How to bid on Combat Rescue Helicopter Simulator Facility construction for DEPT of the Army

What the agency is buying and why a vendor would care

The Department of the Army, through the California National Guard, plans to award a single fixed-price contract for the construction of a Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) Operational Flight Trainer (OFT) simulator facility at Moffett Air National Guard Base in Mountain View, California.

This project is a 100% small business set-aside, with an estimated construction value between $10 million and $25 million. The contract duration is anticipated to be 400 calendar days after the notice to proceed. This is a significant opportunity for small businesses in the construction sector.

Key dates and what happens at the deadline

This is a Request for Information (RFI) published on July 22, 2026, with a deadline of August 11, 2026, at 1:00 PM ET. This RFI is for planning purposes and is not a solicitation for bids.

The formal Invitation for Bids (IFB) is tentatively planned for August 13, 2026. A pre-bid conference and site visit are tentatively scheduled for September 3, 2026. The bid opening date is tentatively planned for October 6, 2026. Actual dates and times will be provided in the formal solicitation.

Who this opportunity suits

This opportunity is specifically for small businesses in the construction industry. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 236220, which covers Commercial and Institutional Building Construction, with a small business size standard of $45,000,000.

Firms with experience in constructing specialized facilities, particularly those involving sensitive equipment or specific brand-name installations like Advantor IDS, AutomatedLogic EMCS, and Monaco Fire and Mass Notification System, will find this relevant.

How to respond to this RFI and future solicitation

To view the original source of this RFI, 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 for some bids this is not required.

For the upcoming solicitation, all documents and technical data will be distributed via the Contract Opportunities module of the SAM website. Interested offerors must be registered in SAM. Technical data may be locked and require explicit access requests from the contracting office or via export-controlled access through the Defense Logistics Agency.

Electronic submission of bids is anticipated through the Solicitation module of the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment (PIEE) website. Bidders must be registered with PIEE and have access to the Solicitation Module granted by their firm’s Contract Administrator. It is advised to begin gaining access to these systems as soon as possible.

Practical tips for preparing a competitive response

Given the specific brand-name and sole-source requirements mentioned (Advantor IDS, AutomatedLogic EMCS, Monaco Fire and Mass Notification System, Best door lock cores), ensure your team has experience with these systems or can demonstrate a clear plan for their integration.

Attend the pre-bid conference and site visit if possible. This is an invaluable opportunity to understand the project scope, ask questions, and assess site conditions firsthand. Pay close attention to registration and base access requirements.

Start the process of registering with SAM and PIEE immediately. These registrations can take time, and delays could prevent you from submitting a timely bid. Familiarize yourself with the PIEE Solicitation Module and ensure your firm’s Contract Administrator grants you the necessary access.