Helicopter Operations Support Unit

The U.S. Forest Service is preparing to recompete its Helicopter Operations Support Unit contract on a national scale, with the solicitation planned for fiscal year 2027. This contract will be awarded as an Incident Blanket Purchase Agreement, designed to provide flexible, rapid-response helicopter support for wildfire suppression, emergency救援, and other incident management needs across the country. The recompete follows a five-year recurrence cycle, ensuring regular evaluation and competition to maintain operational readiness and cost efficiency. The scope is nationwide, with no geographic restrictions on performance, allowing awardees to deploy assets wherever needed in support of federal and interagency missions. The contract falls under the Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and is currently in the forecast phase, with the solicitation expected to be posted on August 1, 2026. While specific details such as NAICS code, set-aside status, and point of contact have not yet been defined, the agency is seeking comprehensive helicopter operations support, likely including aircraft availability, maintenance, crewing, logistics, and readiness services. The resulting contract will serve as a critical tool for sustaining aerial firefighting and emergency response capabilities, enabling swift mobilization during high-demand incident seasons. All information and updates will be available through the official Forest Service business portal.