Pherson, James W

James W Pherson, a veteran-owned sole proprietor based in Westlake, Florida, delivers investigative instructor services to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as a prime contractor (100% of recent awards) under total small business set-asides and full-and-open competition. Pherson operates exclusively under BPA and purchase order contract mechanisms with ATF National Academy, where he has sustained a single-customer relationship spanning more than two decades.

Pherson's federal footprint is narrow and specialized. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives accounts for 97% of awards (74 of 76) and 97% of combined potential value ($59 thousand), with Pherson delivering temporary investigative and academic instructor services at the ATF National Academy in Miami, Florida. Recent work consists of short-duration BPA calls ranging from $825 to $897 per engagement, covering single or multi-day instruction periods with embedded travel. A representative call from June 6, 2024 carried $836 for investigative instructor services; another from December 7, 2023 was valued at $825 for instruction on December 8, 2023 with travel on December 7 and 9. Pherson also holds a single-award Blanket Purchase Agreement (DJA17AHDQS0232, running through May 31, 2028) under which ATF has issued 30 task orders valued at $24 thousand combined. Two subordinate BPAs (DJA11BPS0119 and 15A00023AAQA00146) account for an additional 37 task orders totaling $32 thousand.

Activity shows volatility without growth. Awards averaged three per year in 2022, peaked at seven in 2023, declined to six in 2024, then dropped to two in 2025 and two in 2026 year to date. Combined potential value across all 76 awards is $60 thousand, with $60 thousand obligated (99% of ceiling). Work classification centers on professional and management development training (57 awards) and miscellaneous schools and instruction (17 awards), with PSC coding split between support professional services (60 awards) and education/training services (13 awards). Only one award faces recompete within the next twenty-four months (the June 1, 2026 BPA call valued at $888). Pherson does not subcontract and does not hold positions on government-wide vehicles or multi-agency IDIQs; his entire portfolio flows through ATF procurement channels.