USFS Wildland Fire Aviation Helicopter Support Services for Hoist and Medical Services
Open Pre-Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- 1202SA-RFIHSS26-01
- Agency
-
Forest Service
Department of Agriculture
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- Not on record
- PSC
- Not on record
- Place of performance
- United States
- Points of contact
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The U.S. Forest Service intends to solicit helicopter support services for wildland fire aviation, including hoist and medical capabilities, and is conducting market research via a Request for Information due November 21, 2026. This RFI is for planning and acquisition-strategy development only and does not commit the government to award or fund any contract.
The Forest Service seeks information on contractor-operated and contractor-maintained helicopter services under two delivery models: Exclusive-Use (EU) and Call When Needed (CWN). Respondents must provide estimated daily availability costs for six service configurations across 14-hour day VFR operations and 24-hour operations with night vision goggles.
Required helicopter assets must be single or twin turbine engines compliant with 14 CFR Parts 27 or 29, equipped with comprehensive avionics including dual VHF radios, GPS, ELT, and ADS-B systems, and capable of carrying litter patients. Hoist systems must be FAA-STC external-mounted with minimum 280 feet of cable, 600-pound lift capacity, and Human External Cargo certification for Part 133 Class D operations.
Personnel must include pilots current in hoist operations meeting defined experience thresholds, hoist operators and rescuers with specified currency requirements, and licensed EMTs, AEMTs, or Paramedics with state licensure and medical direction for Basic Life Support (BLS) or Advanced Life Support (ALS) configurations. Respondents must provide completed helicopter load calculations using the Interagency Helicopter Load Calculation Form with specified performance parameters. Established hourly flight rates range from $1,158.06 to $14,023.83 per hour depending on helicopter type and fuel consumption.
Shelia Stoddard, Contracting Officer, is the primary point of contact.
Notice text
This Request for Information (RFI) is for market research and planning purposes only.
Product Service Code: V221
NAICS Code: 481212
Business Size Standard: 1,500 employees
This RFI is issued solely for planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation or commitment by the Government. No funds have been authorized, appropriated, or received for this RFI. It should not be interpreted as a request for proposal or an obligation to acquire any products or services. The Government will not reimburse any costs incurred in responding to this RFI, nor does submission of information grant any entitlement to payment. The Government reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part, any contractor’s input resulting from this RFI. Responses to this RFI will not be returned. Whatever information is provided in response to this RFI may be used to assess tradeoffs and alternatives available for future needs. The information provided may be utilized by the US Forest Service in developing its acquisition strategy and in its Statement of Objective, Statement of Work, and/or Performance Specifications. The information resulting from this RFI may be included or combined with other submissions in one or more options considered in the analysis of alternatives. Please email the primary point of contact below to submit an official response.
See attached RFI document.
Primary Point of Contact:
Shelia Stoddard, Contracting Officer
shelia.stoddard@usda.gov
623-293-8721
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Forest Service Helicopter Hoist RFI_2026.pdf |
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