Type II Helicopter Services

The Department of the Interior's Interior Business Center is soliciting proposals for Type II Helicopter Flight Services to support the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Apple Valley, California and Burns, Oregon. The solicitation seeks two exclusive use helicopters for fire suppression, monitoring, initial attack, prescribed fire, law enforcement surveillance, and other resource activities. Specific aircraft requirements include turbine-powered medium Type 2 models with nine passenger seats, 1,650-pound payload capacity, and specialized equipment like water buckets and cargo hooks. The Request for Proposals (RFP) methodology will be used to evaluate submissions, with offers due by January 20, 2025, at 12:00 PM Eastern Time. Contractors must provide a complete crew including a pilot, fuel service vehicle driver, mechanic, and relief crew.

The contract is a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 481211 with a size standard of $35 million. The estimated maximum ceiling is approximately $25 million total, with $13 million allocated for the Apple Valley location and $12 million for Burns. The period of performance spans five years, from May 1, 2025, to April 30, 2030, with guaranteed minimum service of 120 days per location annually. The Apple Valley helicopter will operate from May 20 to September 16, while the Burns helicopter will operate from June 1 to September 28. The solicitation will result in indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts, providing flexibility for the Bureau of Land Management to utilize helicopter services as needed during fire and resource management seasons.