Undersea Warfighting Development Center Detachment Arctic Submarine Laboratory (ICEX 2026 Operation Ice Camp Air Charter Services)

The United States Transportation Command, acting on behalf of the U.S. Navy's Undersea Warfighting Development Center Detachment Arctic Submarine Laboratory, is soliciting air charter services to support ICEX 2026 Operation Ice Camp in the Arctic. The procurement encompasses four distinct Contract Line-Item Numbers requiring two ski-wheel equipped aircraft for pioneering landings (CLINs 0001 and 0002), one rear-loading aircraft for personnel and cargo transport (CLIN 0003), and two rotary wing helicopters for personnel, cargo, and emergency medical evacuation (CLIN 0004). Contractors must demonstrate air operator capability, pilot experience with ice landings, appropriate aircraft specifications and payload capabilities, and substantial past performance in Arctic operations, with proposals requiring detailed technical documentation. The government will award firm fixed price contracts based on a best value determination that evaluates technical capability, past performance, and price. The proposal submission deadline is January 16, 2026, at 12:00 Noon CST, representing an amendment that extended the original January 5, 2026 deadline.

This solicitation is designated as a total small business set-aside with no identified incumbent contractors, using NAICS code 481211 (Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation) and a small business size standard of $41.5 million in average annual receipts. The period of performance runs from February 19, 2026 through March 25, 2026, with specific aircraft operational requirements including 148 total flight hours for the first ski-wheel aircraft, 167 hours for the second ski-wheel aircraft, 168 hours for the rear-loading aircraft, and combined hours for the two helicopters that will be stationed at the ice camp from March 4-18, 2026. The place of performance is Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, approximately 100-225 nautical miles from Deadhorse, with operations supporting a drifting ice camp in extreme Arctic conditions. Contractors must comply with cybersecurity maturity model certification requirements at CMMC Level 2 and obtain approval from the DoD Commercial Airlift Review Board, with payment to be made by NAVSEA HQ in Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia.