John Semple

John Semple, operating as Cattlelack Ranch, is a self-certified small disadvantaged business located in Hornbrook, California, specializing in providing water handling and wildland fire support services to federal agencies, primarily the U.S. Forest Service. Registered in the System for Award Management since 2004, Cattlelack Ranch is a sole proprietorship owned by John Semple that has developed a strong reputation for supporting emergency response and land management operations through the provision of water tenders and related operational services. The business is strategically positioned in northern California, which enables it to effectively support forest management and fire suppression efforts in the Pacific Southwest Region.

Cattlelack Ranch has consistently provided water tenders (Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3), water handling services, equipment transportation, and personnel support to federal agencies, with a primary focus on wildland fire suppression. The majority of its federal contract awards have been issued by the U.S. Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Region, with contract values ranging from $1,733 to $122,573. While most awards were not specifically set aside, the company leverages its status as a small disadvantaged and HUBZone-certified business. The contracts typically involve providing mobile water transportation assets, operational support services, and emergency response capabilities, primarily in northern California and New Mexico. Cattlelack Ranch has demonstrated versatility in supporting incident-based wildland fire support, land management operations, and emergency response efforts.

John Semple holds two critical Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts with the U.S. Forest Service, each valued at $250,000. The first IDIQ is a five-year contract for water handling services specifically in the Pacific Southwest Region, awarded on June 4, 2025, with a total small business set-aside designation. The second IDIQ, awarded on June 7, 2022, covers water handling services for the West Zone (Regions 3, 5, 6, and 10), also with a total small business set-aside. These contracts enable the National Interagency Fire Center and U.S. Forest Service to issue task orders for water tenders, equipment, materials, personnel, transportation, and water delivery services. The contracts allow for potential usage by other federal agencies like the Department of the Interior and National Park Service, providing Cattlelack Ranch with broad opportunities to support critical fire suppression and emergency response operations.