Agriculture Department awards $4.36M contract for forestry support activities to San Joaquin Forest Products, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $4,365,492 ($4.4M)

Contractor: SAN Joaquin Forest Products, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2023-09-15

End Date: 2025-12-31

Contract Duration: 838 days

Daily Burn Rate: $5.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: NELDER GROVE GROUND IRSC -12363N23C4023 $4,364,941.60.00 TOTAL DOLLAR VALUE APPLIED $4,364,941.60 TOTAL CONTRACT VALUE COR: JAMES SIMMONS (JAMES.M.SIMMONS@USDA.GOV) PERFORMANCE PERIOD FOR AWARDED ITEMS: 09/15/2023-12/31/2025. DESCRIPTION

Place of Performance

Location: CLOVIS, FRESNO County, CALIFORNIA, 93611

State: California Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $4.4 million to SAN JOAQUIN FOREST PRODUCTS, LLC for work described as: NELDER GROVE GROUND IRSC -12363N23C4023 $4,364,941.60.00 TOTAL DOLLAR VALUE APPLIED $4,364,941.60 TOTAL CONTRACT VALUE COR: JAMES SIMMONS (JAMES.M.SIMMONS@USDA.GOV) PERFORMANCE PERIOD FOR AWARDED ITEMS: 09/15/2023-12/31/2025. DESCRIPTION Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. Performance period spans over two years, indicating a medium-term need for services. 3. The contract is a definitive contract with a firm fixed price, providing cost certainty. 4. The contractor, San Joaquin Forest Products, LLC, is based in California. 5. The contract falls under Support Activities for Forestry, a key area for land management. 6. The total dollar value applied matches the total contract value, indicating no changes. 7. The contract was awarded on September 15, 2023, with an end date of December 31, 2025.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of approximately $4.36 million for forestry support activities over a period of roughly 2.6 years appears reasonable. Without specific benchmarks for 'Support Activities for Forestry' or detailed service breakdowns, a direct comparison is challenging. However, the firm fixed-price structure suggests that the initial pricing was deemed acceptable by the government and the contractor. The absence of modifications or changes to the total dollar value applied indicates a stable cost throughout the contract's life so far.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, meaning all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The presence of 4 bidders (no) indicates a moderate level of competition for this contract. A competitive process generally leads to better price discovery and potentially more favorable terms for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition with multiple bidders is beneficial for taxpayers as it drives down prices through market forces and encourages efficient service delivery.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiary is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service, which will receive support for forestry activities. Services delivered likely include various aspects of forest management, conservation, or related operational support. The geographic impact is primarily within California, where the contractor is located and likely where services will be performed. Workforce implications include employment opportunities for individuals involved in forestry and related support services within the contractor's organization.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for limited geographic reach if services are strictly confined to the contractor's immediate operational area.
Dependence on a single contractor for a specific period could pose risks if performance issues arise.
Firm fixed-price contracts can sometimes limit flexibility if unforeseen circumstances require scope changes.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a robust selection process.
Firm fixed-price contract provides cost certainty and budget predictability for the agency.
Contractor is based in California, potentially offering local expertise and responsiveness.
The contract has a defined performance period, allowing for structured oversight and evaluation.

Sector Analysis

The contract falls within the 'Support Activities for Forestry' category, which is a subset of the broader forestry and natural resource management sector. This sector is critical for land stewardship, environmental protection, and the sustainable use of forest resources. Spending in this area often supports activities like timber management, fire prevention, ecological restoration, and conservation efforts. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found within government solicitations for similar forestry services, often involving bids from specialized environmental and land management firms.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). As a result, small businesses were not specifically targeted for this award. The implications for the small business ecosystem are neutral to potentially negative, as opportunities that could have been directed towards small businesses were competed broadly. There is no explicit information on subcontracting plans for small businesses within the provided data.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily be managed by the U.S. Forest Service, a division of the Department of Agriculture. Accountability measures are inherent in the definitive contract structure and firm fixed-price terms, requiring the contractor to deliver specified services within the agreed budget. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of federal contract awards. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Forest Management Services
Environmental Consulting
Land Conservation Contracts
Natural Resource Management
Federal Forestry Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns if unforeseen environmental factors significantly impact forestry operations.
Risk of contractor performance issues if not adequately monitored.
Limited flexibility for scope changes without formal contract modifications.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $4.4 million to SAN JOAQUIN FOREST PRODUCTS, LLC. NELDER GROVE GROUND IRSC -12363N23C4023 $4,364,941.60.00 TOTAL DOLLAR VALUE APPLIED $4,364,941.60 TOTAL CONTRACT VALUE COR: JAMES SIMMONS (JAMES.M.SIMMONS@USDA.GOV) PERFORMANCE PERIOD FOR AWARDED ITEMS: 09/15/2023-12/31/2025. DESCRIPTION

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SAN JOAQUIN FOREST PRODUCTS, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Forest Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $4.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-09-15. End: 2025-12-31.

What specific services are included under 'Support Activities for Forestry' for this contract?

The provided data does not detail the specific services encompassed by 'Support Activities for Forestry' for this particular contract. Typically, this category can include a wide range of tasks such as forest inventory and analysis, silvicultural treatments (like thinning or planting), pest and disease management, fire management support, environmental monitoring, data collection and reporting, and administrative support related to forest operations. A comprehensive understanding would require reviewing the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) or Performance Work Statement (PWS), which outlines the precise deliverables, standards, and requirements expected from San Joaquin Forest Products, LLC.

How does the $4.36 million contract value compare to similar forestry support contracts awarded by the USDA or other agencies?

Directly comparing the $4.36 million contract value without specific details on the scope of work, duration, and geographic region makes precise benchmarking difficult. However, the contract duration of approximately 2.6 years (September 15, 2023, to December 31, 2025) suggests an average annual value of roughly $1.68 million. This figure can be compared against historical data for similar forestry support services. For instance, contracts for large-scale forest management, reforestation projects, or comprehensive ecological assessments can range from hundreds of thousands to several million dollars annually, depending on complexity and scale. The firm fixed-price nature and the fact it was competed fully and openly with 4 bidders suggest the pricing was considered competitive within its specific service domain at the time of award.

What is the track record of San Joaquin Forest Products, LLC in performing federal contracts, particularly with the Department of Agriculture?

Information regarding the specific track record of San Joaquin Forest Products, LLC in performing federal contracts, especially with the Department of Agriculture, is not provided in the given data snippet. To assess their track record, one would typically need to consult federal procurement databases like SAM.gov (System for Award Management) or FPDS (Federal Procurement Data System) to review past performance evaluations, contract history, and any reported issues or successes. A thorough review would examine their history with similar contract types, performance ratings on previous awards, and any instances of contract disputes or terminations. Without this external data, it's impossible to definitively evaluate their past performance.

What are the potential risks associated with this firm fixed-price contract for forestry support?

The primary risk associated with a firm fixed-price (FFP) contract, especially for services like forestry support which can be subject to environmental variables, is that the contractor may face unforeseen cost increases that erode their profit margin or lead to quality compromises if they attempt to cut corners to maintain profitability. For the government, the risk is that the contractor might be less willing to accommodate minor scope adjustments or additional tasks outside the original SOW without formal change orders and potential price increases. However, FFP contracts also offer significant cost certainty to the government, as the price is fixed unless the scope changes. The government's risk is mitigated by clearly defined performance standards and robust oversight.

How does the competition level (4 bidders) impact the value for taxpayers on this $4.36 million contract?

A competition level of 4 bidders for a contract valued at $4.36 million generally indicates a healthy degree of market interest and competitive pressure. This level of competition suggests that multiple companies found the opportunity attractive and believed they could offer competitive pricing and services. For taxpayers, this typically translates to better value because the bidding process encourages companies to offer their most competitive prices and innovative solutions to win the contract. A higher number of bidders often correlates with lower prices and better quality, as companies vie for the award. Conversely, very low competition (e.g., 1-2 bidders) might suggest higher prices or less optimal terms for the government.

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: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 15753 MORGAN CANYON RD, PRATHER, CA, 93651

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $4,365,492

Exercised Options: $4,365,492

Current Obligation: $4,365,492

Actual Outlays: $4,365,492

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline