Federal Capture Intelligence

Top USDA nonscheduled chartered freight air transportation contractors (NAICS 481212)

Contract actions: October 1, 2021 – October 23, 2026 Updated October 24, 2026 Department of Agriculture agency guide NAICS 481212 · Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation
Latest 12 months
$1.1B
Net obligations · Up $190.6M vs. $925.3M preceding
Prime contractors
61
With positive obligations in the latest 12 months

Research the USDA federal contracting market for nonscheduled chartered freight air transportation under NAICS 481212. Compare top federal contractors and market share, reported contract obligations and spending trends, funding-office attribution, recent award activity, contract types, competition, and procurement methods, and observed contract vehicle usage.

Contract obligation trends for Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation at the Department of Agriculture

Federal records show $4.2B in net obligations across 5,976 awards in Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation at the Department of Agriculture from Oct 1, 2021 through Oct 23, 2026. This market accounts for 7.9% of $53.8B in agency-wide net prime contract obligations over the period shown. Latest 12-month net obligations increased 20.6% from $925.3M to $1.1B. 16 prime contractors accounted for at least 80% of positive obligations in that latest period.

Fiscal-year activity

FY27 is year-to-date through Oct 23, 2026; earlier years show complete fiscal-year totals.

FY27 year-to-date: $18.3M versus −$21.4M through the same date in FY26 (Not comparable).
Net obligations · complete fiscal yearNet obligations · FY27 YTDContract actions
View fiscal-year data table
Fiscal yearNet obligationsContract actionsCoverage
FY2022$713.8M2,627Complete
FY2023$616.4M3,117Complete
FY2024$786.0M2,376Complete
FY2025$1.0B2,419Complete
FY2026$1.1B2,313Complete

Market at a glance

All reported prime contract awards
All-period net obligations
$4.2B
5,976 awards · 148 prime contractors
Latest 12-month movement
+20.6%
$1.1B vs. $925.3M
Leading eight prime share
60.4%
Share held by the eight leading prime contractors in the latest 12 months
View agency share, denominators, and set-aside reporting
Agency context
7.9% of $53.8B in agency-wide net obligations.
Set-aside share when reported
3.8% of 3,235 awards with reported set-aside status.
Set-aside reporting
123 set aside · 3,112 no set-aside · 2,741 not reported

What changed in the last 12 months?

Oct 24, 2025–Oct 23, 2026, compared with Oct 24, 2024–Oct 23, 2025.

Buyer demand

Reported obligations through USDA FOREST SERVICE increased
$925.2M→$1.1B+$190.5M
Latest-period activity spans 979 awards across 57 prime contractors.

Market structure

Reported set-aside share increased
28.8%→87.1%+58.3 percentage points
Of 31 latest-period awards with reported set-aside status, 27 were reported as set-asides.

Competitive shifts

COLUMBIA BASIN HELICOPTER, INC. fell the most in the contractor rankings
#19→#52Down 33 places
The contractor accounts for 0.080% of positive obligations across 2 reported actions.
AERO AIR, LLC had the largest increase in reported obligations
$52.8M→$79.1M+$26.3M
The contractor now ranks #5 by positive obligations and accounts for 7.1% of positive obligations, based on 150 reported actions.
How these findings are calculated

Findings are selected from matched-period changes in obligations, share, rank, funding offices, concentration, reported set-asides, material award actions, and agency-peer outliers. Related signals are combined, and only material evidence-backed changes are shown. Review the full methodology.

Federal contract obligations by funding office

See how positive obligations were attributed across funding offices in the 12 months ending Oct 23, 2026.

100.0% of positive obligations were attributed to USDA FOREST SERVICE. That represents $1.1B, up $190.5M from the preceding 12 months.

Latest 12-month share of positive obligations; the gray segment represents all other reported offices.

  1. USDA FOREST SERVICE100.0% · $1.1B · up $190.5M
  2. MRPBS MINNEAPOLIS MN0.030% · $313K · up $196K
  3. WS LAKEWOOD CO0.010% · $83K · up $31K
View reported office rankings, comparisons, and evidence

USAspending assigns each award to a funding office. That office may differ from the requiring activity, program office, contracting office, individual buyer, or actual customer.

  1. Reported funding office

    USDA FOREST SERVICE

    #1Rank unchanged

    Latest 12 months

    $1.1B

    100.0% of positive obligations

    Versus preceding 12 months

    +$190.5M

    57 active prime contractors · 979 awards

    View office comparison and evidence

    Reported obligations increased 20.6% from $925.2M to $1.1B. The office’s share of positive obligations moved from 99.9% to 100.0%, a change of +0.1 percentage points.

    The latest period contains 2,154 actions across 979 awards and 4 newly active prime contractors. The preceding period contained 65 active prime contractors and 927 awards.

    Leading award-level changes

  2. Reported funding office

    MRPBS MINNEAPOLIS MN

    #2Up 1 from #3

    Latest 12 months

    $313K

    0.030% of positive obligations

    Versus preceding 12 months

    +$196K

    1 active prime contractor · 2 awards

    View office comparison and evidence

    Reported obligations increased 167.4% from $117K to $313K. The office’s share of positive obligations moved from 0.010% to 0.030%, a change of 0.0 percentage points.

    The latest period contains 3 actions across 2 awards. The preceding period contained 2 active prime contractors and 5 awards.

  3. Reported funding office

    WS LAKEWOOD CO

    #3Up 1 from #4

    Latest 12 months

    $83K

    0.010% of positive obligations

    Versus preceding 12 months

    +$31K

    2 active prime contractors · 2 awards

    View office comparison and evidence

    Reported obligations increased 58.5% from $52K to $83K. The office’s share of positive obligations moved from 0.010% to 0.010%, a change of 0.0 percentage points.

    The latest period contains 3 actions across 2 awards. The preceding period contained 2 active prime contractors and 2 awards.

  4. Reported funding office

    CHUGACH NATIONAL FOREST

    #4Up 1 from #5

    Latest 12 months

    $44K

    0% of positive obligations

    Versus preceding 12 months

    +$40K

    1 active prime contractor · 2 awards

    View office comparison and evidence

    Reported obligations increased 956.3% from $4K to $44K. The office’s share of positive obligations moved from 0% to 0%, a change of 0.0 percentage points.

    The latest period contains 2 actions across 2 awards. The preceding period contained 1 active prime contractor and 4 awards.

  5. Reported funding office

    NRCS-AK STATE OFFICE

    #5New to the positive-obligation ranking

    Latest 12 months

    $9K

    0% of positive obligations

    Versus preceding 12 months

    +$9K

    1 active prime contractor · 1 award

    View office comparison and evidence

    Reported obligations rose from $0 to $9K. The office’s share of positive obligations moved from 0% to 0%, a change of 0.0 percentage points.

    The latest period contains 1 action across 1 award and 1 newly active prime contractor. The preceding period contained 0 active prime contractors and 0 awards.

  6. Reported funding office

    ALBUQUERQUE SERVICE CENTER

    No positive-obligation rank

    Latest 12 months

    $0

    0% of positive obligations

    Versus preceding 12 months

    +$573K

    0 active prime contractors · 0 awards

    View office comparison and evidence

    Reported obligations moved from $573K in net deobligations to $0 in net obligations. The office’s share of positive obligations moved from 0% to 0%, a change of 0.0 percentage points.

    The latest period contains 0 actions across 0 awards. The preceding period contained 2 active prime contractors and 3 awards.

  7. Reported funding office

    PPQ SARASOTA FL

    No positive-obligation rank

    Latest 12 months

    $0

    0% of positive obligations

    Versus preceding 12 months

    +$66K

    0 active prime contractors · 0 awards

    View office comparison and evidence

    Reported obligations moved from $66K in net deobligations to $0 in net obligations. The office’s share of positive obligations moved from 0% to 0%, a change of 0.0 percentage points.

    The latest period contains 0 actions across 0 awards. The preceding period contained 1 active prime contractor and 1 award.

  8. Reported funding office

    PPQ GAINESVILLE FL

    No positive-obligation rank

    Latest 12 months

    $0

    0% of positive obligations

    Versus preceding 12 months

    +$85K

    0 active prime contractors · 0 awards

    View office comparison and evidence

    Reported obligations moved from $85K in net deobligations to $0 in net obligations. The office’s share of positive obligations moved from 0% to 0%, a change of 0.0 percentage points.

    The latest period contains 0 actions across 0 awards. The preceding period contained 1 active prime contractor and 1 award.

  9. Reported funding office

    NRCS-UT STATE OFFICE

    No positive-obligation rank

    Latest 12 months

    −$95K

    0% of positive obligations

    Versus preceding 12 months

    −$95K

    1 active prime contractor · 1 award

    View office comparison and evidence

    Reported obligations moved from $0 in net obligations to $95K in net deobligations. The office’s share of positive obligations moved from 0% to 0%, a change of 0.0 percentage points.

    The latest period contains 1 action across 1 award and 1 newly active prime contractor. The preceding period contained 0 active prime contractors and 0 awards.

  10. Reported funding office

    WS CONCORD, NH

    No positive-obligation rank

    Latest 12 months

    −$176K

    0% of positive obligations

    Versus preceding 12 months

    −$814K

    1 active prime contractor · 3 awards

    View office comparison and evidence

    Reported obligations moved from $638K in net obligations to $176K in net deobligations. The office’s share of positive obligations moved from 0.070% to 0%, a change of −0.1 percentage points.

    The latest period contains 3 actions across 3 awards. The preceding period contained 1 active prime contractor and 4 awards.

    Leading award-level changes

Contract types, competition, and procurement methods

From Oct 24, 2025 through Oct 23, 2026, 971 awards had positive obligations totaling $1.1B. Mafo was the leading reported procedure, accounting for 74.1% of positive obligations. Awards with a reported parent IDV accounted for 99.6%. Reported awards used contract vehicles such as Airtanker MATOC 2023, HSS Type 2, and CWN Helicopter Services.

Leading award type
99.6%
Delivery Order
Leading reported procedure
74.1%
Mafo
Reported parent IDV
99.6%
of positive obligations had a reported parent IDV
Median reported offers
1
926 of 971 awards reported offers

Observed contract vehicles

Only exact reported parent-PIID matches are shown; missing parent IDs are not inferred.

Buying method changes

Compared with Oct 24, 2024–Oct 23, 2025. Based on 971 current awards and 850 preceding awards with positive net obligations.

Reported full-and-open obligation share
13.3%
Down from 58.3% in the preceding period
How to read these changes

Directional color and the Up or Down labels show historical movement only. Green does not mean favorable and red does not mean unfavorable; neither predicts a future procurement method.

Same-NAICS comparison

Compared with the NAICS 481212 peer median, parent-IDV obligation share is 0.8 percentage points higher, reported full-and-open obligation share is 7.1 percentage points lower, delivery-order obligation share is 0.8 percentage points higher, and median positive award obligations are 1.4% higher.

MeasureThis marketPeer medianDifference
Parent-IDV obligation share99.6%98.8%+0.8 pts
Reported full-and-open obligation share13.3%20.4%-7.1 pts
Delivery-order obligation share99.6%98.8%+0.8 pts
Median positive award obligations$563K$555K+1.4%
Peer cohort and comparison limits

The peer median gives each of the 3 eligible agency markets equal weight. The included agency markets are:

Agency mission, scale, and acquisition context can differ. Peer position does not establish market attractiveness or predict a future procurement method.

View buying-method details and data coverage

Award types

Reported valueAwardsPositive obligationsShare
Delivery Order(C)969$1.1B99.6%
Purchase Order(B)2$4.0M0.36%

Reported parent-award types

Reported valueAwardsPositive obligationsShare
IDC(B)967$1.1B99.6%
BOA(D)2$321K0.030%
Not reported2$4.0M0.36%

Single- or multiple-award parent structure

Reported valueAwardsPositive obligationsShare
Multiple Award(M)924$1.1B96.0%
Single Award(S)45$40.7M3.6%
Not reported2$4.0M0.36%

Solicitation procedures

Reported valueAwardsPositive obligationsShare
Mafo(SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY)481$828.0M74.1%
Subject to Multiple Award Fair Opportunity(MAFO)441$243.9M21.8%
Negotiated Proposal/Quote(NP)25$22.4M2.0%
Np(NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE)18$22.2M2.0%
Simplified Acquisition(SP1)4$439K0.040%
Only One Source(SSS)1$9K0%
Other reported values1$979<0.0001%

Extent competed

Reported valueAwardsPositive obligationsShare
A(FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION)365$516.3M46.2%
D(FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES)134$333.9M29.9%
Full and Open Competition(A)312$148.1M13.3%
Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources(D)154$118.3M10.6%
Competed Under SAP(F)4$439K0.040%
Not Competed(C)1$9K0%
Other reported values1$979<0.0001%

Fair-opportunity and limited-source reporting

Reported valueAwardsPositive obligationsShare
Fair Opportunity Given(FAIR)896$857.8M76.8%
Competitive Set Aside(CSA)26$214.1M19.2%
Not reported49$45.0M4.0%

Other-than-full-and-open reasons

Reported valueAwardsPositive obligationsShare
Only One Source-Other (FAR 6.302-1 Other)(ONE)1$9K0%
Not reported970$1.1B100.0%

Contract pricing types

Reported valueAwardsPositive obligationsShare
J(FIRM FIXED PRICE)500$850.2M76.1%
Firm Fixed Price(J)470$266.4M23.9%
Fixed Price with Economic Price Adjustment(K)1$394K0.040%

Product or Service Codes

Reported valueAwardsPositive obligationsShare
Natural Resources/Conservation- Forest-Range Fire Suppression/Presuppression(F003)857$994.4M89.0%
Transportation/Travel/Relocation- Transportation: Other(V119)108$122.1M10.9%
Transportation/Travel/Relocation- Transportation: Other(V129)1$313K0.030%
Transportation/Travel/Relocation- Transportation: Air Charter(V121)2$83K0.010%
Transportation/Travel/Relocation- Transportation: Air Freight(V111)2$44K0%
Transportation/Travel/Relocation- Travel/Lodging/Recruitment: Passenger Air Charter(V221)1$9K0%

Awarding subagencies

Reported valueAwardsPositive obligationsShare
Forest Service(12C2)967$1.1B100.0%
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service(12K3)3$396K0.040%
Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services(12D0)1$9K0%

Awarding offices

Reported valueAwardsPositive obligationsShare
Incident Procurement Aviation Branch(1202SA)965$1.1B100.0%
Mrpbs Minneapolis Mn(126395)3$396K0.040%
Usda-Fs, Csa Northwest 4(1240BF)2$44K0%
Fpac Bus Cntr-Acq Div-Western Sec(12FPC3)1$9K0%

Reported parent IDVs

Reported valueAwardsPositive obligationsShare
1202SA25T9217(12C2)22$118.6M10.6%
1202SA23T9102(12C2)50$83.7M7.5%
1202SA21T9009(12C2)64$81.0M7.3%
1202SA23T9101(12C2)51$74.6M6.7%
1202SA23T9104(12C2)67$74.1M6.6%
1202SA23T9103(12C2)9$61.9M5.5%
1202SA25T9216(12C2)80$52.8M4.7%
1202SA25T9203(12C2)44$45.8M4.1%
Other reported values582$520.4M46.6%
Not reported2$4.0M0.36%

Exact vehicle-match evidence

Reported award data linked 312 awards to a specific catalog vehicle.

Offers, award size, and timing

Median reported offers
1 median
926 reported · 45 not reported
Positive award obligations
$563K median
$316K–$969K middle 50%
Reported performance period
15 days median
971 reported · 0 not reported

Calculations group latest-period actions by award, retain awards with positive net obligations for share denominators, and use each award's latest reported USAspending procurement fields as of Oct 23, 2026. Blank competition, pricing, PSC, or parent-IDV values remain not reported; they are not inferred. Offer counts must be positive and below the FPDS 999 placeholder. Awarding organizations can differ from the funding agency that defines this page.

Top federal contractors

Latest 12-month market share, concentration, and complete prime contractor rankings across the period shown.

Prime contractor concentration
16 of 61prime contractors account for at least 80% of positive obligations in the last 12 months
Largest prime contractor
11.1%of positive obligations in the last 12 months
Leading four prime contractors
36.6%of positive obligations in the last 12 months
Leading eight prime contractors
60.4%of positive obligations in the last 12 months

Based on $1.1B in positive obligations during the 12 months ending Oct 23, 2026. Individual shares and movement appear in the searchable rankings below. Movement compares with Oct 24, 2024–Oct 23, 2025.

Last 12mo obligation volume: Highest positive obligations first; net deobligations follow by magnitude; contractors with no activity in the last 12 months follow by all-period obligations. Ranks use the complete contractor list and remain fixed when search narrows the results.

15 leading contractors
  1. #1

    Last 12mo obligations

    $124.0M

    11.1%

    Dollar movement

    +$23.0M

    vs. prior 12 months

    Last 12mo awards

    93 awards

    169 actions

    Historical and award details for AERO-FLITE, INC.
    Obligations: prior → latest
    $100.9M → $124.0M
    +22.8%
    Share: prior → latest
    10.9% → 11.1%
    +0.3 percentage points
    All-period obligations
    $477.0M
    11.3% of all-period positive obligations · 276 awards
    Recorded activity
    Since Oct 1, 2021
    through Oct 21, 2026

    Award reporting

    Latest and prior 12-month award reporting
    Reported award evidenceLatestPrior
    Reported set-aside00
    Reported no set-aside00
    Not reported9359
    Reported small business9359
    All-period set-aside types

    None reported.

  2. #2

    Last 12mo obligations

    $118.6M

    10.6%

    Dollar movement

    +$5.4M

    vs. prior 12 months

    Last 12mo awards

    22 awards

    158 actions

    Historical and award details for HELICOPTER TRANSPORT SERVICES, LLC
    Obligations: prior → latest
    $113.2M → $118.6M
    +4.7%
    Share: prior → latest
    12.2% → 10.6%
    −1.6 percentage points
    All-period obligations
    $346.1M
    8.2% of all-period positive obligations · 232 awards
    Recorded activity
    Since Mar 15, 2022
    through Oct 22, 2026

    Award reporting

    Latest and prior 12-month award reporting
    Reported award evidenceLatestPrior
    Reported set-aside1010
    Reported no set-aside010
    Not reported1221
    Reported small business2241
    All-period set-aside types
    • 11 · Total small business
  3. #3

    Last 12mo obligations

    $85.3M

    7.6%

    Dollar movement

    +$19.3M

    vs. prior 12 months

    Last 12mo awards

    105 awards

    203 actions

    Historical and award details for HELICOPTER EXPRESS LLC
    Obligations: prior → latest
    $66.0M → $85.3M
    +29.2%
    Share: prior → latest
    7.1% → 7.6%
    +0.5 percentage points
    All-period obligations
    $282.0M
    6.7% of all-period positive obligations · 490 awards
    Recorded activity
    Since Dec 3, 2021
    through Oct 21, 2026

    Award reporting

    Latest and prior 12-month award reporting
    Reported award evidenceLatestPrior
    Reported set-aside02
    Reported no set-aside011
    Not reported105102
    Reported small business105115
    All-period set-aside types
    • 22 · Total small business
  4. #4

    Last 12mo obligations

    $81.0M

    7.3%

    Dollar movement

    +$3.8M

    vs. prior 12 months

    Last 12mo awards

    64 awards

    64 actions

    Historical and award details for BRIDGER AIR TANKER LLC
    Obligations: prior → latest
    $77.3M → $81.0M
    +4.9%
    Share: prior → latest
    8.3% → 7.3%
    −1.1 percentage points
    All-period obligations
    $295.1M
    7.0% of all-period positive obligations · 257 awards
    Recorded activity
    Since Apr 24, 2022
    through Oct 1, 2026

    Award reporting

    Latest and prior 12-month award reporting
    Reported award evidenceLatestPrior
    Reported set-aside00
    Reported no set-aside00
    Not reported6473
    Reported small business6473
    All-period set-aside types

    None reported.

  5. #5

    Last 12mo obligations

    $79.1M

    7.1%

    Dollar movement

    +$26.3M

    vs. prior 12 months

    Last 12mo awards

    54 awards

    150 actions

    Historical and award details for AERO AIR, LLC
    Obligations: prior → latest
    $52.8M → $79.1M
    +49.8%
    Share: prior → latest
    5.7% → 7.1%
    +1.4 percentage points
    All-period obligations
    $236.2M
    5.6% of all-period positive obligations · 111 awards
    Recorded activity
    Since Oct 8, 2021
    through Oct 15, 2026

    Award reporting

    Latest and prior 12-month award reporting
    Reported award evidenceLatestPrior
    Reported set-aside00
    Reported no set-aside10
    Not reported5313
    Reported small business5413
    All-period set-aside types

    None reported.

  6. #6

    Last 12mo obligations

    $74.5M

    6.7%

    Dollar movement

    +$11.3M

    vs. prior 12 months

    Last 12mo awards

    71 awards

    146 actions

    Historical and award details for NEPTUNE AVIATION SERVICES, INC.
    Obligations: prior → latest
    $63.2M → $74.5M
    +17.8%
    Share: prior → latest
    6.8% → 6.7%
    −0.1 percentage points
    All-period obligations
    $278.4M
    6.6% of all-period positive obligations · 149 awards
    Recorded activity
    Since Mar 15, 2022
    through Oct 20, 2026

    Award reporting

    Latest and prior 12-month award reporting
    Reported award evidenceLatestPrior
    Reported set-aside00
    Reported no set-aside00
    Not reported7117
    Reported small business7117
    All-period set-aside types

    None reported.

  7. #7

    Last 12mo obligations

    $65.7M

    5.9%

    Dollar movement

    +$20.7M

    vs. prior 12 months

    Last 12mo awards

    16 awards

    82 actions

    Historical and award details for COULSON AVIATION (USA), INC.
    Obligations: prior → latest
    $45.0M → $65.7M
    +46.1%
    Share: prior → latest
    4.8% → 5.9%
    +1.0 percentage points
    All-period obligations
    $207.7M
    4.9% of all-period positive obligations · 76 awards
    Recorded activity
    Since Oct 13, 2021
    through Oct 20, 2026

    Award reporting

    Latest and prior 12-month award reporting
    Reported award evidenceLatestPrior
    Reported set-aside00
    Reported no set-aside00
    Not reported168
    Reported small business168
    All-period set-aside types
    • 1 · Total small business
  8. #8

    Last 12mo obligations

    $45.8M

    4.1%

    Dollar movement

    +$13.1M

    vs. prior 12 months

    Last 12mo awards

    44 awards

    55 actions

    Historical and award details for BILLINGS FLYING SERVICE LLC
    Obligations: prior → latest
    $32.7M → $45.8M
    +40.2%
    Share: prior → latest
    3.5% → 4.1%
    +0.6 percentage points
    All-period obligations
    $180.5M
    4.3% of all-period positive obligations · 227 awards
    Recorded activity
    Since Apr 8, 2022
    through Oct 20, 2026

    Award reporting

    Latest and prior 12-month award reporting
    Reported award evidenceLatestPrior
    Reported set-aside11
    Reported no set-aside03
    Not reported4333
    Reported small business4437
    All-period set-aside types
    • 1 · Total small business
  9. #9

    Last 12mo obligations

    $42.1M

    3.8%

    Dollar movement

    +$1.5M

    vs. prior 12 months

    Last 12mo awards

    36 awards

    59 actions

    Historical and award details for SILLER HELICOPTERS, LLC
    Obligations: prior → latest
    $40.6M → $42.1M
    +3.8%
    Share: prior → latest
    4.4% → 3.8%
    −0.6 percentage points
    All-period obligations
    $158.4M
    3.7% of all-period positive obligations · 205 awards
    Recorded activity
    Since Mar 3, 2022
    through Oct 22, 2026

    Award reporting

    Latest and prior 12-month award reporting
    Reported award evidenceLatestPrior
    Reported set-aside22
    Reported no set-aside08
    Not reported3431
    Reported small business3641
    All-period set-aside types
    • 4 · Total small business
  10. #10

    Last 12mo obligations

    $35.7M

    3.2%

    Dollar movement

    −$7.9M

    vs. prior 12 months

    Last 12mo awards

    4 awards

    41 actions

    Historical and award details for 10 TANKER AIR CARRIER, LLC
    Obligations: prior → latest
    $43.6M → $35.7M
    −18.2%
    Share: prior → latest
    4.7% → 3.2%
    −1.5 percentage points
    All-period obligations
    $195.1M
    4.6% of all-period positive obligations · 71 awards
    Recorded activity
    Since Mar 22, 2022
    through Oct 21, 2026

    Award reporting

    Latest and prior 12-month award reporting
    Reported award evidenceLatestPrior
    Reported set-aside00
    Reported no set-aside00
    Not reported45
    Reported small business45
    All-period set-aside types

    None reported.

  11. #11

    Last 12mo obligations

    $34.8M

    3.1%

    Dollar movement

    −$2.9M

    vs. prior 12 months

    Last 12mo awards

    4 awards

    66 actions

    Historical and award details for ROTAK LLC
    Obligations: prior → latest
    $37.7M → $34.8M
    −7.8%
    Share: prior → latest
    4.1% → 3.1%
    −0.9 percentage points
    All-period obligations
    $123.4M
    2.9% of all-period positive obligations · 107 awards
    Recorded activity
    Since Jul 1, 2022
    through Oct 21, 2026

    Award reporting

    Latest and prior 12-month award reporting
    Reported award evidenceLatestPrior
    Reported set-aside33
    Reported no set-aside05
    Not reported16
    Reported small business414
    All-period set-aside types
    • 3 · Total small business
  12. #12

    Last 12mo obligations

    $29.9M

    2.7%

    Dollar movement

    +$4.0M

    vs. prior 12 months

    Last 12mo awards

    7 awards

    75 actions

    Historical and award details for PRECISION, LLC
    Obligations: prior → latest
    $25.9M → $29.9M
    +15.4%
    Share: prior → latest
    2.8% → 2.7%
    −0.1 percentage points
    All-period obligations
    $95.5M
    2.3% of all-period positive obligations · 44 awards
    Recorded activity
    Since Feb 14, 2022
    through Oct 20, 2026

    Award reporting

    Latest and prior 12-month award reporting
    Reported award evidenceLatestPrior
    Reported set-aside01
    Reported no set-aside00
    Not reported75
    Reported small business76
    All-period set-aside types
    • 2 · Total small business
  13. #13

    Last 12mo obligations

    $27.2M

    2.4%

    Dollar movement

    +$16.9M

    vs. prior 12 months

    Last 12mo awards

    45 awards

    56 actions

    Historical and award details for ORBIC AIR, LLC
    Obligations: prior → latest
    $10.3M → $27.2M
    +163.7%
    Share: prior → latest
    1.1% → 2.4%
    +1.3 percentage points
    All-period obligations
    $50.9M
    1.2% of all-period positive obligations · 91 awards
    Recorded activity
    Since Jun 30, 2023
    through Oct 7, 2026

    Award reporting

    Latest and prior 12-month award reporting
    Reported award evidenceLatestPrior
    Reported set-aside11
    Reported no set-aside00
    Not reported4412
    Reported small business4513
    All-period set-aside types
    • 1 · Total small business
  14. #14

    Last 12mo obligations

    $27.0M

    2.4%

    Dollar movement

    +$15.3M

    vs. prior 12 months

    Last 12mo awards

    24 awards

    92 actions

    Historical and award details for HELI-1 CORP
    Obligations: prior → latest
    $11.7M → $27.0M
    +131.2%
    Share: prior → latest
    1.3% → 2.4%
    +1.2 percentage points
    All-period obligations
    $57.6M
    1.4% of all-period positive obligations · 55 awards
    Recorded activity
    Since Feb 3, 2022
    through Oct 21, 2026

    Award reporting

    Latest and prior 12-month award reporting
    Reported award evidenceLatestPrior
    Reported set-aside22
    Reported no set-aside00
    Not reported225
    Reported small business247
    All-period set-aside types
    • 2 · Total small business
  15. #15

    Last 12mo obligations

    $20.3M

    1.8%

    Dollar movement

    +$3.0M

    vs. prior 12 months

    Last 12mo awards

    22 awards

    72 actions

    Historical and award details for CAPITOL HELICOPTERS, INC.
    Obligations: prior → latest
    $17.3M → $20.3M
    +17.2%
    Share: prior → latest
    1.9% → 1.8%
    −0.1 percentage points
    All-period obligations
    $69.9M
    1.6% of all-period positive obligations · 105 awards
    Recorded activity
    Since Apr 14, 2022
    through Oct 22, 2026

    Award reporting

    Latest and prior 12-month award reporting
    Reported award evidenceLatestPrior
    Reported set-aside23
    Reported no set-aside10
    Not reported198
    Reported small business2211
    All-period set-aside types
    • 3 · Total small business

Recent federal contract award activity

Recent contract actions with unusually large obligation changes or meaningful shifts in contractor and funding-office activity.

Modification

This action

+$8.3M

NEPTUNE AVIATION SERVICES, INC.

USDA FOREST SERVICE

NEPTUNE - AIRTANKER MATCO 2023 EXCLUSIVE USE TASK ORDER 160 DAY MAP

Why it stands out

The award grew alongside stronger contractor activity.

The modification added $8.3M while contractor obligations rose $11.3M overall.

Award net obligations
$29.2M
Share of 12-month positive obligations
0.74%
Supporting data
Prime contractor
#6 · 6.7% share
down 1 rank · −0.1 percentage points · $11.3M net increase; action accounted for 73.4%
PIID 1202SA24K9121 · Mod P00039
Modification

This action

+$10.0M

AERO-FLITE, INC.

USDA FOREST SERVICE

AERO FLITE - AIRTANKER MATCO 2023 EXCLUSIVE USE TASK ORDER 160 DAY MAP

Why it stands out

The award grew alongside stronger contractor activity.

The modification added $10.0M while contractor obligations rose $23.0M overall.

Award net obligations
$29.3M
Share of 12-month positive obligations
0.89%
Supporting data
Prime contractor
#1 · 11.1% share
up 1 rank · +0.3 percentage points · $23.0M net increase; action accounted for 43.3%
PIID 1202SA24K9119 · Mod P00047
Modification

This action

+$10.1M

AERO AIR, LLC

USDA FOREST SERVICE

AERO AIR - AIRTANKER MATCO 2023 EXCLUSIVE USE TASK ORDER - 160 DAY MAP

Why it stands out

The award grew alongside stronger contractor activity.

The modification added $10.1M while contractor obligations rose $26.3M overall.

Award net obligations
$33.8M
Share of 12-month positive obligations
0.90%
Supporting data
Prime contractor
#5 · 7.1% share
up 1 rank · +1.4 percentage points · $26.3M net increase; action accounted for 38.3%
Related:Largest contractor gain
PIID 1202SA24K9115 · Mod P00055
Modification

This action

+$11.7M

10 TANKER AIR CARRIER, LLC

USDA FOREST SERVICE

10 TANKER - AIRTANKER MATCO 2023 EXCLUSIVE USE TASK ORDER 120 DAY MAP

Why it stands out

The award grew alongside stronger office-attributed spending.

The modification added $11.7M while office-attributed obligations rose $190.5M overall.

Award net obligations
$35.0M
Share of 12-month positive obligations
1.1%
Supporting data
Prime contractor
#10 · 3.2% share
$7.9M net decline despite this positive action
Funding office
#1 · 100.0% attributed share
+0.1 percentage points · $190.5M net increase; action accounted for 6.2%
Related:Funding office gain
PIID 1202SA24K9124 · Mod P00031
Modification

This action

+$5.2M

BILLINGS FLYING SERVICE LLC

USDA FOREST SERVICE

BILLINGS - T1 EU FOR GRANGEVILLE, ID #3

Why it stands out

The contractor climbed 3 positions in this market.

It now ranks #8 by positive obligations over the latest 12 months.

Award net obligations
$18.9M
Share of 12-month positive obligations
0.46%
Supporting data
Prime contractor
#8 · 4.1% share
up 3 ranks · +0.6 percentage points · $13.1M net increase; action accounted for 39.4%
PIID 1202SA25K9221 · Mod P00011
Modification

This action

+$4.6M

HILLSBORO AVIATION, INC.

USDA FOREST SERVICE

TYPE II EU FOR SIERRA VISTA, AZ

Why it stands out

The contractor climbed 3 positions in this market.

It now ranks #22 by positive obligations over the latest 12 months.

Award net obligations
$18.3M
Share of 12-month positive obligations
0.41%
PIID 1202SA24K9213 · Mod P00032
View recent award activity by date (10)
  1. SILLER HELICOPTERS, LLCModification · PIID 1202SA25K9231
    Action+$1.3M
    Award net obligations$16.7M
  2. HELICOPTER TRANSPORT SERVICES, LLCModification · PIID 1202SA25K9205
    Action+$895K
    Award net obligations$21.0M
  3. HELICOPTER TRANSPORT SERVICES, LLCModification · PIID 1202SA25K9202
    Action+$826K
    Award net obligations$22.4M
  4. HELICOPTER TRANSPORT SERVICES, LLCModification · PIID 1202SA25K9206
    Action+$810K
    Award net obligations$19.6M
  5. CAPITOL HELICOPTERS, INC.Modification · PIID 1202SA25K9220
    Action+$395K
    Award net obligations$6.8M
  6. HELIQWEST INTERNATIONAL INC.Modification · PIID 1202SA25K9229
    Action+$389K
    Award net obligations$7.1M
  7. HELICOPTER TRANSPORT SERVICES, LLCModification · PIID 1202SA25K9204
    Action+$1.1M
    Award net obligations$19.6M
  8. MARIANI BROS AIR SUPPORT LLCModification · PIID 1202SA25K9230
    Action+$986K
    Award net obligations$7.5M
  9. ROTAK LLCModification · PIID 1202SA25K9216
    Action+$630K
    Award net obligations$21.5M
  10. COULSON AVIATION (USA), INC.Deobligation · PIID 1202SA24K9125
    Action−$178K
    Award net obligations$28.0M

USDA nonscheduled chartered freight air transportation market FAQs

Answers based on reported federal contract data.

Who are the top USDA nonscheduled chartered freight air transportation contractors?

In the 12 months through October 23, 2026, AERO-FLITE, INC., HELICOPTER TRANSPORT SERVICES, LLC, and HELICOPTER EXPRESS LLC were the leading USDA nonscheduled chartered freight air transportation prime contractors by positive obligations.

  1. #1

    AERO-FLITE, INC.

    $123,950,632 in positive obligations

  2. #2

    HELICOPTER TRANSPORT SERVICES, LLC

    $118,552,964 in positive obligations

  3. #3

    HELICOPTER EXPRESS LLC

    $85,325,145 in positive obligations

Rankings use reported USAspending award data.

Did USDA contract obligations increase in the nonscheduled chartered freight air transportation market?

Yes. Measured by net prime contract obligations, reported USDA activity in the nonscheduled chartered freight air transportation market increased 20.6% from $925,268,324 in the preceding 12 months to $1,115,852,879 in the 12 months through October 23, 2026.

Latest 12 months
$1,115,852,879
Net prime contract obligations
Preceding 12 months
$925,268,324
Net prime contract obligations
Change
+20.6%
Between matched 12-month periods

Reported contract actions, not outlays or a forecast.

What recent USDA contract award activity was reported in the nonscheduled chartered freight air transportation market?

Recent USDA contract award activity reported in the nonscheduled chartered freight air transportation market included actions for NEPTUNE AVIATION SERVICES, INC., AERO-FLITE, INC., and AERO AIR, LLC during the 12 months through October 23, 2026.

Action obligations are transaction-level amounts, not current award-level obligations.

Which procurement methods were reported for USDA contracts under NAICS 481212?

From October 24, 2025 through October 23, 2026, USDA reported 971 positive-obligation awards for nonscheduled chartered freight air transportation under NAICS 481212. The leading award type was delivery order. The leading reported procedure was mafo.

Positive-obligation awards
971
Leading reported procedure
Mafo
74.1% of positive obligations
Leading award type
Delivery Order
99.6% of positive obligations
Full and open
13.3%
of positive obligations
Reported parent IDV
99.6%
of positive obligations
Observed vehicles
Airtanker MATOC 2023, HSS Type 2, and CWN Helicopter Services
Exact matches from reported parent PIIDs

Percentages use positive obligations as the denominator.

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Related market research

Complete market indexes:

Same NAICS at other agencies:

Nearby NAICS at this agency:

Markets sharing leading prime records:

Leading-prime vehicle memberships:

Company memberships do not establish award-channel use.

Reported obligations include contract actions from October 1, 2021 through October 23, 2026. Set-aside and business-size fields reflect award records, not a contractor's current eligibility.

Review data methodology