Forest Service Awards $5.3M for Light Fixed-Wing Aircraft Services to Gold Aero Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $5,304,144 ($5.3M)

Contractor: Gold Aero Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2022-04-12

End Date: 2026-12-31

Contract Duration: 1,724 days

Daily Burn Rate: $3.1K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Pricing Type: FIXED PRICE WITH ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT

Sector: Transportation

Official Description: 2022 NATIONAL AIR ATTACK, LIGHT FIXED WING ATGS BASE AND 4 OPTION YEARS FRESNO

Place of Performance

Location: ARLINGTON, SNOHOMISH County, WASHINGTON, 98223

State: Washington Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $5.3 million to GOLD AERO INC. for work described as: 2022 NATIONAL AIR ATTACK, LIGHT FIXED WING ATGS BASE AND 4 OPTION YEARS FRESNO Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Gold Aero Inc. for light fixed-wing aircraft services. 2. The contract has a base value of $5.3 million with four option years. 3. Competition method was 'Full and Open Competition after Exclusion of Sources'. 4. The service category is Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation. 5. The contract duration is 1724 days.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract's fixed price with economic price adjustment suggests potential for cost increases over time. Benchmarking against similar contracts for specialized aircraft services is difficult without more detailed cost breakdowns.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The competition method 'Full and Open Competition after Exclusion of Sources' implies that while the competition was open, specific sources may have been excluded initially, potentially limiting the pool of bidders and impacting price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for essential aerial services, with the final cost influenced by the competitive process and economic adjustments.

Public Impact

Ensures continued aerial support for Forest Service operations, likely including firefighting or land management. Supports critical infrastructure for national resource protection and emergency response. The economic price adjustment clause could lead to higher costs for taxpayers if inflation rises significantly.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Economic price adjustment clause
Limited competition method

Positive Signals

Essential service provision
Long-term contract with options

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under air transportation services, specifically for light fixed-wing aircraft. Spending in this sector is often driven by seasonal needs like firefighting and year-round operational requirements for agencies like the Forest Service.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate any specific provisions or awards made to small businesses under this contract, suggesting it may not have directly benefited SMBs.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract's oversight would fall under the Department of Agriculture's Forest Service, responsible for ensuring service delivery and adherence to contract terms. The 'Delivery Order' type suggests task-specific oversight.

Related Government Programs

Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation
Department of Agriculture Contracting
Forest Service Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to economic price adjustment.
Limited competition may have resulted in a suboptimal price.
Lack of transparency on specific source exclusions.
No clear indication of small business participation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $5.3 million to GOLD AERO INC.. 2022 NATIONAL AIR ATTACK, LIGHT FIXED WING ATGS BASE AND 4 OPTION YEARS FRESNO

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GOLD AERO INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Forest Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $5.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-04-12. End: 2026-12-31.

What is the projected cost per flight hour or per operational day, and how does it compare to industry benchmarks for similar aircraft and services?

Without a detailed breakdown of costs per flight hour or operational day, a direct comparison to industry benchmarks is challenging. The total award amount of $5.3 million over approximately 1724 days suggests an average daily cost of around $3,077. However, this figure needs to be contextualized with the specific mission requirements, aircraft type, and operational tempo to assess its value effectively.

What specific criteria led to the exclusion of certain sources under the 'Full and Open Competition after Exclusion of Sources' method, and what was the impact on the final price?

The exclusion of sources typically occurs when specific technical capabilities, past performance, or security clearances are required that only a limited number of vendors possess. While this method aims for openness, the exclusion can reduce competition, potentially leading to higher prices than a truly unrestricted open competition. The impact on the final price would depend on how many qualified bidders remained.

How effectively will these aircraft services support the Forest Service's primary missions, such as wildfire suppression and resource management, given the contract's terms and duration?

The contract's duration and the nature of light fixed-wing aircraft suggest support for ongoing operational needs, potentially including reconnaissance, transport, or initial attack support for wildfires. The effectiveness will depend on the aircraft's suitability for specific missions, pilot availability, and the Forest Service's ability to deploy them efficiently. The fixed-price with economic adjustment structure aims to provide cost stability but could be impacted by unforeseen operational demands or market fluctuations.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Transportation and Warehousing › Nonscheduled Air Transportation › Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation

Product/Service Code: NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT › NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVERVAT SVCS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Pricing Type: FIXED PRICE WITH ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT (K)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 18914 59TH DR NE UNIT D, ARLINGTON, WA, 98223

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $5,304,144

Exercised Options: $5,304,144

Current Obligation: $5,304,144

Actual Outlays: $4,193,792

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 1202SA22T9115

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline