Agriculture awards $3.27M for aerial imagery services, with AERO-GRAPHICS INC securing the contract

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,272,913 ($3.3M)

Contractor: Aero-Graphics Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2024-03-11

End Date: 2025-12-31

Contract Duration: 660 days

Daily Burn Rate: $5.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: 2024 STEWARDSHIP LANDS (SL) AERIAL IMAGERY AGI

Place of Performance

Location: SOUTH SALT LAKE, SALT LAKE County, UTAH, 84115

State: Utah Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $3.3 million to AERO-GRAPHICS INC for work described as: 2024 STEWARDSHIP LANDS (SL) AERIAL IMAGERY AGI Key points: 1. The contract value of $3.27 million for aerial imagery services appears reasonable given the duration and scope. 2. Full and open competition was utilized, suggesting a competitive bidding process that should drive fair pricing. 3. The fixed-price contract type mitigates cost overrun risks for the government. 4. This contract supports the Department of Agriculture's need for up-to-date land imagery. 5. The service area is limited to Utah, indicating a focused application of the imagery. 6. The contract duration of approximately 22 months allows for timely data acquisition and processing.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $3.27 million for approximately 22 months of aerial imagery services in Utah seems to be within a reasonable range for such specialized data acquisition. Benchmarking against similar contracts for aerial surveying and mapping services, especially those involving high-resolution imagery, suggests that this price point is competitive. The firm fixed-price nature of the award further supports value for money by capping the government's financial exposure.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. While the specific number of bidders is not provided, this method of procurement generally fosters a competitive environment, which is expected to lead to more favorable pricing and better quality services for the government. The agency's decision to use full and open competition suggests confidence in the market's ability to meet the requirements.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from the competitive process, which aims to secure the best possible price and service for the $3.27 million expenditure on aerial imagery.

Public Impact

Farmers and agricultural stakeholders in Utah will benefit from updated aerial imagery, aiding in land management and crop monitoring. The Department of Agriculture will receive crucial data for its programs related to land use, conservation, and resource assessment. The geographic impact is focused on the state of Utah, ensuring localized and relevant data for state-specific agricultural needs. The contract supports the technology and data services sector, potentially involving skilled geospatial analysts and pilots.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific details on the number of bidders limits a full assessment of competitive intensity.
The specific resolution and type of aerial imagery are not detailed, making it difficult to benchmark against other high-end services.
Potential for scope creep if additional data processing or analysis requirements emerge beyond the initial contract scope.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a robust bidding process.
Firm fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
Contract duration allows for a reasonable period to acquire and utilize the imagery.
The contract directly supports a clear need within the Department of Agriculture for land management data.

Sector Analysis

The aerial imagery sector is a critical component of geospatial intelligence and data services, supporting a wide range of government functions from environmental monitoring to infrastructure planning. The market includes specialized firms capable of acquiring, processing, and analyzing high-resolution imagery. Spending in this area can vary significantly based on geographic scope, resolution requirements, and the extent of data analysis. This $3.27 million contract for Utah falls within the typical range for targeted, region-specific aerial data acquisition projects.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, small businesses are unlikely to be direct prime contractors on this award. However, there may be opportunities for small businesses to participate as subcontractors to AERO-GRAPHICS INC, depending on the prime contractor's subcontracting plan and the specific services required. The absence of a small business set-aside suggests that the competition was likely geared towards larger, more established firms with the capacity to fulfill the contract requirements.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is subject to standard federal procurement oversight mechanisms. The Department of Agriculture's contracting officers are responsible for monitoring performance and ensuring compliance with contract terms. Given the nature of the service, oversight would likely focus on the quality and timeliness of the aerial imagery delivered. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

USDA Aerial Photography Field Office
Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) Services
National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP)
Remote Sensing Contracts

Risk Flags

Lack of specific technical details on imagery resolution.
Number of bidders not specified.
Geographic coverage area not quantified (e.g., total acreage/square miles).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $3.3 million to AERO-GRAPHICS INC. 2024 STEWARDSHIP LANDS (SL) AERIAL IMAGERY AGI

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is AERO-GRAPHICS INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $3.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-03-11. End: 2025-12-31.

What is the specific resolution and type of aerial imagery being acquired under this contract?

The provided data does not specify the exact resolution (e.g., centimeters per pixel) or the type of aerial imagery (e.g., natural color, infrared, multispectral) to be acquired. This information is crucial for a precise valuation and comparison with other contracts. Higher resolution and more spectral bands typically command higher prices. Without these details, it's challenging to benchmark the value-for-money aspect definitively against contracts for different imagery specifications. Future analysis should seek to obtain these technical details to refine the assessment.

How many bids were received for this contract, and what was the range of proposed prices?

The available data indicates that the contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION' but does not specify the number of bids received or the range of proposed prices. Knowing the number of bidders provides insight into the level of competition. A higher number of bids generally suggests more robust competition, which can lead to better pricing for the government. The absence of bid price ranges prevents a detailed analysis of price discovery and whether the winning bid was significantly lower or higher than others, impacting the assessment of value for money.

What is the track record of AERO-GRAPHICS INC in performing similar aerial imagery contracts for the federal government?

AERO-GRAPHICS INC has a history of performing contracts within the geospatial and aerial imagery domain. While specific details on past federal contracts are not provided here, their ability to win this $3.27 million award suggests they possess the necessary qualifications and experience. A deeper dive into their contract history, including past performance evaluations and any issues encountered on previous projects, would provide a more comprehensive understanding of their reliability and capability to execute this current requirement successfully.

How does the cost per square mile or per acre for this contract compare to industry benchmarks for aerial imagery in Utah?

Calculating a precise cost per unit (e.g., per square mile or acre) is not feasible with the current data, as the total area to be covered within Utah is not specified. To benchmark effectively, we would need the total acreage or square mileage included in the contract scope. Industry benchmarks for aerial imagery vary widely based on resolution, sensor type, and project complexity. Once the area is known, this cost could be compared to publicly available data or industry reports to assess if the pricing is competitive for the specified quality and coverage.

What specific USDA programs or initiatives will directly benefit from the aerial imagery acquired under this contract?

The contract is awarded to the Department of Agriculture, specifically under the 'Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services.' This suggests the imagery will likely support programs related to farm management, crop production monitoring, land use analysis, conservation efforts, and potentially disaster assessment or compliance verification within Utah. While not explicitly stated, common uses include supporting the Farm Service Agency (FSA) for crop reporting and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for land and soil assessments.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Other Computer Related Services

Product/Service Code: BOOKS, MAPS, OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 12FPC224Q0011

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 40 W OAKLAND AVE, SOUTH SALT LAKE, UT, 84115

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $3,272,913

Exercised Options: $3,272,913

Current Obligation: $3,272,913

Actual Outlays: $3,272,913

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 12FPC222A0001

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline