National Biological Survey

The Department of the Interior National Biological Survey is a civilian sub-agency within Interior that procures contract services in support of biological research, species monitoring, and natural-resource assessment programs. The agency's contracting activity, however, has been dormant for nearly three decades. The National Biological Survey closed its most recent contract award on November 15, 1997, making the portfolio a historical record rather than an active procurement channel.

The contract portfolio spans 399 awards issued between July 1993 and November 1997, obligating $19.2 million across 56 distinct prime contractors. Award volume peaked in 1994 with 145 contracts, then moderated to 145 in 1994, 111 in 1995, and 110 in 1996 before tapering to 5 awards in 1997. The competitive landscape was highly fragmented: no single prime contractor dominated the portfolio; instead, work distributed across a broad base of vendors, reflecting the survey's emphasis on geographic and scientific diversity in biological fieldwork and research partnerships.

The set-aside distribution skewed heavily toward unrestricted competition. Eighty-five percent of awards carried no set-aside designation. Small-business set-asides (including both traditional small-business and Emerging Small Business designations) accounted for 15 percent of the portfolio—54 awards under the small-business umbrella and 5 under Emerging Small Business. This weighting suggests the agency prioritized open competition for specialized biological expertise over preferential small-business pools during its active years.

No recent contract activity is recorded against the National Biological Survey or its descendant offices. The agency does not appear in current federal procurement channels, and no open contract opportunities are present. The 1997 closure of contract awards likely reflects organizational restructuring, mission realignment within the Department of Interior, or transition to funding mechanisms outside the traditional prime-contract model. Business-development professionals should note that the National Biological Survey as a standalone contracting entity is not currently viable as a pursuit target.