About this opportunity
AI summaryThe Federal Aviation Administration seeks commercial off-the-shelf initial and recurrent ground school and flight qualification training in Douglas DC-3 aircraft for agency Flight Standards Service and Aircraft Certification pilots. The selected contractor must supply qualified instructors, classroom facilities, training aids, and airworthy, certificated aircraft, including all fuel, oil, landing fees, storage, and tie-down services. The agency welcomes statements of interest and capabilities from all business sizes and types, including small businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, and 8(a) certified firms. Interested vendors must email their capability statements, geographic training areas, and expected approaches by 5:00 p.m. CT on November 13, 2026, including an SBA certification letter if applicable.
Scope of work
- Initial pilot qualification ground school
- Initial pilot qualification full flight simulator or aircraft flight training
- Recurrent pilot ground school
- Recurrent pilot full flight simulator or aircraft flight training
- Supplementary training hours as authorized by the Contracting Officer
- Differences training for variant aircraft configurations
- Furnishing training aids, facilities, Pilot Operating Handbooks, and syllabi
- Provision of aircraft, fuel, oil, landing fees, storage, and tie-down services
Minimum qualifications
- FAA approved training program under 14 CFR Part 121, 135, 141, or 142
- Level C or D full flight simulator, or Level 6 or 7 flight training device, if simulators are used
- Instructors authorized under the contractor approved training program
- Airworthy aircraft certificated in the normal category by the FAA with back-up availability
Documents to include with your response
- Capability Statement
- SAM UEI number
- Documentation of past performance and previous contracts
- Documentation of geographic area where training will be provided
- Expected approach strategy for accomplishing work
- Documentation of approved training program
- Copy of SBA 8(a) certification letter, if applicable
Key dates
- Responses due
- 5:00 p.m. CT, November 13, 2026
How to submit
- Method
- Instructions
- All questions and responses must be emailed to the Contract Specialist. Submissions must include capability statement, geographic area, and expected approach.
Contract details
- Funding
- Title 49 of the United States Code (49 U.S.C.)
Federal notice details
- Solicitation number
- 6973GH-27-R-DC3
- Agency
- Department of Transportation
- Buying office
- Federal Aviation Administration › 6973GH Franchise Acquisition SVCS
- Notice type
- Sources Sought
- Responses due
- Nov 13, 2027, 6:00 PM ET
- Posted on SAM.gov
- Oct 29, 2026
- NAICS
- 611512 · Flight Training
- Product/service code
- U009
- Contracting contact
- Shelley Howard
shelley.a.howard@faa.gov
Source: SAM.gov. Read the official notice for the complete description and current instructions.
Incumbent and award research
Likely prior awards for this requirement
Likely matchAwarded by the same buying office (6973GH) with descriptions matching "douglas" or "initial". The notice does not name its current contract, so confirm before relying on it.
| Vendor and award | Value | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| BERRY AVIATION, INC.6973GH26F01399 · EMBRAER EMB-120 INITIAL PILOT QUALIFICATION TRAINING COURSE 28016 | $136.6K | May 31, 2031 |
| HELICOPTER EXPRESS LLC6973GH26P02917 · S-64 INITIAL AND RECURRENT PILOT QUALIFICATION TRAINING | $542.0K | Nov 1, 2028 |
| FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL INC6973GH23F01011 · GULFSTREAM G500 (GVII) INITIAL PILOT QUALIFICATION TRAINING. COURSE #21800064 | $97,000 | Jan 9, 2028 |
| FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL INC6973GH24F00471 · HONDAJET HA-420 INITIAL PILOT QUALIFICATION TRAINING COURSE #21800049 | $34,905 | Sep 30, 2027 |
| FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL INC6973GH26F01229 · CESSNA CITATION LONGITUDE CE-700 INITIAL PILOT QUALIFICATION TRAINING COURSE #21800062 | $64,690 | Sep 18, 2027 |
Market context
Awards in the same category (Flight Training). This is not this requirement's award history.
Recent similar awards: Department of Transportation, NAICS 611512
| Vendor and award | Value | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| CAE SIMUFLITE, INC6973GH26F00240 · CHALLENGER 600 SERIES MAINTENANCE TRAINING-BASE YEAR CS: TAMMY CLAIBORNE CO: BILL BOYER CO | $643.7K | Dec 31, 2030 |
| FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL INC6973GH26F00243 · KING AIR 300 SERIES MAINTENANCE TRAINING- BASE YEAR CS: TAMMY CLAIBORNE CO: BILL BOYER CO | $849.1K | Nov 30, 2030 |
| NATIONAL TEST PILOT SCHOOL INC6973GH25F00657 · SURVEY COURSE ON AIRCRAFT ICING COURSE 28359 | $36,800 | Oct 14, 2029 |
| CLEARSKY JOINT VENTURES, LLC6973GH24F00183 · AMA-200 INSTRUCTOR SUPPORT SERVICES CONTRACT - AIR L/H & TRVL INCREMENTALLY FUNDED. | $61,336 | Nov 30, 2028 |
Top vendors in this category: Department of Transportation, NAICS 611512, since Oct 1, 2024
283 contract awards in this NAICS over the period.
- 1. ALLEN CORPORATION OF AMERICA, INC.$28.3M
- 2. STRATEGIC KEYBRIDGE PARTNERS LLC$8.4M
- 3. FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL INC$7.7M
- 4. CLEARSKY JOINT VENTURES, LLC$7.1M
- 5. CAE SIMUFLITE, INC$4.0M
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.