What the buyer needs
AI summaryThe Department of the Interior requires fully contractor-operated and maintained on-call helicopter flight services to transport personnel and cargo in Alaska. The scope includes provisions for a helicopter, personnel, and equipment to support natural resource missions such as fire management, search and rescue, animal management, overwater operations, and law enforcement surveillance. During availability periods, furnished aircraft remain under exclusive Government control. Only small businesses under NAICS code 481211 and vendors registered in SAM at proposal submission are eligible to bid. Bidders must hold an FAA Air Carrier or Operating Certificate and operate aircraft under 14 CFR Part 121 or Part 135 with appropriate FAA airworthiness certificates. Bidders submit proposals electronically through SAM.gov, with an anticipated solicitation issuance on or about September 25, 2025, and a projected closing date of November 05, 2026. The buyer anticipates awarding multiple Indefinite Quantity, Indefinite Delivery contracts. The estimated contract period features a five-year ordering period running from March 1, 2027, through February 29, 2032.
Scope of work
- Fire suppression, fire monitoring, initial attack, prescribed fire, and aerial ignition
- Rehabilitation seeding
- Search and rescue (SAR)
- Aerial capture, eradication and tagging of animals (ACETA)
- Overwater, platform, and vessel landings
- Nonthreatening surveillance law enforcement
- Administrative and natural resource activity support
- Provision of helicopter, personnel, and associated equipment
Minimum qualifications
- Registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at time of proposal
- Current FAA Air Carrier and/or Operating Certificate
- Operations Specifications authorizing required category, class, and flight conditions
- Aircraft operated and maintained under 14 CFR Part 121 or 14 CFR Part 135
- 14 CFR Part 135 aircraft listed per 14 CFR 135.63 unless authorized by Contracting Officer
- Fractional-ownership aircraft operated under 14 CFR Part 135
- Standard Airworthiness Certificate under 14 CFR 21.183
- Restricted airworthiness certificate under 14 CFR 21.25 and 21.185 if required
How to submit
- Method
- Electronic via SAM.gov
- Instructions
- The solicitation will be posted under Contract Opportunities at www.SAM.gov.
Incumbent and award research
Likely prior awards for this requirement
Likely matchAwarded by the same buying office (140D04) with descriptions matching "helicopter" or "flight". The notice does not name its current contract, so confirm before relying on it.
| Vendor and award | Value | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| SUBURBAN AIR EXPRESS, INC.140D0423F0608 · ON CALL AIR ATTACK FLIGHT SERVICES FOR BLM | $1.0M | Apr 30, 2028 |
| HMC HELICOPTER SERVICE LLC140D0426F0662 · ON CALL SMALL HELICOPTER FLIGHT SERVICE IN SUPPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR WILDF | $38,947 | Nov 30, 2027 |
| REEDER FLYING SERVICE, INC.140D0427F1140 · ON CALL SMALL TYPE III HELICOPTER FLIGHT SERVICES - FY 27 FIRE REEDER FLYING SERVICE | $128.7K | Sep 30, 2027 |
| BRISTOW LLC140D0426FE002 · FY27 HELICOPTER FLIGHT SERVICES | $35.7M | Sep 30, 2027 |
| MOUNTAIN AIR HELICOPTERS INC140D0426FF050 · ON CALL TYPE III HELICOPTER FLIGHT SERVICES FOR GILA TROUT GENETIC RESCUE SPRUCE CREEK | $30,112 | Sep 30, 2027 |
Market context
Awards in the same category (Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation). This is not this requirement's award history.
Recent similar awards: Department of the Interior, NAICS 481211
| Vendor and award | Value | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| BRISTOW LLC140D8022F0001 · USCG FLIGHT SERVICES IN GOMR | $827.1K | Sep 30, 2031 |
| BRISTOW LLC140D0423F0069 · USCG FLIGHT SERVICES TASK ORDER IN THE GULF OF MEXICO REGION | $845.0K | Sep 30, 2031 |
| BIGHORN AIRWAYS INC140D0426F0268 · EU PERIOD FOR BLM FW SMOKEJUMPERS - FORT WAINWRIGHT, AK | $5.4M | Feb 28, 2031 |
| HILLCREST AIRCRAFT COMPANY140D0423F0410 · EU HELICOPTER SERVICES, BLM VALE, OR. | $814.7K | Oct 24, 2028 |
| SPUR AVIATION SERVICES, LC140D0425F0633 · TASK ORDER FOR SALT LAKE CITY AIR ATTACK SERVICES | $1.3M | Apr 30, 2028 |
Top vendors in this category: Department of the Interior, NAICS 481211, since Oct 1, 2024
1,632 contract awards in this NAICS over the period.
- 1. BRISTOW LLC$57.2M
- 2. BRIDGER AEROSPACE GROUP, LLC$38.9M
- 3. PATHFINDER AVIATION LLC$18.9M
- 4. BRAINERD HELICOPTERS, INC$18.1M
- 5. TEMSCO HELICOPTERS INC$15.9M
Source: USAspending.gov federal award data (U.S. federal public data). A contract is called the incumbent only when the notice or its documents cite it by number.