How to bid on Commercial Aviation Services for NASA's Snow4Flow Mission

What NASA is buying and why it matters

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Center is looking for a contractor to provide commercial aviation services. This includes a ski-equipped survey aircraft, its modification, and operation for the Snow4Flow Arctic science missions. The contract also covers flight crew, maintenance, insurance, instrument support, and flight operations.

This is an Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract with a maximum value of $9 million over a four-year ordering period, plus a potential six-month extension. There is a guaranteed minimum of $75,000. The work involves supporting Arctic geophysical survey campaigns planned from 2027 through 2029 in locations such as Alaska, the Yukon and Canadian High Arctic, Svalbard, and Greenland. This opportunity is significant for aviation service providers with specialized aircraft and operational capabilities in challenging environments.

Key dates and what happens at the deadline

This solicitation was published on July 31, 2026. If you have questions, they must be submitted by email to [email protected] by August 7, 2026, at 5:00 PM Pacific Time. Telephone questions will not be accepted.

Offers are due by August 14, 2026, at 5:00 PM Pacific Time (8:00 PM ET). Offers must be emailed to [email protected] and must comply with the instructions in the attached solicitation. Late offers may not be considered.

Who this opportunity suits

This opportunity is suitable for firms in the transportation category, specifically those with expertise in commercial aviation services, aircraft modification, and operations in remote, Arctic environments. The NAICS Code is 481219, with a size standard of $25.0 million. This is an unrestricted acquisition, meaning all responsible sources may submit an offer.

Vendors should have experience providing aircraft, flight crews, maintenance, and insurance, as well as supporting scientific instrument integration and flight operations for geophysical surveys. The ability to operate in locations like Alaska, the Canadian Arctic, Svalbard, and Greenland is essential.

How to respond to this solicitation

To access the full solicitation details and documents, click “View original source” on the portal. If you land on the homepage, click it again to go directly to the bid. You may need a free account to view all documents.

Your offer must be submitted by email to [email protected] by the deadline. It must include the solicitation number, proposed delivery/performance schedule, discount and payment terms, warranty duration (if applicable), your taxpayer identification number, identification of any special commercial terms, and must be signed by an authorized company representative. You must also be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at the time of offer.

Tips for a competitive response

Carefully review all attached documents, especially the Statement of Work (Attachment J-1), Contract Data Requirements List (Attachment J-2), and Pricing Tables (Attachment J-3). These will provide specific details on the required services and deliverables.

The government will award a contract to the lowest-priced, technically acceptable offer. This means your proposal must clearly demonstrate technical acceptability first, without exceeding the requirements, and then present a competitive price. Ensure your offer addresses all technical requirements thoroughly to be rated acceptable.

Pay close attention to the Addendum to FAR 52.212-1 (DEVIATION) for specific proposal submission instructions. Ensure all required information from FAR 52.212-1 is included, and that your company's size status for this acquisition is clearly stated in your offer.