DHS's $23.9M contract for charter flights awarded to CSI Aviation, Inc. for 2008-2009
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $23,915,018 ($23.9M)
Contractor: CSI Aviation, Inc
Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security
Start Date: 2008-09-08
End Date: 2012-09-19
Contract Duration: 1,472 days
Daily Burn Rate: $16.2K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Pricing Type: NOT REPORTED
Sector: Transportation
Official Description: FUNDING FOR BPA CALL #23 FOR A PHOENIX, AZ TO CENTRAL AMERICA/SOUTH AMERICA/CARIBBEAN AND DOMESTIC DESTINATIONS CHARTER FLIGHTS FOR THE PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE OF 9/15/08 THROUGH 9/14/09.
Place of Performance
Location: PHOENIX, MARICOPA County, ARIZONA, 85034
State: Arizona Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Homeland Security obligated $23.9 million to CSI AVIATION, INC for work described as: FUNDING FOR BPA CALL #23 FOR A PHOENIX, AZ TO CENTRAL AMERICA/SOUTH AMERICA/CARIBBEAN AND DOMESTIC DESTINATIONS CHARTER FLIGHTS FOR THE PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE OF 9/15/08 THROUGH 9/14/09. Key points: 1. The contract awarded to CSI Aviation, Inc. for charter flights represents a significant expenditure for the Department of Homeland Security. 2. Competition details are not fully specified, but the contract was awarded under a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA). 3. Potential risks include the reliance on a single vendor for critical transportation services and the duration of the contract. 4. The sector is primarily transportation and logistics, supporting immigration and customs enforcement operations.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract value of $23.9 million for a one-year period of performance (with extensions) appears high for charter flights. Benchmarking against similar government or commercial charter contracts would be necessary to determine true value.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition' via a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA). While competition was intended, the specific details of the bidding process and how price discovery was achieved are not provided.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds were used for this contract. The value and efficiency of the services rendered will determine the ultimate impact on taxpayers.
Public Impact
Supports critical DHS operations, including immigration and customs enforcement, by providing essential transportation. The use of charter flights suggests a need for flexible and potentially rapid deployment of personnel or resources. The contract's duration and value indicate a substantial commitment of federal resources to this service.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- High contract value for charter services.
- Potential for cost overruns or inefficiencies in charter flight operations.
- Reliance on a single awardee for critical transportation needs.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under full and open competition.
- Supports essential government functions.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the transportation and logistics sector, specifically focusing on air charter services. Government spending in this area is often driven by operational needs for flexibility and reach, but can be subject to significant cost variations.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not awarded to small businesses, as the 'sb' field is false. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses had an opportunity to participate in the competition.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight would involve monitoring the performance of CSI Aviation, Inc. against contract requirements, ensuring timely and safe flight operations, and verifying that services are delivered at a fair and reasonable price. The duration of the contract and its extensions suggest ongoing oversight was necessary.
Related Government Programs
- Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation
- Department of Homeland Security Contracting
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Programs
Risk Flags
- High contract value.
- Long contract duration with extensions.
- Potential for cost inefficiencies in charter services.
- Limited transparency on specific competition and pricing details.
- Reliance on a single awardee for critical services.
Tags
nonscheduled-chartered-passenger-air-tra, department-of-homeland-security, az, bpa, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Homeland Security awarded $23.9 million to CSI AVIATION, INC. FUNDING FOR BPA CALL #23 FOR A PHOENIX, AZ TO CENTRAL AMERICA/SOUTH AMERICA/CARIBBEAN AND DOMESTIC DESTINATIONS CHARTER FLIGHTS FOR THE PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE OF 9/15/08 THROUGH 9/14/09.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is CSI AVIATION, INC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $23.9 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2008-09-08. End: 2012-09-19.
What was the justification for the significant expenditure on charter flights, and were alternative transportation methods considered?
The justification likely stemmed from operational requirements of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that necessitated flexible, on-demand air travel to diverse domestic and international locations. Charter flights offer speed and direct routing advantages over commercial options, which may have been critical for time-sensitive missions. However, a thorough review would assess if cost-benefit analyses adequately compared these advantages against the higher per-unit cost of charters versus scheduled commercial flights or other logistical solutions.
How was the pricing determined to be fair and reasonable given the 'Full and Open Competition' award?
While awarded under 'Full and Open Competition,' the specific mechanisms for price discovery are not detailed. Typically, this involves soliciting bids from multiple offerors and evaluating them based on technical merit and price. The government would have assessed the submitted proposals to ensure the pricing was competitive and reflected fair market value for the charter services. Without the solicitation details, it's difficult to confirm the robustness of the price negotiation process.
What were the specific performance metrics and outcomes achieved under this contract?
Performance metrics would likely have included on-time departures and arrivals, flight safety records, adherence to itinerary, and passenger satisfaction. The contract's extensions suggest satisfactory performance, but a detailed review of performance reports, incident logs, and any contract modifications would be needed to fully assess outcomes. Understanding the mission success enabled by these flights would provide further insight into the contract's effectiveness.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Transportation and Warehousing › Nonscheduled Air Transportation › Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation
Product/Service Code: LEASE/RENT EQUIPMENT › LEASE OR RENTAL OF EQUIPMENT
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Pricing Type: NOT REPORTED (NO)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 3700 RIO GRANDE BLVD NW, ALBUQUERQUE, NM, 01
Business Categories: Category Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Veteran Owned Business
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: HSCEOP07A00041
IDV Type: BPA
Timeline
Start Date: 2008-09-08
Current End Date: 2012-09-19
Last Modified: 2009-09-16
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