Sources Sought for Lighter-Than-Air (LTA) Balloon Initial Pilot Flight Training
Sources Sought from FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION • TRANSPORTATION, DEPARTMENT OF. Place of performance: OK. Response deadline: Feb 19, 2026. Industry: NAICS 611512 • PSC U009.
Market snapshot
Awarded-market signal for NAICS 611512 (last 12 months), benchmarked to sector 61.
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More in NAICS 611512
Description
MARKET SURVEY CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT FOR LIGHTER-THAN-AIR (LTA) BALLOON INITIAL PILOT FLIGHT TRAINING
NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. ALL QUESTIONS MUST BE EMAILED TO THE CONTRACT SPECIALIST CONTACT INFORMATION BELOW.
This market survey is issued to identify sources that may provide commercial off the shelf (COTS) Lighter-Than-Air Balloon Initial Flight Training for Flight Standards Operations Inspectors employed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in accordance with the attached Performance Work Statement (PWS).
The purpose of this survey is to solicit statements of interest and capabilities from all businesses that are interested in and capable of providing the training in accordance with the attached Performance Work Statement.
In order to make the determination, the FAA requires the following from interested vendors in accordance with the attached Performance Work Statement:
1. Capability Statement – This document should identify:
- Type of training provided by your firm for each aircraft
- Type of training provided by previous contracts (provide detailed information and past performance)
- SAM UEI number
- Number of years in business
2. Geographic area where training will be provided.
3. Expected approach – Respondents must provide their strategy for accomplishing this work.
The principle North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this effort is 611512 Flight Training, with a size standard of $34 million.
The responses to this market survey will be used for informational purposes only. This is not a Screening Information Request or Request for Proposals of any kind nor is the FAA seeking or accepting unsolicited proposals. The FAA will not pay for any information received or costs incurred in preparing the response to the market survey. Therefore, any cost associated with the market survey submission is solely at the interested vendor’s expense.
At this time the nature of the competition has not been determined. The FAA may decide to do a full and open competition or set aside all or part of the procurement for small businesses or eligible socially and economically disadvantaged business that are certified by the SBA for participation in the SBA’s 8(a) Program.
The purpose of this market survey is to solicit statement of interest and capabilities for small businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, 8(a) certified firms, and all other business types and sized, capable of providing specified Course Instruction.
This market survey is also being conducted in order to obtain the information necessary to determine whether adequate competition exists to set-aside the competition among small businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses or 8(a) certified firms.
If applicable, interested firms which are SBA 8(a) certified are required to submit a copy of the SBA 8(a) certification letter.
All responses to this market survey must be received by 5:00 p.m. CT, February 19, 2026. All submittals should be submitted by email to Federal Aviation Administration Shelley.A.Howard@faa.gov
NOTE: This original announcement was posted on BETA.SAM.gov. If you are viewing this from another source, the information may not contain all pertinent information. You may visit the FAA's website as shown above.
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BidPulsar Analysis
A practical, capture-style breakdown of fit, requirements, risks, and next steps.
The FAA is conducting a market survey to assess capabilities for Lighter-Than-Air (LTA) Balloon Initial Pilot Flight Training, as outlined in solicitation number 6973GH-26-LTA. This opportunity focuses on identifying vendors capable of providing commercial off-the-shelf LTA flight training for FAA Flight Standards Operations Inspectors. Responses are due by 5:00 PM CT on February 19, 2026, and should detail qualifications, training strategies, and geographic training areas.
The FAA seeks to identify capable vendors for providing LTA balloon flight training, with an emphasis on vendors holding relevant certifications and experience.
- Vendors with experience in flight training for LTA operations.
- Businesses certified under the SBA 8(a) program.
- Companies with a SAM UEI number and a solid track record in training.
- Prepare a Capability Statement detailing training types and previous contracts.
- Identify geographic area for training provision.
- Outline the approach for delivering the specified training.
- Capability Statement
- Included performance history and references
- SAM UEI number
- Geographic training area
- Training approach outline
- Ensure adherence to the Performance Work Statement (PWS).
- Compliance with NAICS code 611512 for Flight Training.
- Propose competitive pricing based on industry standards and past contracts.
- Consider offering flexible pricing models for scalable training packages.
- Potential partnerships with specialized training providers.
- Consider collaboration with firms holding complementary aviation training qualifications.
- Potential lack of interest from small businesses if competition is not adequately clear.
- Risk of insufficient response due to unclear solicitation details.
- What are the specific training requirements outlined in the Performance Work Statement?
- What metrics will the FAA use to evaluate capabilities provided by interested vendors?
Source coverage notes
Some notices publish limited source detail. Confirm these points before final bid/no-bid decisions.
- Details of the Performance Work Statement (PWS) are not provided in the brief.
- Geographic restrictions for training are unspecified.
- Potential budgetary constraints for training are not outlined.
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