Phycotech Inc. awarded $1.47M for phytoplankton analysis, highlighting specialized environmental consulting needs

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $14,730 ($14.7K)

Contractor: Phycotech, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2024-06-07

End Date: 2026-08-29

Contract Duration: 813 days

Daily Burn Rate: $18/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: PHYTOPLANKTON IDENTIFICATION & BIOVOLUME

Place of Performance

Location: SAINT JOSEPH, BERRIEN County, MICHIGAN, 49085

State: Michigan Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $14,730 to PHYCOTECH, INC. for work described as: PHYTOPLANKTON IDENTIFICATION & BIOVOLUME Key points: 1. Contract addresses a niche but critical area of environmental monitoring. 2. Phycotech's specialization suggests potential for high-quality, targeted service delivery. 3. Fixed-price award provides cost certainty for the government. 4. Short performance period (813 days) indicates a focused project scope. 5. Awarded under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), suggesting a smaller, less complex procurement. 6. Geographic focus on Michigan may indicate regional environmental concerns or research priorities.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $1.47 million for environmental consulting services, specifically phytoplankton identification and biovolume, appears reasonable given the specialized nature of the work. While direct comparisons are difficult without more data on similar specialized environmental analyses, the fixed-price structure suggests a degree of cost control. The award amount is within the typical range for targeted scientific services that require expert knowledge and specific laboratory capabilities.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which allows for a broader range of competition than sole-source but may not involve the same level of outreach as full and open competition for larger contracts. The number of bidders is not specified, but SAP generally encourages multiple offers. This method aims to balance efficiency with competitive pricing for procurements below certain thresholds.

Taxpayer Impact: Competition under SAP generally leads to fair market prices for taxpayers by encouraging multiple vendors to submit bids, preventing price gouging on specialized services.

Public Impact

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) benefits from specialized expertise in monitoring aquatic ecosystems. Services delivered include detailed identification and measurement of phytoplankton, crucial for understanding water quality and ecological health. Geographic impact is focused on Michigan, likely addressing specific regional environmental research or regulatory needs. Workforce implications involve skilled scientists and technicians in the field of limnology and aquatic biology.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for limited competition due to highly specialized nature of phytoplankton analysis.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical environmental data could pose a risk if performance issues arise.
Geographic concentration on Michigan might overlook broader national environmental trends.

Positive Signals

Phycotech's specialization suggests deep expertise, likely leading to high-quality data.
Fixed-price contract provides budget predictability for the USGS.
Award under SAP indicates efficient procurement processes for this contract value.

Sector Analysis

The environmental consulting sector is diverse, encompassing a wide range of services from impact assessments to specialized scientific analysis. This contract falls into the niche of ecological monitoring and scientific services, requiring specific expertise in identifying and quantifying microscopic aquatic life. The market for such specialized services is often characterized by a smaller number of highly qualified firms. Comparable spending benchmarks are difficult to establish without more specific data on phytoplankton analysis contracts, but the overall market for environmental consulting services is substantial, driven by regulatory requirements and scientific research.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). As it was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), it is possible that small businesses participated in the competition. However, without specific subcontracting plans or set-aside information, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is unclear. Larger prime contractors often utilize small business subcontractors, but this appears to be a direct award to a specialized firm.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), a bureau within the Department of the Interior. The contract is a Purchase Order, which typically has defined deliverables and payment milestones. Accountability measures would be tied to the successful completion of these deliverables according to the contract's specifications. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of federal contract awards, allowing for review of basic contract details.

Related Government Programs

Environmental Monitoring Services
Water Quality Analysis
Ecological Research Support
Scientific Data Collection
Aquatic Ecosystem Studies

Risk Flags

Specialized Service Requirement
Potential for Limited Competition
Geographic Concentration

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $14,730 to PHYCOTECH, INC.. PHYTOPLANKTON IDENTIFICATION & BIOVOLUME

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PHYCOTECH, INC..

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 $14,730.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-06-07. End: 2026-08-29.

What is Phycotech, Inc.'s track record with federal contracts, particularly within the Department of the Interior or USGS?

Information regarding Phycotech, Inc.'s specific track record with federal contracts, especially within the Department of the Interior or the U.S. Geological Survey, is not detailed in the provided data. A comprehensive review would require accessing federal procurement databases like SAM.gov or FPDS to analyze past awards, performance ratings, and any history of contract modifications or disputes. Understanding their prior performance is crucial for assessing reliability and expertise in fulfilling this current contract for phytoplankton identification and biovolume analysis.

How does the $1.47 million contract value compare to similar phytoplankton analysis contracts awarded by federal agencies?

Directly comparing the $1.47 million contract value for phytoplankton identification and biovolume analysis to similar federal contracts is challenging without access to a broader dataset of specialized environmental services. Phytoplankton analysis is a niche scientific service. The value is influenced by factors such as the geographic scope, duration (813 days), required level of detail (e.g., species-level identification, biovolume calculations), and the specific analytical methodologies employed. The award being made under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) suggests it falls below the threshold for full and open competition for larger contracts, implying a potentially more focused scope or specialized market where pricing might differ from larger, more broadly competed environmental service contracts.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and what mitigation strategies are in place?

Primary risks associated with this contract include potential performance issues from the contractor (Phycotech, Inc.), such as delays in data delivery or inaccuracies in identification and biovolume measurements, which could impact USGS's environmental monitoring objectives. Another risk is the specialized nature of the service, potentially leading to limited contractor availability or high costs if the need arises for similar services elsewhere. Mitigation strategies likely involve clear performance standards and deliverables outlined in the purchase order, regular progress reviews by USGS, and the fixed-price nature of the award which incentivizes the contractor to meet specifications efficiently. The government also retains the right to address non-performance.

How effective is the USGS in leveraging specialized environmental consulting contracts like this for its research and monitoring goals?

The effectiveness of the USGS in leveraging specialized environmental consulting contracts like this one hinges on several factors. By awarding this contract to Phycotech, Inc. for phytoplankton identification and biovolume, the USGS is demonstrating a strategy to acquire niche expertise that may not be available in-house or is more cost-effective to outsource. The success depends on the quality of the data provided by Phycotech, the clarity of the contract's objectives, and how well this data integrates into the USGS's broader research and monitoring programs in Michigan. Effective utilization requires strong project management and data analysis capabilities within the USGS to translate the consultant's findings into actionable insights for water quality assessment and ecological understanding.

What are the historical spending patterns for environmental consulting services by the Department of the Interior, and how does this contract fit?

Historical spending patterns for environmental consulting services by the Department of the Interior (DOI) are substantial, reflecting the agency's broad mandate over natural resources and public lands. The DOI frequently procures services for environmental impact statements, natural resource management, ecological assessments, and scientific research. This $1.47 million contract for phytoplankton analysis fits within the DOI's ongoing need for specialized scientific data to support its mission, particularly concerning water resources and aquatic ecosystems, managed in part by bureaus like the U.S. Geological Survey. While this specific contract value is moderate, it represents a typical investment in targeted scientific expertise that complements the DOI's internal capabilities and addresses specific research or regulatory requirements.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: SPECIAL STUDIES/ANALYSIS, NOT R&D › SPECIAL STUDIES - NOT R and D

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 140G0224P0164

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 620 BROAD ST, SAINT JOSEPH, MI, 49085

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $61,710

Exercised Options: $14,730

Current Obligation: $14,730

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline