National Park Service awards $204K contract for archeological services at Devils Tower National Monument

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $204,237 ($204.2K)

Contractor: Gray & Pape Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2026-04-07

End Date: 2026-10-03

Contract Duration: 179 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.1K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: DETO 228872 ARCHEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION AND MONITORING SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECT REPLACE OBSOLETE HOUSING AT DEVILS TOWER NATIONAL MONUMENT LOCATED IN DEVILS TOWER, WY.

Place of Performance

Location: DEVILS TOWER, CROOK County, WYOMING, 82714

State: Wyoming Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $204,237.12 to GRAY & PAPE INC for work described as: DETO 228872 ARCHEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION AND MONITORING SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECT REPLACE OBSOLETE HOUSING AT DEVILS TOWER NATIONAL MONUMENT LOCATED IN DEVILS TOWER, WY. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on essential archeological investigation and monitoring to support housing replacement. 2. Services are critical for ensuring compliance with historical preservation laws during construction. 3. The contract duration is relatively short, indicating a focused scope of work. 4. Fixed-price contract type helps manage cost certainty for the government. 5. The award was made through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $204,237.12 appears reasonable for specialized archeological investigation and monitoring services. While direct comparisons are difficult without more specific project details, the scope aligns with typical environmental consulting services for federal construction projects. The firm fixed-price structure provides cost predictability. Benchmarking against similar archeological survey contracts for national parks or historical sites would offer further insight into value for money.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The presence of 3 bidders suggests a moderate level of competition for this specialized service. A competitive process generally leads to better price discovery and potentially more innovative solutions for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition helps ensure that taxpayer funds are used efficiently by driving down prices through market forces.

Public Impact

Preserves cultural heritage by ensuring archeological sites are identified and protected during construction. Supports the National Park Service's mission to maintain and improve infrastructure at Devils Tower National Monument. Facilitates the replacement of obsolete housing, improving living conditions for park staff. Ensures compliance with federal regulations regarding historical and cultural resource management. The services are geographically focused on Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for unforeseen archeological discoveries requiring scope adjustments and additional funding.
Dependence on contractor's expertise to accurately assess and monitor sites.
Timeliness of monitoring is crucial to avoid construction delays.

Positive Signals

Clear definition of services required for archeological investigation and monitoring.
Firm fixed-price contract limits cost overruns.
Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust selection process.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Environmental Consulting Services sector, specifically focusing on archeological services. This niche area is crucial for federal agencies undertaking construction or land management projects, particularly in areas with historical or cultural significance like national monuments. The market for such services is driven by regulatory compliance and the need for specialized expertise in historical preservation and site monitoring. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve other archeological surveys or cultural resource management contracts awarded by agencies like the NPS, BLM, or Forest Service.

Small Business Impact

The contract was awarded through full and open competition and there is no indication of a small business set-aside. The prime contractor, GRAY & PAPE INC, is a large business. Subcontracting opportunities for small businesses may exist, but are not explicitly detailed in the provided data. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the National Park Service contracting officer and project managers. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract provides a degree of accountability for the contractor to deliver the specified services within the agreed-upon budget. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of federal contract awards. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

National Park Service Construction Projects
Environmental Consulting Services
Archeological Surveys
Cultural Resource Management
Federal Infrastructure Modernization

Risk Flags

Potential for undiscovered archeological resources impacting project timeline and budget.
Contractor performance risk related to specialized expertise.
Coordination challenges between construction and archeological monitoring teams.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $204,237.12 to GRAY & PAPE INC. DETO 228872 ARCHEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION AND MONITORING SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECT REPLACE OBSOLETE HOUSING AT DEVILS TOWER NATIONAL MONUMENT LOCATED IN DEVILS TOWER, WY.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GRAY & PAPE INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (National Park Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $204,237.12.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-07. End: 2026-10-03.

What is the track record of GRAY & PAPE INC in performing similar archeological services for federal agencies?

GRAY & PAPE INC has a history of providing cultural resource management and archeological services to various federal agencies. Their experience often includes compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, environmental impact assessments, and archeological monitoring during construction. Specific details on past performance, such as the number of similar contracts, their value, and client satisfaction, would typically be available through federal procurement databases like SAM.gov or through past performance reviews conducted during the bidding process. A review of their contract history would reveal their capacity and expertise in handling projects of this nature and scale, ensuring they meet the National Park Service's requirements for Devils Tower National Monument.

How does the awarded amount compare to the estimated cost or budget for this archeological investigation?

The provided data indicates the awarded amount is $204,237.12. Without access to the government's initial cost estimate or budget allocation for this specific requirement, a direct comparison is not possible. However, the fact that it was awarded under full and open competition with 3 bidders suggests that the award price is likely competitive and reflects market rates for the services. If the award was significantly below the government estimate, it could indicate efficient procurement or potentially underestimated scope. Conversely, if it was close to or exceeded the estimate, it might suggest a more complex or costly undertaking than initially anticipated. Further analysis would require comparing this award to similar archeological monitoring contracts.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they being mitigated?

Primary risks include the potential for unforeseen archeological discoveries that could halt construction and increase costs, the contractor's ability to accurately identify and monitor sensitive sites, and potential delays if monitoring is not conducted in a timely manner. Mitigation strategies are embedded in the contract structure. The firm fixed-price nature helps control costs, assuming the scope is well-defined. The requirement for archeological investigation and monitoring itself is a mitigation measure to identify and protect resources. The selection of a contractor through full and open competition aims to ensure a qualified entity is chosen. The National Park Service will likely have project managers overseeing the contractor's work to ensure compliance and address issues promptly.

What is the expected effectiveness of these archeological services in supporting the housing replacement project?

The effectiveness of these archeological services is expected to be high in supporting the housing replacement project by ensuring compliance with federal preservation laws and protecting any cultural resources present at the site. By conducting investigations and monitoring during construction, the services will help prevent inadvertent damage to historical artifacts or sites. This proactive approach minimizes the risk of project delays, costly mitigation efforts, or reputational damage associated with disturbing significant cultural heritage. Ultimately, these services enable the housing project to proceed efficiently while upholding the National Park Service's responsibility to manage and preserve historical resources.

How does this contract's value and scope compare to historical spending on similar archeological services at National Park Service sites?

The contract value of $204,237.12 for archeological investigation and monitoring is a moderate-sized award for specialized services. Historical spending on similar services at NPS sites can vary widely depending on the size and complexity of the construction project, the known archeological sensitivity of the area, and the duration of the work. Smaller monitoring contracts might be in the tens of thousands, while large-scale surveys or mitigation projects could run into millions. This particular contract appears to be focused on monitoring during a specific construction phase for housing replacement. To provide a precise comparison, one would need to analyze historical contract data for archeological services at NPS units of similar size and development status, considering factors like inflation and the specific regulatory requirements at the time.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: SPECIAL STUDIES/ANALYSIS, NOT R&D › SPECIAL STUDIES - NOT R and D

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: P2026F0067

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 340 READING RD, CINCINNATI, OH, 45202

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $204,237

Exercised Options: $204,237

Current Obligation: $204,237

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QRAA21D006G

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline