EPA's $26.25M environmental consulting contract awarded to APTIM FEDERAL SERVICES, LLC shows a long performance period

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $26,250,425 ($26.3M)

Contractor: Aptim Federal Services, LLC

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2016-08-03

End Date: 2023-08-14

Contract Duration: 2,567 days

Daily Burn Rate: $10.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: TASK ORDER INITIATION FOR THE QUALITY ASSURANCE FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT (QATS) CONTRACT. IGF::CL::IGF

Place of Performance

Location: LAS VEGAS, CLARK County, NEVADA, 89120

State: Nevada Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $26.3 million to APTIM FEDERAL SERVICES, LLC for work described as: TASK ORDER INITIATION FOR THE QUALITY ASSURANCE FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT (QATS) CONTRACT. IGF::CL::IGF Key points: 1. The contract's extended duration suggests a need for sustained technical support in environmental consulting. 2. APTIM FEDERAL SERVICES, LLC has been the sole awardee for this task order, indicating a potentially limited competitive landscape for this specific service. 3. The Time and Materials pricing structure warrants scrutiny for cost control and efficient resource utilization. 4. Performance context is crucial given the long period of performance, requiring assessment of consistent quality and value delivery. 5. This contract falls within the Environmental Consulting Services sector, a critical area for regulatory compliance and environmental protection. 6. The absence of small business set-aside flags indicates this was not specifically targeted for small business participation.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the $26.25 million total value against similar environmental consulting contracts is challenging without more specific service details. The Time and Materials (T&M) pricing model, while flexible, can lead to cost overruns if not managed diligently. The contract's long duration (over 7 years) means the effective hourly rates and overall cost efficiency should be continuously monitored to ensure value for money. Without specific performance metrics or comparisons to industry benchmarks for similar services, a definitive value assessment is difficult.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. However, the data provided only details a single task order awarded to APTIM FEDERAL SERVICES, LLC. Further investigation would be needed to determine the number of bids received for this specific task order and whether the broader contract vehicle itself was competed broadly. A single awardee for a task order under a full and open competition could indicate strong performance on a previous contract or a highly specialized service.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that can drive down prices and encourage innovation. However, the ultimate benefit depends on the number of actual bids received and the effectiveness of the evaluation process.

Public Impact

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) benefits from this contract by securing essential technical support for quality assurance. Services delivered include technical support for quality assurance, crucial for the EPA's environmental regulatory functions. The contract's geographic impact is primarily focused on supporting EPA operations, which can have national implications for environmental policy and enforcement. Workforce implications include employment opportunities for environmental consultants and technical specialists working for APTIM FEDERAL SERVICES, LLC.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials (T&M) pricing can lead to unpredictable costs if not closely managed.
The long performance period necessitates ongoing vigilance to ensure continued value and prevent scope creep.
Limited visibility into the specific task order competition details beyond 'full and open' makes it hard to assess price discovery effectiveness.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a potentially robust bidding process.
The contract addresses a critical need for quality assurance in environmental consulting services.
APTIM FEDERAL SERVICES, LLC's long-term engagement implies a level of trust and satisfactory performance.

Sector Analysis

The Environmental Consulting Services sector is vital for government agencies like the EPA, providing expertise in areas such as environmental impact assessments, regulatory compliance, and remediation. This contract, valued at approximately $26.25 million over its performance period, fits within this sector. Comparable spending benchmarks would depend on the specific nature of the technical support provided, but government spending on environmental consulting is substantial, reflecting the ongoing need for specialized expertise to manage and protect environmental resources.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). This means that large businesses were eligible to compete and potentially win the award. Consequently, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses mandated by a set-aside. However, the prime contractor, APTIM FEDERAL SERVICES, LLC, may still engage small businesses as subcontractors, depending on their own business practices and the specific needs of the task order.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Environmental Protection Agency's contracting officers and program managers. As a task order under a larger contract vehicle, specific oversight mechanisms would be detailed in the contract's statement of work and performance work statement. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases and reporting requirements. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

EPA Environmental Consulting Services
Technical Support Contracts
Quality Assurance Services
Environmental Remediation Support

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing structure.
Long performance period requires sustained oversight to ensure value and prevent scope creep.
Limited visibility into specific competition details for this task order.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $26.3 million to APTIM FEDERAL SERVICES, LLC. TASK ORDER INITIATION FOR THE QUALITY ASSURANCE FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT (QATS) CONTRACT. IGF::CL::IGF

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is APTIM FEDERAL 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 $26.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2016-08-03. End: 2023-08-14.

What is the historical spending trend for this specific QATS contract or similar environmental consulting services at the EPA?

Analyzing historical spending for this specific QATS contract requires access to detailed contract modification data and task order history beyond the provided summary. The total award amount of $26.25 million represents the ceiling or total obligated amount over its performance period (August 3, 2016, to August 14, 2023). To understand spending trends, one would need to examine the annual obligations against this ceiling. For similar environmental consulting services at the EPA, spending can fluctuate based on regulatory priorities, new environmental challenges, and budget allocations. A broader analysis of EPA's environmental consulting spend over the past decade would reveal overall trends, potentially showing increases due to new legislation or decreases due to budget constraints. Without specific obligation data per year for this contract, a precise trend analysis is not possible from the given information.

How does the awarded amount of $26.25 million compare to the average value of similar environmental consulting task orders issued by the EPA?

Comparing the $26.25 million total value of this task order to the average value of similar EPA environmental consulting task orders requires a dataset of comparable contracts. The provided data indicates this is a task order, suggesting it's part of a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract or a similar vehicle. The duration of over seven years for this task order suggests a significant scope of work. If this $26.25 million represents the total value over the entire period, it averages roughly $3.75 million per year. This annual average would need to be benchmarked against other EPA task orders for environmental consulting services of comparable complexity and duration. Without access to a broader database of EPA contracts and their values, it's difficult to definitively state whether $26.25 million is high, low, or average for this type of service over such an extended period.

What specific quality assurance metrics were used to evaluate APTIM FEDERAL SERVICES, LLC's performance under this contract?

The provided data does not specify the quality assurance metrics used to evaluate APTIM FEDERAL SERVICES, LLC's performance. Typically, such metrics are detailed within the contract's Performance Work Statement (PWS) or Statement of Work (SOW) and may include Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to timeliness of deliverables, accuracy of reports, adherence to regulatory standards, and client satisfaction. The effectiveness of the Quality Assurance for Technical Support (QATS) contract hinges on these metrics. Without access to the contract documentation, it is impossible to detail the specific metrics. However, the renewal or continued use of the contractor suggests that performance, as measured by the EPA, was likely satisfactory against the established criteria.

What is APTIM FEDERAL SERVICES, LLC's track record with the EPA and other federal agencies for environmental consulting services?

APTIM FEDERAL SERVICES, LLC has a significant track record with the EPA and other federal agencies, particularly in environmental services. Their portfolio often includes areas like environmental remediation, engineering, consulting, and technical support. A review of federal procurement data (like FPDS or USASpending) would reveal numerous awards to APTIM across various agencies, including the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and others, for similar environmental services. Their longevity and repeated awards suggest a history of successful contract performance and a strong understanding of federal agency requirements. Specific details on past performance evaluations or any past performance issues would require deeper dives into contract close-out reports or agency-specific performance databases.

What are the potential risks associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract of this magnitude and duration?

Time and Materials (T&M) contracts, like this $26.25 million environmental consulting task order, carry inherent risks, primarily related to cost control. Since the contractor is reimbursed for direct labor hours at specified rates and for the cost of materials, there is less incentive for efficiency compared to fixed-price contracts. This can lead to cost overruns if the scope is not well-defined or if the contractor does not manage labor hours effectively. For a contract spanning over seven years, the risk of escalating labor rates and potential for scope creep is amplified. Effective oversight, detailed tracking of hours and expenses, and robust change management processes are crucial to mitigate these risks and ensure the government receives good value for its investment.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: SOL-HQ-14-00018

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Peraton Technology Services Inc.

Address: 1725 DUKE ST, STE 400, ALEXANDRIA, VA, 22314

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $30,166,572

Exercised Options: $30,166,572

Current Obligation: $26,250,425

Actual Outlays: $7,617,334

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NOT OBTAINED - WAIVED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: EPW16016

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline