The Province invites Respondents to submit Responses for the provision of Intermediate Helicopter Services, which will be provided to BC Wildfire Services (“BCWS”), a branch within the Ministry of Forests. The Intermediate Helicopter Services utilize Intermediate Helicopters for a variety of purposes, including during initial attack response, large fire support, reconnaissance, aerial infrared scanning, aerial ignition, the transportation of fire crews and personnel to and from remote and/or fire line locations, transportation of cargo (including dangerous goods) both internally and externally, fire suppression activities including bucketing on fires, and other activities as required to help support BCWS in managing wildfires and fire suppression activities. The Intermediate Helicopter Services may also be used for other Ministry of Forests activities and/or activities that support the Province. Intermediate Helicopter Services will include the provision of an Intermediate Helicopter, Pilot and Maintenance Crew.
The Province is seeking four (4) Intermediate Helicopters that meet the requirements and minimum performance parameters set out in section 3.3.1 of the NRSA and Schedule 1 – Helicopter Requirements and Schedule 2 Helicopter Performance Useful Load to Appendix B section 12.1. For greater certainty, most AS350B3 and Bell 407 models will meet this minimum requirement.
NOTE:
A Respondent may propose one or more Intermediate Helicopter(s), provided that a separate Response is submitted for each Intermediate Helicopter proposed.
Respondents are not required to have the Intermediate Helicopter equipped for service at the Closing Date and Time but are to specify the designated Intermediate Helicopter in their Response including the information in Schedule 2 – Helicopter Performance Useful Load. Prior to the Closing Date and Time, Respondents are required to: (a) own or lease the Intermediate Helicopter; (b) have a contract to purchase or lease the Intermediate Helicopter; or (c) have a tentative purchase or lease agreement, based on the successful award of the Standing Arrangement, for the Intermediate Helicopter.
NOTE:
If successful, the Respondent is required to have the proposed Intermediate Helicopter in their possession by no later than April 1, 2026 and available for initial inspection
prior to execution of the Standing Arrangement
. Please see section 4 below for more information on the initial inspection. Passing the initial inspection is a condition precedent to the Province entering into the Standing Arrangement.
Each Year during the term, there is an annual “Operating Period” and a “Service Period.” During the Service Period, the Contractor must be ready and available to provide the Intermediate Helicopter Services upon notice by the Province. For greater certainty, the Contractor will be obligated during the Service Period to provide all Intermediate Helicopter Services requested by the Province. The Contractor will be paid the proposed Daily Availability Fee during the Service Period and if Dispatched, will also be paid the proposed Flight Time Rate. During the Service Period, the Province will provide directions and instructions to the Contractor indicating where and when the Contractor will be operating. The Province will consider factors such as closest to the Incident, lowest Flight Time Rate, and availability for Dispatch when exercising its discretion on which Contractor to Dispatch. The Province will notify each Contractor of their Service Period (i.e., a period of not less than one-hundred and twenty-four consecutive days (124)) before February 15th annually. For greater certainty, Service Periods may be set for varying dates (i.e., Contractors may have difference Service Periods); however, each will be for a minimum of 124 consecutive days.
The Operating Period is the period outside the Service Period, during which the Province may, on an as if and when requested basis, issue a Service Request to the Contractor in accordance with the Call off Process set out in section 4.4. However, unlike Intermediate Helicopter Services requested during the Service Period, the Contractor is not obligated to provide Intermediate Helicopter Services requested during the Operating Period.
NOTE:
The Intermediate Helicopter, Pilots and Maintenance Crew will be required to be located at the Base Location during the Service Period, unless otherwise instructed by the Province.
Further,
on an annual basis, upon notice by the Province, the Contractor will be required to make its Intermediate Helicopter available for annual inspection by the Province (see Schedule A, section 29 of Standing Arrangement).
