Interior's USGS Awards $7,956 Contract for Acid Precipitation Monitoring to Paul Matthew Epley

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $7,956 ($8.0K)

Contractor: Epley Paul Matthew

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2025-02-10

End Date: 2027-02-03

Contract Duration: 723 days

Daily Burn Rate: $11/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: PAUL MATTHEW EPLEY - NTN ACID PRECIPITATION MONITORING SERVICES - SITE NE99

Place of Performance

Location: NORTH PLATTE, LINCOLN County, NEBRASKA, 69101

State: Nebraska Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $7,956 to EPLEY PAUL MATTHEW for work described as: PAUL MATTHEW EPLEY - NTN ACID PRECIPITATION MONITORING SERVICES - SITE NE99 Key points: 1. Low contract value suggests a niche service or limited scope. 2. Sole-source award raises questions about potential cost savings through competition. 3. Service falls under testing laboratories, a common but specialized sector. 4. Fixed-price contract shifts risk to the contractor.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $7,956 is very low, making direct comparison to similar contracts difficult. Without more data on the specific services rendered, it's hard to assess if this price is competitive.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed under SAP, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and may result in higher costs than if multiple vendors had competed.

Taxpayer Impact: The direct taxpayer impact is minimal due to the low contract value, but the lack of competition sets a precedent.

Public Impact

Ensures continued monitoring of acid precipitation, crucial for environmental health assessments. Supports scientific research and data collection for the U.S. Geological Survey. Potential for environmental policy decisions to be informed by this data.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award
Lack of competition
Limited transparency on pricing

Positive Signals

Essential environmental monitoring service
Firm fixed-price contract

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under testing laboratories and services, a broad category. Spending in this sector can vary widely based on the specific testing required. The low value here suggests a very specific, localized need.

Small Business Impact

The awardee is an individual, Paul Matthew Epley. It is unclear if this is a small business or if any small business subcontracting opportunities exist.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source nature of this award warrants oversight to ensure it was appropriately justified and that future similar needs are competed.

Related Government Programs

Testing Laboratories and Services
Department of the Interior Contracting
U.S. Geological Survey Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
Lack of competition
Limited price transparency
Potential for higher costs
Unclear small business impact

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $7,956 to EPLEY PAUL MATTHEW. PAUL MATTHEW EPLEY - NTN ACID PRECIPITATION MONITORING SERVICES - SITE NE99

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is EPLEY PAUL MATTHEW.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (U.S. Geological Survey).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $7,956.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-02-10. End: 2027-02-03.

What is the specific scope of 'NTN Acid Precipitation Monitoring Services' to justify a sole-source award?

The specific scope of 'NTN Acid Precipitation Monitoring Services' is not detailed in the provided data. Typically, such services involve collecting and analyzing precipitation samples to measure acidity levels, identify pollutants, and track trends over time. The justification for a sole-source award would likely hinge on unique expertise, proprietary methods, or specific site access held by the contractor, Paul Matthew Epley.

What is the risk associated with a sole-source award for environmental monitoring?

The primary risk of a sole-source award for environmental monitoring is the potential for inflated costs due to the lack of competitive bidding. It also raises concerns about whether the government is receiving the best value and if alternative, potentially more innovative or cost-effective solutions from other vendors are being overlooked. This can also set a precedent for future sole-source awards.

How effective is this contract in ensuring the continuity of critical environmental data collection?

The contract's effectiveness in ensuring data continuity depends on the contractor's performance and the duration of the service. Given the firm fixed-price structure and the two-year term, it provides a degree of certainty for data collection. However, without performance metrics or a competitive process, it's difficult to definitively assess the overall effectiveness beyond fulfilling the immediate contractual obligation.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Testing Laboratories and Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 140 HILLCREST DR, NORTH PLATTE, NE, 69101

Business Categories: Category Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Sole Proprietorship, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $21,372

Exercised Options: $7,956

Current Obligation: $7,956

Actual Outlays: $3,900

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline