Texas A&M Forest Service

The 89th Texas Legislature appropriated $257 million for the agency to purchase, operate and maintain its first-ever dedicated wildfire suppression aircraft fleet; first purchases (two Bell 412EPX helicopters) were announced in July 2026 with multimission fixed-wing aircraft and large airtankers to follow.

Buys

• Detection & sensing
• Forest & fuels
• Suppression & aerial

Contracts & solicitations (6)

• Purchase of two SUBARU Bell 412EPX firefighting helicopters
• RFP26009: Purchase of large airtanker for wildland firefighting
• Mechanical Fuel Reduction Grant (Central Texas)
• Texas A&M Forest Service commissions statewide wildfire fuelscape and
• Two SUBARU Bell 412EPX helicopters - first dedicated wildland aircraft
• Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program equipment award

Procurement portal

https://www.txsmartbuy.gov/esbd