USDA Forest Service awards $2.1M BPA Call to Terrestris, LLC for hurricane recovery staffing

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,099,689 ($2.1M)

Contractor: Terrestris, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2025-11-01

End Date: 2026-09-30

Contract Duration: 333 days

Daily Burn Rate: $6.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: THIS BPA CALL IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE BOTH PROFESSIONAL AND NON-PROFESSIONAL AUGMENTED STAFFING SUPPORT SERVICES. THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THESE SERVICES IS TO ASSIST THE NATIONAL FORESTS IN NORTH CAROLINA WITH DISASTER RECOVERY EFFORTS FOLLOWING HURRICANE

Place of Performance

Location: ASHEVILLE, BUNCOMBE County, NORTH CAROLINA, 28801

State: North Carolina Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $2.1 million to TERRESTRIS, LLC for work described as: THIS BPA CALL IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE BOTH PROFESSIONAL AND NON-PROFESSIONAL AUGMENTED STAFFING SUPPORT SERVICES. THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THESE SERVICES IS TO ASSIST THE NATIONAL FORESTS IN NORTH CAROLINA WITH DISASTER RECOVERY EFFORTS FOLLOWING HURRICANE Key points: 1. The contract aims to provide augmented staffing for disaster recovery in North Carolina. 2. Competition was full and open, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The primary risk involves the effectiveness of temporary staffing in complex recovery efforts. 4. Spending is within the IT services sector, specifically custom computer programming.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $2.1M for 333 days of support appears reasonable for specialized disaster recovery staffing. Benchmarking against similar IT staffing contracts for emergency response is difficult without more granular data on skill sets and duration.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, allowing all eligible vendors to bid. This method generally promotes competitive pricing and ensures the government receives the best value.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for essential disaster recovery services, aiming to expedite the restoration of National Forests in North Carolina.

Public Impact

Supports critical disaster recovery operations in North Carolina's National Forests. Provides specialized IT staffing to augment existing government capabilities. Ensures continuity of essential services following natural disasters.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for staff augmentation to be less effective than permanent hires.
Reliance on external staff for critical recovery functions.
Geographic concentration of services in North Carolina.

Positive Signals

Addresses an urgent need for disaster recovery support.
Utilizes a competitive procurement process.
Supports a vital federal agency's mission.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under IT Professional Services, specifically custom computer programming. Spending benchmarks for disaster recovery staffing can vary widely based on the scale and duration of the event, but this award appears to be a targeted investment for a specific recovery effort.

Small Business Impact

The contract was awarded under full and open competition and does not indicate any specific set-aside for small businesses. Therefore, small business participation is not explicitly guaranteed by the award terms.

Oversight & Accountability

The Forest Service is responsible for overseeing the performance of Terrestris, LLC to ensure the quality and timeliness of staffing support services. Contract performance will be monitored against the BPA Call's requirements.

Related Government Programs

Custom Computer Programming Services
Department of Agriculture Contracting
Forest Service Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for staff augmentation to be less effective than permanent hires.
Reliance on external staff for critical recovery functions.
Geographic concentration of services in North Carolina.
Limited information on specific skill sets required for recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $2.1 million to TERRESTRIS, LLC. THIS BPA CALL IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE BOTH PROFESSIONAL AND NON-PROFESSIONAL AUGMENTED STAFFING SUPPORT SERVICES. THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THESE SERVICES IS TO ASSIST THE NATIONAL FORESTS IN NORTH CAROLINA WITH DISASTER RECOVERY EFFORTS FOLLOWING HURRICANE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TERRESTRIS, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Forest Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-11-01. End: 2026-09-30.

What specific disaster recovery tasks will the augmented staff perform, and how will their effectiveness be measured against the $2.1M investment?

The augmented staff will provide professional and non-professional support services to assist the National Forests in North Carolina with disaster recovery efforts following a hurricane. Effectiveness will likely be measured through task completion, adherence to project timelines, and the overall progress made in recovery operations, as defined in the BPA Call's statement of work and performance metrics.

What are the potential risks associated with relying on temporary augmented staff for critical disaster recovery operations, and how are these mitigated?

Risks include potential gaps in institutional knowledge, varying levels of commitment from temporary staff, and challenges in rapid onboarding for specialized recovery tasks. Mitigation strategies may involve rigorous vetting of augmented staff, clear task delegation, strong on-site government supervision, and defined performance standards within the BPA Call.

How does this IT staffing contract contribute to the long-term resilience and effectiveness of the Forest Service's disaster response capabilities?

This contract provides immediate, surge capacity for critical recovery efforts, allowing the Forest Service to address urgent needs without diverting permanent staff. While not a long-term solution itself, it enables the agency to stabilize operations post-disaster, potentially freeing up resources for strategic planning and investment in future resilience measures.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 306 COMMERCE ST, OCCOQUAN, VA, 22125

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $2,099,689

Exercised Options: $2,099,689

Current Obligation: $2,099,689

Actual Outlays: $132,629

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 12444725A0001

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline