Exclusive-Use Fixed-Wing Smokejumper Flight Services IDIQ (RFP 140D8020R0010)

Buyer: Department of the Interior

Awardee

Bighorn Airways (acquired by Bridger Aerospace, 2023)

Details

BLM/DOI awarded Bighorn Airways a base-plus-four-option-year IDIQ for fixed-wing smokejumper transport using Dornier aircraft; a bid protest from competitor Leading Edge Aviation Services (offering Twin Otters at $4.37M) was denied by GAO in February 2021.

Bridger Aerospace signed a definitive agreement to acquire Bighorn Airways on 24 July 2023 and closed the deal that year; the smokejumper flight-services work moved with the company. IDIQ 140D8021D0002 was a base plus four option years from February 2021, so its ordering period ran out in early 2026; the last located task order (140D0424F0613, $1,069,333, exclusive-use smokejumper flight services for BLM at Boise) ran 13 May 2024 to 10 October 2024 and closed out in July 2025. Separately, USDA Forest Service ran a National Smokejumper Aircraft Services 2 recompete (solicitation 1202SA24R9100, posted 1 April 2024, responses due 30 September 2024, award notice posted 12 December 2024).

Source

Official solicitation / award →