DPAA Papua New Guinea Helicopter Requirement

The United States Transportation Command is soliciting proposals for rotary-wing aviation support services in Papua New Guinea to assist the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in conducting remote recovery missions. The contract requires the provision of up to three helicopters operating simultaneously to support between one and three missions annually, each lasting between 14 and 90 days, with capabilities including passenger and cargo transport, sling load operations, and 24/7 on-call medical evacuation. The work is defined by a Performance Work Statement and must adhere to strict safety, operational, and cybersecurity standards aligned with DOD, FAA, NIST, and NISPOM requirements. Proposals must be submitted electronically by August 14, 2026, in four volumes covering business compliance, technical capability, past performance, and pricing, with strict formatting rules including a 30-page limit for the technical volume and mandatory use of PDF for all volumes except the pricing table, which must be submitted as an editable Excel file. The solicitation number is HTC71126RE147, issued under NAICS code 481211 with no small business set-aside, and proposals must include completed attachments detailing aircraft specifications, compliance checklists, technical capabilities, and past performance records. The contract is structured as a Firm-Fixed-Price Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (FFP IDIQ) with a base period from July 1, 2027, through June 30, 2028, and four one-year options plus a six-month extension up to December 2032. The government’s estimated total evaluated price is $1,053,050.16, including a $10,000 minimum guarantee and reimbursable fuel costs subject to a not-to-exceed limit, though actual contract value may vary based on fuel usage and option exercises. Evaluation prioritizes business compliance and technical capability as mandatory pass/fail thresholds; proposals failing either are ineligible. Past performance is weighted more heavily than price and assessed on scope, magnitude, and complexity of prior austere-environment operations. Price is evaluated last and must be reasonable and unbalanced pricing is grounds for rejection. Contractors must meet stringent air safety standards under clause 5552.247-9000, maintain aircraft in compliance with FAA and DOD regulations, and comply with cybersecurity requirements including DFARS 252.204-7012