National Park Service awards $429K purchase order for gravel, highlighting construction material needs

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $429,056 ($429.1K)

Contractor: Crowley Holdings LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2025-05-05

End Date: 2026-04-17

Contract Duration: 347 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.2K/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 10

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: GRSM GRAVEL FOR PARK ROADS

Place of Performance

Location: GATLINBURG, SEVIER County, TENNESSEE, 37738

State: Tennessee Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $429,055.5 to CROWLEY HOLDINGS LLC for work described as: GRSM GRAVEL FOR PARK ROADS Key points: 1. Value for money appears reasonable given the fixed-price nature and duration of the contract. 2. Competition dynamics indicate a potentially competitive bidding process under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures. 3. Risk indicators are low, with a firm fixed-price contract and a defined scope. 4. Performance context suggests a routine procurement for essential park maintenance materials. 5. Sector positioning places this contract within the broader construction and infrastructure maintenance domain.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The $429,055.50 award for gravel is a standard procurement for infrastructure maintenance. While a direct per-unit cost comparison is not available without more detailed specifications, the firm fixed-price contract suggests that the National Park Service has locked in a price for the duration of the contract. Benchmarking against similar construction material procurements would be necessary for a more precise value assessment, but the amount seems aligned with typical material costs for park road upkeep.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which typically allows for a broader range of competition for procurements under a certain dollar threshold. The presence of 10 bidders suggests a healthy level of interest and competition for this type of requirement. This level of competition is generally favorable for price discovery and ensuring the government receives competitive pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive bidding process for this gravel procurement likely resulted in a more favorable price for taxpayers compared to a sole-source award. The multiple bids indicate that the National Park Service was able to solicit offers from various suppliers, driving down costs.

Public Impact

Park visitors and staff will benefit from improved road conditions within the National Park Service. Essential construction materials (sand and gravel) will be supplied for park road maintenance. The geographic impact is localized to Tennessee, where the contractor is based and likely where the materials will be used. Workforce implications are minimal, primarily affecting the supply chain and logistics for construction materials.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for price fluctuations in raw material markets impacting future procurements.
Ensuring timely delivery and quality control of gravel to meet park maintenance schedules.

Positive Signals

Firm fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
Competition under SAP suggests a robust bidding process.
Contract duration allows for planned infrastructure maintenance activities.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the construction materials sector, specifically focusing on aggregates like sand and gravel. The market for these materials is typically localized due to transportation costs. Federal spending in this area supports infrastructure maintenance and development across various agencies. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other federal or state procurements for similar construction aggregates, considering regional price variations.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was competed under SAP and does not specify a small business set-aside. While the contractor is Crowley Holdings LLC, further investigation would be needed to determine if they are a small business or if subcontracting opportunities exist for small businesses within this award. The absence of explicit set-aside information suggests it may not have been a primary focus for this specific procurement.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this purchase order would primarily fall under the National Park Service's contracting and financial management departments. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm fixed-price contract, requiring delivery of specified materials. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of federal contract awards, allowing for review of basic award details.

Related Government Programs

National Park Service Infrastructure Maintenance
Federal Construction Material Procurement
Department of the Interior Supply Chain Management

Risk Flags

Potential for price escalation in raw materials
Delivery schedule adherence
Quality control of aggregate materials

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $429,055.5 to CROWLEY HOLDINGS LLC. GRSM GRAVEL FOR PARK ROADS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CROWLEY HOLDINGS 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 $429,055.5.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-05-05. End: 2026-04-17.

What is the track record of Crowley Holdings LLC in securing federal contracts, particularly for construction materials?

Crowley Holdings LLC has secured this specific purchase order for construction sand and gravel. To assess their broader track record, a review of federal procurement databases (like SAM.gov or FPDS) would be necessary. This would reveal the number and value of contracts they have previously been awarded, the agencies they have served, and the types of goods or services provided. A history of successful performance on similar contracts would indicate reliability, while a pattern of issues could raise concerns about future performance. Without this broader data, this single award provides limited insight into their overall federal contracting experience.

How does the awarded price compare to market rates for construction sand and gravel in Tennessee?

Determining the precise market rate comparison for this $429,055.50 award requires detailed knowledge of the specific type and quality of gravel, delivery locations within Tennessee, and current market conditions. Construction sand and gravel prices can vary significantly based on aggregate composition, grading, and transportation distance. A comprehensive benchmark would involve analyzing recent bids on similar federal, state, or local government contracts in Tennessee, as well as consulting industry price indices for construction materials. Given the firm fixed-price nature, the National Park Service likely conducted some form of price analysis to ensure the awarded price was fair and reasonable prior to issuing the purchase order.

What are the potential risks associated with the duration and scope of this contract?

The primary risks associated with this contract are related to the 347-day duration and the scope of providing construction sand and gravel. Potential risks include price volatility for raw materials if market prices increase significantly during the contract period, although the firm fixed-price structure mitigates this for the government. There's also a risk of delivery delays impacting park maintenance schedules, which could be influenced by weather, transportation issues, or the contractor's resource availability. Ensuring consistent quality of the gravel delivered over the contract term is another consideration. However, the relatively straightforward nature of the product and the defined period suggest these risks are manageable.

How effective is the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) process in ensuring competitive pricing for materials like gravel?

The Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) are designed to streamline the procurement process for acquisitions below the simplified acquisition threshold (currently $250,000, though some exceptions apply). For procurements like this one, which appears to be around $429K but competed under SAP, it suggests the agency utilized specific authorities or that the threshold may have been higher at the time of solicitation. SAP generally encourages competition by allowing for more flexible solicitation methods than full and open competition. The fact that 10 bidders responded indicates that SAP was effective in attracting multiple offers, which is crucial for competitive price discovery and ensuring the government obtains value for its money. However, the effectiveness can depend on how well the solicitation is advertised and the clarity of the requirements.

What is the historical spending pattern for construction sand and gravel by the National Park Service or Department of the Interior?

Analyzing historical spending patterns for construction sand and gravel by the National Park Service (NPS) or the broader Department of the Interior (DOI) would require accessing historical contract databases. This would reveal the frequency, volume, and total expenditure on such materials over previous fiscal years. Understanding these patterns can help identify trends in maintenance needs, budget allocations for infrastructure, and the typical contracting vehicles used. For instance, consistent annual spending might indicate ongoing maintenance requirements, while significant fluctuations could point to specific large-scale projects or changes in funding priorities. This specific $429K award can be viewed as a data point within that larger historical context.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction › Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying › Construction Sand and Gravel Mining

Product/Service Code: CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIAL

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 140P5325Q0004

Offers Received: 10

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1033 JACKSON AVE STE 202, NEW ORLEANS, LA, 70130

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $429,056

Exercised Options: $429,056

Current Obligation: $429,056

Actual Outlays: $222,122

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline