DOI awards $399K for Surveying Services to Western Cultural Inc. under SAP

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $39,938 ($39.9K)

Contractor: Western Cultural Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2026-04-08

End Date: 2026-07-06

Contract Duration: 89 days

Daily Burn Rate: $449/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: BIHO CRM UTILITIES SURVEY SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: WISDOM, BEAVERHEAD County, MONTANA, 59761

State: Montana Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $39,938 to WESTERN CULTURAL INC for work described as: BIHO CRM UTILITIES SURVEY SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract value is $399,380 for surveying and mapping services. 2. Competition was conducted under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP). 3. The award is a Firm Fixed Price Purchase Order. 4. The contract duration is 89 days. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541370.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $399,380 for 89 days of surveying services appears reasonable given the scope. Benchmarking against similar contracts is difficult without more detailed service descriptions.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was competed under SAP, suggesting a limited competition approach. This method is typically used for smaller dollar value procurements and may not achieve the best price discovery compared to full and open competition.

Taxpayer Impact: The taxpayer impact is likely moderate, as SAP is intended for efficient procurement of smaller needs, but the potential for better pricing through broader competition is limited.

Public Impact

National Park Service utilizes surveying services for land management and mapping. The contract supports infrastructure and resource management within Montana. Small businesses were not specifically targeted in this procurement.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 44 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited competition under SAP
Short contract duration may limit efficiency
No small business set-aside noted

Positive Signals

Clear contract end date
Firm Fixed Price contract type
Specific NAICS code identified

Sector Analysis

The surveying and mapping sector (NAICS 541370) is crucial for government land management and infrastructure projects. Spending in this sector can vary significantly based on agency needs and project scale.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses. While SAP can be used for small business set-asides, there is no indication that this occurred in this specific procurement.

Oversight & Accountability

The award was made via a Purchase Order, which is a common method for smaller procurements. Oversight would typically involve contract administration by the National Park Service to ensure timely delivery and quality of services.

Related Government Programs

Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services
Department of the Interior Contracting
National Park Service Programs

Risk Flags

Limited competition
Short contract duration
No small business consideration noted
Lack of detailed service description

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $39,938 to WESTERN CULTURAL INC. BIHO CRM UTILITIES SURVEY SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is WESTERN CULTURAL 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 $39,938.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-08. End: 2026-07-06.

What specific surveying and mapping tasks are included in this contract?

The provided data does not detail the specific surveying and mapping tasks. Further information would be needed to assess the value and complexity of the services. This could range from topographic surveys to boundary mapping or specialized geospatial data collection.

What is the rationale for using SAP instead of full and open competition?

Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) are typically used for procurements below certain thresholds (e.g., $250,000, though this can vary). The agency likely determined this contract fell within SAP limits, prioritizing efficiency for a smaller value award, potentially at the expense of broader market competition.

How does the contract duration of 89 days impact the effectiveness of the surveying services?

A short duration of 89 days suggests a focused scope of work. It may be effective for a specific, well-defined task but could be insufficient for larger or more complex surveying projects, potentially leading to rushed work or incomplete data if not carefully managed.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 140P8326Q0013

Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 31 FORT MISSOULA RD, MISSOULA, MT, 59804

Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $39,938

Exercised Options: $39,938

Current Obligation: $39,938

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline