Sources Sought
BELL 412 EPX Flight Training Device
Department of Defense · Department of the Army
AI summaryThis is a sources sought notice (market research, not an offer request) from the U.S. Army for one Bell 412 EPX helicopter flight training device, with installation and training in Guatemala, bought through Foreign Military Sales (FMS, U.S.-arranged sales to a partner country). SAM.gov gives a response due date of November 14, 2026, 12:00 PM Eastern, but the attached notice says November 18, 2026, 12:00 PM EST. The Army may set the buy aside for small businesses or compete it openly. More in the summary
Market research, not a bid. Replying is free and tells Department of the Army who could do this work. Send a short reply to the contracting contact; no price is needed. See the contact
AI summary Beta
This is a sources sought notice (market research, not an offer request) from the U.S. Army for one Bell 412 EPX helicopter flight training device, with installation and training in Guatemala, bought through Foreign Military Sales (FMS, U.S.-arranged sales to a partner country). SAM.gov gives a response due date of November 14, 2026, 12:00 PM Eastern, but the attached notice says November 18, 2026, 12:00 PM EST. The Army may set the buy aside for small businesses or compete it openly.
Who can bid
- Any resulting contract must meet the Berry Amendment's specialty metals restriction (DFARS clauses 252.225-7008 and 252.225-7009)
- Small business prime contractors must meet the limitations on subcontracting clause (FAR 52.219-14) if the buy is set aside
How to submit: Email to Ms. Rosa Rivera, Contract Specialist, rosa.rivera53.civ@army.mil and Mr. Daniel Fletcher, APM, Daniel.j.fletcher31.civ@army.mil, due November 14, 2026, 12:00 PM Eastern (SAM.gov); the attached notice says 12:00 PM EST on November 18, 2026. What to include is under Full summary below. Check the solicitation's instructions on SAM.gov.
Things to watch (6)
From the version posted Oct 22, 2026.
- Worth checking: Work is in Guatemala, outside the United States. Installation, commissioning and acceptance testing happen at CACEN, Guatemala. The notice does not describe local office, host-country license, currency or tax rules.
- Worth checking: Foreign Military Sales buy for Guatemala. The Army is buying for another country, and the method of procurement is not yet decided; it may be a small business set-aside or full and open competition.
- Worth checking: Demanding simulator standard. The device must reach FTD Level 6 or an equivalent standard and support qualification with several aviation authorities, with a qualification test guide from the manufacturer.
Show all 6Show fewer
- Worth checking: Berry Amendment specialty metals rule applies. Metals used in the device must meet the Berry Amendment, which limits where specialty metals can come from.
- Worth checking: Long-term manufacturer support required. The manufacturer must keep maintenance centers or equivalent support with spare parts and technical help for the life of the simulator.
- Minor: Ten-page limit on the response. The capabilities package must stay within ten pages and also carry cost, schedule and design information.
Read from the notice and 2 attachments. Show which files.
- Guatemala Bell 412 EPX FTD Technical Requirements_10.21.2026.pdf (read)
- SSN_Guatemala_FTD Bell EPX_Final_10.21.2026.pdf (read)
Full summary
What they want
- One (1) Bell 412 EPX flight training device (FTD) meeting the attached technical requirements, including a multi-crew cockpit, flight model, visual system and vibration cues
- An instructor/operator station and a debriefing station
- Documentation: operator and instructor manuals, maintenance manual, as-built configuration baseline and continuing qualification procedures
- Training for operators, instructors and maintenance staff on operation, maintenance tasks and the instructor station
- Installation, commissioning and on-site acceptance testing at Comando Aéreo Central "La Aurora" (CACEN), Guatemala
- A rough order of magnitude (ROM, ballpark) cost and schedule for meeting all the requirements
- Period of performance
- Not stated. Replies should give a time frame from award to final delivery and address six-months support (repair and return).
- Place of performance
- Comando Aéreo Central "La Aurora" (CACEN), Guatemala (SAM.gov lists GTM, outside the United States)
- Estimated value
- Not stated
- Offers due
- November 14, 2026, 12:00 PM Eastern (SAM.gov); the attached notice says 12:00 PM EST on November 18, 2026
- How to submit
- Email to Ms. Rosa Rivera, Contract Specialist, rosa.rivera53.civ@army.mil and Mr. Daniel Fletcher, APM, Daniel.j.fletcher31.civ@army.mil
- Page limits
- Capabilities statement package: no more than ten 8.5 X 11-inch pages, font no smaller than 10 point, in bullet format
What to include when you submit
- Send a Microsoft Word (.docx) or PDF file
- Put the sources sought number in the email subject line and on all enclosed documents
- Give organization name, address, points of contact with email, web site, telephone number and type of ownership
- Send tailored capability statements for each requirement, with documents backing up organization and staff capability
- Describe your familiarity and specific experience with training solutions that meet the requirements
- Describe resources to develop, produce, install and commission one Bell 412 EPX FTD, including training and documentation
- Give your estimated time frame from contract award to final delivery and your total cost for this effort
- State footprint, weight, standard power (110/220V) and basic HVAC needs; installation and commissioning costs go in the total cost estimate
- If a small business plans to use a Similarly Situated Entity (a similar small business partner) to meet limits on subcontracting, name that firm, its Unique Entity ID or CAGE Code, and its size status
- If significant subcontracting or teaming is planned, describe the administrative and management structure of the arrangement
- Do not submit classified material
Current contractor
No incumbent is named. The notice calls it a new requirement and says the results will help decide the method of procurement.
Not in the notice text
- SAM.gov does not state a set-aside; the attached notice says the buy may be set aside for small businesses, in whole or in part, or competed openly.
- The notice does not say whether a local office, host-country licenses or registration are required in Guatemala.
- The notice does not say what currency offers use, how exchange rates are handled, or how Guatemalan taxes such as VAT are treated.
- No contract type, evaluation method, dollar value or contract period is stated.
- The delivery schedule is left for bidders to propose.
Eligibility and how to respond
- No set-aside. Any business can reply: this is market research, and no bid is being taken yet.
- To respond, send a short reply to the contracting contact near the top of this page. No price is needed.
Notice details
- Posted
- Oct 22, 2026
- Notice type
- Sources Sought
- Office
- W6QK ACC-Apg-Orlando, FL
- Product/service code
- 6910 · Training Aids
- Business type
- Manufactured parts & equipment (FedReady's grouping, from NAICS 333310)
- Attachments
Past awards and competition
Who has won work like this before, the likely incumbent, and what similar contracts paid, from USAspending.gov.
Before you respond
Terms on this notice: Sources sought notice
Full notice text from SAM.gov
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