RFP26009: Purchase of large airtanker for wildland firefighting

Buyer: Texas A&M Forest Service

Details

Competitive solicitation (RFP26009) to acquire large airtanker aircraft, funded from the $257 million the Texas Legislature appropriated in 2025 for Texas A&M Forest Service to purchase, operate and maintain wildfire suppression aircraft. It follows the agency's first dedicated firefighting aircraft purchase (two Subaru Bell 412EPX helicopters, announced July 16, 2026). As of July 24, 2026 the agency stated that four large airtankers 'remain in the procurement process' — the solicitation has closed but no award has been announced.

VALUE CAUTION: the $257M figure is a two-year legislative appropriation for the entire Texas A&M Forest Service aviation program, not the value of RFP26009 — do not attach it to this record as a contract value. Also do not conflate this record with Bridger Aerospace's $58M Texas A&M Forest Service award announced July 27, 2026, which is for three King Air 360 multi-mission surveillance aircraft, not large airtankers. Re-checked August 2026: no award notice or value for RFP26009 has been published on GovTribe, HigherGov or the Texas LBB contracts database (robots-blocked), and Texas A&M Forest Service has issued no award release.

Source

Official solicitation / award →