DOJ's $87,453 FY26 Air Medical Flight for Inmate Contract Awarded to REACH AIR MEDICAL SERVICES
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $87,453 ($87.5K)
Contractor: Reach AIR Medical Services, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Justice
Start Date: 2026-03-25
End Date: 2026-04-06
Contract Duration: 12 days
Daily Burn Rate: $7.3K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: FY26 B2 REACH AIR MEDICAL SERVICES MEDICAL FLIGHT FOR VVM INMATE ALLDRED #27177-078. ST. MARYS MEDICAL CENTER IN APPLE VALLEY, CA TO ARROWHEAD REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER IN COLTON, CA
Place of Performance
Location: SACRAMENTO, SACRAMENTO County, CALIFORNIA, 95826
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Justice obligated $87,453 to REACH AIR MEDICAL SERVICES, LLC for work described as: FY26 B2 REACH AIR MEDICAL SERVICES MEDICAL FLIGHT FOR VVM INMATE ALLDRED #27177-078. ST. MARYS MEDICAL CENTER IN APPLE VALLEY, CA TO ARROWHEAD REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER IN COLTON, CA Key points: 1. High cost for a single medical flight, raising questions about value. 2. Sole-source award limits competition and potentially inflates price. 3. Limited duration suggests a one-off need, but contract structure warrants scrutiny. 4. Geographic location of transport is specific and may limit provider options.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The price of $87,453 for a single medical flight appears high compared to typical air ambulance services. Benchmarking against similar inter-facility transfers or emergency medical transport contracts is needed to assess true value.
Cost Per Unit: $87,453
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
The contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This lack of competition likely prevented price discovery and may have led to a higher cost for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may be overpaying due to the absence of competitive bidding for this essential service.
Public Impact
Ensures critical medical transport for federal inmates. Potential for higher costs due to lack of competition. Service is geographically specific within California. Limited duration suggests a non-recurring need.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award
- High per-unit cost
- Lack of competition
Positive Signals
- Essential service provided
- Specific inmate need addressed
Sector Analysis
The Federal Prison System relies on various transportation services, including air medical transport, to ensure inmate health and safety. Spending benchmarks for such specialized services are often difficult to establish due to unique requirements and limited providers.
Small Business Impact
The awardee, REACH AIR MEDICAL SERVICES, LLC, is a private company. Analysis is needed to determine if this contract could have been fulfilled by small businesses or if subcontracting opportunities were missed.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this award warrants review by oversight bodies to ensure proper justification and prevent potential misuse of funds. Documentation supporting the necessity of a non-competed award is crucial.
Related Government Programs
- Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation
- Department of Justice Contracting
- Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award
- High cost per unit
- Lack of competitive bidding
- Potential for inflated pricing
- Limited transparency on justification
Tags
other-nonscheduled-air-transportation, department-of-justice, ca, purchase-order, under-100k
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Justice awarded $87,453 to REACH AIR MEDICAL SERVICES, LLC. FY26 B2 REACH AIR MEDICAL SERVICES MEDICAL FLIGHT FOR VVM INMATE ALLDRED #27177-078. ST. MARYS MEDICAL CENTER IN APPLE VALLEY, CA TO ARROWHEAD REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER IN COLTON, CA
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is REACH AIR MEDICAL SERVICES, LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $87,453.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2026-03-25. End: 2026-04-06.
What is the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis, and were alternative providers considered?
The justification for a sole-source award typically involves unique capabilities, urgent needs, or a lack of other qualified sources. Without further documentation, it's unclear if REACH AIR MEDICAL SERVICES, LLC was the only viable option or if a competitive process was genuinely impossible. A thorough review should confirm the necessity and explore if any competitive elements could have been incorporated.
How does the $87,453 cost compare to industry benchmarks for similar air medical transport services, considering the distance and medical support provided?
Benchmarking this cost requires detailed comparison with similar contracts for air ambulance services, factoring in flight duration, specialized medical equipment, and personnel. Given the lack of competition, it's probable that this price is higher than what a competitive market would yield. Further analysis of cost components is needed to validate the expenditure.
What is the expected impact on inmate care and safety given the specific nature and limited duration of this contract?
This contract ensures a critical medical transport for a specific inmate, directly impacting their care and safety by facilitating transfer between facilities. The limited duration suggests it addresses an immediate, possibly one-time, need. The effectiveness hinges on the timely and safe execution of the flight as per the contract's terms.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Transportation and Warehousing › Nonscheduled Air Transportation › Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation
Product/Service Code: MEDICAL SERVICES › OTHER MEDICAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Reach Medical Holdings, LLC
Address: 8880 CAL CENTER DR STE 125, SACRAMENTO, CA, 95826
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $87,453
Exercised Options: $87,453
Current Obligation: $87,453
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Timeline
Start Date: 2026-03-25
Current End Date: 2026-04-06
Potential End Date: 2026-04-06 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-06
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