Interior Department's $10.2M Environmental Consulting Contract Awarded to Concurrent Technologies Corp

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $10,259,729 ($10.3M)

Contractor: Concurrent Technologies Corp

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2003-07-15

End Date: 2006-05-18

Contract Duration: 1,038 days

Daily Burn Rate: $9.9K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Other

Place of Performance

Location: JOHNSTOWN, CAMBRIA County, PENNSYLVANIA, 15904

State: Pennsylvania Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $10.3 million to CONCURRENT TECHNOLOGIES CORP for work described as: Key points: 1. Contract awarded on a cost-plus-fixed-fee basis, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. 2. The contract was not competed, raising questions about potential price discovery and value for money. 3. Duration of 1038 days suggests a significant, long-term need for environmental consulting services. 4. The contract's value of over $10 million indicates a substantial investment in environmental services. 5. Awarded to a single vendor, highlighting a potential lack of market engagement. 6. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541620 points to specialized environmental consulting expertise.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract's cost-plus-fixed-fee structure requires diligent oversight to ensure costs remain reasonable. Without a competitive bidding process, it is difficult to benchmark the pricing against market rates or similar contracts. The total award value of $10.2 million for environmental consulting services over approximately three years suggests a significant investment. Further analysis would be needed to compare the fixed fee component and the cost reimbursement rates to industry standards.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning it was not competed among multiple vendors. This approach limits the opportunity for price discovery through market competition and may result in higher costs for the government. The absence of multiple bids means there is no direct comparison of technical approaches or pricing from competing firms.

Taxpayer Impact: A sole-source award means taxpayers did not benefit from the potential cost savings that can arise from a competitive bidding process, where multiple firms vie for the contract.

Public Impact

The Department of the Interior benefits from specialized environmental consulting services to support its mission. Services likely include environmental assessments, impact studies, regulatory compliance, and remediation planning. The contract's geographic impact is primarily within Pennsylvania, where the contractor is located. The contract supports specialized jobs within the environmental consulting sector.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may lead to suboptimal pricing.
Cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts require robust government oversight to control costs.
Sole-source awards can indicate potential barriers to entry for other qualified firms.

Positive Signals

Contract addresses a specific need for environmental consulting services.
The duration suggests a sustained requirement for these services.
Awarding to a single entity may indicate specialized capabilities required.

Sector Analysis

Environmental consulting services fall under the professional, scientific, and technical services sector. This sector is characterized by firms offering specialized expertise in areas such as environmental science, engineering, and regulatory affairs. The market size for environmental consulting is substantial, driven by increasing regulatory requirements and corporate sustainability initiatives. This contract represents a portion of federal spending dedicated to environmental compliance and management.

Small Business Impact

Information regarding small business set-asides or subcontracting plans was not provided for this contract. As it was awarded sole-source, it is less likely to have been specifically targeted for small business participation unless the sole-source justification was based on a small business's unique capabilities.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would fall under the Department of the Interior's contracting and program management officials. Given the cost-plus-fixed-fee structure, rigorous monitoring of costs incurred and the fixed fee earned is crucial. Transparency would depend on the agency's reporting practices for sole-source awards and contract performance.

Related Government Programs

Environmental Remediation Services
Environmental Planning
Environmental Compliance Consulting
Natural Resource Management Consulting

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
Cost-plus-fixed-fee contract type
Lack of competitive bidding

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $10.3 million to CONCURRENT TECHNOLOGIES CORP. See the official description on USAspending.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CONCURRENT TECHNOLOGIES CORP.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (Departmental Offices).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $10.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2003-07-15. End: 2006-05-18.

What specific environmental consulting services were provided under this contract?

While the specific details of the services rendered are not fully elaborated in the provided data, the NAICS code 541620 (Environmental Consulting Services) indicates that Concurrent Technologies Corp. likely provided a range of expert advice and technical assistance related to environmental issues. This could encompass areas such as environmental impact assessments, regulatory compliance support, hazardous waste management, site remediation planning, ecological studies, and the development of environmental policies and strategies for the Department of the Interior. The contract's duration and value suggest these were significant and ongoing support functions rather than one-off tasks.

How does the cost-plus-fixed-fee (CPFF) pricing structure compare to other contract types for similar services?

Cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts are often used when the scope of work is not precisely defined or when there is a high degree of uncertainty, allowing for flexibility. However, they carry a higher risk of cost overruns compared to fixed-price contracts, as the government reimburses the contractor's actual costs plus a predetermined fixed fee. For well-defined environmental consulting services, fixed-price or even time-and-materials contracts might offer better cost control. The CPFF structure here necessitates strong government oversight to manage the 'cost' portion effectively and ensure the 'fixed fee' remains a fair profit for the work performed.

What are the implications of awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?

A sole-source award, as in this case, means the contract was awarded to Concurrent Technologies Corp. without competition. This can occur for various reasons, such as the contractor possessing unique capabilities or being the only source capable of meeting the requirement. However, it removes the incentive for competitive bidding, which typically drives down prices and fosters innovation. For taxpayers, this means there's a reduced assurance that the government secured the best possible price and value. It also raises questions about whether the market was adequately explored to identify potential competitors.

What is the typical duration and value for environmental consulting contracts of this nature?

Environmental consulting contracts can vary significantly in duration and value depending on the scope and complexity of the services required. Contracts for large-scale environmental impact studies, long-term site remediation oversight, or ongoing regulatory compliance support can easily span several years and run into millions of dollars. A duration of 1038 days (approximately 2.8 years) and an award value of $10.2 million for environmental consulting services is substantial but not necessarily outside the norm for complex federal projects requiring specialized expertise. Benchmarking against similar contracts within the Department of the Interior or other agencies would provide a clearer picture of its relative scale.

What is the track record of Concurrent Technologies Corp. in performing federal contracts?

The provided data indicates that Concurrent Technologies Corp. (co) was awarded this contract. To assess their track record, one would need to examine their past performance on federal contracts, including contract types, values, durations, and any reported issues or successes. A review of contract databases like FPDS or SAM.gov would reveal if they have a history of successful contract completion, adherence to schedules and budgets, and positive performance reviews. Without this additional information, it's difficult to definitively assess their past performance specifically for federal projects.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Environmental Consulting Services

Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › OTHER RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Contractor Details

Address: 100 CTC DR, JOHNSTOWN, PA, 13

Business Categories: Category Business, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $10,464,593

Exercised Options: $10,464,593

Current Obligation: $10,259,729

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: IND04PC60078

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline