EPA's $24M Docket Center Services Contract with Arctic Slope Mission Services Faces Scrutiny for Value and Competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $23,996,369 ($24.0M)

Contractor: Arctic Slope Mission Services LLC

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2017-02-12

End Date: 2023-04-30

Contract Duration: 2,268 days

Daily Burn Rate: $10.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF IMCS IV TASK ORDER 46 FOR EPA DOCKET CENTER SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20460

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $24.0 million to ARCTIC SLOPE MISSION SERVICES LLC for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF IMCS IV TASK ORDER 46 FOR EPA DOCKET CENTER SERVICES Key points: 1. The contract awarded to Arctic Slope Mission Services LLC for EPA Docket Center Services represents a significant investment of $23.99 million. 2. The procurement method, 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES,' raises questions about the extent of genuine competition. 3. Potential risks include overpayment due to limited competition and the 'TIME AND MATERIALS' pricing structure, which can incentivize longer durations. 4. The sector, 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services,' is broad, making direct benchmarking challenging without more specific service details.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The 'TIME AND MATERIALS' pricing structure, combined with a lack of specific performance metrics or cost breakdowns, makes it difficult to assess value for money. Without comparable contracts for similar docket center services, it's hard to determine if the $23.99 million spent was competitive.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES,' indicating that while competition was sought, certain sources were excluded. This limited competition may have impacted price discovery and potentially led to a higher overall cost than a truly open competition.

Taxpayer Impact: The limited competition and 'TIME AND MATERIALS' contract type could result in taxpayers paying more than necessary for these essential EPA services.

Public Impact

Citizens rely on the EPA Docket Center for access to crucial environmental information, making the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of these services important. The contract's duration (over 6 years) and significant value suggest a substantial impact on the agency's operational capacity and budget. Transparency in how taxpayer funds are utilized for such services is vital for public trust and accountability.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited competition
Time and Materials pricing
Lack of specific performance metrics

Positive Signals

Contract awarded to a specific company
Services provided to a key government agency

Sector Analysis

The 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' sector is vast, encompassing a wide range of activities. Benchmarking this contract's cost against others in this broad category is difficult without more granular data on the specific services provided. However, large service contracts within government agencies often represent significant portions of departmental budgets.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication in the provided data that small businesses were involved in this contract, either as prime contractors or subcontractors. Further investigation would be needed to determine if opportunities for small business participation were considered or missed.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract's long duration and significant value warrant robust oversight to ensure efficient use of funds and adherence to contract terms. The 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' method suggests a need for scrutiny regarding the justification for excluding certain bidders.

Related Government Programs

All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Environmental Protection Agency Contracting
Environmental Protection Agency Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for inflated costs due to 'TIME AND MATERIALS' pricing.
Limited competition may have resulted in a non-optimal price.
Lack of detailed performance metrics makes value assessment difficult.
The broad NAICS code obscures the specific nature and cost drivers of the services.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $24.0 million to ARCTIC SLOPE MISSION SERVICES LLC. IGF::OT::IGF IMCS IV TASK ORDER 46 FOR EPA DOCKET CENTER SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ARCTIC SLOPE MISSION SERVICES LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Environmental Protection Agency (Environmental Protection Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $24.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2017-02-12. End: 2023-04-30.

What specific services are included under 'EPA Docket Center Services' and how do they align with the 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' NAICS code?

The 'EPA Docket Center Services' likely encompass administrative, technical, and potentially IT support related to managing and providing public access to the EPA's official dockets. This could include document filing, retrieval, digitization, and online portal management. These activities fall broadly under the 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' NAICS code (541990) as they involve specialized support functions not covered by more specific categories.

What was the justification for excluding specific sources in the 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' award method?

The justification for excluding specific sources would typically stem from factors such as unique capabilities, prior performance, or specific technical requirements that only certain vendors could meet. Agencies must document these justifications thoroughly to demonstrate that the exclusion was necessary and served the government's best interest, rather than arbitrarily limiting competition.

How does the 'TIME AND MATERIALS' pricing structure for this contract ensure cost-effectiveness and prevent potential overruns?

The 'TIME AND MATERIALS' pricing structure inherently carries a risk of cost overruns as it directly links payment to the hours worked and materials used, rather than a fixed outcome. To ensure cost-effectiveness, agencies must implement stringent monitoring, establish clear labor categories with capped rates, define material cost ceilings, and closely manage the scope of work to prevent scope creep.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 7000 MUIRKIRK MEADOWS DR STE 100, BELTSVILLE, MD, 20705

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Alaskan Native Corporation Owned Firm, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Minority Owned Business, Other Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $25,918,729

Exercised Options: $25,918,729

Current Obligation: $23,996,369

Actual Outlays: $2,319,362

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: EPW17011

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline