ADC billing help...

Hello, I have been working as an ADC Agent for several years with my work being mostly residential/agricultural. I have a chance to work for a large company that usually uses APHIS. I want to price the job right and be competitive. Does anyone know how APHIS bills, by the job, per animal, milage??? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

In this situation I would figure out what you can do the job for at a profit, then double it. If you get the job you have established a base line. If you don't get it you will know for next time.

Appreciate the input. My concern is this is an opportunity that may not have a next time. This job could possibly be long term on a very large piece of property with other abutting landowners who could become customers also . I need to do this right.

Five bucks it's a fishing expedition by WS. I had a couple bid requests for jobs usually done by WS. They were written by someone who knew trapping as the specifications were to specific right down to requiring the use of illegal equipment which isn't an issue for WS.

Bid the job exactly as you need to be paid

Over bid and you may lose it (obviously if you got it after high bid you would make more)

Under bid it and your stuck with it and losing money

If you really really want the job just bid at the lowest you can, that allows you to still make your minimum required wage


I know this advise isn't the most impressive, but some time we need to be reminded that we are in business to make a living not to get one certain job or client

Northwoods,

This depends on various factors in terms of how "they" price.

Ultimately if you don't price it high enough for your costs and business model
you will regret it.

Many state directors and district supervisors are more than willing to avoid conflict with
private operators and they are encouraged to do so.

I worked for WS as the regulars here know for about 10 years before going private.

Yes there are competition issues but there are plenty of places where there aren't as well.

Before I left my old job I saw at least 3 commercial deals brought in where 2-3 private companies
attempted to satisfy clients before my old boss would even think about taking a project on.

What makes competition with a govt agency hard where it occurs is that the $ per hour amount is generally lower than
we can get by with as private and there can be other political factors that can alter the outcome as David said
about type of equipment and rules and refs.

Not sure what type of animal or species you are looking at but ultimately while you may really want to get it,
the cost structure to get down low enough may make it not worthwhile.

Have you talked to the district or state director from your WS branch to get some dialogue about what you do and asking
them what constraints they have in your area on bidding and scope of work?

Trust me when I say they do not want all the available nuisance wildlife work.

Justin

Thanks for the information... still curious if APHIS charges mileage and by the hour. Not really interested in what they charge but how they charge.

Contracts are generally based on hourly rate.

It is rarely going to have all the components you
or other operators are needing to think of.

If we are talking a stand alone project like being hired for
beaver for an entire county or a large land owner, the costs
are meant to cover costs of employee, truck, equipment.

If a county has a full time program with WS and they are sharing
the cost of the employee. Services are provided to most unless something
really special at no extra cost.

Last time I checked $37.00 per hour was the going rate.

If you don't charge mileage as a private operator even if they
didn't they us eventually have to get that money from somewhere.

I had a fleet gas card in my pocket. My gas did come out of my operating budget
for my particular program I ran.

So again, I know you want to try to be competitive, but watch out trying to compare
apples to apples on costs.

WS may provide services we do, but they don't pay for insurance, marketing, and all kinds
of other costs that we do as private operators.

Ask yourself if they didn't charge any mileage rate for gas and maintenance, would you do the same just to get the work?

How long can you sustain that?

Thanks Justin, I will be trapping Beaver. I work on a regular basis with the Warden Service for my residential and agricultural work. Just doesn't feel right to ask them if they know how APHIS bills, don't want to ruin a good working relationship/friendship.

No problem, I assumed Beaver. One animal where there is conflict with private and WS.

Thank you... great information!

Thank you!

Why can't you call APHIS ofc in Maine and ask?....even if you pretend to have a problem, which in fact you do.

Down here it's .55/mile plus "THE SECRET FORMULA"

I rode 1 summer with our local APHIS beaver trapper and he would have to call the main office in Raleigh, tell them how many miles from his house to the job, tell them the # of days he estimates it will take him, they punch the #'s into "THE SECRET FORMULA" and give him a STUUUPID amount, like $912 or $773, etc.
I got several jobs from underbidding him $100 and still made good $$$ on the job.

He said he didn't know the formula and they wouldn't tell him.

It could be different up there I guess.

It couldn't hurt to call their office though.

...oh and we also, in SOME counties, have BMAP monies available. (beaver management assistant program)

If that is the case he only charges $25/trip regardless of mileage...and I couldn't compete with those jobs unless they were in my county.

Thanks for the information... and a big thank you to everyone for the help. Submitted my bid for the job, I feel good about it. I'll let you know what happens.