Wild Horse Satelitte Adoption Center

The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service is awarding a sole source contract to Stacy G. Hikes for the operation of a pilot Satellite Adoption Center (SAC) to support the training and placement of wild horses and burros under FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), citing unique vendor qualifications and prior successful performance. The vendor, with over 20 years of specialized experience and previously approved facilities inspected by both USDA-FS and the Bureau of Land Management, is uniquely positioned to fulfill the program’s objectives, which include expanding public outreach, increasing adoption rates, and alleviating overcrowding at the Double Devil Corrals by providing temporary holding and pre-adoption training for newly gathered animals. The official place of performance is Alturas, California, though program activities will extend to a satellite facility in Pennsylvania and target adoption markets across the Northeast, Midwest, and Southeast. The contract operates as an 8(a) sole source, with no competitive bidding, evaluation factors, or financial details disclosed, and approval authority rests solely with the contracting office in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Inspection and compliance are governed by the USDA-FS Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program, with federal agencies responsible for oversight and acceptance at adopter locations. No formal period of performance, pricing data, invoicing instructions, payment details, or certifications were provided in the documentation, and key administrative roles such as the contracting officer or COR are not identified. The initiative is structured as a pilot with potential for future expansion based on performance outcomes.