North Carolina Forest Service - Forest Protection (NCFS-FP) Type 1 Helicopter Services

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS) is requesting bids for commercially available twin-turbine, heavy-lift helicopter fire-suppression services under IFB 10-IFB-2312204550-TT, with bids due October 1, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET and a mandatory pre-bid conference on September 14, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET in Asheville. Attendance at the pre-bid conference is mandatory; late arrivals are prohibited from participation.

The aircraft must be equipped with a wildfire suppression water handling system capable of delivering a minimum of 2,600 gallons of water and must lift a minimum of 23,400 pounds at 6,000 feet mean sea level at 25 degrees Celsius with 200-pound pilots and 1.5 hours of fuel. All operations must comply with National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Standards for Helicopter Operations (PMS 510) and Federal Aviation Administration standards. Services are required only during Mandatory Availability Periods (MAPs): November 1–30, 2026, and March 1–April 30, 2027, with mobilization required within 72 hours of written notification. The designated dispatch point must be located within the geographic area bounded by Sylva, North Carolina (western boundary) and Hickory, North Carolina (eastern boundary), with allowable areas including North Wilkesboro, Taylorsville, Lincolnton, and Gastonia.

The contract will have an initial one-year term beginning on the date of final execution, with the State holding the option to renew for up to two additional one-year terms upon written notice required no later than 60 days before the end of each term. Pricing shall include daily availability rates for 30-day periods in November, March, and April; flight hour rates with an estimated maximum of 60 flight hours per month; and mobilization and demobilization costs for each MAP. Invoices will be submitted monthly based on actual services rendered, with payment contingent upon inspection and acceptance.

Bidders must provide at least three customer references for services of similar size and scope, demonstrate financial stability through certification, register with the North Carolina Secretary of State, and comply with all federal and state employment and fair employment requirements. Written questions are due September 21, 2026 at 10:00 AM ET, with responses provided by September 25, 2026.