Forest Service awards $69K for lead and asbestos inspection services at Diamond Lake housing

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $69,250 ($69.3K)

Contractor: Spring Fountain Studios LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2025-09-26

End Date: 2026-11-30

Contract Duration: 430 days

Daily Burn Rate: $161/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: THE UMPQUA NATIONAL FOREST REQUIRES LEAD AND ASBESTOS INSPECTION SERVICE FOR GOVERNMENT-OWNED HOUSING. WORK-SCOPE INCLUDES LEAD INSPECTIONS FOR AND ESTIMATED 46 HOUSES AND ASBESTOS INSPECTION FOR AN ESTIMATED 9 HOUSES LOCATED AT DIAMOND LAKE, STEAMBO

Place of Performance

Location: ROSEBURG, DOUGLAS County, OREGON, 97471

State: Oregon Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $69,250 to SPRING FOUNTAIN STUDIOS LLC for work described as: THE UMPQUA NATIONAL FOREST REQUIRES LEAD AND ASBESTOS INSPECTION SERVICE FOR GOVERNMENT-OWNED HOUSING. WORK-SCOPE INCLUDES LEAD INSPECTIONS FOR AND ESTIMATED 46 HOUSES AND ASBESTOS INSPECTION FOR AN ESTIMATED 9 HOUSES LOCATED AT DIAMOND LAKE, STEAMBO Key points: 1. Contract aims to ensure safety in government-owned housing by addressing hazardous materials. 2. The scope includes inspections for lead and asbestos, critical for occupant health. 3. This is a firm-fixed-price purchase order, indicating a defined cost for services. 4. The contract duration is approximately 14 months, aligning with inspection needs. 5. The awardee, Spring Fountain Studios LLC, will perform services in Oregon. 6. This contract represents a small investment in maintaining federal housing infrastructure.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $69,250 for lead and asbestos inspection services for an estimated 46 houses and 9 houses respectively appears reasonable given the specialized nature of the work and the geographic location. While direct comparisons are difficult without more specific scope details, similar environmental inspection contracts for federal properties typically fall within a similar price range per unit or per inspection. The firm-fixed-price structure provides cost certainty for the Forest Service.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), suggesting it was likely solicited from a limited number of sources or through a streamlined process for smaller dollar amounts. The specific competition details, such as the number of offers received, are not provided in the data. Limited competition can sometimes lead to less aggressive pricing compared to full and open competition, but SAP is designed to balance efficiency with fair pricing for smaller procurements.

Taxpayer Impact: For taxpayers, limited competition under SAP aims to provide a balance between efficient procurement and fair market value. While not as robust as full and open competition, it is intended to prevent overspending on smaller contracts.

Public Impact

Residents of government-owned housing at Diamond Lake, Oregon, will benefit from a safer living environment. The services delivered include crucial inspections for lead-based paint and asbestos-containing materials. The geographic impact is localized to the Diamond Lake area within the Umpqua National Forest in Oregon. The contract supports specialized environmental inspection services, potentially involving local or regional environmental consultants.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited competition may not have yielded the absolute lowest price.
Scope details are estimated, actual costs could vary if quantities differ significantly.
Reliance on a single awardee for these critical inspections.

Positive Signals

Addresses critical health and safety hazards in federal housing.
Firm-fixed-price contract provides budget certainty.
Clear performance period and location specified.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Environmental Services sector, specifically focusing on hazardous materials inspection and remediation support. The market for these services is driven by regulatory compliance (e.g., EPA guidelines for lead and asbestos) and the need to maintain safe conditions in buildings, particularly federal properties. Spending in this area is consistent with the ongoing requirement for environmental due diligence and compliance across government agencies.

Small Business Impact

The provided data does not indicate if this contract included a small business set-aside or if the awardee is a small business. Without this information, it's difficult to assess the direct impact on the small business ecosystem. However, the contract value is within the range typically accessible to small businesses, and prime contractors often utilize small businesses for subcontracting specialized services like environmental inspections.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the U.S. Forest Service, an agency within the Department of Agriculture. The purchase order mechanism allows for clear tracking of deliverables and payments. Accountability is ensured through the firm-fixed-price terms and the defined performance period. Transparency is facilitated by the contract award data being publicly available, though detailed inspection reports may be internal.

Related Government Programs

Federal Housing Maintenance Contracts
Environmental Compliance Services
Lead and Asbestos Abatement Support
U.S. Forest Service Facility Management

Risk Flags

Potential for scope creep if initial estimates are inaccurate.
Risk of incomplete or inaccurate inspection reports.
Dependency on contractor's expertise and adherence to safety protocols.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $69,250 to SPRING FOUNTAIN STUDIOS LLC. THE UMPQUA NATIONAL FOREST REQUIRES LEAD AND ASBESTOS INSPECTION SERVICE FOR GOVERNMENT-OWNED HOUSING. WORK-SCOPE INCLUDES LEAD INSPECTIONS FOR AND ESTIMATED 46 HOUSES AND ASBESTOS INSPECTION FOR AN ESTIMATED 9 HOUSES LOCATED AT DIAMOND LAKE, STEAMBO

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SPRING FOUNTAIN STUDIOS LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Forest Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $69,250.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-09-26. End: 2026-11-30.

What is the track record of Spring Fountain Studios LLC in performing similar environmental inspection services for federal agencies?

Information regarding Spring Fountain Studios LLC's specific track record with federal agencies for lead and asbestos inspections is not detailed in the provided data. To assess their capability, one would typically review past performance evaluations, contract history databases (like SAM.gov or FPDS), and references. A thorough review would look for successful completion of similar scope and scale, adherence to timelines, and quality of deliverables. Without this external data, it's assumed the Forest Service conducted due diligence prior to award, potentially through reviewing past performance or requiring specific qualifications.

How does the awarded price compare to market rates for similar lead and asbestos inspection services?

Benchmarking the $69,250 award for lead and asbestos inspections requires comparing it against market rates for similar services, considering factors like geographic location, number of units, and specific inspection protocols. While precise per-unit costs are not available, general industry knowledge suggests that lead inspections can range from $200-$500 per unit, and asbestos inspections from $300-$700 per unit, depending on complexity. If the contract covers approximately 46 lead and 9 asbestos inspections, the total estimated cost aligns within a reasonable range, especially considering potential travel and administrative overhead for the Umpqua National Forest location. Further analysis would involve obtaining quotes from multiple providers in the region.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they mitigated?

Key risks include potential underestimation of the scope (number of units requiring inspection), delays in inspection completion impacting housing availability or safety, and quality issues with the inspection reports. Mitigation strategies likely involve the Forest Service's oversight, clear contract terms defining deliverables and timelines, and the firm-fixed-price structure which incentivizes the contractor to manage costs efficiently. The contractor's own risk management would involve accurate scoping and resource allocation. The limited competition aspect could also be seen as a risk if it leads to suboptimal pricing or fewer innovative solutions.

How effective is the Forest Service in managing contracts for facility maintenance and environmental compliance?

The Forest Service, as part of the Department of Agriculture, generally has established procedures for managing facility maintenance and environmental compliance contracts. Their effectiveness can be gauged by the consistency of contract performance, adherence to regulatory standards, and the overall condition of federal facilities under their purview. This specific contract award suggests a proactive approach to addressing known hazards like lead and asbestos. Evaluating overall effectiveness would require analyzing a broader portfolio of their contracts, including performance metrics, audit findings, and user satisfaction surveys for the housing.

What is the historical spending pattern for lead and asbestos inspection services by the Forest Service or the Department of Agriculture?

Historical spending data for lead and asbestos inspections by the Forest Service or the broader Department of Agriculture is not provided. However, such spending is typically recurring, driven by regulations (like HUD's Lead Safe Housing Rule and EPA's asbestos regulations) and the lifecycle of federal housing and facilities. Agencies often budget for these inspections during property acquisition, renovation, or as part of routine maintenance and safety assessments. Analyzing past spending trends would reveal the frequency and scale of such contracts, potentially indicating an increasing or stable demand for these services.

What are the implications of using Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) for this type of service?

Using SAP for this $69,250 contract streamlines the procurement process, making it faster and less administratively burdensome than traditional full-scale competitive bidding. This is appropriate for smaller dollar value procurements. However, SAP typically involves limited competition, meaning fewer vendors are solicited. This can reduce the potential for achieving the lowest possible price compared to full and open competition. The implication is a trade-off between efficiency and potentially maximizing cost savings for the taxpayer. The Forest Service must ensure fair and reasonable pricing is still obtained within the SAP framework.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Remediation and Other Waste Management Services › Remediation Services

Product/Service Code: NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT › ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS PROTECTION

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 1240BE25Q0077

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 196 US ROUTE 1, BUCKSPORT, ME, 04416

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Indian (Subcontinent) American Owned Business, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $69,250

Exercised Options: $69,250

Current Obligation: $69,250

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline