Forest Service awards $3.6M contract for helicopter transport to Helicopter Express LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,601,291 ($3.6M)

Contractor: Helicopter Express LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2025-02-01

End Date: 2029-12-31

Contract Duration: 1,794 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 17

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Transportation

Official Description: HSS MATOC TYPE 3 TUCSON, AZ N27HX

Place of Performance

Location: VAIL, PIMA County, ARIZONA, 85641

State: Arizona Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $3.6 million to HELICOPTER EXPRESS LLC for work described as: HSS MATOC TYPE 3 TUCSON, AZ N27HX Key points: 1. Contract awarded for nonscheduled chartered passenger air transportation. 2. Helicopter Express LLC is the sole awardee. 3. The contract spans nearly five years, indicating a long-term need. 4. The sector is transportation, specifically air charter services.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value is $3.6 million over 1794 days. Without specific per-unit cost data or benchmarks for similar helicopter charter services, a precise value assessment is difficult. The duration suggests a significant operational requirement.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. This method generally promotes price discovery and potentially better pricing for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The full and open competition aims to ensure taxpayer funds are used efficiently by soliciting the best possible pricing from qualified vendors.

Public Impact

Ensures critical transportation for Forest Service operations in Arizona. Supports wildfire suppression or other land management activities requiring aerial support. Provides consistent service over a multi-year period, aiding operational planning.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of detailed performance metrics in the provided data.
Potential for price increases over the contract's long duration.
Dependence on a single vendor for critical transportation.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition.
Long contract duration indicates a stable, ongoing need.
Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost certainty.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the transportation sector, specifically air charter services. Spending benchmarks for such services can vary widely based on aircraft type, mission, and geographic location. The $3.6M value over nearly five years suggests a substantial, ongoing operational requirement for the Forest Service.

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 would be needed to determine the extent of small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, which implies a degree of oversight in the solicitation and evaluation process. However, specific oversight mechanisms for performance monitoring and accountability are not detailed in the provided data.

Related Government Programs

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

Risk Flags

Long contract duration may lead to price escalation.
Dependence on a single provider for critical services.
Lack of detailed performance metrics in public data.
Potential for service disruptions if the contractor faces operational issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $3.6 million to HELICOPTER EXPRESS LLC. HSS MATOC TYPE 3 TUCSON, AZ N27HX

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is HELICOPTER EXPRESS LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Forest Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $3.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-02-01. End: 2029-12-31.

What are the specific performance metrics and service level agreements tied to this contract to ensure effective service delivery?

The provided data lacks specific performance metrics and service level agreements. Effective service delivery would typically be measured by factors such as on-time performance, aircraft availability, safety compliance, and adherence to mission requirements. The Forest Service would likely have internal procedures to monitor these aspects, but they are not detailed here.

How does the pricing structure compare to industry benchmarks for similar helicopter charter services, considering the duration and operational scope?

A direct comparison to industry benchmarks is challenging without detailed cost breakdowns or specific service requirements (e.g., aircraft type, flight hours, mission complexity). The firm fixed price nature provides budget certainty, but the government should have conducted a price analysis during the procurement to ensure reasonableness against market rates for comparable services.

What contingency plans are in place if Helicopter Express LLC is unable to fulfill its contractual obligations due to unforeseen circumstances?

Standard government contracting includes clauses for default and termination for convenience. If Helicopter Express LLC fails to perform, the Forest Service could terminate the contract and seek services from another vendor, potentially through an emergency procurement. The impact would depend on the availability of alternative resources and the urgency of the need.

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

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 17

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2025 FLIGHTWAY DR, ATLANTA, GA, 30341

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $3,601,291

Exercised Options: $3,601,291

Current Obligation: $3,601,291

Actual Outlays: $1,732,373

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 1202SA23T9316

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline