DHS ICE Spends $27.7M on Unscheduled Air Charters from Louisiana
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $27,713,228 ($27.7M)
Contractor: CSI Aviation, Inc
Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security
Start Date: 2011-05-13
End Date: 2012-04-01
Contract Duration: 324 days
Daily Burn Rate: $85.5K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Transportation
Official Description: UNSCHEDULED AIR CHARTER SERVICES OPERATING OUT OF ALEXANDRIA, LOUISIANA.
Place of Performance
Location: ALEXANDRIA, RAPIDES County, LOUISIANA, 71301
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Homeland Security obligated $27.7 million to CSI AVIATION, INC for work described as: UNSCHEDULED AIR CHARTER SERVICES OPERATING OUT OF ALEXANDRIA, LOUISIANA. Key points: 1. Significant expenditure on unscheduled air charter services highlights potential for cost optimization. 2. Sole provider CSI Aviation, Inc. secured the contract, raising questions about competition. 3. The contract's duration and fixed-price nature suggest predictable costs but limited flexibility. 4. Focus on operational needs for immigration enforcement drives this specialized service procurement.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The total award of $27.7M for air charter services over approximately one year appears substantial. Benchmarking against similar unscheduled charter contracts is difficult due to the specialized nature and operational context, but the scale warrants scrutiny.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating an initial effort to solicit multiple bids. However, the specific details of the competition process and the number of bidders are not provided, making it hard to assess price discovery effectiveness.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are utilized for essential but potentially high-cost transportation services. Ensuring competitive pricing and efficient use of these charters is crucial for fiscal responsibility.
Public Impact
Ensures critical transportation for immigration enforcement operations, supporting national security objectives. Provides flexibility for rapid deployment and response in dynamic operational environments. Potential for significant cost savings if alternative transportation or more predictable scheduling were feasible.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- High expenditure on a service that may have alternative, less costly options.
- Lack of detail on the competitive process beyond 'full and open'.
Positive Signals
- Supports critical law enforcement and national security missions.
- Fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the duration.
Sector Analysis
The procurement falls under air transportation services, a sector often characterized by high operational costs and specialized equipment. Benchmarking against general aviation services is difficult; specific comparisons to government air charter contracts are more relevant.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate whether small businesses participated in or benefited from this contract. Further analysis would be needed to determine small business involvement.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight would focus on the necessity of unscheduled charters versus scheduled flights, the efficiency of the bidding process, and whether the fixed-price contract adequately reflects market rates for such specialized services.
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.
- Potential for cost savings through alternative transport.
- Limited transparency on competitive process details.
- Dependence on specialized, potentially expensive, service providers.
Tags
nonscheduled-chartered-passenger-air-tra, department-of-homeland-security, la, bpa-call, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Homeland Security awarded $27.7 million to CSI AVIATION, INC. UNSCHEDULED AIR CHARTER SERVICES OPERATING OUT OF ALEXANDRIA, LOUISIANA.
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 $27.7 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2011-05-13. End: 2012-04-01.
What was the justification for using unscheduled air charters instead of more cost-effective scheduled flights or alternative transportation methods?
The justification likely stems from the urgent and unpredictable nature of immigration enforcement operations, requiring rapid deployment and flexibility that scheduled services cannot always provide. This could involve remote locations, time-sensitive missions, or personnel security concerns necessitating private charter.
How effectively did the 'full and open competition' process ensure competitive pricing for these specialized air charter services?
While 'full and open competition' is the preferred method, its effectiveness in ensuring competitive pricing depends on the number of qualified bidders and the clarity of the solicitation. For specialized services like unscheduled air charters, the pool of eligible providers might be limited, potentially impacting the degree of price competition achieved.
What is the estimated cost savings or efficiency gain achieved by utilizing these specific air charter services compared to potential alternatives?
Quantifying savings is challenging without detailed comparative analysis. The efficiency gain lies in operational flexibility and mission accomplishment. However, a thorough review comparing charter costs against optimized scheduled travel, ground transport, or even alternative charter providers could reveal potential cost efficiencies.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Transportation and Warehousing › Nonscheduled Air Transportation › Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation
Product/Service Code: TRANSPORT, TRAVEL, RELOCATION › TRAVEL, LODGING, RECRUITMENT SVCS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Solicitation ID: HSCECR-11-Q-00018
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 3700 RIO GRANDE BLVD NW, ALBUQUERQUE, NM, 87107
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $28,883,879
Exercised Options: $28,883,879
Current Obligation: $27,713,228
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: HSCECR10A00006
IDV Type: BPA
Timeline
Start Date: 2011-05-13
Current End Date: 2012-04-01
Potential End Date: 2012-04-01 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2023-03-09
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