacement aircraft within 36 hours in case of a maintenance issue. Please detail your specific plan to meet this requirement. Your plan should address the basing locations for replacement aircraft, your maintenance philosophy for maximizing availability, and the logistics of deploying a replacement aircraft and crew to any of the operating locations within the 36-hour timeframe.
- Surge and Scalability Plan: The PWS indicates a potential for significant student load variations, including a surge of up to 300 additional students per year. Describe your company's capacity and plan to scale your operations to accommodate both long-term surges and short-term fluctuations (+/- 20 students per class). How would this affect your proposed fleet, personnel, and maintenance plans?
4.2. The Government reserves the right to decide whether or not a SB set-aside is appropriate based on responses to this notice. In order for the Government to make a SB set-aside determination, it is emphasized that SB concerns provide sufficient written information to indicate their capability to successfully perform and manage all the requirements of this magnitude.
4.3 All interested firms that possess the capabilities and capacities addressed herein are encouraged to respond to the notice by providing the information specified above no later than 12:00 PM (CST), on 31 March 26. Information shall be provided via e-mail in either Microsoft Word and/or Microsoft PowerPoint. Forward your responses regarding this RFI to the POC identified below.
5.0 Industry Discussions
SWTW representatives may or may not choose to meet with respondees. Such discussions would only be intended to get further clarification of potential capability to meet the requirements, especially any development and certification risks.
6.0 Questions
Questions regarding this announcement shall be submitted in writing by email Mr. Kevin Harris at kevin.harris.58@us.af.mil. Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. Questions SHALL NOT contain proprietary or classified information. Answers to questions will be shared with all respondees. The Government does not guarantee that questions received after 31 March 26 @ 1200 CST will be answered.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Draft PWS Fixed Wing Airlift 17 March 26.pdf |
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