Interior Department awards $1.73M environmental consulting contract to Colibri Ecological Consulting, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $173,000 ($173.0K)

Contractor: Colibri Ecological Consulting, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2025-04-17

End Date: 2026-07-31

Contract Duration: 470 days

Daily Burn Rate: $368/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: AL-DEEP HORIZON NRDAR-AERIEL IMAGES REPORTS

Place of Performance

Location: FRESNO, FRESNO County, CALIFORNIA, 93730

State: California Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $173,000 to COLIBRI ECOLOGICAL CONSULTING, LLC for work described as: AL-DEEP HORIZON NRDAR-AERIEL IMAGES REPORTS Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract duration of 470 days indicates a medium-term project. 3. The fixed-price contract type helps manage cost certainty for the government. 4. Awarded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, aligning with conservation and environmental protection missions. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541620 points to specialized environmental consulting services. 6. The contract is a delivery order, suggesting it's part of a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this specific $1.73 million contract is challenging without more detailed scope of work and comparable contract data. However, the award to a single entity for environmental consulting services suggests a defined need. The fixed-price nature of the contract provides some cost control, but the overall value for money will depend on the quality and effectiveness of the delivered environmental consulting services and reports.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION,' indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. This approach generally fosters a competitive environment, potentially leading to better pricing and service offerings. The number of bidders is not specified, but the open competition suggests a reasonable level of market engagement.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from a competitive process that aims to secure the best value for the government's investment in environmental consulting services.

Public Impact

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service benefits from specialized environmental consulting services to support its mission. The contract likely supports environmental impact assessments, data collection, and reporting related to natural resource damage assessment and restoration (NRDAR) activities. The geographic impact is specified as California (SN: CALIFORNIA), indicating services will be performed in that state. The contract may indirectly support environmental stewardship and the preservation of natural resources within California.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the contractor's track record on this specific award.
The fixed-price contract, while offering cost certainty, could incentivize the contractor to minimize effort if not properly monitored.
The duration of the contract (470 days) requires sustained oversight to ensure deliverables meet expectations throughout the period.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a potentially competitive and fair selection process.
The fixed-price contract type is generally favorable for government cost control.
The contract is for environmental consulting services, aligning with critical agency missions for conservation and resource management.

Sector Analysis

The environmental consulting services sector is a significant market driven by regulatory compliance, environmental impact assessments, and natural resource management. This contract, falling under NAICS code 541620, fits within this sector. Comparable spending in this area by federal agencies is substantial, reflecting the ongoing need for expertise in areas like ecological restoration, environmental planning, and data analysis to support agency missions.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (SS: false, SB: false). Therefore, the primary contractor, Colibri Ecological Consulting, LLC, is likely not a small business for the purpose of this award. There is no explicit information on subcontracting requirements, but large contracts often include provisions for small business participation, which would need to be verified.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service contracting officer and potentially a contract specialist or administrator. The fixed-price nature of the contract requires monitoring of deliverables and adherence to the statement of work. Transparency is generally maintained through contract databases like SAM.gov, where award details are published. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected.

Related Government Programs

Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR)
Environmental Consulting Services
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Contracts
Department of the Interior Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for scope creep in complex environmental projects.
Ensuring quality of deliverables under a fixed-price contract.
Contractor performance monitoring over the contract duration.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $173,000 to COLIBRI ECOLOGICAL CONSULTING, LLC. AL-DEEP HORIZON NRDAR-AERIEL IMAGES REPORTS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is COLIBRI ECOLOGICAL CONSULTING, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $173,000.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-04-17. End: 2026-07-31.

What is the specific scope of work for the "AL-DEEP HORIZON NRDAR-AERIEL IMAGES REPORTS" contract?

The provided data abbreviates the contract title as "AL-DEEP HORIZON NRDAR-AERIEL IMAGES REPORTS." This suggests the contract involves environmental consulting services related to aerial imagery analysis for the Deep Horizon incident's Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) program. The services likely include processing and interpreting aerial photographs or satellite imagery to assess environmental damage, identify affected areas, and inform restoration planning. Specific deliverables would typically include detailed reports, data sets, and potentially visual aids derived from the aerial imagery analysis, all aimed at supporting the FWS's NRDAR mission.

How does the $1.73 million award compare to typical spending on environmental consulting services by the Department of the Interior?

The $1.73 million award is a moderate-sized contract for environmental consulting services. The Department of the Interior, through its various agencies like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, frequently procures environmental consulting services. Annual spending can range from tens of millions to hundreds of millions of dollars across the department, depending on the scale of environmental challenges and restoration efforts. This specific award represents a focused investment for a defined period and scope, likely part of a larger NRDAR effort. Without knowing the specific NRDAR case or the full extent of services required, a direct comparison to average spending is difficult, but it falls within the typical range for specialized consulting projects.

What are the potential risks associated with a fixed-price contract for environmental consulting?

While fixed-price contracts offer cost certainty, potential risks include the contractor incentivized to cut corners to maximize profit, potentially impacting the quality of deliverables. If the scope of work is not precisely defined, change orders could increase costs. There's also a risk that unforeseen complexities in environmental data analysis or reporting could strain the contractor's resources, leading to delays or disputes. Effective government oversight is crucial to mitigate these risks by ensuring adherence to the defined scope and quality standards.

What is the track record of Colibri Ecological Consulting, LLC in performing similar environmental consulting services for federal agencies?

Information regarding the specific track record of Colibri Ecological Consulting, LLC on similar federal contracts is not detailed in the provided data. A comprehensive assessment would require reviewing their past performance evaluations, contract history on platforms like SAM.gov or FPDS, and any reported issues or successes on previous government engagements. Their ability to win a full and open competition contract suggests they met the qualifications, but their specific experience with NRDAR and aerial imagery analysis for federal agencies would need further investigation to fully gauge their suitability and past performance.

How does the contract's duration of 470 days (approximately 1.3 years) impact project management and oversight?

A contract duration of 470 days necessitates a structured project management approach from both the contractor and the government. It allows sufficient time for complex tasks like aerial imagery analysis and report generation. For the government, it requires consistent oversight to monitor progress, ensure adherence to milestones, and manage any potential scope creep. The extended period also means that agency personnel need to remain engaged and available to provide feedback and approvals throughout the contract lifecycle, ensuring the project stays on track and delivers the intended outcomes.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Environmental Consulting Services

Product/Service Code: NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT › NATURAL RESOURCES - OTHER SVCS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 9493 N FORT WASHINGTON RD STE 108, FRESNO, CA, 93730

Business Categories: Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $173,000

Exercised Options: $173,000

Current Obligation: $173,000

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QRAA21D0018

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline