Interior's Bureau of Land Management awards $627K contract for law enforcement services in Oregon

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $627,321 ($627.3K)

Contractor: County of Harney

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2022-04-01

End Date: 2027-03-31

Contract Duration: 1,825 days

Daily Burn Rate: $344/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: LEO SERVICES HARNEY COUNTY

Place of Performance

Location: BURNS, HARNEY County, OREGON, 97720

State: Oregon Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $627,321 to COUNTY OF HARNEY for work described as: LEO SERVICES HARNEY COUNTY Key points: 1. Contract awarded to a single county entity, raising questions about competition and potential for better pricing. 2. Fixed-price contract structure offers cost certainty but may limit flexibility for evolving needs. 3. Long duration of 5 years suggests a stable, ongoing requirement for these services. 4. The contract's value is relatively small in the context of federal law enforcement spending. 5. Geographic focus on Harney County, Oregon, indicates a localized need for public safety support.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $627,321 over five years averages to approximately $125,464 annually. Benchmarking this against similar contracts for local law enforcement support is challenging without more specific service details. However, given it's a county government providing services, the pricing may reflect operational costs rather than a profit-driven model. The lack of competition makes a direct value-for-money assessment difficult.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), suggesting an expectation of a smaller value award. However, the award to a single county entity, the County of Harney, implies limited competition. It is unclear if other entities were solicited or if this was a sole-source or limited-source award based on specific circumstances or existing relationships.

Taxpayer Impact: Limited competition can potentially lead to higher prices for taxpayers if alternative, more cost-effective providers were not considered or available.

Public Impact

Residents and businesses in Harney County, Oregon, benefit from enhanced public safety and law enforcement presence. Services provided likely include patrol, investigation, and emergency response within the Bureau of Land Management's jurisdiction in the county. The contract supports the federal government's mandate to protect public lands and resources in rural Oregon. Local workforce within Harney County may be indirectly supported through the county government's provision of these services.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of robust competition may result in suboptimal pricing for taxpayers.
Contract duration might lock in services without allowing for adaptation to changing needs or technologies.
Limited transparency on the procurement process under SAP makes it hard to assess fairness.

Positive Signals

Awarding to a local government entity can foster community partnerships and leverage existing local knowledge.
Firm Fixed Price contract provides budget certainty for the Bureau of Land Management.
The contract addresses a clear need for law enforcement services in a specific geographic area.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader 'Public Safety and Law Enforcement' sector, often supported by government entities. While specific market data for county-level law enforcement contracts is scarce, federal agencies frequently contract with local and state governments for services that align with their jurisdictional needs, especially in remote areas. The value is modest compared to large-scale federal security contracts.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to involve small business set-asides, as it was awarded to a county government. There is no indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses within the provided data. The focus is on direct service provision by the county.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight would typically be managed by the Bureau of Land Management contracting officers and program managers. Accountability is tied to the performance of the contracted services against the terms of the purchase order. Transparency is limited due to the nature of SAP procurement, but contract award details are publicly available.

Related Government Programs

Bureau of Land Management Law Enforcement
Federal Law Enforcement Support Contracts
County Sheriff's Office Support Agreements
Rural Public Safety Initiatives

Risk Flags

Potential lack of competition
Limited transparency in procurement process
Contract value exceeds Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) while tagged as SAP

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $627,321 to COUNTY OF HARNEY. LEO SERVICES HARNEY COUNTY

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is COUNTY OF HARNEY.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (Bureau of Land Management).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $627,321.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-04-01. End: 2027-03-31.

What specific law enforcement activities are covered under this contract?

The provided data indicates the National Industry Classification (NAICS) code is 922120, which corresponds to Police Protection. This suggests the contract covers core law enforcement functions such as patrolling public lands managed by the BLM in Harney County, responding to incidents, enforcing regulations, and potentially assisting with investigations. The exact scope of services would be detailed in the purchase order's statement of work, which is not provided here. Without this detailed SOW, it's difficult to ascertain the full breadth of activities, but it is clearly aimed at supplementing or providing direct law enforcement presence in the region.

How does the annual cost compare to similar law enforcement contracts in rural areas?

The annual cost for this contract is approximately $125,464 ($627,321 / 5 years). Comparing this to similar contracts is challenging due to the lack of specific service details and the unique nature of contracting with a county government. However, federal agencies often contract with local law enforcement for specific services like border patrol support or park ranger functions. Costs can vary significantly based on the level of service, geographic challenges, and the specific entity providing the service. For instance, contracts for specialized federal law enforcement units or private security firms might have different cost structures. Given this is a county providing basic police protection, the cost appears reasonable for a five-year commitment in a rural setting, assuming adequate service levels are met.

What are the potential risks associated with awarding this contract to a single county entity?

The primary risk is the lack of robust competition, which could lead to suboptimal pricing and potentially less innovation or service quality compared to a more competitive bidding process. If the County of Harney faces internal challenges (e.g., staffing shortages, budget issues), it could impact service delivery without immediate alternative options for the BLM. Furthermore, relying on a single provider might reduce the agency's leverage in negotiating future terms or addressing performance issues. The long-term duration also means the BLM is committed to this provider, potentially missing out on better opportunities that might arise from a more dynamic market.

What is the historical spending pattern for law enforcement services in Harney County by the BLM?

The provided data only details this specific contract award. To understand historical spending patterns, one would need to analyze past contract awards by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) specifically for Harney County, Oregon, or for similar law enforcement services in the region. Without access to historical procurement data for this specific BLM office or geographic area, it's impossible to determine if this $627,321 award represents an increase, decrease, or consistent level of spending compared to previous years or similar contracts. Analyzing past awards would reveal trends in contract types, durations, and costs.

How does the 'COMPETED UNDER SAP' designation impact the assessment of this contract?

The 'COMPETED UNDER SAP' (Simplified Acquisition Procedures) designation indicates that the contract was awarded through a streamlined process typically used for purchases below the federal micro-purchase threshold (currently $10,000) or the simplified acquisition threshold (currently $250,000). However, the award amount of $627,321 significantly exceeds the SAT. This suggests either the initial estimate was below the SAT, or the 'COMPETED UNDER SAP' tag might be misapplied or refers to a specific internal procedure for this agency. If it was truly competed, it implies multiple offers were solicited and evaluated under SAP guidelines, which are less formal than full and open competition. This can lead to faster awards but potentially less rigorous price analysis and broader market reach.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Public Administration › Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities › Police Protection

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: DOILFBO220020

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 450 N BUENA VISTA, BURNS, OR, 97720

Business Categories: Category Business, Government, U.S. Local Government, U.S. National Government, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $627,321

Exercised Options: $627,321

Current Obligation: $627,321

Actual Outlays: $460,338

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline