Agriculture Department awards $360K for title services in Louisiana, with 84 days duration

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $36,000 ($36.0K)

Contractor: Echo Title CO, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2026-02-27

End Date: 2026-05-22

Contract Duration: 84 days

Daily Burn Rate: $429/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: TITLE AND CLOSING SERVICES NEEDED FOR ACEP-WRE ENROLLMENTS FOR THE FOLLOWING EASEMENTS: MARK V SHELTON; 6672179800DLV; WINN PARISH; 256.27 ACRES CARROLL B SNYDER, LARRY MARTINEZ JR, KATHY MARTINEZ; 547217260210F; ST LANDRY PARISH; 190.83 ACRES RIC

Place of Performance

Location: ALEXANDRIA, RAPIDES County, LOUISIANA, 71302

State: Louisiana Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $36,000 to ECHO TITLE CO, LLC for work described as: TITLE AND CLOSING SERVICES NEEDED FOR ACEP-WRE ENROLLMENTS FOR THE FOLLOWING EASEMENTS: MARK V SHELTON; 6672179800DLV; WINN PARISH; 256.27 ACRES CARROLL B SNYDER, LARRY MARTINEZ JR, KATHY MARTINEZ; 547217260210F; ST LANDRY PARISH; 190.83 ACRES RIC Key points: 1. Contract value appears reasonable for the scope of title and closing services for two easements. 2. Competition dynamics indicate a competed award under SAP, suggesting a potentially efficient process. 3. Risk indicators are low, given the short duration and specific service nature. 4. Performance context is tied to easement enrollments, a standard agricultural program function. 5. Sector positioning is within government administrative and support services for agriculture. 6. The contract's limited duration suggests a focused, short-term need.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $360,000 for title and closing services for two easements, covering a total of approximately 447 acres, seems aligned with typical market rates for such services. The fixed-price nature of the contract provides cost certainty. Benchmarking against similar federal contracts for land title services would offer further validation, but the initial assessment suggests fair value for the defined scope.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was competed under SAP (Simplified Acquisition Procedures), suggesting that multiple offers were solicited and considered. While specific bidder numbers are not provided, the use of SAP typically implies a competitive process for awards below certain thresholds. This approach aims to ensure fair pricing and access for eligible vendors.

Taxpayer Impact: Competing this contract, even under SAP, likely resulted in a more competitive price than a sole-source award, benefiting taxpayers by ensuring the government receives value for its expenditure.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the landowners involved in the easements, facilitating their participation in agricultural programs. Services delivered include title abstracting and settlement, crucial for finalizing easement agreements. The geographic impact is localized to Winn Parish and St. Landry Parish in Louisiana. Workforce implications are minimal, primarily involving the staff at ECHO TITLE CO, LLC.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Positive Signals

Awarded to a specific LLC, indicating a business entity is engaged.
Contract is competed, suggesting adherence to procurement regulations.
Fixed-price contract type offers budget predictability.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the administrative and support services sector for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The market for title and settlement services is generally robust, with numerous private companies capable of performing these functions. Federal agencies often procure such services for land acquisition, easements, and other real estate transactions. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other federal contracts for similar title services across different agencies and regions.

Small Business Impact

Information regarding small business set-asides or subcontracting plans was not explicitly detailed in the provided data. The award was made to ECHO TITLE CO, LLC, and further analysis would be needed to determine if this entity qualifies as a small business or if subcontracting opportunities were mandated or utilized.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically reside within the Department of Agriculture, likely managed by the agency responsible for easement programs. Accountability measures are inherent in the fixed-price contract structure and the defined period of performance. Transparency is facilitated through federal procurement databases where contract awards are recorded.

Related Government Programs

Agricultural Easement Programs
Land Title Services
Federal Real Estate Transactions
Department of Agriculture Procurement

Risk Flags

Contract value exceeds standard SAP threshold, requiring clarification on procurement method.
Limited public information on contractor's federal performance history.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $36,000 to ECHO TITLE CO, LLC. TITLE AND CLOSING SERVICES NEEDED FOR ACEP-WRE ENROLLMENTS FOR THE FOLLOWING EASEMENTS: MARK V SHELTON; 6672179800DLV; WINN PARISH; 256.27 ACRES CARROLL B SNYDER, LARRY MARTINEZ JR, KATHY MARTINEZ; 547217260210F; ST LANDRY PARISH; 190.83 ACRES RIC

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ECHO TITLE CO, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $36,000.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-02-27. End: 2026-05-22.

What is the track record of ECHO TITLE CO, LLC with federal contracts?

A review of federal procurement databases would be necessary to ascertain the track record of ECHO TITLE CO, LLC. This would involve checking for previous awards, contract performance history, and any reported issues or successes. Without this specific data, it's difficult to assess their experience and reliability in fulfilling federal obligations. However, their selection for this competed contract suggests they met the necessary qualifications at the time of award.

How does the $360,000 award compare to similar federal title service contracts?

Benchmarking this $360,000 award against similar federal title and settlement service contracts requires access to a broader dataset of government procurements. Factors such as acreage, complexity of title issues, geographic location, and contract duration significantly influence pricing. Generally, for routine title work on agricultural easements, this amount appears within a reasonable range for the services described. However, a detailed comparison would necessitate analyzing contracts with comparable scopes and complexities awarded by agencies like the Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, or other entities involved in land transactions.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract?

The primary risks associated with this contract are relatively low due to its short duration (84 days) and specific service nature. Potential risks include delays in title examination or closing processes that could impact the enrollment timelines for the ACEP-WRE program. Contractor performance issues, such as errors in title abstracts or failure to meet deadlines, could also pose a risk. However, the fixed-price structure and the competitive award process mitigate some financial risks for the government. The Department of Agriculture's oversight would be crucial in managing these performance-related risks.

How effective are simplified acquisition procedures (SAP) in ensuring value for money in contracts of this size?

Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) are designed to streamline the procurement process for purchases below certain dollar thresholds (currently $250,000, though this contract is above that, suggesting it might have been under a different threshold or a specific SAP category). For contracts like this one, SAP aims to increase efficiency and reduce administrative burden while still encouraging competition. When properly executed, SAP can lead to good value for money by allowing agencies to quickly obtain necessary goods and services from qualified vendors. The key is ensuring adequate competition within the SAP framework and appropriate solicitation of offers to drive competitive pricing.

What is the historical spending pattern for title and settlement services within the Department of Agriculture?

Analyzing historical spending patterns for title and settlement services within the Department of Agriculture would reveal the agency's reliance on these services and the typical contract values and durations. This data could indicate whether spending has been consistent, increasing, or decreasing, and identify any trends in contractor selection or competition levels. Such an analysis would provide context for the current $360,000 award, helping to determine if it aligns with past expenditures or represents a significant deviation. It would also highlight the importance of these services to the department's land management and conservation programs.

What are the implications of the contract being awarded under SAP, given its value?

The contract value of $360,000 exceeds the standard Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) threshold, which is typically $250,000 for most agencies. This suggests that the contract may have been awarded under a specific exception or a different regulatory framework that allows for SAP-like procedures for certain types of services or agencies, or perhaps the threshold was different at the time of solicitation. If it was indeed competed under SAP rules, it implies a streamlined process focused on efficiency. However, exceeding the standard SAP threshold might raise questions about whether a more robust, full and open competition process would have yielded even better results or broader participation from larger firms.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Legal Services › Title Abstract and Settlement Offices

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 7600 FERN AVE STE 1000, SHREVEPORT, LA, 71105

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Small Business, Sole Proprietorship, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $121,961

Exercised Options: $36,000

Current Obligation: $36,000

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 12FPC124A0007

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline