Airborne Fire Suppression Services

The state of Arkansas, through the Arkansas Agriculture Department - Forestry Division, is seeking bids for a one-year contract with up to six one-year renewal options for Airborne Fire Suppression Services. The contract will cover the provision of aerial firefighting services to Pulaski County and the City of Little Rock. The successful contractor must provide a minimum of two aircraft and two pilots during two exclusive use periods from August 1 through November 30 and January 1 through April 30. The contractor must meet stringent requirements for pilot qualifications, aircraft specifications, readiness levels, safety equipment, communication systems, and training. Bids are due by October 19, 2023, and the anticipated contract start date is January 1, 2024. Pricing for the services will be based on an hourly rate, with minimum daily payment for aircraft placed on different readiness levels. The state may negotiate with the lowest responsive and responsible bidder if the bids exceed available funding or if additional savings can be achieved.

Minority and women-owned businesses are encouraged to participate in this procurement. The current incumbent provider and contract value are not specified in the provided information. The solicitation does not require vendors to commit a third aircraft to be held in reserve without guarantee of usage, and the state intends to maintain the current 15-minute response time performance standard rather than adopting the industry standard. No state or local sales taxes should be included in the bid price, and the contractor must be registered as a vendor to receive payment.