City Of Helena

City Of Helena Finance Division, a U.S. local government entity headquartered in Helena, Montana, operates as a prime recipient of federal grants across transportation, law enforcement, infrastructure, and public utilities, with minimal contract work and no participation in government-wide contract vehicles.

The City's federal footprint is dominated by grant awards rather than contracts. Its single significant federal contract is a $18,725 definitive firm fixed-price award from the Department of the Interior's Montana-Dakotas Region for law enforcement services with the Helena Police Department, running through August 31, 2025. The broader grant portfolio spans six federal agencies and covers concrete capital and operational initiatives: a $500,000 BUILD grant from the Federal Highway Administration (CFDA 20.933) for the East Side Arterial Connector infrastructure project completing September 30, 2030; a $1.93 million Federal Transit Administration formula grant (CFDA 20.507) for Capital Transit demand response operations and preventive maintenance through September 30, 2026; a $249,600 Federal Transit Administration grant (CFDA 20.526) for two replacement ADA-accessible paratransit vans completing July 1, 2027; a Federal Railroad Administration project grant for preliminary engineering and environmental review of a Montana Avenue grade separation and multimodal improvements, with completion targeted at March 31, 2029; an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant from the Department of Energy (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Section 40552) for energy efficiency initiatives through December 31, 2026; a cooperative agreement with the Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition for food waste collection and composting pilot operations through May 31, 2027; and Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) block grants from the Bureau of Justice Assistance supporting law enforcement liaison detective positions and Missouri River Drug Task Force staffing, with the most recent award running through September 30, 2027.

Customer concentration is diffuse but skewed toward safety and infrastructure agencies. The Department of Veterans Affairs accounts for 42 awards (30% of the total 142 awards in the source period), though the combined potential value of its awards is modest at roughly $284,000. The General Services Administration Public Buildings Service holds 10 awards, the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs (combined Bureau of Justice Assistance and broader office) holds 17 awards, and the Federal Transit Administration and Federal Highway Administration together anchor the transportation and infrastructure grant segment. The top five customer agencies by award count cover 53% of recent awards, but the top customers by dollar value tell a different story — the Veterans Health Administration's Veterans Integrated Service Network 19 carries $284,000 in potential value, the Department of Interior's Bureau of Land Management Montana-Dakotas carries $25,000, and other customers trail significantly, indicating that award count and dollar magnitude operate independently for this entity.

Activity has been modest and variable: three awards in 2022, seven in 2023, eleven in 2024, eight in 2025, and five through May 2026. Five awards face ultimate completion within the next twenty-four months and therefore require recompete or renewal. The City holds one parent vehicle relationship — a GSA Basic Ordering Agreement (GS08B13588) with six task orders — but does not compete on GWACs, IDIQs, or agency-wide vehicles. The sub-award footprint shows the City acting as sub-recipient under Montana state agencies on planning and transportation initiatives: Montana Department of Transportation (multiple FFY planning awards and set-aside SATO grants), Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (fuel reduction and prescribed fire projects), and Montana Board of Crime Control (victim services grants).

The category concentration reflects municipal operations: the top NAICS codes are Lessors of Nonresidential Buildings (seven awards), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (four), and Police Protection (four). The top PSC code is Utilities — Water (48 awards), followed by Medical — Other (six) and Housekeeping — Fire Protection (five). This pattern aligns with the City's operational profile — facility management, water utility operations, and emergency services — rather than a vendor-oriented federal contracting posture.