Agriculture Forest Service Awards $13.5M Contract for Air Transportation in Idaho

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $13,506,633 ($13.5M)

Contractor: Rotak LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2025-03-25

End Date: 2026-12-31

Contract Duration: 646 days

Daily Burn Rate: $20.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 28

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Transportation

Official Description: ROTAK - T1 EU FOR MCCALL, ID #2

Place of Performance

Location: MCCALL, VALLEY County, IDAHO, 83638

State: Idaho Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $13.5 million to ROTAK LLC for work described as: ROTAK - T1 EU FOR MCCALL, ID #2 Key points: 1. The contract is for nonscheduled chartered freight air transportation. 2. Awarded to ROTAK LLC, a single entity, suggesting potential concentration. 3. The contract duration is over 1.5 years, indicating a significant operational need. 4. The fixed-price contract type aims to control costs for the government.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The award amount of $13.5 million over 646 days suggests a substantial operational cost. Benchmarking against similar air charter services is needed to assess value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, which typically promotes competitive pricing. However, the specific award to ROTAK LLC warrants further investigation into the bidding process and final price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: The $13.5 million expenditure represents taxpayer funds allocated for essential air transportation services in support of Forest Service operations.

Public Impact

Supports critical Forest Service operations in remote areas of Idaho. Ensures timely delivery of freight and resources for wildfire management and other missions. Provides essential air mobility for personnel and equipment in challenging terrain.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics in provided data.
Potential for cost overruns if operational needs exceed initial estimates.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical air services.

Positive Signals

Full and open competition utilized.
Firm fixed-price contract type helps manage cost certainty.
Contract supports vital federal agency operations.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the transportation and logistics sector, specifically air charter services. Spending benchmarks for similar government air charter contracts can vary widely based on aircraft type, duration, and operational complexity.

Small Business Impact

The provided data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved in this contract, either as prime contractors or subcontractors. Further analysis is needed to determine small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight will be crucial to ensure ROTAK LLC meets performance requirements and adheres to the contract terms. The Forest Service should monitor delivery schedules, service quality, and cost adherence throughout the contract period.

Related Government Programs

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

Risk Flags

Potential for single-source dependency issues.
Cost-effectiveness requires further validation against benchmarks.
Operational risks in remote locations.
Limited transparency on small business participation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $13.5 million to ROTAK LLC. ROTAK - T1 EU FOR MCCALL, ID #2

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ROTAK LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Forest Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $13.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-03-25. End: 2026-12-31.

What is the average cost per flight hour or per ton-mile for this contract compared to industry benchmarks?

Without detailed operational data, calculating a precise cost per flight hour or ton-mile is challenging. However, the total award of $13.5 million over approximately 646 days for nonscheduled freight air transportation suggests a significant investment. Benchmarking against similar government contracts for specialized air cargo services in remote regions would be necessary to determine if this represents a competitive rate.

What specific risks are associated with relying on a single contractor for critical air transportation in remote areas?

Relying on a single contractor introduces risks such as service disruptions due to contractor issues (e.g., mechanical problems, labor disputes), limited flexibility in scaling services up or down, and potential price increases in future contract renewals. The remote location exacerbates these risks, as alternative providers may be scarce or prohibitively expensive.

How effectively does this contract support the Forest Service's mission, particularly in wildfire management and resource deployment?

This contract is designed to provide essential air transportation for freight and potentially personnel, which is critical for supporting the Forest Service's mission, especially in remote areas like Idaho. Its effectiveness will depend on the reliability, responsiveness, and cost-efficiency of ROTAK LLC's services in delivering necessary resources and enabling timely operations, particularly during high-demand periods like wildfire season.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 28

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 5014 CAPTAIN HILL CT, ANCHORAGE, AK, 99502

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $13,506,633

Exercised Options: $13,506,633

Current Obligation: $13,506,633

Actual Outlays: $8,303,821

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 1202SA25T9231

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline