Forest Service awards $225K janitorial contract to Reliance Contractors Inc. for Bitterroot National Forest

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $22,500 ($22.5K)

Contractor: Reliance Contractors Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2024-06-01

End Date: 2027-05-31

Contract Duration: 1,094 days

Daily Burn Rate: $21/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 14

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: BITTERROOT NATIONAL FOREST JANITORIAL SERVICES FOR SULA RANGER DISTRICT BASE PLUS 4 OPTION YEARS

Place of Performance

Location: DARBY, RAVALLI County, MONTANA, 59829

State: Montana Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $22,500 to RELIANCE CONTRACTORS INC for work described as: BITTERROOT NATIONAL FOREST JANITORIAL SERVICES FOR SULA RANGER DISTRICT BASE PLUS 4 OPTION YEARS Key points: 1. Contract awarded through Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), suggesting a focus on smaller value procurements. 2. The contract includes four option years, providing potential for extended service delivery and contractor stability. 3. Firm Fixed Price contract type helps manage cost certainty for the government. 4. The service is janitorial, a common and essential support function for federal facilities. 5. The award is a Purchase Order, a streamlined method for acquiring goods and services. 6. The contractor, Reliance Contractors Inc., is a new awardee for this specific service in this location.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $225,000 over approximately three years (base period plus options) appears reasonable for janitorial services at a ranger district base. Benchmarking against similar-sized facilities or contracts for janitorial services in Montana would provide a more precise value assessment. The firm fixed price structure helps control costs, but the absence of detailed performance metrics or specific service level agreements in the provided data makes a deep value assessment challenging.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which typically allows for full and open competition but often involves fewer bidders than larger contract vehicles. The data indicates 14 bids were received, suggesting a healthy level of interest and competition for this service. This level of competition is generally positive for price discovery and ensuring a fair market price.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive process with 14 bids helps ensure taxpayer dollars are used efficiently by driving down costs through market forces.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the staff and visitors of the Sula Ranger District within the Bitterroot National Forest, who will experience a cleaner and more sanitary work and public environment. The services delivered include essential janitorial tasks to maintain the cleanliness and hygiene of the ranger district facilities. The geographic impact is localized to the Sula Ranger District in Montana. The contract supports local employment through Reliance Contractors Inc., contributing to the regional economy.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for service quality variability given the nature of janitorial services and reliance on contractor performance.
Dependence on a single contractor for essential facility maintenance could pose a risk if performance degrades.
Limited insight into specific performance standards and quality control mechanisms within the provided data.

Positive Signals

Competitive bidding process with 14 offers indicates a robust market response.
Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
Inclusion of option years offers potential for continuity of service and established working relationship.

Sector Analysis

Janitorial services represent a segment of the broader facilities maintenance and management industry. This contract falls within the government's need for essential operational support services. Comparable spending benchmarks for janitorial contracts can vary significantly based on facility size, location, and service scope. The government procures janitorial services across numerous agencies and locations to maintain its vast real estate portfolio.

Small Business Impact

The provided data does not indicate if this contract was set aside for small businesses, nor does it specify subcontracting requirements. As a competed contract under SAP, it is possible small businesses participated in the bidding. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business involvement or impact.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically reside with the Forest Service contracting officer and potentially a contracting officer's representative (COR) at the Sula Ranger District. Accountability is managed through the terms of the Purchase Order and performance monitoring. Transparency is generally provided through contract award databases, though detailed performance reports are often internal.

Related Government Programs

Forest Service Facility Maintenance
National Forest Janitorial Services
Federal Building Cleaning Contracts
Department of Agriculture Operational Support

Risk Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics
Limited detail on contractor's past performance
Geographic concentration of service

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $22,500 to RELIANCE CONTRACTORS INC. BITTERROOT NATIONAL FOREST JANITORIAL SERVICES FOR SULA RANGER DISTRICT BASE PLUS 4 OPTION YEARS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is RELIANCE CONTRACTORS INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Forest Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $22,500.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-06-01. End: 2027-05-31.

What is the historical spending pattern for janitorial services at the Sula Ranger District or similar Forest Service facilities in Montana?

Historical spending data for janitorial services at the Sula Ranger District specifically is not publicly available in this dataset. However, federal agencies like the Forest Service routinely procure janitorial services across numerous locations. Spending patterns for such services are influenced by facility size, number of staff, public access, and local labor costs. Contracts can range from small, localized purchase orders like this one to larger, multi-year agreements for major facilities. Analyzing spending across similar ranger districts or facilities of comparable size within Region 1 (which includes Montana) would provide a broader context for understanding typical investment levels in janitorial support.

How does the awarded price compare to market rates for janitorial services in rural Montana?

Benchmarking the exact price against market rates is challenging without specific details on the scope of services (e.g., square footage cleaned, frequency of cleaning, specific tasks like window washing or floor waxing) and the exact location within Montana. However, a $225,000 contract over approximately three years equates to roughly $75,000 annually. For a ranger district base, this suggests a comprehensive service level. Market rates in rural areas can be lower than in urban centers due to lower labor costs, but specialized services or remote locations can sometimes command higher prices. The competitive nature of the award (14 bids) suggests the price is likely aligned with what multiple contractors deemed acceptable in the market.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or service level agreements (SLAs) associated with this contract?

The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for this janitorial services contract. Typically, such contracts would include metrics related to cleanliness standards, response times for reported issues, adherence to schedules, and use of approved cleaning agents. The Forest Service would likely have internal checklists or inspection protocols to ensure the contractor meets the required standards. The effectiveness of oversight and the ultimate value for money would heavily depend on the rigor and enforcement of these unstated KPIs and SLAs.

What is Reliance Contractors Inc.'s track record with federal janitorial service contracts?

Based on the provided data, this appears to be a new award for Reliance Contractors Inc. for janitorial services with the Forest Service at the Sula Ranger District. Information regarding their prior experience with similar federal contracts, their performance history on other government awards, or their specific qualifications for janitorial services is not included. A deeper dive into federal procurement databases (like SAM.gov or FPDS) would be necessary to assess their broader track record and past performance ratings, if any, on other government contracts.

What is the potential impact of this contract on small business subcontracting opportunities?

The provided data does not indicate whether this contract has specific small business subcontracting goals. As a competed contract under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), it is not automatically subject to the same stringent subcontracting requirements as larger prime contracts. However, Reliance Contractors Inc. may voluntarily engage small businesses for support services, or the Forest Service may encourage such engagement. Without explicit subcontracting plans or data on the size status of Reliance Contractors Inc., it's difficult to assess the direct impact on small business subcontracting opportunities.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Services to Buildings and Dwellings › Janitorial Services

Product/Service Code: UTILITIES AND HOUSEKEEPING › HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 1284LM24Q0060

Offers Received: 14

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Reliance Contractors Inc.

Address: 1800 SW 1ST AVE STE 601, MIAMI, FL, 33129

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Hispanic American Owned Business, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $37,500

Exercised Options: $22,500

Current Obligation: $22,500

Actual Outlays: $12,250

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline