Forest Service Awards $10.1M Contract for Air Transportation to Siller Helicopters, LLC
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $10,098,006 ($10.1M)
Contractor: Siller Helicopters, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture
Start Date: 2025-05-12
End Date: 2026-12-31
Contract Duration: 598 days
Daily Burn Rate: $16.9K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 28
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Transportation
Official Description: SILLER - T1 EU FOR PLACERVILLE, CA
Place of Performance
Location: PLACERVILLE, EL DORADO County, CALIFORNIA, 95667
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Agriculture obligated $10.1 million to SILLER HELICOPTERS, LLC for work described as: SILLER - T1 EU FOR PLACERVILLE, CA Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Siller Helicopters, LLC for air transportation services. 2. The contract has a total value of $10,098,006. 3. Competition type is 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION'. 4. The contract duration is 598 days. 5. The awarding agency is the Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $10.1M for air transportation services appears reasonable given the duration and scope. Benchmarking against similar large-scale aerial support contracts would provide a more precise assessment.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a robust price discovery process. This method typically leads to competitive pricing as multiple vendors have the opportunity to bid.
Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally ensures taxpayer funds are used efficiently by fostering a competitive environment that drives down costs.
Public Impact
Ensures critical air transportation services for the Forest Service's operations in California. Supports wildfire suppression, resource management, and other aerial support needs. Provides economic activity through contract award to Siller Helicopters, LLC.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for cost overruns if operational demands exceed initial projections.
- Dependence on a single vendor for critical air services.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition.
- Clear contract duration and delivery dates.
- Firm fixed price contract type.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the transportation and logistics sector, specifically focusing on specialized air charter services. Spending benchmarks for similar aerial support contracts can vary significantly based on aircraft type, mission complexity, and geographic location.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate any specific provisions or set-asides for small businesses in this contract award. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were involved as subcontractors or if opportunities were missed.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract is managed by the Department of Agriculture's Forest Service. Standard oversight mechanisms for federal contracts, including performance monitoring and payment verification, are expected to be in place.
Related Government Programs
- Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation
- Department of Agriculture Contracting
- Forest Service Programs
Risk Flags
- Contract duration is relatively long (598 days), increasing exposure to potential market or operational changes.
- Reliance on a single vendor for critical air services.
- Potential for scope creep if additional services are required beyond the initial contract.
- Geographic concentration in California may limit flexibility if regional issues arise.
Tags
nonscheduled-chartered-freight-air-trans, department-of-agriculture, ca, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Agriculture awarded $10.1 million to SILLER HELICOPTERS, LLC. SILLER - T1 EU FOR PLACERVILLE, CA
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is SILLER HELICOPTERS, LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Forest Service).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $10.1 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-05-12. End: 2026-12-31.
What specific types of air transportation services are covered under this contract, and how do they align with the Forest Service's operational needs?
The contract specifies 'Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation' (NAICS 481212). This likely encompasses a range of services such as transporting personnel, equipment, and supplies to remote or inaccessible areas, supporting firefighting efforts with water or retardant drops, and conducting aerial surveys or monitoring. The alignment with operational needs is presumed given the awarding agency is the Forest Service, which heavily relies on aviation for its mission.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how will Siller Helicopters, LLC's performance be measured against them?
Specific KPIs are not detailed in the provided data. However, typical performance metrics for such contracts would include on-time delivery, aircraft availability and readiness, safety compliance, adherence to flight plans, and responsiveness to mission requirements. The Forest Service would likely have a performance management plan to track these metrics and ensure contractor compliance.
Are there any contingency plans or alternative providers identified in case Siller Helicopters, LLC is unable to fulfill its contractual obligations?
The provided data does not explicitly mention contingency plans or alternative providers. However, standard federal contracting practices often include clauses for contractor default or failure to perform, which could trigger remedies such as termination for default and seeking services from other sources. The effectiveness of such plans would depend on the specific contract language and the availability of other qualified providers in the region.
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: 1250 SMITH RD, YUBA CITY, CA, 95991
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $10,098,006
Exercised Options: $10,098,006
Current Obligation: $10,098,006
Actual Outlays: $4,745,691
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 1202SA25T9234
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-05-12
Current End Date: 2026-12-31
Potential End Date: 2029-12-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-01-23
More Contracts from Siller Helicopters, LLC
- Critical Functions - Large Fire Support EU Helicopters Services — $80.9M (Department of Agriculture)
- Critical Functions - National Exclusive USE Large Fire Support Helicopter Services for Wildland Firefighting — $61.8M (Department of Agriculture)
- Siller - T1 EU for Hamilton, MT #2 — $11.9M (Department of Agriculture)
Other Department of Agriculture Contracts
- Usda Enterprise-Scale Fedramp Certified Cloud Hosting Services. Igf::ot::igf — $336.8M (Accenture Federal Services LLC)
- Usda Disc Enterprise Wide Salesforce Software&support Services — $294.8M (Carahsoft Technology Corp)
- Provide Removal of Carcasses AT Premise X Igf::ot::igf Hpai — $292.5M (Clean Harbors Environmental Services Inc)
- Financial Management Modernization Initiative — $291.0M (Accenture LLP)
- Enterprise Application Services — $273.5M (Synergy Business Innovation & Solutions Inc.)