SAM #1202SA-2026-IPAB-001

USDA Forest Service Market Research for Alaskan Helicopter Support Services

The USDA Forest Service is conducting market research on Alaskan providers of helicopter support for wildfire and related missions. - Government buyer: USDA Forest Service, Helicopter Program, Incident Procurement Aviation Branch. - Requested services: Helicopters and crews for fire suppression and monitoring, initial attack, prescribed fire and aerial ignition, short-haul, rappel, limited non-threatening law-enforcement surveillance, reconnaissance, and related administrative and resource activities. - Service arrangements: Work may be provided on a Call-When-Needed basis, with no guaranteed minimum usage, or through Exclusive Use arrangements that dedicate aircraft and crews to the Government for a defined period. - Vendors and OEMs: No vendors, aircraft manufacturers, or aircraft models are named. - Notable context: This is market research to identify capable Alaskan vendors and assess whether to open an on-ramp to the existing multiple-award contract; it is not a request for specific aircraft or equipment.

Description

1. PURPOSE

This is a Sources Sought Notice for market research only. It is NOT a solicitation, request for proposal, or request for quote, and it does not commit the Government to issue a solicitation or award a contract.

In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. The Government will not pay for any information submitted or for costs incurred in responding.

The US Forest Service Helicopter Program is seeking to identify Alaskan vendors that can provide helicopter services. The Government will use responses to determine the possibility of issuing an on-ramp opportunity for its current Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC).

2. BACKGROUND

Missions will include, but are not limited to, fire suppression, fire monitoring, initial attack, prescribed fire and aerial ignition, short-haul, rappel, law enforcement limited to non-threatening surveillance, reconnaissance, and other administrative and related resource activities.  The Forest Service Helicopter Program contracts helicopter support in Alaska and the rest of the United States under two contract types:

- Call-When-Needed (CWN): Aircraft and crews are available on an as-needed basis at pre-negotiated rates, with no guaranteed minimum usage.

- Exclusive Use: Aircraft and crews are dedicated solely to the Government for a defined period, with guaranteed availability and fixed daily or availability rates plus flight-hour charges.

3. REQUESTED INFORMATION

Company Information.

              1.           Company name

              2.           Company mailing address

              3.           Company point of contact (name & title)

              4.           Point of contact's telephone numbers and email address

4.  RESPONSE GUIDELINES

Companies who wish to respond to this Sources Sought should send responses via email no later than Noon, Alaskan Standard Time, November 16, 2026 to Jermain.compton@usda.gov.  Please use the following subject line when sending email:  Sources Sought - Alaskan Vendors.

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