TETRA TECH EC, INC. awarded $19.6M for Environmental Consulting Services by the Department of the Army
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $19,603,093 ($19.6M)
Contractor: Tetra Tech EC, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2001-12-03
End Date: 2004-12-31
Contract Duration: 1,124 days
Daily Burn Rate: $17.4K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 6
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: Other
Place of Performance
Location: COMMERCE CITY, ADAMS County, COLORADO, 80022
State: Colorado Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $19.6 million to TETRA TECH EC, INC. for work described as: Key points: 1. Contract awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract duration of 1124 days indicates a significant, long-term need for these services. 3. The Time and Materials pricing structure may present cost control challenges if not closely monitored. 4. The agency's selection of TETRA TECH EC, INC. warrants examination of their past performance and capabilities. 5. Environmental consulting services are critical for regulatory compliance and project sustainability. 6. The contract's value places it within a substantial spending category for environmental services.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
Benchmarking the value of this $19.6 million contract for environmental consulting services is challenging without specific deliverables and market rates for comparable projects. The Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure, while flexible, can lead to cost overruns if not managed diligently. Comparing this to similar large-scale environmental consulting contracts would reveal if the pricing is competitive, but the provided data lacks sufficient detail for a precise value-for-money assessment. The agency's decision to award to TETRA TECH EC, INC. suggests they met the technical and cost requirements, but further analysis of their bid against potential competitors would be beneficial.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. The presence of 6 bidders suggests a reasonably competitive environment for these environmental consulting services. A higher number of bidders generally leads to better price discovery and potentially lower costs for the government. The agency's process likely involved evaluating technical proposals and pricing from these multiple sources to select the best value.
Taxpayer Impact: The full and open competition likely resulted in a more competitive pricing structure, benefiting taxpayers by ensuring the government received a fair market price for the services rendered.
Public Impact
The Department of the Army benefits from expert environmental consulting services, crucial for managing its vast landholdings and operational impacts. Services delivered likely include environmental assessments, remediation planning, compliance monitoring, and impact studies. The geographic impact is likely concentrated around Army installations where environmental services are required, potentially across various states. The contract supports a workforce of environmental scientists, engineers, and technicians employed by TETRA TECH EC, INC. and potentially its subcontractors.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Time and Materials (T&M) contract type can lead to cost escalation if not managed with strict oversight.
- Limited data on specific performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the contractor's efficiency and effectiveness.
- The absence of a specific Product Service Code (PSC) might indicate a broad scope of services, requiring careful monitoring.
- The contract was awarded in 2001, and its relevance to current environmental standards and practices needs consideration.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under full and open competition, indicating a robust bidding process.
- The contractor, TETRA TECH EC, INC., is a known entity in the environmental services sector, suggesting experience.
- The contract duration implies a sustained need and potentially a successful, ongoing relationship.
- The Department of the Army's engagement in environmental consulting highlights a commitment to regulatory compliance and stewardship.
Sector Analysis
Environmental consulting services represent a significant segment of the professional services market, driven by regulatory requirements and corporate sustainability initiatives. The market includes firms specializing in areas such as environmental impact assessments, remediation, compliance, and natural resource management. Government agencies, particularly those with large land holdings or complex operations like the Department of Defense, are major clients. Spending in this sector is influenced by environmental legislation, economic activity, and public awareness of environmental issues. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing the average cost of similar-sized environmental projects or consulting contracts within the federal government.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that small business participation was not a primary focus for this contract, as the 'sb' (small business) flag is false and the contract type is 'AW' (Award). There is no explicit mention of small business set-asides or subcontracting goals. This suggests that the primary award went to a large business, and any small business involvement would likely be through subcontracting opportunities that are not detailed here. Further investigation into subcontracting plans would be necessary to assess the impact on the small business ecosystem.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the contracting officer and the relevant program managers within the Department of the Army. Accountability measures are typically embedded in the contract terms, including performance standards, reporting requirements, and payment schedules tied to milestones. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, which provide public access to award details. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any allegations of fraud, waste, or abuse arise during the contract's performance or closeout.
Related Government Programs
- Environmental Remediation Services
- Environmental Planning
- Natural Resource Management
- Engineering and Technical Services
- Defense Environmental Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing structure.
- Need for detailed performance monitoring to ensure value for money.
- Contract awarded over 20 years ago; relevance of specific services and pricing to current needs requires assessment.
Tags
environmental-consulting, department-of-defense, department-of-the-army, time-and-materials, full-and-open-competition, large-contract, professional-services, environmental-services, tetratech, colorado
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $19.6 million to TETRA TECH EC, INC.. See the official description on USAspending.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is TETRA TECH EC, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Army).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $19.6 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2001-12-03. End: 2004-12-31.
What is the track record of TETRA TECH EC, INC. with the Department of Defense and other federal agencies for similar environmental consulting contracts?
TETRA TECH EC, INC. has a substantial history of contracting with the Department of Defense (DoD) and other federal agencies for a wide range of environmental services. Their portfolio often includes large-scale remediation projects, environmental assessments, compliance support, and engineering services. Analyzing their past performance on similar contracts would involve reviewing contract histories for on-time delivery, adherence to budget, quality of work, and any documented disputes or performance issues. Federal procurement data typically shows numerous awards to Tetra Tech across various agencies, indicating a strong presence and established capabilities in the federal contracting space. A deeper dive into specific contract closeout reports and performance evaluations would provide a more granular understanding of their reliability and effectiveness in fulfilling government requirements.
How does the $19.6 million contract value compare to the average cost of similar environmental consulting services procured by the Department of the Army?
The $19.6 million contract value for environmental consulting services is a significant sum, placing it in the upper tier of individual contract awards for such services. To benchmark this against average costs, one would need to analyze the distribution of contract values for similar services (e.g., NAICS code 541620) awarded by the Department of the Army over a comparable period. If the average contract value for similar scope and duration is considerably lower, it might suggest this contract is either for a particularly complex or extensive project, or potentially represents a higher cost. Conversely, if the average is similar or higher, it indicates this award is within the expected range for substantial environmental consulting engagements. Without access to a detailed database of comparable contracts and their specific scopes, a precise comparison is difficult, but the amount suggests a major undertaking.
What are the primary risks associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract for environmental consulting services, and how are they mitigated?
The primary risk with Time and Materials (T&M) contracts, like the one awarded to TETRA TECH EC, INC., is the potential for cost escalation. Since the contractor is reimbursed for direct labor hours at specified rates and for the cost of materials, there is less incentive to control costs compared to fixed-price contracts. This can lead to the government paying more than anticipated if the project takes longer than expected or requires more resources. Mitigation strategies employed by the government typically include establishing contract ceilings, requiring detailed timesheets and material justifications, conducting audits, and implementing robust oversight by contracting officers and technical representatives. Clear definition of work requirements and close monitoring of labor hours and material usage are crucial to managing T&M contracts effectively and ensuring value for taxpayer money.
What specific environmental challenges or regulatory requirements likely necessitated this substantial contract for the Department of the Army?
The Department of the Army manages vast tracts of land and numerous operational facilities, presenting a wide array of potential environmental challenges and regulatory requirements. These could include compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for new projects or expansions, remediation of contaminated sites (e.g., former military bases, training ranges), management of hazardous waste, protection of endangered species and natural resources, and compliance with Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act regulations. The substantial $19.6 million value suggests the contract likely addresses complex, long-term issues such as large-scale site investigations and cleanups, comprehensive environmental impact statements for major infrastructure projects, or ongoing environmental management programs across multiple installations. The specific nature of the environmental consulting services would dictate the precise regulatory drivers.
How has federal spending on environmental consulting services evolved over the period encompassing this contract's award and performance?
Federal spending on environmental consulting services has generally seen fluctuations influenced by environmental legislation, agency priorities, and budget cycles. Awarded in late 2001, this contract falls within a period where environmental compliance and remediation efforts were well-established federal priorities. Post-9/11 security concerns may have also influenced resource allocation. Over the subsequent years (2001-2004), spending on environmental services would have been shaped by ongoing regulatory enforcement, infrastructure needs, and specific agency initiatives. Trends might include increased focus on emerging contaminants, sustainable practices, and climate change adaptation, potentially leading to shifts in the types of consulting services demanded and their associated costs. Analyzing historical spending data from FPDS for NAICS 541620 would reveal overall trends and the Army's specific spending patterns during that era.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Environmental Consulting Services
Product/Service Code: NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT › ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS PROTECTION
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Offers Received: 6
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Tetra Tech, Inc. (UEI: 045224250)
Address: 143 UNION BLVD STE 1010, LAKEWOOD, CO, 07
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business
Contract Characteristics
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: DAAM0297D0012
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2001-12-03
Current End Date: 2004-12-31
Potential End Date: 2004-12-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2010-06-30
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