The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement’s Flight Services Contract

We evaluated the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement’s (BSEE’s) $316 million flight services contract in response to concerns regarding flight services in the Gulf of Mexico Region (GOMR). We found that contracting for helicopter flight services is the best mechanism to accomplish BSEE’s offshore inspections in GOMR. Although BSEE acted to reduce costs related to its helicopter flight services contract, we identified issues that should be addressed to reduce safety risks to personnel and reduce the risk of waste or abuse related to the contract. Specifically, we found that a helicopter company has denied access to refuel at its stations in GOMR. In addition, we found areas for improvement in BSEE’s internal controls regarding flight hours billed to the contract. We make five recommendations to help BSEE address issues related to its helicopter flight services contract. BSEE concurred with all five recommendations. We consider the recommendations resolved but not implemented.