AB-2025-04913 - Helicopter Flight Services in the Oil Sands Region (OSR)

The Province will establish one or more multi-year contracts for helicopter flight services through an open competition process, inviting interested and qualified helicopter service providers to participate. The goal of this contracting process is to secure one or more contractors capable of delivering helicopter flight services using appropriately sized helicopters that can accommodate field staff and required equipment loads, in compliance with current and ongoing OSM Program needs and Occupational Health and Safety guidelines.

By establishing multi-year contracts, the OSM Branch can better coordinate service bookings based on contractor availability and seasonal project requirements. Helicopter flight services will primarily be required out of Fort McMurray, in the Lower Athabasca Region (Figure 2.0), with potential temporary staging in alternate locations such as Fort Chipewyan or Lac La Biche.

Helicopter flight services will be required for monitoring activities such as, but not limited to: • Surface Water Quality Monitoring, • Wetland Ecosystem Monitoring, • Aquatic Ecosystem Health Monitoring (e.g. fisheries), • Surface Water Quantity Monitoring, • Hydrometric Station Maintenance, and • Groundwater Monitoring.