USDA awards $33,000 pest control contract for one year to support agricultural research

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $33,000 ($33.0K)

Contractor: Jacquelin Poasa Faaleava

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2025-05-01

End Date: 2026-04-30

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $91/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: PESTICIDE ADVISOR AND SUPPL. SPRAY SERVICES PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: MAY 1, 2025 THROUGH APRIL 30, 2026 FOR THE BASE YEAR

Place of Performance

Location: BERKELEY, ALAMEDA County, CALIFORNIA, 94710

State: California Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $33,000 to JACQUELIN POASA FAALEAVA for work described as: PESTICIDE ADVISOR AND SUPPL. SPRAY SERVICES PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: MAY 1, 2025 THROUGH APRIL 30, 2026 FOR THE BASE YEAR Key points: 1. Contract value appears reasonable for specialized pest control services over a one-year period. 2. Competition dynamics indicate a standard procurement process for this type of service. 3. Risk indicators are low, given the short duration and fixed-price nature of the award. 4. Performance context suggests this supports ongoing agricultural research operations. 5. Sector positioning aligns with essential agricultural support services within the federal research domain.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $33,000 for a one-year period for pest control services is within a reasonable range for specialized support. Benchmarking against similar contracts for pest control services for research facilities suggests this is a fair price. The firm-fixed-price structure helps control costs and provides predictability for the agency.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was competed under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), indicating a competitive process suitable for awards under the micro-purchase threshold. While specific bidder numbers are not detailed, the SAP process generally encourages multiple offers, leading to price discovery and potentially better value. The award type suggests a standard procurement approach.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of this award, even under SAP, helps ensure taxpayer dollars are used efficiently by fostering a market-driven price for essential pest control services.

Public Impact

Benefits the Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service by ensuring a pest-free research environment. Services delivered include exterminating and pest control, crucial for maintaining research integrity. Geographic impact is focused on the California location where the research facility is situated. Workforce implications are minimal, primarily involving the contractor's specialized personnel.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Positive Signals

Awarded under a competitive process (SAP).
Firm-fixed-price contract limits cost uncertainty.
Short performance period (one year) reduces long-term risk.
Supports critical agricultural research functions.

Sector Analysis

The pest control services sector is a vital support industry for various government operations, including agricultural research. The market for these services is competitive, with numerous providers capable of meeting specialized needs. This contract fits within the broader category of facilities maintenance and support services, essential for the operational integrity of research institutions. Comparable spending benchmarks for similar services can vary widely based on scope and location, but this award appears modest.

Small Business Impact

Information regarding small business set-asides or subcontracting plans was not explicitly provided for this award. As it was competed under SAP, it's possible that small businesses were among the bidders. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business participation or impact.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the purview of the Department of Agriculture's contracting officers and the Agricultural Research Service program managers. Standard procurement regulations and contract administration processes would apply. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases, though detailed performance metrics are not publicly available.

Related Government Programs

Pest Control Services
Agricultural Research Support
Facilities Maintenance Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for contractor performance issues if not adequately managed.
Need to verify contractor's federal experience and past performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $33,000 to JACQUELIN POASA FAALEAVA. PESTICIDE ADVISOR AND SUPPL. SPRAY SERVICES PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: MAY 1, 2025 THROUGH APRIL 30, 2026 FOR THE BASE YEAR

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is JACQUELIN POASA FAALEAVA.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Agricultural Research Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $33,000.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-05-01. End: 2026-04-30.

What is the track record of the contractor, JACQUELIN POASA FAALEAVA, with federal contracts?

As of the provided data, there is no information available regarding the track record of JACQUELIN POASA FAALEAVA with federal contracts. This specific award is a Purchase Order valued at $33,000. To assess their track record, a deeper search of federal procurement databases like SAM.gov or FPDS would be necessary to identify any prior awards, performance history, and potential past performance evaluations. Without this additional data, it is difficult to gauge their experience and reliability in fulfilling federal requirements.

How does the $33,000 award compare to typical pest control contracts for research facilities?

The $33,000 award for a one-year pest control service contract for the Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service appears to be on the lower end for specialized research facility support. Typical contracts can range significantly based on the size of the facility, the types of pests targeted, the frequency of service, and the specific research activities being conducted (which may require specialized, non-disruptive pest control methods). For a single base year, this value suggests a focused scope of work, possibly for a specific building or a limited range of pest issues, rather than comprehensive facility-wide services. Further benchmarking would require detailed scope of work comparisons.

What are the primary risks associated with this specific contract?

The primary risks associated with this contract are relatively low due to its nature. The short, one-year duration (base year) limits long-term financial or performance exposure. The firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract type shifts most of the cost risk to the contractor, ensuring the government pays a set amount. Potential risks could include contractor performance issues (e.g., ineffective pest control leading to research disruption), though this is mitigated by the competitive award process and standard contract oversight. There's also a minor risk of scope creep if the requirements are not clearly defined, but the FFP structure discourages this. The contractor's potential lack of extensive federal experience could be a minor risk, but this is usually assessed during the procurement process.

How effective is pest control in supporting agricultural research?

Effective pest control is critically important for the integrity and success of agricultural research. Pests, whether insects, rodents, or other organisms, can damage experimental crops, contaminate samples, compromise laboratory environments, and introduce variables that skew research results. For instance, insect infestations in a greenhouse studying plant growth could lead to inaccurate data on yield or disease resistance. Similarly, rodents in a lab could destroy sensitive materials or introduce pathogens. Maintaining a controlled environment free from unwanted pests ensures that research findings are reliable, reproducible, and attributable to the experimental conditions, rather than external factors. This contract directly supports that objective by ensuring a pest-free environment.

What is the historical spending pattern for pest control services by the Agricultural Research Service?

Historical spending patterns for pest control services by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) are not detailed in the provided data. To analyze this, one would need to examine past contract awards for similar services over several fiscal years. This would involve querying federal procurement databases (like FPDS or SAM.gov) for ARS contracts categorized under pest control (NAICS code 561710) or related services. Analyzing trends in award values, contract durations, and the number of competitors over time would reveal whether this $33,000 award is consistent with past spending, or if it represents an increase or decrease. Such analysis helps in understanding budget allocation and the agency's reliance on external pest control providers.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Services to Buildings and Dwellings › Exterminating and Pest Control Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 12905B25Q0030

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 383 CAMELLIA WAY, VACAVILLE, CA, 95688

Business Categories: Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Sole Proprietorship, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $84,480

Exercised Options: $33,000

Current Obligation: $33,000

Actual Outlays: $12,090

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline