How to bid on COCO Helicopter Services for Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai (N0042126R1010)

What the agency is buying

The Department of Defense, specifically the Naval Air Warfare Center-Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), is seeking a contractor to provide contractor-owned and contractor-operated (COCO) helicopter services. This includes helicopters, crews, and related support for the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) on Kauai, Hawaii, and the broader Hawaiian Operating Area.

The work involves various tasks such as target recovery, visual surveillance, range clearing, transporting military and government personnel, moving hazardous materials (ordinance), and providing firefighting support when needed. This is a competitive, fixed-price opportunity for a period of four years and 364 days.

Key dates and deadlines

The solicitation was published on August 13, 2026. If you have questions about the solicitation, they must be submitted by August 28, 2026, at 12:00 PM EDT. All proposals are due by September 14, 2026, at 12:00 PM EDT. Proposals must be submitted through the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment (PIEE) module.

Who this opportunity suits

This opportunity is suitable for firms specializing in air transportation services, particularly those providing nonscheduled air transportation. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this requirement is 481219, 'Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation'. The Product Service Code (PSC) is V121, 'Transportation/travel/relocation- Transportation: Air Charter'. Vendors should have the capability to provide and operate helicopters with skilled flight crews for diverse operational support tasks.

How to respond

To access the solicitation, click the 'View original source' link. If you land on the portal's homepage, click the link again to go directly to the bid. You may need a free account to view documents, though this is not always required.

Some solicitation attachments contain Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). To access these, you must email the Contract Specialist, Sherona Thomas ([email protected]), and the Contracting Officer, David Silverstone ([email protected]). Your email must include a statement acknowledging that you understand and accept the conditions for accessing, using, safeguarding, and not disclosing CUI documents. These documents will be distributed via DOD SAFE.

All questions related to the solicitation should be submitted directly in the PIEE module using the 'Post a Question' feature. If your question contains proprietary information, email it to both the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer. Proposals must be submitted through the PIEE module by the deadline.

Practical tips for preparing a competitive response

Carefully review all solicitation documents, especially those marked as CUI, to fully understand the scope of services required. Ensure your proposal clearly addresses each tasking requirement, such as target recovery, surveillance, personnel transport, and firefighting support, detailing your firm's capability to perform these specific functions.

Highlight the experience and qualifications of your proposed flight crews, demonstrating their skills for the required tasks. Since this is a fixed-price contract, ensure your pricing is competitive and accurately reflects the costs of providing contractor-owned and operated helicopters and services for the specified duration and location. Pay close attention to the submission instructions for PIEE and adhere strictly to all deadlines for questions and proposals.