MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES

The USDA Forest Service for the National Forests in Florida plans to award a sole source contract to Thomas Spencer, a retired Forest Service employee from Lake City, FL, to provide short-term, temporary management support services on an as-needed basis in the Osceola National Forest, located in Baker and Columbia Counties, FL. The contract arises from the immediate need to fill the gap left by the recent retirement of a key employee responsible for overseeing timber sale and silviculture programs. Services include inspection and oversight of ongoing timber projects, monitoring progress of service projects under Stewardship Contracting, assistance with timber sale contracts, and related forestry support tasks. Because the contractor is thoroughly familiar with Forest Service regulations, policies, procedures, and critical contacts, this arrangement is expected to ensure continuity and maintain ongoing mission objectives without interruption. The contract duration is estimated at approximately 6 to 12 months, with services rendered on an as-needed basis until a permanent replacement is hired. The total contract value is less than $25,000, reflecting the temporary nature and limited scope of the work. The urgency and specialized nature of the contract make a sole source award necessary, as the time required to advertise, award, and train new personnel would adversely affect the Forest’s operations. The contracting office responsible is the National Forests in Florida, under the Department of Agriculture, with the point of contact being Brian J. Wharton in Tallahassee, FL.