Sheppard, Craig

Sheppard, Craig, doing business as Craig Sheppard, is a sole proprietor based in Superior, Montana, that provides satellite subscription and tracking services (SSTS) and heavy equipment support for fire suppression and emergency response to the U.S. Forest Service and the National Interagency Fire Center as a prime contractor under Total Small Business set-asides. The vendor is a DOT-certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and competes exclusively on small-business-reserved vehicles.

All eight prime awards in the source span two Department of Agriculture customers with distinct operational footprints. The Forest Service Region 1-Northern Region accounts for six awards ($138 thousand combined potential value) placed as purchase orders for satellite services and tracking support to fire operations in Missoula, Hamilton, and surrounding areas across the Lolo and other northern national forests. The National Interagency Fire Center holds two Indefinite Delivery Contracts ($750 thousand combined potential value): a $250 thousand VIPR (Virtual Incident Procurement) contract running through June 1, 2028, and a $500 thousand non-VIPR IDC awarded February 6, 2026, also through June 1, 2028. Both cover heavy equipment — dozers, excavators, and tractor plows — for fire suppression and all-hazard response across East Zone regions (Regions 1, 2, 4, and 9). Representative purchase orders include a $77,973.84 Total Small Business delivery order from Region 1 for satellite services and heavy equipment support (August 31, 2026), a $21,900 purchase order for satellite services supporting Lolo National Forest fire operations (June 23, 2026), and a $12,300 order for the same (July 27, 2025).

Recent activity has accelerated — one award in 2023, two in 2025, five in 2026 — though the portfolio remains small in absolute dollars. Of the $888 thousand combined potential value across all awards, only $138 thousand has been obligated to date (16% draw-down), reflecting the early-stage nature of the IDCs and the firm fixed-price purchase-order structure typical of Forest Service procurement. The vendor's capability footprint is tightly focused: five awards fall under satellite telecommunications and network services (NAICS Satellite Telecommunications, PSC IT and Telecom); three awards fall under forest and range fire suppression support (NAICS Support Activities for Forestry, PSC Natural Resources Conservation). Sheppard holds no subcontract positions and operates exclusively as a prime on set-aside vehicles, with no visible teaming relationships or parent vehicle participation beyond the two VIPR/NIFC IDCs.