DHS ICE Spends $28.8M on Unscheduled Air Charter Services from CSI Aviation, Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $28,831,217 ($28.8M)
Contractor: CSI Aviation, Inc
Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security
Start Date: 2012-03-23
End Date: 2013-04-01
Contract Duration: 374 days
Daily Burn Rate: $77.1K/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 $28.8 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 a need for flexible transportation solutions. 2. CSI Aviation, Inc. secured this contract under full and open competition. 3. The firm fixed price contract structure aims to control costs for these ad-hoc services. 4. This spending falls within the broader transportation and logistics sector supporting federal operations.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The $28.8M contract for unscheduled air charter services appears reasonable given the nature of the requirement. Benchmarking is difficult due to the ad-hoc and variable demand inherent in unscheduled charters.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. This method generally promotes price discovery and ensures fair market value.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from competitive pricing mechanisms, though the overall cost reflects the specialized and often urgent nature of unscheduled air charters.
Public Impact
Ensures critical operational needs for agencies like ICE are met, potentially for personnel transport or emergency response. Supports rapid deployment capabilities for federal law enforcement and security operations. The use of air charters indicates a requirement for speed and flexibility beyond standard commercial travel.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 70 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for cost overruns if demand fluctuates significantly.
- Dependence on a single provider for critical, unscheduled services.
Positive Signals
- Competitive award process.
- Firm fixed price contract type.
Sector Analysis
This spending is within the broader aviation services sector, specifically focusing on non-scheduled or charter operations. Benchmarks for such services are highly variable based on aircraft type, duration, and demand.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate whether small businesses participated in or benefited from this contract award.
Oversight & Accountability
Awarded under a BPA Call, suggesting a pre-competed framework agreement was leveraged. Further oversight would involve monitoring call order usage and performance against the BPA.
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 for unscheduled services.
- Potential for cost creep if demand is underestimated.
- Dependence on a single contractor.
- Lack of detailed utilization data.
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 $28.8 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 $28.8 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2012-03-23. End: 2013-04-01.
What is the typical utilization rate and cost breakdown for these unscheduled air charter services?
The provided data lacks specifics on utilization rates or a detailed cost breakdown per flight. Understanding the frequency of use and the cost per hour or mile would provide better insight into the value proposition and operational efficiency of these services. Without this, it's difficult to assess if the $28.8M was optimally spent.
What are the contingency plans if CSI Aviation, Inc. is unable to provide services?
Given the unscheduled nature of these charters, reliance on a single provider like CSI Aviation, Inc. presents a risk. The agency should have pre-established contingency plans, potentially involving other charter providers or alternative transportation methods, to ensure operational continuity in case of CSI's unavailability due to mechanical issues, scheduling conflicts, or other unforeseen circumstances.
How does the cost of these charters compare to alternative transportation methods for similar mission requirements?
Direct comparison to alternatives is challenging due to the 'unscheduled' nature, implying urgency or unique mission needs. However, a post-award analysis comparing the cost per mission hour against commercial airline travel (if feasible for the mission profile) or other charter services could reveal potential savings or justify the premium for speed and flexibility.
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-12-Q-00018
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 3700 RIO GRANDE BLVD NW STE 1, 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: $31,366,376
Exercised Options: $31,366,376
Current Obligation: $28,831,217
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: HSCECR10A00006
IDV Type: BPA
Timeline
Start Date: 2012-03-23
Current End Date: 2013-04-01
Potential End Date: 2013-04-01 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2017-07-31
More Contracts from CSI Aviation, Inc
- This Call Order Obtains Dedicated and On-Demand Chartered Flight Services for Enforcement and Removal Operations Under the ICE AIR Program. ICE AIR Facilitates the Safe, Secure, and Cost-Effective Transportation and Deportation of Illegal Aliens — $673.4M (Department of Homeland Security)
- THE Purpose of This Task Order IS to Provide Daily Scheduled Large Aircraft & Special High Risk Charter Flights to Facilitate Ice's Enforcement and Removal Operations of Illegal Aliens — $562.0M (Department of Homeland Security)
- Interim Contract for Daily Charter Flights — $324.2M (Department of Homeland Security)
- Daily Charter Flights — $258.5M (Department of Homeland Security)
- Unscheduled AIR Charter Services Originating OUT of Mesa, Arizona.igf::ot::igf — $164.0M (Department of Homeland Security)
Other Department of Homeland Security Contracts
- THE United States Coast Guard HAS a Requirement to Procure UP to Twenty-Six (26) Fast Response Cutters (frcs) on a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) Basis With an Economic Price Adjustment (EPA). Phase II of the FRC Program Will Complete the Fleet for a Total of 58 Cutters — $2.1B (Bollinger Shipyards Lockport, L.L.C.)
- Design and Construct NEW Vertical Barrier and Power Distribution, Lighting, Cameras, Equipment Shelters and Linear Ground Detection System (lgds) in Hildago County, NM — $1.8B (Fisher Sand & Gravel CO)
- Production&delivery of National Security Cutter (NSC) 6 — $1.7B (Huntington Ingalls Incorporated)
- YUM-2 Vertical Border and Waterborne Barrier Construction — $1.7B (Fisher Sand & Gravel CO)
- Construct Vertical Border Barrier — $1.6B (Fisher Sand & Gravel CO)