National Park Service awards $168K contract for lawn mowing, highlighting consistent service needs

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $168,345 ($168.3K)

Contractor: Bumblebee Landscaping LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2024-07-26

End Date: 2027-07-25

Contract Duration: 1,094 days

Daily Burn Rate: $154/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: MINUTE MAN NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK: OPTION YEAR SERVICE FOR LAWN AND FIELD MOWING SERVICE

Place of Performance

Location: CONCORD, MIDDLESEX County, MASSACHUSETTS, 01742

State: Massachusetts Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $168,345 to BUMBLEBEE LANDSCAPING LLC for work described as: MINUTE MAN NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK: OPTION YEAR SERVICE FOR LAWN AND FIELD MOWING SERVICE Key points: 1. The contract ensures ongoing maintenance of park grounds, crucial for visitor experience and safety. 2. Competition dynamics for this service appear healthy, suggesting fair pricing mechanisms. 3. The firm-fixed-price structure provides cost certainty for the government. 4. This award represents a small but essential component of the National Park Service's operational budget. 5. The duration of the contract indicates a stable, long-term need for these services. 6. Geographic concentration in Massachusetts suggests localized service delivery.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $168,345 over three years for lawn and field mowing services at Minute Man National Historical Park appears reasonable. Benchmarking against similar landscaping contracts for federal facilities of comparable size and scope suggests that the pricing is likely competitive. The firm-fixed-price nature of the award helps control costs and provides predictability for the National Park Service. Without specific per-unit cost data, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging, but the overall contract size aligns with expected expenditures for such essential grounds maintenance.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was competed under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), indicating a competitive process for acquisitions below a certain threshold. While the specific number of bidders is not detailed, the 'COMPETED UNDER SAP' designation suggests that multiple offers were solicited and considered. This level of competition is generally favorable for price discovery and ensures that the government receives competitive pricing for the services rendered. The use of SAP implies a streamlined but still competitive procurement approach.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of this procurement, even under SAP, suggests that taxpayer dollars are being used efficiently by ensuring a fair market price was obtained for essential park maintenance services.

Public Impact

Visitors to Minute Man National Historical Park benefit from well-maintained grounds, enhancing their historical and recreational experience. The National Park Service ensures the aesthetic appeal and safety of the park's landscapes. Local landscaping businesses in Massachusetts had the opportunity to bid on and secure this contract. The contract supports the operational readiness of a significant historical site.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for price creep in future option years if not re-competed effectively.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical grounds maintenance could pose a risk if performance issues arise.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost certainty.
Competitive bidding process suggests fair market value.
Contract duration indicates a stable and reliable service provider.

Sector Analysis

Landscaping and grounds maintenance services are a consistent need across federal agencies, particularly those managing public lands like national parks. The market for these services is typically fragmented, with numerous small to medium-sized businesses capable of performing the work. This contract fits within the broader category of facility support services, where competition is generally robust. Spending benchmarks for similar services vary widely based on geographic location, scope of work, and specific requirements, but this award appears to be within a typical range for park maintenance.

Small Business Impact

The provided data does not indicate if this contract included a small business set-aside. However, the nature of landscaping services often allows for participation by small businesses, either as prime contractors or subcontractors. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business involvement and its impact on the broader small business ecosystem within the landscaping sector.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is a Purchase Order, a common method for acquiring goods and services under SAP. Oversight would typically be managed by the contracting officer and the contract specialist within the National Park Service. Performance monitoring would likely involve site visits and regular communication to ensure the contractor meets the specified mowing and field maintenance standards. Transparency is facilitated through federal procurement databases where contract awards are recorded.

Related Government Programs

National Park Service Operations
Federal Grounds Maintenance Contracts
Landscaping Services for Public Lands

Risk Flags

Contract Performance Risk
Price Volatility Risk

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $168,345 to BUMBLEBEE LANDSCAPING LLC. MINUTE MAN NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK: OPTION YEAR SERVICE FOR LAWN AND FIELD MOWING SERVICE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is BUMBLEBEE LANDSCAPING LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $168,345.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-07-26. End: 2027-07-25.

What is the track record of BUMBLEBEE LANDSCAPING LLC with federal contracts?

Information regarding BUMBLEBEE LANDSCAPING LLC's specific track record with federal contracts is not detailed in the provided data. A comprehensive assessment would require reviewing their past performance on similar government contracts, including any performance evaluations, past disputes, or contract modifications. Understanding their history with the National Park Service or other federal agencies would provide insight into their reliability and capability to fulfill the current contract requirements. Without this historical data, it is difficult to fully assess their contractor performance risk.

How does the per-acre cost of mowing compare to industry benchmarks?

The provided data does not include specific details on the acreage covered by the mowing service or the breakdown of costs per unit of service (e.g., per acre, per hour). Therefore, a direct comparison of the per-acre cost to industry benchmarks is not possible with the current information. To perform this analysis, one would need the total acreage to be maintained, the frequency of mowing, and the specific services included (e.g., trimming, fertilization). Benchmarking would then involve comparing these metrics against average costs for similar services in the Massachusetts region and for federal properties of comparable size and complexity.

What are the potential risks associated with a multi-year contract for landscaping services?

Multi-year contracts for landscaping services, like this one extending to 2027, carry several potential risks. Firstly, there's the risk of price escalation in subsequent years, even with a firm-fixed-price structure, if market conditions change significantly and the initial pricing becomes uncompetitive. Secondly, contractor performance can degrade over time, leading to inconsistent service quality. Thirdly, a long-term commitment might limit the agency's flexibility to adopt new, more efficient landscaping technologies or practices if the current contractor is not equipped or willing. Finally, if the contractor faces financial instability or operational issues, it could disrupt essential park maintenance.

What is the historical spending trend for lawn and field mowing at Minute Man National Historical Park?

The provided data focuses on a single contract award and does not offer historical spending trends for lawn and field mowing at Minute Man National Historical Park. To analyze historical spending, one would need access to procurement data for previous years, identifying contracts specifically for these services at this park. This would allow for an examination of year-over-year expenditures, contract durations, and whether the services were consistently competed or awarded through sole-source mechanisms. Such analysis would reveal patterns in budget allocation and contractor utilization for grounds maintenance.

How does the competition level for this contract compare to other National Park Service landscaping contracts?

The contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), indicating a competitive process suitable for smaller dollar value procurements. While the exact number of bidders isn't specified, SAP generally implies that multiple offers were solicited. This suggests a moderate to good level of competition. To compare this to other NPS landscaping contracts, one would need to examine the competition levels (e.g., number of bidders, type of competition - full and open vs. set-aside) for similar contracts across different parks and contract values. Contracts awarded through full and open competition with a high number of bidders typically indicate stronger price discovery than those with limited competition or sole-source awards.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: UTILITIES AND HOUSEKEEPING › HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES

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: 184 PLANTATION ST, WORCESTER, MA, 01604

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $334,635

Exercised Options: $168,345

Current Obligation: $168,345

Actual Outlays: $96,350

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline