Helicopter and Pilot Services for Prescribed Burning – Tate’s Hell State Forest

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, through its Florida Forest Service, is soliciting sealed bids under ITB FFS 26 27 64 for helicopter and pilot services supporting prescribed burning at Tate's Hell State Forest, with vendor questions due November 2, 2026 and bids due November 13, 2026. The source names no set-aside or preference program. Award goes to the responsive and responsible vendor with the lowest Initial Term Fixed Price Per Hour.

Contractors must furnish a fully operational helicopter, a licensed and experienced pilot, a fuel truck, and all labor and materials. The Florida Forest Service supplies an SEI Industries Red Dragon aerial ignition sphere dispenser, a trained operator, and ignition spheres. The contractor must hold an FAA Air Taxi Certificate (Part 135). Pilots must hold a Commercial Pilot Certificate, a valid Second-Class Medical Certificate, and at least 1,500 total flight hours, including experience in cross-country, coastal plains, night, and instrument flying. Required insurance includes general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, automobile liability of $300,000, and workers' compensation with employer liability of $100,000 per accident.

Pricing is a firm, all-inclusive fixed hourly rate covering helicopter operations, pilot services, and fuel. Compensation applies only to flight hours scheduled and completed, recorded to the nearest tenth hour by the FFS Contract Manager. Standby time is not billable. The contractor must maintain availability on 16 hours' advance notice and provide a substitute helicopter and pilot approved in writing if unable to perform. Penalties are $100 per day for non-availability without prior notice and $100 per unauthorized substitution. The initial term is one year, with up to three additional one-year renewals by mutual agreement. The contract is subject to annual legislative appropriation and carries a one percent MyFloridaMarketPlace transaction fee.

The map appendix identifies 60,954 total planned acres, including 37,857 prescribed burn acres and 12,803 opportune burn acres designated for helicopter-based operations. Place of performance is Tate's Hell State Forest in Franklin County, with bids submitted at the Mayo Building in Tallahassee, Florida. A public bid opening is scheduled for November 16, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., by teleconference or in person. The draft contractual services agreement (FDACS-01085) sets exclusive venue in Leon County and permits contract extensions of up to six months.