Interior's Bureau of Land Management awards $29.8K noxious weed control contract to Utah County Government

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $29,801 ($29.8K)

Contractor: Utah County Government

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2022-09-16

End Date: 2026-09-30

Contract Duration: 1,475 days

Daily Burn Rate: $20/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: UTAH COUNTY NOXIOUS WEED CONTROL

Place of Performance

Location: PROVO, UTAH County, UTAH, 84606

State: Utah Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $29,801.48 to UTAH COUNTY GOVERNMENT for work described as: UTAH COUNTY NOXIOUS WEED CONTROL Key points: 1. Contract awarded to a local government entity, potentially indicating a focus on regional expertise. 2. The contract's value is relatively small, suggesting a localized or specific need. 3. Awarded as a purchase order, which typically signifies a simpler procurement process for goods or services. 4. The duration of the contract extends over several years, implying ongoing weed control needs. 5. The lack of competition raises questions about potential cost efficiencies and alternative solutions. 6. Performance context is limited due to the nature of the service and contract value.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of approximately $30,000 over nearly four years is modest. Benchmarking per-unit costs for noxious weed control is challenging without specific service details (e.g., acreage treated, methods used). However, given the local nature of the award and the small dollar amount, it is unlikely to represent a significant overpayment. The value appears reasonable for a localized, ongoing service.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. The specific justification for not competing is not provided in the data. This approach bypasses the opportunity to solicit bids from multiple vendors, which could potentially lead to lower prices or more innovative solutions. The absence of competition means there is no direct comparison of pricing or service offerings from other potential providers.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may not be receiving the best possible price or value due to the lack of competitive bidding. Alternative solutions or more cost-effective methods from other providers were not explored.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiary is the Utah County Government, which will receive funding for providing services. The service delivered is noxious weed control, essential for maintaining ecological balance and land health. The geographic impact is localized to areas managed by the Bureau of Land Management within Utah County, Utah. Workforce implications are likely internal to Utah County Government, utilizing their existing staff for weed control operations.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition limits price discovery and potential for cost savings.
Absence of detailed service metrics makes performance assessment difficult.
Sole-source award raises questions about the necessity and justification for bypassing competitive processes.

Positive Signals

Award to a local government entity may foster strong working relationships and understanding of local conditions.
Long-term contract duration suggests a stable and predictable need for the service.
Focus on noxious weed control addresses environmental and land management concerns.

Sector Analysis

Noxious weed control is a critical component of land management, particularly for federal agencies like the Bureau of Land Management. This sector involves services aimed at preventing the spread and mitigating the impact of invasive plant species. While specific market size data for government contracts in this niche is not readily available, it is a recurring need across various public lands. This contract fits within the broader landscape management and environmental services sector, where government agencies often contract with specialized entities, including local governments, for localized needs.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not awarded to a small business, nor does it appear to have a small business set-aside component. There is no information provided regarding subcontracting opportunities for small businesses. The award to a county government suggests that subcontracting is unlikely to be a significant factor in this particular procurement.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Bureau of Land Management's contracting officers and program managers. As a purchase order, it is likely subject to standard internal agency procurement policies and financial controls. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature and the relatively small dollar value, which may not trigger extensive public scrutiny or require detailed reporting beyond basic contract award information. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Bureau of Land Management Land Management Contracts
Department of the Interior Environmental Services
Noxious Weed Management Programs
Local Government Service Contracts

Risk Flags

Sole-source award lacks competitive justification.
Limited performance metrics available for assessment.
Potential for non-optimal pricing due to lack of competition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $29,801.48 to UTAH COUNTY GOVERNMENT. UTAH COUNTY NOXIOUS WEED CONTROL

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is UTAH COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

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 $29,801.48.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-09-16. End: 2026-09-30.

What is the specific justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis to Utah County Government?

The provided data does not include the specific justification for the sole-source award. Typically, sole-source procurements are used when only one responsible source is available or capable of meeting the agency's needs. This could be due to unique capabilities, geographic proximity, or specific requirements that only the Utah County Government could fulfill. Without further documentation from the Department of the Interior, the exact rationale remains unknown. This lack of competition means that the government did not explore whether other landscaping or weed control companies could have provided similar services, potentially at a lower cost or with greater efficiency.

How does the cost of this contract compare to similar noxious weed control services in the region or for the Bureau of Land Management?

Direct cost comparison is difficult without specific details on the scope of work, acreage treated, methods employed, and frequency of service. The contract value of approximately $30,000 over nearly four years is relatively low for a government contract. However, the absence of competition prevents a benchmark against other potential providers. If this contract covers a significant area or requires specialized treatment, it might be cost-effective. Conversely, if the scope is limited, the per-unit cost could be higher than if competitively bid. The value appears reasonable for a localized, ongoing service, but a true value-for-money assessment requires more granular performance and cost data.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how is performance being monitored?

The provided data does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this noxious weed control contract. As a purchase order awarded to a local government entity, performance monitoring might be less formalized than for larger, competitively bid contracts. It is likely that the Bureau of Land Management's contracting officer or designated COR (Contracting Officer's Representative) would be responsible for overseeing the service delivery. Monitoring would likely involve visual inspection of treated areas, confirmation of service completion, and adherence to any agreed-upon schedules or treatment protocols. The effectiveness of the weed control itself would be a primary measure of performance.

What is the historical spending pattern for noxious weed control services by the Bureau of Land Management in Utah County?

The provided data only includes this single contract award. To assess historical spending patterns, one would need to analyze contract databases for previous awards related to noxious weed control or land management services issued by the Bureau of Land Management specifically within Utah County, or potentially for the state of Utah. Without access to this broader historical data, it is impossible to determine if this $30,000 contract represents an increase, decrease, or consistent level of spending for such services in the region. Analyzing past contracts would reveal trends in award types (competed vs. sole-source), contract values, and durations.

What are the potential risks associated with awarding a service contract on a sole-source basis?

The primary risks associated with sole-source contracts include a lack of price competition, which can lead to higher costs for the government. There's also a reduced incentive for the contractor to innovate or provide exceptional service, as there are no competitors to attract future business. Furthermore, it limits the government's ability to explore alternative solutions or technologies that might be offered by other vendors. In this specific case, the risk is that Utah County Government may not be the most cost-effective or efficient provider of noxious weed control services compared to potentially specialized private sector companies. Transparency and accountability can also be diminished without the scrutiny inherent in a competitive bidding process.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Services to Buildings and Dwellings › Landscaping Services

Product/Service Code: NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT › NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVERVAT SVCS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Solicitation ID: DOILFBO220067

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 100 E CENTER RM 3600, PROVO, UT, 84606

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $37,301

Exercised Options: $29,801

Current Obligation: $29,801

Actual Outlays: $22,301

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline