Large Airtanker Master Contract (BAe-146 "Tanker 10")

Buyer: Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control

Awardee

Neptune Aviation

Details

Master contract (one-year base plus up to four one-year options, not to exceed five years) for a BAe-146 large airtanker carrying 3,000 gallons of retardant, based at Jeffco Airtanker Base and funded by SB21-049 and SB21-113.

One-year base plus up to four one-year options, not to exceed five years from June 2021 — so the vehicle reaches its maximum term in mid-2026 and must be recompeted for the 2027 season. Colorado still fielded one large air tanker on an exclusive-use contract for 120 days annually as of May 2026, alongside a now much larger state-owned fleet: two Pilatus PC-12 multi-mission aircraft, two Type 1 Firehawk helicopters, two Type 2 helicopters and two contracted AT-802F SEATs. No successor large-airtanker solicitation has been located yet.

Source

Official solicitation / award →