Department of the Interior Awarded a Contract to UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY for $2,000,000.00

Summary of Award

The JSON data provided from usaspending.gov outlines a federal contract awarded by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a subdivision of the U.S. Department of the Interior, to Utah State University. This contract is an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) agreement, which provides the BLM's Aquatic Resources Program with nonpersonal analytical services over a five-year ordering period. ID/IQ contracts are used by the federal government to streamline procurement processes for services that have uncertain delivery schedules or quantities.

The award, identified by the code "140L0625D0001," is essentially a framework agreement, allowing for future task orders to be issued as needed. The overarching contract has a value ceiling of $2,000,000, offering the BLM flexibility in accessing specialized services related to water quality analysis.

**Recipient: Utah State University** Utah State University (USU), the recipient of the contract, is a public research institution based in Logan, Utah. It is categorized as both an educational institution and a regional/state government entity, indicating its role in providing higher education services while also functioning under the umbrella of state governance structures. The university is recognized for its substantial expertise in environmental sciences and research, aligning perfectly with the BLM’s requirement for specialized studies and analytical services. USU's participation in this contract leverages the institution's resources, faculty expertise, and research facilities to deliver the requested services. The university is strategically positioned to support the BLM through its academic programs and research initiatives, particularly in areas related to environmental studies and consulting. **Contract Details** The contract was signed on April 10, 2025, with the performance period scheduled to begin on April 15, 2025, and extend through April 14, 2030. Despite the potential of the contract reaching $2,000,000 in value, at the execution point, no specific obligations were yet made, as indicated by a total obligation amount of $0. This is characteristic of ID/IQ contracts, where financial commitments occur as task orders are issued over the contract’s lifespan. **Scope of Services** The services covered under the contract are designated by Product Service Code (PSC) "B533," which denotes specialized studies and analysis related to water quality. In line with this, the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code "541620" categorizes the services as environmental consulting services. This classification highlights the contract's focus on leveraging environmental science expertise to assess and manage aquatic resources effectively. **Competition and Pricing** The solicitation for this contract was issued under minimal competitive conditions, characterized by the receipt of only one offer. The solicitation procedure noted as "SSS" implies that a single-source selection was approved, justifying that the contract was not fully open to competition due to statutory requirements. Nevertheless, this approach ensured the engagement of a capable and specialized service provider in USU. The contract's nature is described as a firm-fixed-price agreement, providing predictability and clarity concerning the pricing of services. This structure suits the analytics-driven environment where precise deliverables are defined but the extent of work can vary based on project demands and findings. **Transactions and Financials** As of the action date on April 10, 2025, no financial transaction had yet been recorded against the contract, as evidenced by a transaction amount of $0. This reflects the preliminary stage of the contract, where no purchase orders have been finalized, awaiting specific task orders that will trigger fund disbursement tied to project milestones and deliverables. Despite the absence of immediate financial activity, the contract establishes a comprehensive framework for addressing the Aquatic Resources Program's access to high-quality analytical resources over the coming years. It highlights the government’s strategic approach to environmental management, ensuring that informed methodologies and scientific expertise are integral to policy formulation and resource management. **Conclusion** This ID/IQ contract between the U.S. federal government and Utah State University demonstrates the application of higher education resources to public sector challenges, particularly in environmental analysis and consulting. It not only underscores the value of academic institutions in government contracting landscapes but also reflects ongoing commitments to maintaining and enhancing the quality of natural resources through informed scientific input. The engagement of USU highlights the synergy between public academia and governmental agencies, facilitating outcomes that are informed, strategic, and beneficial to national resource stewardship.