USWFS EU T3 Helo Fire - Fort Wainwright, AK

The Department of the Interior's Interior Business Center, Acquisition Services Directorate, is soliciting proposals under Solicitation 140D0426R0114 for one fully contractor-operated and maintained exclusive-use T3-class rotary-wing helicopter in support of the U.S. Wildland Fire Service, with proposals due November 17, 2026 at 2:00 PM Central Time. The procurement is a Total Small Business set-aside, and only small businesses meeting the NAICS 481211 size standard of 1,500 employees will be considered. Large business proposals are deemed unacceptable.

The helicopter is based at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. The contract is a single-award indefinite-quantity vehicle with economic price adjustment for insurance and time-and-materials pricing for additional pay items. The base period runs April 1, 2027 through March 31, 2032, with a six-month extension option, and the exclusive-use period is 120 calendar days annually, May 6 through September 2. Award is subject to funding availability, and the government reserves the right not to award.

Minimum aircraft requirements include five insured passenger seats, a 900-pound non-jettisonable payload at specified conditions, a turbine engine, 130-knot VNE, skid landing gear, and 14 CFR 27 certification. Only T3-class aircraft qualify, and a Bell 205 is not acceptable. AS-350 series aircraft require the "Squirrel Cheeks" configuration per section B6.21.1. Onboard injection systems and water enhancers such as BLAZETAMER380 are not authorized. Amendment 0002 adds section B10.3, which permits on-contract operational training for transitioning pilots in the contract helicopter. Designated Pilot Trainers must hold a current Certified Flight Instructor Certificate (Rotorcraft-Helicopter), and the contractor may authorize two "Trainee Only" pilots per trainer. Training hours may satisfy up to 20 required flight hours for certain mission categories and up to 10 for others, but cannot count toward annual long-line training. Trainee travel, per diem, and wages are contractor responsibility.

Pricing requires a separate submission for each aircraft type offered. Annual pricing covers $120 guaranteed availability days, 200 estimated dry flight hours, and optional extension pricing for 30 days of availability and 75 extension flight hours. Estimated additional pay items total $36,295 in year one, rising to $45,820 in year five. Service Contract Act wage determination 1995-0222, Revision 72, sets pilot wages at $39.08 per hour and first officer wages at $35.58 per hour.

This is a recompete of contract 140D8122D0017. Amendment 0001 (November 4, 2026) distributed questions and answers. Amendment 0002 (November 6, 2026) added section B10.3 and additional questions and answers. Offerors must acknowledge each amendment before the proposal deadline or risk rejection. Lynn Herrman is the contracting officer, and proposals are submitted to lynn_herrman@ibc.doi.gov.