Interior awards $603K for biologist services to Cherokee Nation System Solutions LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $603,204 ($603.2K)

Contractor: Cherokee Nation System Solutions LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2023-02-10

End Date: 2026-06-01

Contract Duration: 1,207 days

Daily Burn Rate: $500/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: Other

Official Description: GENERAL BIOLOGIST III AND GENERAL BIOLOGIST IV

Place of Performance

Location: LAFAYETTE, LAFAYETTE County, LOUISIANA, 70506

State: Louisiana Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $603,203.7 to CHEROKEE NATION SYSTEM SOLUTIONS LLC for work described as: GENERAL BIOLOGIST III AND GENERAL BIOLOGIST IV Key points: 1. Contract awarded via full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract duration of approximately 3.3 years provides a stable period for service delivery. 3. Services fall under 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services,' a broad category. 4. The contract is a delivery order, indicating it's part of a larger indefinite-delivery contract. 5. The awardee, Cherokee Nation System Solutions LLC, is a significant entity in government contracting. 6. The contract type is labor hours, which can be efficient for variable workload needs.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this specific contract is challenging without more detailed service descriptions and comparable labor rates. The total award amount of $603,203.70 over approximately 3.3 years suggests a moderate annual spend. However, the 'labor hours' contract type means the final cost is dependent on actual hours worked, making a fixed value-for-money assessment difficult without knowing the hourly rates and total hours utilized. Comparing this to similar 'General Biologist' roles across federal agencies would provide better context on pricing.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources.' This indicates that while the competition was intended to be broad, specific sources may have been excluded for documented reasons. The fact that it was open competition suggests multiple interested parties likely bid, which generally promotes price discovery and potentially better value for the government. The number of bidders is not specified, which limits a deeper analysis of the competitive intensity.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition, even with exclusions, generally benefits taxpayers by encouraging a wider range of potential contractors to offer their services, potentially leading to more competitive pricing and innovative solutions.

Public Impact

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) benefits from specialized biological expertise. Services likely support scientific research, environmental monitoring, or conservation efforts. The geographic impact is tied to the operational needs of the USGS, potentially nationwide. The contract supports specialized scientific workforce roles within the awarded contractor's organization.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics or deliverables makes it difficult to assess the quality and impact of the services provided.
The broad NAICS code (541990) for 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' obscures the precise nature and value of the work performed.
The 'labor hours' contract type introduces cost uncertainty if not managed carefully, as the final price depends on hours worked.
The exclusion of sources in an otherwise 'full and open' competition warrants further investigation into the justification for such exclusions.

Positive Signals

Award to a company with demonstrated experience in government contracting, potentially indicating reliability.
The use of full and open competition suggests an effort to leverage market competition for best value.
The contract duration provides stability for the agency to secure necessary biological expertise.
The contract is a delivery order, implying it aligns with a pre-existing strategic sourcing vehicle.

Sector Analysis

The professional, scientific, and technical services sector is a significant component of federal spending. This contract falls under a broad category that includes a wide array of specialized expertise. The federal government frequently procures such services to support its diverse missions, from scientific research and environmental management (as likely in this case with USGS) to engineering and consulting. Benchmarking requires comparing rates and scope within the specific scientific sub-field, which is not detailed here.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that this contract involved small business set-asides, as the 'ss' and 'sb' fields are false. The prime contractor, Cherokee Nation System Solutions LLC, is a large business. Subcontracting opportunities for small businesses are not specified in the provided data, but are a possibility depending on the scope of work and the prime contractor's subcontracting plan.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) contracting officer and program managers. As a delivery order under a larger contract, oversight may also be influenced by the terms of the base contract. Transparency is facilitated by contract award databases, but detailed performance reports or Inspector General involvement would depend on specific performance issues or audits.

Related Government Programs

Scientific and Technical Services
Biological Research Support
Environmental Consulting Services
Professional Services Contracts
Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to 'labor hours' contract type if not closely managed.
Broad NAICS code obscures specific service details, hindering precise value assessment.
Lack of specified number of bidders limits understanding of competitive intensity.
Exclusion of sources in 'full and open' competition requires justification review.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $603,203.7 to CHEROKEE NATION SYSTEM SOLUTIONS LLC. GENERAL BIOLOGIST III AND GENERAL BIOLOGIST IV

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CHEROKEE NATION SYSTEM SOLUTIONS LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (U.S. Geological Survey).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $603,203.7.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-02-10. End: 2026-06-01.

What specific scientific or technical services are encompassed by 'General Biologist III and General Biologist IV' roles under this contract?

The provided data does not specify the exact duties for 'General Biologist III' and 'General Biologist IV' roles. Typically, these classifications suggest increasing levels of experience and responsibility in biological sciences. Services could range from field data collection, laboratory analysis, ecological surveys, species monitoring, research support, data interpretation, and report writing. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) often engages biologists for tasks related to natural resource management, environmental impact assessments, conservation biology, and scientific research supporting agency missions. Without more granular detail, the precise nature of the work remains generalized under the broad NAICS code 541990.

How does the awarded amount of $603,203.70 compare to typical spending on similar biologist services by the Department of the Interior?

Comparing this specific award of $603,203.70 to the Department of the Interior's (DOI) overall spending on biologist services requires access to historical DOI procurement data broken down by specific roles and services. The DOI, through agencies like the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), National Park Service (NPS), and Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), regularly procures biological expertise. This $603K award appears moderate for a contract spanning over three years, especially considering the potential need for specialized scientific personnel. However, without a benchmark of average contract values for similar biologist roles (e.g., by experience level, specific scientific discipline, or duration) across the DOI, it's difficult to definitively state if this represents high, low, or average spending. Further analysis would involve examining the number of hours funded and the associated labor rates.

What are the potential risks associated with a 'labor hours' contract type for these biologist services?

The primary risk with a 'labor hours' contract type is cost uncertainty for the government. Unlike fixed-price contracts, the final cost is directly tied to the number of hours worked by contractor personnel multiplied by their agreed-upon hourly rates. If the project requires more hours than initially anticipated, or if hourly rates are high, the total expenditure can exceed initial estimates. This necessitates robust oversight from the government to monitor hours worked, ensure efficiency, and prevent scope creep that inflates costs. For specialized roles like biologists, ensuring that the hours billed are genuinely productive and necessary for the defined tasks is crucial for managing this risk and achieving value for money.

What is the significance of the contract being a 'Delivery Order'?

The designation of this award as a 'Delivery Order' signifies that it is a task order issued under a pre-existing, larger contract, likely an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. This approach is common in federal procurement for services that are needed periodically or in varying quantities over a set period. It allows agencies to streamline the procurement process for recurring needs by having a contract vehicle already in place. The significance for taxpayers is that the foundational contract likely underwent a competitive process, and this delivery order represents a specific call for services within the scope and terms established by that base contract, potentially offering efficiencies over procuring each need anew.

Can the contractor's track record with the federal government be assessed based on the provided data?

The provided data identifies the contractor as 'CHEROKEE NATION SYSTEM SOLUTIONS LLC' and indicates the contract type and award details. However, it does not include information about the contractor's past performance, previous contract history, or specific track record with the federal government. To assess their track record, one would need to consult other government databases (like the Federal Procurement Data System - FPDS) or contract performance reports. This would reveal their history of successful contract completion, any past issues or disputes, and their overall reliability in delivering services to federal agencies. Without this external data, an assessment of their track record is not possible based solely on the information given.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Cherokee Nation

Address: 10838 E MARSHALL ST STE 200-A17, TULSA, OK, 74116

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, American Indian Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, HUBZone Firm, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Tribally Owned Firm, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $630,463

Exercised Options: $630,463

Current Obligation: $603,204

Actual Outlays: $488,184

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 140G0120D0021

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline