Micah Zenko, “CIA in Pakistan, Syria, Special Ops in Trans-Sahara,”  Council on Foreign Relations, July 26 2013

Department of Defense, Contracts, July 24, 2013.

U.S. Transportation Command

Berry Aviation Inc., San Marcos, Texas, is being awarded a $10,725,000 fixed-priced, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract for Trans-Sahara short take-off and landing (STOL) services.  The Trans-Sahara STOL contract provides for casualty evacuation, personnel airlift, cargo airlift, and air drop services.  Work will be performed throughout the recognized political boundaries of Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, South Sudan, Tunisia, and Uganda, with an expected completion date of June 27, 2017.  The maximum value, including the base period and three one-year option periods, is $49,092,472.  Joint Special Operations Air Detachment 3400 Operations and Maintenance funds in the amount of $1,500,000 are being obligated at time of award.  $9,225,000 will be obligated via Task Order on July 25, 2013.  This contract was a competitive acquisition solicited using the Federal Business Opportunity website, and five offers were received.  The contracting activity is U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., (HTC711-13-D-C013).

(Pentagon contracts are often a useful indicator for the location of future covert military operations. In this case, the potential for a Joint Special Operations air detachment coordinating STOL missions related to “casualty evacuation, personnel airlift.”)

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