Safford Aviation Service Inc.

Safford Aviation Service Inc. is a woman-owned small business based in Coolidge, Arizona, specializing in providing critical aerial firefighting and aviation support services to federal agencies. Registered in SAM.gov since 2003, the company operates as a for-profit Subchapter S Corporation and has established itself as a key provider of light fixed-wing aircraft services to government emergency response and resource management operations. The company's primary focus is on supporting wildland fire management through the deployment of aircraft, pilots, and support crews to assist in firefighting, personnel transport, cargo delivery, and aerial reconnaissance missions.

Through its federal contract awards, Safford Aviation Service Inc. has consistently provided aerial support services primarily to the National Interagency Fire Center, a civilian agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service Fire and Aviation Management division. The company's contract awards have been predominantly delivery orders with fixed-price structures, ranging from smaller contracts valued at around $15,000 to larger orders exceeding $400,000. These contracts are not typically set aside for specific business categories, but the company benefits from its status as a woman-owned small business. The services provided include light fixed-wing aircraft deployment, personnel transport, cargo delivery, aerial reconnaissance, fire retardant delivery, and direct aerial firefighting missions across the United States in support of wildfire prevention, suppression, and response efforts.

Safford Aviation Service Inc. holds a significant 10-year, $69 million multiple-award Indefinite Delivery Contract (IDC) with the USDA Forest Service, which is set aside for small businesses. This strategic contract, effective from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2033, enables the National Interagency Fire Center to rapidly acquire aviation assets on an as-needed basis for wildfire response and management operations nationwide. The IDC allows the company to receive multiple delivery orders with a fixed-price and economic price adjustment structure. Under this contract, Safford Aviation Service provides critical light fixed-wing aircraft services, including aerial firefighting support, personnel and cargo transport, and reconnaissance missions. The contract demonstrates the company's important role in supporting federal emergency response capabilities and highlights its specialized expertise in providing flexible, time-sensitive aviation resources to government agencies during critical fire management periods.

Aerial Recon, Partol, Search and rescue, coastal/border patrol, firefighting, Aerial target platform for weapons systems testing, Aerial monitoring, Tactical aircraft platform for simulated defense exercises, natural disaster command and control aircraft