Forest Service awards $578K for water treatment maintenance, highlighting environmental consulting needs

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $578,664 ($578.7K)

Contractor: Tetra Tech, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2021-09-28

End Date: 2024-05-31

Contract Duration: 976 days

Daily Burn Rate: $593/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: 2022 WATER TREATMENT AND REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEM MAINTENANCE FOR BEAL MINE

Place of Performance

Location: MISSOULA, MISSOULA County, MONTANA, 59804

State: Montana Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $578,663.94 to TETRA TECH, INC. for work described as: 2022 WATER TREATMENT AND REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEM MAINTENANCE FOR BEAL MINE Key points: 1. Contract value appears reasonable for specialized environmental consulting services. 2. Full and open competition suggests a healthy market for these services. 3. Fixed-price contract type mitigates cost overrun risks for the government. 4. Contract duration extends over multiple fiscal years, indicating ongoing needs. 5. The award falls within the environmental consulting services sector.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of approximately $578,664 for water treatment and reverse osmosis system maintenance over its period of performance appears reasonable. Benchmarking against similar environmental consulting contracts for facility maintenance suggests this is within expected cost ranges. The firm fixed-price structure provides cost certainty, which is a positive indicator of value for money, assuming the scope of work is well-defined and executed efficiently.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors were likely solicited and had the opportunity to bid. This competitive process is expected to drive fair pricing and encourage a range of solutions. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the designation suggests a robust market for these services.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by ensuring that the government receives competitive pricing and the best available services, preventing potential overpayment associated with less competitive procurement methods.

Public Impact

The Forest Service benefits from maintained water treatment systems at Beal Mine, ensuring operational integrity and environmental compliance. Services include essential maintenance for water treatment and reverse osmosis systems. The contract's geographic impact is focused on Montana, where Beal Mine is located. Workforce implications are likely related to specialized technicians and environmental consultants.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if maintenance needs are not precisely defined.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical infrastructure maintenance could pose a risk if performance issues arise.

Positive Signals

Firm fixed-price contract provides cost predictability.
Full and open competition suggests a competitive market and potential for quality service.
Longer contract duration allows for consistent service and relationship building.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Environmental Consulting Services sector (NAICS 541620), a market segment focused on providing expert advice and technical services related to environmental protection and management. Spending in this sector often supports regulatory compliance, infrastructure maintenance, and natural resource management. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found within government contracts for environmental remediation, monitoring, and operational support services for federal facilities.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation was not a specific set-aside for this contract (ss: false, sb: false). While this contract was competed fully and openly, there is no explicit information on subcontracting opportunities for small businesses. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were involved as subcontractors or if the prime contractor has a history of engaging small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the Forest Service contracting officer and potentially program managers responsible for Beal Mine operations. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract provides a degree of accountability by linking payment to deliverables. Transparency is generally maintained through contract databases, but specific performance monitoring details are not publicly available without further inquiry.

Related Government Programs

Environmental Remediation Services
Water Infrastructure Maintenance
Federal Facility Operations Support
Natural Resource Management Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for undefined scope impacting cost certainty.
Contractor performance risk for critical infrastructure maintenance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $578,663.94 to TETRA TECH, INC.. 2022 WATER TREATMENT AND REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEM MAINTENANCE FOR BEAL MINE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TETRA TECH, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Forest Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $578,663.94.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-09-28. End: 2024-05-31.

What is the track record of Tetra Tech, Inc. in performing similar environmental consulting services for the Forest Service or other federal agencies?

Tetra Tech, Inc. is a large, well-established government contractor with extensive experience in environmental consulting, engineering, and technical services. They frequently secure contracts with various federal agencies, including the Department of Agriculture (Forest Service), Department of Defense, and Environmental Protection Agency. Their portfolio often includes water resource management, site remediation, and infrastructure support. A review of federal procurement data would reveal numerous past awards to Tetra Tech for similar services, indicating a significant presence and presumed capability in this domain. Specific performance metrics from past contracts would require deeper investigation into contract performance reports and agency evaluations, which are not always publicly accessible.

How does the awarded amount compare to the estimated value or budget for this type of maintenance service?

The awarded amount of $578,664 for water treatment and reverse osmosis system maintenance over approximately 32 months (from September 2021 to May 2024) suggests an average annual cost of roughly $180,832. Without access to the specific Statement of Work (SOW) and the detailed technical requirements, it is challenging to provide a precise benchmark. However, for specialized environmental maintenance at a federal facility, this figure appears within a reasonable range, especially considering the complexity of reverse osmosis systems and regulatory compliance needs. A more definitive comparison would require access to the agency's independent government cost estimate (IGCE) or data from comparable contracts for similar facilities.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they being mitigated?

Key risks include potential underestimation of maintenance needs leading to scope creep, contractor performance issues impacting water quality or system functionality, and unforeseen technical challenges with the aging infrastructure at Beal Mine. Mitigation strategies are primarily embedded in the contract structure and oversight. The firm fixed-price (FFP) contract type shifts the risk of cost overruns to the contractor, provided the scope is well-defined. The Forest Service's oversight, through contract administration and performance monitoring, aims to ensure the contractor meets quality standards and timelines. The use of full and open competition also mitigates the risk of selecting a contractor with insufficient capability, as multiple vendors are evaluated.

What is the historical spending pattern for water treatment and reverse osmosis system maintenance at Beal Mine or similar Forest Service facilities?

Historical spending data for this specific contract shows a total award of $578,664 over its duration. To understand broader patterns, one would need to examine prior contracts for Beal Mine's water systems or look at similar maintenance contracts across the Forest Service. It's common for federal facilities to require ongoing, multi-year maintenance contracts for critical systems like water treatment. Spending can fluctuate based on infrastructure age, upgrades, regulatory changes, and the specific technologies employed (e.g., reverse osmosis systems often require specialized, costly maintenance). Without access to historical contract databases specifically filtered for Beal Mine or comparable sites, a detailed historical spending analysis is not possible from the provided data alone.

How does the chosen contract type (Firm Fixed Price) influence the government's financial exposure?

The Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract type is generally advantageous for the government when the scope of work is clearly defined and understood. Under an FFP contract, the contractor agrees to a total price for a well-defined product or service. This means the government's financial exposure is capped at the agreed-upon price, regardless of the contractor's actual costs. This structure provides significant cost certainty and predictability for the government's budget. The primary risk shifts to the contractor, who must absorb any cost overruns incurred due to inefficiencies or unforeseen difficulties in execution, assuming these are not due to changes in scope initiated by the government.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT › NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVERVAT SVCS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 3475 EAST FOOTHILL BOULEVARD, PASADENA, CA, 91107

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $578,664

Exercised Options: $578,664

Current Obligation: $578,664

Actual Outlays: $578,664

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 12034318A0011

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline