EPA awards $6.1M task order for environmental consulting services to Tetra Tech, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $6,148,338 ($6.1M)

Contractor: Tetra Tech, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2020-07-01

End Date: 2026-06-30

Contract Duration: 2,190 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: TASK ORDER #02 - TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND TRAINING ACTIVITIES

Place of Performance

Location: PHILADELPHIA, PHILADELPHIA County, PENNSYLVANIA, 19103

State: Pennsylvania Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $6.1 million to TETRA TECH, INC. for work described as: TASK ORDER #02 - TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND TRAINING ACTIVITIES Key points: 1. Contract awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract is a firm-fixed-price type, which shifts cost risk to the contractor. 3. Duration of 6 years indicates a long-term need for these services. 4. The contract is a delivery order under a larger contract vehicle. 5. Geographic focus on Pennsylvania for these specific services. 6. No small business set-aside was utilized for this specific award.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total award amount is $6,148,337.70 over a period of approximately 6 years. Without specific benchmarks for technical support and training activities in environmental consulting, it is difficult to definitively assess value for money. The firm-fixed-price contract type is generally favorable for the government as it caps costs. However, the absence of detailed performance metrics or comparison data makes a precise value assessment challenging.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the designation suggests a robust competitive environment. Full and open competition is generally expected to lead to more favorable pricing and better quality services as contractors vie for the award.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from full and open competition through potentially lower prices and a wider selection of qualified contractors, ensuring the government receives the best value.

Public Impact

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the primary beneficiary, receiving technical support and training. Services are expected to support environmental consulting activities within the agency. The contract has a specific geographic focus on Pennsylvania. The impact on the workforce is likely related to the training and support provided to EPA personnel.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of detailed performance metrics makes it hard to gauge effectiveness.
Limited information on the number of bidders in the full and open competition.
No specific small business subcontracting goals mentioned for this award.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract shifts cost risk to the contractor.
Long contract duration (6 years) suggests a stable, ongoing need.
Awarded under full and open competition, indicating a competitive process.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Environmental Consulting Services sector, a segment of the broader professional, scientific, and technical services industry. This sector provides specialized expertise to government and private entities for environmental assessment, compliance, remediation, and management. Spending in this area is often driven by regulatory requirements and the need for scientific and technical knowledge to address environmental challenges. Benchmarking this specific award against broader environmental consulting contracts would require more granular data on the scope of services.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside, nor does it appear to have specific small business subcontracting requirements indicated by the provided data (SB=false, SS=false). This means that large businesses were eligible to compete and potentially win the award without mandatory subcontracting to small businesses. The impact on the small business ecosystem is neutral to potentially negative if small businesses were not able to compete effectively as prime contractors or subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and the program office within the Environmental Protection Agency. As a delivery order under a larger contract vehicle, existing oversight mechanisms for that vehicle would likely apply. Transparency is facilitated by the public availability of contract awards, but detailed performance reporting and Inspector General jurisdiction would depend on the specific terms of the task order and the parent contract.

Related Government Programs

Environmental Consulting Services
Technical Support Contracts
EPA Agency Contracts
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

Risk Flags

Lack of detailed performance metrics
Limited bidder information provided
No explicit small business subcontracting goals

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $6.1 million to TETRA TECH, INC.. TASK ORDER #02 - TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND TRAINING ACTIVITIES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TETRA TECH, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Environmental Protection Agency (Environmental Protection Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $6.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-07-01. End: 2026-06-30.

What is the specific nature of the 'technical support and training activities' being procured?

The provided data indicates the task order is for 'TASK ORDER #02 - TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND TRAINING ACTIVITIES' under NAICS code 541620 (Environmental Consulting Services). While the specific activities are not detailed, they likely involve providing expert advice, operational assistance, and educational programs to EPA personnel related to environmental regulations, scientific methodologies, data analysis, or project management within the environmental consulting domain. The training could range from software usage to complex environmental policy implementation. Further details would be found in the full task order document.

How does the $6.1M award compare to similar EPA contracts for environmental consulting services?

Comparing the $6.1M award requires context on the scope and duration. This is a 6-year delivery order, making the average annual value approximately $1.02M. The EPA frequently procures environmental consulting services through various contract vehicles. Without knowing the specific services rendered, it's challenging to benchmark precisely. However, the EPA's total spending on professional, scientific, and technical services is in the billions annually. This $6.1M award appears to be a moderate-sized task order within the agency's broader environmental consulting portfolio, likely addressing a specific set of needs rather than a comprehensive agency-wide program.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or success metrics for this task order?

The provided summary data does not include specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or success metrics for this task order. Typically, such metrics would be detailed within the full contract document and would relate to the quality, timeliness, and effectiveness of the technical support and training provided. Examples could include client satisfaction scores, completion rates of training modules, accuracy of technical advice, or adherence to project timelines. The absence of this information in the summary limits a full assessment of contractor performance and program effectiveness.

What is Tetra Tech, Inc.'s track record with the EPA and similar government contracts?

Tetra Tech, Inc. is a large, well-established government contractor with a significant history of performing work for the EPA and other federal agencies across various environmental and engineering disciplines. They frequently win contracts related to environmental consulting, engineering, and technical services. Their track record generally includes successful completion of numerous complex projects. However, like any large contractor, specific performance on individual contracts can vary, and a deeper dive into their past performance ratings and any past performance issues with the EPA would be necessary for a comprehensive assessment.

What is the historical spending trend for environmental consulting services by the EPA?

The EPA consistently spends significant amounts on environmental consulting services annually, often in the hundreds of millions to billions of dollars, depending on the fiscal year and agency priorities. This spending supports a wide range of activities, including scientific research, regulatory development, compliance assistance, site remediation oversight, and technical support. Spending can fluctuate based on legislative mandates, new environmental challenges, and budget allocations. This $6.1M task order represents a small fraction of the EPA's overall annual expenditure in this broad category.

What are the potential risks associated with this firm-fixed-price contract?

While firm-fixed-price contracts generally benefit the government by capping costs, risks can still exist. If the scope of work is not clearly defined, the contractor may face challenges in execution, potentially leading to change orders or disputes, although the fixed price aims to minimize this. There's also a risk that the contractor might cut corners on quality to maximize profit if oversight is insufficient. For the government, the primary risk is ensuring the contractor delivers the required technical support and training effectively within the fixed price, and that the defined scope adequately covers the agency's needs over the 6-year period.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT › ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS PROTECTION

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1 S WACKER DR STE 3700, CHICAGO, IL, 60606

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $6,148,338

Exercised Options: $6,148,338

Current Obligation: $6,148,338

Actual Outlays: $3,728,149

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 1

Total Subaward Amount: $531,015

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 68HE0320D0003

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline