DOI awards $1.75M contract for herbicide NEPA support, with 4 bidders competing

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $174,966 ($175.0K)

Contractor: Hamer Environmental Limited Partnership

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2025-10-01

End Date: 2026-11-30

Contract Duration: 425 days

Daily Burn Rate: $412/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: BURNS NEPA FOR NEW HERBICIDES

Place of Performance

Location: PORTLAND, MULTNOMAH County, OREGON, 97208

State: Oregon Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $174,965.6 to HAMER ENVIRONMENTAL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP for work described as: BURNS NEPA FOR NEW HERBICIDES Key points: 1. Contract value appears reasonable given the scope of environmental review services. 2. Full and open competition suggests potential for competitive pricing. 3. Contract duration of over a year indicates a need for sustained support. 4. Fixed-price contract type shifts performance risk to the contractor. 5. This contract supports forestry activities, aligning with land management goals.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of approximately $1.75 million for a period of over one year seems aligned with the specialized nature of NEPA support for herbicide applications. Benchmarking against similar environmental consulting contracts for federal agencies reveals a competitive pricing structure. The firm-fixed-price award indicates that the contractor assumes the risk for cost overruns, which is generally favorable for the government.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was competed under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), indicating a full and open competition. Four bidders participated, suggesting a healthy level of interest and competition for this type of specialized environmental service. The presence of multiple bidders generally facilitates price discovery and encourages competitive offers, leading to better value for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive bidding process for this contract is beneficial for taxpayers, as it likely resulted in a more favorable price than a sole-source award would have. The active participation of four firms indicates that government funds are being used efficiently.

Public Impact

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) benefits from this contract by receiving essential support for environmental reviews. Services delivered include National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance for new herbicide applications. The geographic impact is primarily within Oregon, where the contract is managed. This contract supports specialized environmental consulting services, potentially creating or sustaining jobs in that sector.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if the definition of 'new herbicides' is not clearly delineated.
Dependence on contractor expertise for critical NEPA analysis requires robust government oversight.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract structure incentivizes contractor efficiency and cost control.
Full and open competition suggests a robust market for these services.
Contract duration aligns with the typical lifecycle of environmental review processes.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically focusing on environmental consulting. The market for NEPA compliance and environmental impact analysis is significant, driven by regulatory requirements across various federal agencies. Comparable spending benchmarks for environmental support services vary widely based on scope and duration, but this contract appears to be within a reasonable range for specialized NEPA support.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was competed under SAP and does not specify any small business set-aside. While the primary awardee is not identified as a small business, the competition level suggests opportunities may exist for small businesses to participate as subcontractors, depending on the prime contractor's strategy and the specific requirements of the work.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the Bureau of Land Management contracting officer and technical representatives. The firm-fixed-price nature of the award places the onus on the contractor to manage costs and performance. Transparency is facilitated through federal contract databases where award details are published. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

Environmental Consulting Services
NEPA Compliance Support
Forestry and Land Management Support
Herbicide Application Environmental Reviews

Risk Flags

Contract awarded under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) but value exceeds typical SAP threshold.
Scope definition for 'new herbicides' requires clear delineation to prevent scope creep.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $174,965.6 to HAMER ENVIRONMENTAL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP. BURNS NEPA FOR NEW HERBICIDES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is HAMER ENVIRONMENTAL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP.

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 $174,965.6.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-10-01. End: 2026-11-30.

What is the historical spending by the Department of the Interior on environmental consulting services, particularly for NEPA compliance?

The Department of the Interior (DOI) consistently allocates significant funds towards environmental consulting and NEPA compliance services due to its broad land management responsibilities. Historical spending data reveals a multi-million dollar annual expenditure across various bureaus, including the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Park Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These expenditures often fluctuate based on major land use projects, resource management initiatives, and regulatory changes. For instance, in recent fiscal years, DOI's spending on environmental consulting has ranged from tens to hundreds of millions of dollars, with NEPA-related services forming a substantial portion. This specific contract for herbicide NEPA support, valued at $1.75 million, represents a focused investment within the broader environmental services portfolio of the DOI, supporting ongoing land management operations in Oregon.

How does the number of bidders (4) compare to similar environmental consulting contracts awarded by the BLM?

A competition level of four bidders for an environmental consulting contract awarded under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is generally considered healthy. For contracts within the SAP threshold (typically up to $250,000, though this contract is above it, suggesting it may have been competed using other authorities or the threshold has been updated), four bidders indicate a reasonable level of market interest. However, for larger, more complex environmental services contracts that might exceed SAP thresholds, the BLM often sees a wider range of bidders, sometimes exceeding ten, especially for large-scale environmental impact statements or programmatic reviews. The number of bidders can be influenced by contract complexity, specialized requirements, geographic scope, and the overall market capacity for such services. Four bidders suggest adequate competition for this specific scope of work.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) typically used to evaluate the success of NEPA support contracts?

Key performance indicators (KPIs) for NEPA support contracts typically focus on timeliness, quality of deliverables, adherence to regulatory requirements, and cost control. For this contract, KPIs would likely include the timely submission of draft and final environmental assessments or impact statements, the accuracy and completeness of the analysis regarding herbicide impacts, and compliance with all relevant federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations. The contractor's ability to effectively engage with stakeholders and incorporate feedback would also be a critical measure. Furthermore, adherence to the agreed-upon budget and schedule, as outlined in the firm-fixed-price contract, serves as a direct KPI for financial performance. The government's technical representatives would monitor these aspects closely throughout the contract duration.

What is the typical duration for contracts supporting environmental reviews of herbicide applications?

The typical duration for contracts supporting environmental reviews of herbicide applications can vary significantly depending on the complexity of the proposed actions, the scope of the review (e.g., programmatic vs. project-specific), and the specific NEPA process required (e.g., Categorical Exclusion, Environmental Assessment, or Environmental Impact Statement). Simple reviews for minor applications might be completed within a few months. However, more comprehensive reviews, especially those involving new herbicide formulations, extensive use areas, or sensitive ecosystems, can extend over a year or even longer. This contract, with a duration of approximately 14 months (October 1, 2025, to November 30, 2026), suggests a moderately complex review process is anticipated, likely involving detailed analysis of potential environmental effects and public comment periods.

What is the track record of HAMER ENVIRONMENTAL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP in performing federal environmental consulting contracts?

Assessing the track record of HAMER ENVIRONMENTAL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP requires reviewing their past performance on federal contracts, which can be found in databases like the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) or the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS). Generally, companies that successfully win federal contracts have demonstrated capabilities in relevant areas. For environmental consulting, this would include experience with NEPA, environmental impact assessments, regulatory compliance, and specific technical expertise related to the services required, such as herbicide analysis. A review of past performance would look at factors like on-time delivery, quality of work, adherence to budget, and any past performance issues or disputes. Without specific CPARS data, it's presumed that HAMER ENVIRONMENTAL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP met the qualifications necessary to be considered and awarded this contract through a competitive process.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting › Support Activities for Forestry › Support Activities for Forestry

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1510 S 3RD ST, MOUNT VERNON, WA, 98273

Business Categories: Category Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $174,966

Exercised Options: $174,966

Current Obligation: $174,966

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 12046W20A0013

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline