Description
The USDA Forest Service is issuing an IDIQ firm‑fixed‑price solicitation for amphibious, turbine‑powered, multi‑engine water‑scooper aircraft services. The contract will provide initial‑attack and extended‑attack water‑drop capabilities for wild‑land fires across the United States, with a one‑year base period and up to nine one‑year option extensions (potential total contract term of up to ten years). Contractors must supply fully certified amphibious aircraft (minimum 1,400‑gallon water capacity), qualified flight crews, maintenance personnel, and a Safety Management System, and must be ready to launch within 15 minutes of notification. Daily availability and hourly flight rates will be paid, with an extended‑standby rate of $70 per hour for additional crew beyond the first nine hours of a 14‑hour day. The solicitation has a total ceiling of $2.5 billion, with a guaranteed minimum of $10,000 per award for the base year.
• Provide 7‑day‑on, 15‑minute response‑time water‑scooping services using amphibious aircraft (≥ 1,400 gal capacity).
• Maintain full FAA Part 137, Part 145, and Inter‑Agency Airtanker Board certifications; operate under strict safety, reporting, and environmental requirements.
• Submit daily availability reports by 10:00 a.m. MDT; comply with pre‑use inspection documentation ≥ 7 days before each task order.