Forest Service awards $2.2M contract for marking services, with 6 bidders competing

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $22,373 ($22.4K)

Contractor: King Matthew R

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2026-04-06

End Date: 2026-11-30

Contract Duration: 238 days

Daily Burn Rate: $94/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: AARDVARK MARKING CONTRACT

Place of Performance

Location: IRONWOOD, GOGEBIC County, MICHIGAN, 49938

State: Michigan Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $22,373 to KING MATTHEW R for work described as: AARDVARK MARKING CONTRACT Key points: 1. Contract value appears reasonable given the duration and scope of services. 2. Strong competition level suggests potential for competitive pricing. 3. Fixed-price contract type mitigates cost overrun risks for the government. 4. Performance period is relatively short, indicating a focused need. 5. Contract supports essential forestry management activities. 6. Geographic focus on Michigan for this specific call.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract's fixed-price nature helps control costs. Benchmarking against similar forestry marking contracts is difficult without more specific service details, but the overall value of $2.2M for approximately 8 months of support seems within a reasonable range for specialized services. The competition level also supports the likelihood of a fair price.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), indicating a competitive process. With six bidders participating, the level of competition is robust for this contract size. This suggests that multiple vendors were aware of and interested in the requirement, which typically drives better pricing and service offerings.

Taxpayer Impact: The strong competition ensures that taxpayer dollars are likely being used efficiently, as vendors had to offer competitive terms to win the award.

Public Impact

Benefits the U.S. Forest Service by providing necessary marking services for forestry operations. Services delivered include support activities for forestry, likely involving timber marking or boundary delineation. Geographic impact is concentrated in Michigan. Workforce implications are tied to the contractor's personnel performing the marking services.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for contractor to under-bid and then seek modifications if scope expands.
Geographic concentration could limit future competition if local resources are strained.

Positive Signals

Robust competition with 6 bidders indicates a healthy vendor pool.
Firm Fixed Price contract type minimizes cost uncertainty for the government.
Contract duration is defined, preventing open-ended commitments.

Sector Analysis

Forestry services, including marking, are a niche but essential part of land management. This contract falls within the broader professional services sector supporting government agencies. Comparable spending benchmarks are difficult to establish without detailed service descriptions, but the market for specialized marking and surveying services exists across various federal and state land management agencies.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). While the BPA Call structure might allow for small business participation through subcontracting, there is no explicit set-aside. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were prime contractors or significant subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight would primarily fall under the Forest Service's contracting officers and program managers responsible for forestry support activities. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract provides a degree of accountability by fixing the cost. Transparency is facilitated by the contract award data being publicly available, though detailed performance metrics are not included here.

Related Government Programs

Forestry Management Services
Timber Stand Improvement
Land Surveying and Boundary Marking
Natural Resource Management Support

Risk Flags

Contract awarded under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) - requires review for appropriate use.
Limited detail on specific services provided within 'Support Activities for Forestry'.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $22,373 to KING MATTHEW R. AARDVARK MARKING CONTRACT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is KING MATTHEW R.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Forest Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $22,373.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-06. End: 2026-11-30.

What is the specific nature of the 'AARDVARK MARKING CONTRACT' and what services does it entail?

The provided data identifies the contract as 'AARDVARK MARKING CONTRACT' with the description 'Support Activities for Forestry'. While the exact nature of the marking is not detailed, it likely pertains to timber marking for sales, inventory, or silvicultural treatments, boundary marking for land management, or potentially marking for pest/disease surveys. The contract is a BPA Call (Blanket Purchase Agreement Call) under a larger agreement, indicating it's a specific task order for services. The duration is approximately 8 months (238 days), suggesting a defined operational period for these marking activities within Michigan.

How does the pricing of $2.2M for this contract compare to similar forestry marking services?

Directly comparing the $2.2M price without detailed service specifications (e.g., acres marked, type of marking, complexity of terrain, specific deliverables) is challenging. However, considering the contract duration of approximately 8 months and the fact that it was competed with 6 bidders, the price appears to be within a reasonable range for specialized forestry support. The firm fixed-price structure also suggests that the government has a clear understanding of the cost upfront. Benchmarking would require access to more granular data on unit costs or per-acre rates for similar Forest Service contracts in the region or nationally.

What are the potential risks associated with this contract, and how are they mitigated?

Potential risks include the contractor potentially underperforming or facing unforeseen challenges that could impact service delivery, although the firm fixed-price contract mitigates financial risk for the government. The relatively short duration (under 8 months) might suggest a focused, potentially seasonal need, reducing long-term risk. Mitigation strategies likely involve the Forest Service's oversight of performance, adherence to contract specifications, and the competitive nature of the award which should have selected a capable vendor. The fixed-price nature itself is a primary risk mitigation tool against cost escalation.

What is the track record of the contractor, KING MATTHEW R, with the federal government?

The provided data identifies KING MATTHEW R as the contractor. However, it does not include information about their past performance, contract history, or track record with the federal government. To assess their reliability and experience, a review of their past federal contract awards, performance evaluations (e.g., Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS), and any history of disputes or terminations would be necessary. Without this information, it's difficult to gauge their specific suitability beyond winning this competitive bid.

How does the level of competition (6 bidders) impact the value received by the government?

A competition level of six bidders for a contract awarded under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) is generally considered robust. This indicates significant interest from the vendor community in the Forest Service's requirement. Strong competition typically drives down prices as vendors vie for the award, potentially leading to better value for the government. It also increases the likelihood that the selected contractor offers a combination of competitive pricing and acceptable technical capabilities, ensuring the government receives a fair deal.

What is the historical spending pattern for 'Support Activities for Forestry' by the Forest Service?

The provided data is for a single contract award and does not offer historical spending patterns. To analyze historical spending for 'Support Activities for Forestry' (NAICS code 115310), one would need to query federal procurement databases (like USASpending.gov or FPDS) for all contracts awarded under this NAICS code by the Forest Service over several fiscal years. This would reveal trends in contract values, number of awards, types of services procured, and spending fluctuations, providing context for the current $2.2M award.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting › Support Activities for Forestry › Support Activities for Forestry

Product/Service Code: NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT › NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVERVAT SVCS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 12363N26Q4077

Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1095 SPRINGFIELD DR, DE PERE, WI, 54115

Business Categories: Category Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Sole Proprietorship, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $22,373

Exercised Options: $22,373

Current Obligation: $22,373

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 12363N24A4005

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline