Forest Service awards $38,905 contract for birding surveys in Northern Wisconsin

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $38,906 ($38.9K)

Contractor: Sagebrush Advisors, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2026-04-13

End Date: 2027-04-12

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $107/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: THE WASHBURN RANGER DISTRICT HAS A NEED FOR QUALIFIED BIRDING SURVEYOR(S) WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH VISUAL AND VOCAL IDENTIFICATION OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN HAWK SPECIES. CONTRACTORS WILL SURVEY DESIGNATED AREAS WITHIN THE DRUMMOND WEST PROJECT AREA FOR DOC

Place of Performance

Location: WASHBURN, BAYFIELD County, WISCONSIN, 54891

State: Wisconsin Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $38,905.88 to SAGEBRUSH ADVISORS, LLC for work described as: THE WASHBURN RANGER DISTRICT HAS A NEED FOR QUALIFIED BIRDING SURVEYOR(S) WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH VISUAL AND VOCAL IDENTIFICATION OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN HAWK SPECIES. CONTRACTORS WILL SURVEY DESIGNATED AREAS WITHIN THE DRUMMOND WEST PROJECT AREA FOR DOC Key points: 1. Contract focuses on specialized bird identification skills for Northern Wisconsin hawk species. 2. The contract is a BPA Call awarded under a competitive process. 3. Potential risks include the specificity of the required expertise and geographic limitations. 4. Spending falls within the Support Activities for Forestry sector.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $38,905 for a 364-day duration appears reasonable for specialized survey work. However, without specific benchmarks for birding surveys, a precise comparison is difficult.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was competed under SAP (Simplified Acquisition Procedures), indicating a competitive process for awards under $250,000. This method generally allows for broader competition and price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: The relatively small contract value suggests a minimal direct impact on taxpayers, with funds allocated for specific environmental monitoring needs.

Public Impact

Supports environmental monitoring and conservation efforts in the Drummond West Project Area. Ensures accurate data collection for Northern Wisconsin hawk species, crucial for ecological understanding. The contract highlights the need for specialized ecological expertise within federal agencies.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited geographic scope may restrict contractor pool.
Reliance on visual and vocal identification requires highly specialized skills.

Positive Signals

Competitive award process.
Clear definition of survey area and species.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under Support Activities for Forestry, a sector that includes services related to forest management and conservation. Spending benchmarks for such specialized ecological surveys are not readily available, but the value appears modest for the defined scope.

Small Business Impact

The contract was competed under SAP, which can be accessible to small businesses. However, the data does not specify if small businesses participated or were awarded the contract.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is managed by the Forest Service, a branch of the Department of Agriculture. Oversight would involve ensuring the contractor meets the specified survey requirements and delivers accurate data.

Related Government Programs

Support Activities for Forestry
Department of Agriculture Contracting
Forest Service Programs

Risk Flags

Specificity of required expertise.
Geographic limitations of the survey area.
Potential for data inaccuracies if expertise is insufficient.
Reliance on visual and vocal identification methods.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $38,905.88 to SAGEBRUSH ADVISORS, LLC. THE WASHBURN RANGER DISTRICT HAS A NEED FOR QUALIFIED BIRDING SURVEYOR(S) WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH VISUAL AND VOCAL IDENTIFICATION OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN HAWK SPECIES. CONTRACTORS WILL SURVEY DESIGNATED AREAS WITHIN THE DRUMMOND WEST PROJECT AREA FOR DOC

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SAGEBRUSH ADVISORS, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Forest Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $38,905.88.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-13. End: 2027-04-12.

What is the typical cost range for similar specialized birding survey contracts in other regions?

Determining a precise cost range for similar specialized birding survey contracts is challenging due to the niche nature of the service and regional variations in labor costs and environmental conditions. However, contracts for ecological surveys can range from a few thousand dollars for basic assessments to tens or hundreds of thousands for extensive, multi-year projects requiring specialized expertise and equipment.

What are the potential risks if the selected surveyor lacks sufficient familiarity with Northern Wisconsin hawk species?

If the surveyor lacks sufficient familiarity, the primary risk is inaccurate data collection, leading to flawed ecological assessments. This could misinform conservation strategies, impact resource management decisions, and potentially require costly re-surveys. The effectiveness of the Drummond West Project's environmental monitoring would be compromised, diminishing the value of the federal investment.

How will the effectiveness of the birding surveys be measured to ensure value for taxpayer money?

Effectiveness will likely be measured by the accuracy and completeness of the survey data against predefined protocols and species identification criteria. The Forest Service will review the contractor's reports for adherence to methodology, proper documentation, and the successful identification of target species. Meeting the contract's deliverables and providing actionable ecological insights will demonstrate value.

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: 12445026Q0011

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 632 CANYON POINT CIR, GOLDEN, CO, 80403

Business Categories: Category Business, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Limited Liability Corporation, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $38,906

Exercised Options: $38,906

Current Obligation: $38,906

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 12363N23A4487

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline