# SAM #1202SA-2026-IPAB-001

USDA Forest Service Market Research for Alaskan Helicopter Support Services

**Buyer:** Incident Procurement Aviation Branch
**Posted:** October 30, 2026
**Respond By:** November 16, 2026
**Identifier:** 1202SA-2026-IPAB-001
**NAICS:** 481212, 481211

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

<p>1. PURPOSE</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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).</p>

<p>2. BACKGROUND</p>

<p>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.&nbsp; The Forest Service Helicopter Program contracts helicopter support in Alaska and the rest of the United States under two contract types:</p>

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

<p>- 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.</p>

<p>3. REQUESTED INFORMATION</p>

<p>Company Information.</p>

<p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Company name</p>

<p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Company mailing address</p>

<p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Company point of contact (name &amp; title)</p>

<p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Point of contact&#39;s telephone numbers and email address</p>

<p></p>

<p>4. &nbsp;RESPONSE GUIDELINES</p>

<p>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.&nbsp; Please use the following subject line when sending email:&nbsp; Sources Sought - Alaskan Vendors.</p>

[View original listing](https://sam.gov/opp/4ab1f90e5a884c21ba930e702980e172/view)