Hudson River Nrda Restoration Plan Contract Awarded to Industrial Economics Inc for Over $646K

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $646,688 ($646.7K)

Contractor: Industrial Economics Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2021-09-11

End Date: 2026-12-31

Contract Duration: 1,937 days

Daily Burn Rate: $334/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: HUDSON RIVER NRDA RESTORATION AND COMPENSATION DETERMINATION PLAN, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (REPLACEMENT CONTRACT VICE: 140F0421F0043)

Place of Performance

Location: CAMBRIDGE, MIDDLESEX County, MASSACHUSETTS, 02140

State: Massachusetts Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $646,688.15 to INDUSTRIAL ECONOMICS INC for work described as: HUDSON RIVER NRDA RESTORATION AND COMPENSATION DETERMINATION PLAN, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (REPLACEMENT CONTRACT VICE: 140F0421F0043) Key points: 1. Contract focuses on administrative management and general management consulting services. 2. The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract duration extends over five years, indicating a long-term need for these services. 4. The contract type is Time and Materials, which can pose cost control challenges if not managed closely. 5. The awarding agency is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, part of the Department of the Interior. 6. This contract is a replacement for a previous contract, suggesting continuity of services. 7. The contract value is $646,688.15, representing a significant investment in environmental consulting.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $646,688.15 over approximately five years suggests an average annual spend of around $129,000. This is a moderate amount for specialized consulting services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for environmental consulting and restoration planning would be necessary to fully assess value for money. The Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure, while flexible, carries inherent risks for cost overruns if not meticulously monitored by the government. Without specific performance metrics or comparison data, it's difficult to definitively state if this represents excellent value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'full and open competition,' indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. This suggests a robust bidding process where multiple firms likely had the opportunity to compete. The level of competition is not explicitly stated in terms of the number of bidders, but the designation implies that the government sought the best possible offer through a broad solicitation. This approach generally leads to more competitive pricing and a wider selection of qualified contractors.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition process is beneficial for taxpayers as it increases the likelihood of securing services at a fair market price by fostering competition among potential providers. This reduces the risk of inflated costs that can occur with less competitive procurement methods.

Public Impact

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service benefits from expert consulting services to support the Hudson River Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) Restoration and Compensation Determination Plan. The services delivered are crucial for environmental restoration planning and compensation determination related to the Hudson River. The geographic impact is focused on the Hudson River ecosystem, with potential benefits extending to its surrounding communities and natural resources. The contract supports specialized environmental consulting expertise, potentially involving a workforce of scientists, economists, and project managers.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials (T&M) contract type introduces potential for cost escalation if not closely managed.
Lack of specific performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the contractor's work.
The contract is a replacement, raising questions about the performance or necessity of the previous contract.
Limited information on the number of bidders in the full and open competition makes it hard to gauge the true competitive pressure on pricing.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a competitive process aimed at securing best value.
The contract addresses critical environmental restoration and compensation determination for the Hudson River.
The long contract duration (over 5 years) suggests a stable, ongoing need for these specialized services.
The contractor, Industrial Economics Inc., likely possesses specialized expertise in environmental economics and consulting.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically focusing on environmental consulting and management. The market for such services is driven by regulatory requirements, environmental remediation needs, and natural resource management initiatives. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other federal contracts for NRDA, environmental impact assessments, and ecological restoration planning. The Department of the Interior, through agencies like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, frequently procures these types of services to fulfill its environmental stewardship mission.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation (ss: false, sb: false) was not a specific set-aside requirement for this contract. Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications mandated by small business set-aside provisions. The focus was on full and open competition, suggesting that the primary goal was to secure the best qualified contractor regardless of size, though large businesses or joint ventures could have participated. The impact on the small business ecosystem is neutral in terms of direct set-aside benefits.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures are typically embedded in the contract's terms and conditions, including performance standards and reporting requirements. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, where basic award information is publicly available. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any allegations of fraud, waste, or abuse arise concerning the contract's execution.

Related Government Programs

Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA)
Environmental Consulting Services
Ecological Restoration Planning
Department of the Interior Contracts
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing structure.
Need for robust government oversight to manage contractor performance and prevent scope creep.
Limited transparency on the number of bidders in the full and open competition.
Lack of specific performance metrics in the provided data to assess contractor effectiveness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $646,688.15 to INDUSTRIAL ECONOMICS INC. HUDSON RIVER NRDA RESTORATION AND COMPENSATION DETERMINATION PLAN, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (REPLACEMENT CONTRACT VICE: 140F0421F0043)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is INDUSTRIAL ECONOMICS INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $646,688.15.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-09-11. End: 2026-12-31.

What is the track record of Industrial Economics Inc. with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and similar agencies?

Industrial Economics Inc. (IEc) has a history of providing economic consulting services, often related to environmental and natural resource issues, to various government agencies, including the Department of the Interior and its sub-agencies like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Their work typically involves economic analysis, valuation, and policy support for environmental regulations, restoration projects, and damage assessments. While specific details of past performance on contracts with FWS are not provided in this data snippet, IEc's specialization suggests they are a qualified entity for this type of work. A deeper dive into their contract history, past performance reviews, and any debriefings from previous solicitations would offer a more comprehensive understanding of their track record.

How does the pricing of this contract compare to similar environmental consulting services for NRDA?

The provided data does not include specific labor rates or detailed cost breakdowns, making a direct pricing comparison difficult. The total contract value of $646,688.15 over approximately five years averages to about $129,000 annually. This figure needs to be contextualized by the scope of work, the specific expertise required, and the number of personnel involved. Without access to benchmark data for similar NRDA restoration and compensation determination plans, or details on the specific deliverables and hours billed, it is challenging to definitively assess if the pricing is competitive. The Time and Materials (T&M) nature of the contract also means the final cost can vary based on actual effort expended.

What are the primary risks associated with this Time and Materials (T&M) contract?

The primary risk associated with this Time and Materials (T&M) contract is the potential for cost overruns. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M contracts pay the contractor for the actual time and materials used. If the government's oversight is not rigorous, or if the scope of work is not clearly defined and managed, the contractor could incur significant hours or use more expensive materials than initially anticipated, leading to a final cost exceeding initial estimates. This necessitates strong project management and diligent monitoring by the contracting officer's representative (COR) to ensure efficiency and prevent scope creep. Another risk is the potential for less incentive for the contractor to be efficient, as they are paid for time spent.

How effective is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in managing environmental consulting contracts of this nature?

Assessing the effectiveness of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in managing environmental consulting contracts requires a broader analysis of their procurement history, contract performance metrics, and outcomes of projects managed under such contracts. This specific contract data does not provide insights into FWS's management capabilities. However, as a federal agency with a mandate for environmental stewardship, FWS regularly engages consultants for complex tasks like NRDA. Their effectiveness would depend on factors such as the expertise of their contracting officers and CORs, the clarity of SOWs, and the robustness of their oversight mechanisms. Benchmarking against other agencies or reviewing IG reports related to FWS contracting could offer more definitive insights.

What are the historical spending patterns for Hudson River NRDA restoration planning by the Department of the Interior?

This specific contract represents a portion of the spending related to the Hudson River NRDA restoration and compensation determination plan. Historical spending patterns for this specific initiative are not detailed in the provided data. However, the Department of the Interior, particularly through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has been involved in the long-term restoration and management of the Hudson River ecosystem, which has historically involved significant federal investment. Understanding the full historical spending would require analyzing multiple contracts over time, including those for site assessment, remediation oversight, and ecological monitoring, potentially spanning decades.

What is the significance of this contract being a 'replacement contract'?

The designation of this contract as a 'replacement contract' (vice: 140F0421F0043) implies that it is succeeding or superseding a previous contract for similar services. This could indicate several things: the previous contract may have expired and required renewal or re-competition; there might have been issues with the previous contract's performance or scope that necessitated a new approach; or it could simply be a standard contract lifecycle management process. Without further information on the prior contract (e.g., its value, duration, performance history), it's difficult to ascertain the precise implications. However, it suggests a continuity of need for these specialized consulting services related to the Hudson River NRDA.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: DOIFFBO200056

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2067 MASSACHUSETTS AVE, CAMBRIDGE, MA, 02140

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $646,688

Exercised Options: $646,688

Current Obligation: $646,688

Actual Outlays: $58,485

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QRAA20D0044

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline