EPA awards $150K task order to KEMRON for emergency spill response in Blythewood, SC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $136,476 ($136.5K)

Contractor: Kemron Environmental Services, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2024-09-25

End Date: 2025-09-18

Contract Duration: 358 days

Daily Burn Rate: $381/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: REGION 4, (ERRS V); TASK ORDER FOR THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE AT BLYTHEWOOD SC HG SPILL SITE (C4W7) FOR $150,000.00.

Place of Performance

Location: ATLANTA, FULTON County, GEORGIA, 30303

State: Georgia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $136,476.12 to KEMRON ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. for work described as: REGION 4, (ERRS V); TASK ORDER FOR THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE AT BLYTHEWOOD SC HG SPILL SITE (C4W7) FOR $150,000.00. Key points: 1. Contract addresses an urgent environmental need, indicating a reactive rather than proactive spending pattern. 2. The task order is relatively small, suggesting it's for a specific, contained response. 3. Limited duration of the contract (under a year) aligns with emergency response needs. 4. The award mechanism, 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES,' warrants further investigation into the justification for excluding other potential bidders. 5. Focus on remediation services highlights the agency's role in environmental cleanup. 6. The contract's value is modest, potentially limiting the scope of services or the number of personnel deployable.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $150,000 is relatively small, making direct comparisons to larger remediation contracts difficult. Without more detailed service descriptions or performance metrics, assessing value for money is challenging. The time and materials pricing structure can sometimes lead to cost overruns if not closely monitored, but for emergency response, it offers flexibility. Benchmarking this specific type of emergency spill response cost is difficult without more granular data on the scope of the spill and the required remediation efforts.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES.' This specific designation suggests that while the competition was intended to be open, certain sources were excluded. The rationale behind this exclusion is not provided but typically implies a justification based on specific capabilities, urgent needs, or prior performance. The limited nature of the competition, even if initially open, may restrict the number of potential bidders and could impact price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: The exclusion of sources, even if justified, means taxpayers may not benefit from the lowest possible price achievable through broader competition. This could lead to a higher cost for the remediation services provided.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the residents and environment of Blythewood, South Carolina, affected by the hazardous spill. Services delivered include emergency response and remediation activities at the specified spill site. The geographic impact is localized to the Blythewood, SC, HG spill site. Workforce implications involve the deployment of specialized environmental cleanup personnel by KEMRON ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

The 'exclusion of sources' in a 'full and open competition' award requires scrutiny to ensure fair market access was not unduly restricted.
Time and materials contract type can pose a risk of cost escalation if not meticulously managed and monitored.
The specific nature of the 'HG spill' and the required remediation are not detailed, making it hard to assess if the awarded amount is adequate for effective cleanup.

Positive Signals

The contract addresses an immediate environmental emergency, demonstrating responsiveness to critical situations.
The award is made to a single vendor, KEMRON ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC., suggesting they possess the specialized capabilities required for this specific emergency.
The contract duration is defined, providing a clear timeframe for the emergency response activities.

Sector Analysis

The environmental remediation services sector is critical for addressing pollution and hazardous material incidents. This contract falls under the broader environmental consulting and remediation industry, which includes companies specializing in spill response, site cleanup, and waste management. The market size for such services can fluctuate significantly based on regulatory enforcement and the occurrence of environmental incidents. This specific award is a small component within the larger federal spending on environmental protection and disaster response.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to be specifically set aside for small businesses, as indicated by 'ss' being false. KEMRON ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. is a large business. There is no information provided regarding subcontracting plans or requirements, so the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal for this particular award.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), specifically the relevant regional office overseeing Region 4 and the ERRS V contract. Accountability measures would be tied to the successful completion of the remediation tasks as defined in the task order and adherence to the time and materials pricing. Transparency is facilitated by the public availability of contract awards, though detailed performance reports may not be publicly accessible.

Related Government Programs

EPA Emergency Response and Removal Program
Superfund Remedial Program
Contractor Support for Environmental Cleanup

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing structure.
Lack of detailed scope of work and remediation plan in summary data.
Justification for 'exclusion of sources' needs verification.
Adequacy of funding for comprehensive remediation is unclear.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $136,476.12 to KEMRON ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.. REGION 4, (ERRS V); TASK ORDER FOR THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE AT BLYTHEWOOD SC HG SPILL SITE (C4W7) FOR $150,000.00.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is KEMRON ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $136,476.12.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-09-25. End: 2025-09-18.

What is the specific nature of the 'HG spill' and the remediation required at the Blythewood, SC site?

The provided data indicates a task order for 'EMERGENCY RESPONSE AT BLYTHEWOOD SC HG SPILL SITE (C4W7)'. However, the specific substance spilled ('HG' likely refers to mercury, but this is an assumption) and the exact nature of the remediation required are not detailed in the summary data. Understanding the scope of the spill (e.g., volume, toxicity, affected area) and the complexity of the cleanup (e.g., soil excavation, water treatment, containment) is crucial for evaluating the adequacy of the $150,000 award and the value for money. Without this context, it's difficult to determine if the allocated funds are sufficient for a complete and effective remediation.

What is the justification for excluding other sources in this 'full and open competition' award?

The award is categorized as 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES.' This designation implies that while the initial solicitation was intended to be open to all qualified bidders, specific sources were subsequently excluded. The reasons for such exclusions typically involve urgent and compelling needs where only a limited number of contractors can meet the requirements, or situations where a contractor has unique capabilities or has already performed related work. The EPA would need to provide a formal justification for this exclusion. Without it, it raises questions about whether the government received the maximum benefit of competition, potentially impacting the final price and the range of innovative solutions considered.

How does KEMRON ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.'s past performance on similar EPA contracts inform the risk assessment for this award?

Assessing KEMRON ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.'s track record is vital for understanding the risk associated with this $150,000 task order. Information on their previous performance with the EPA, particularly on emergency response or hazardous material remediation contracts, would indicate their reliability, efficiency, and ability to manage costs effectively. A history of successful, on-time, and within-budget project completion would lower perceived risk. Conversely, past issues with performance, cost overruns, or safety incidents would increase the risk profile. The provided data does not include specific performance history, necessitating a deeper dive into KEMRON's contract history with the agency.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this emergency response task order, and how will success be measured?

For an emergency response contract like this, key performance indicators would likely focus on the speed of response, the effectiveness of containment and cleanup actions, adherence to safety protocols, and compliance with environmental regulations. Success would be measured by the successful mitigation of the spill's impact, restoration of the site to a safe condition, and proper disposal of hazardous materials. The 'TIME AND MATERIALS' (T&M) contract type suggests that performance is monitored through the tracking of labor hours and material costs against the scope of work. Clear deliverables and acceptance criteria should be defined in the task order to ensure objective performance evaluation.

What is the historical spending pattern for emergency spill response contracts by the EPA in Region 4?

Analyzing historical spending patterns for similar emergency spill response contracts within EPA Region 4 (which includes Georgia and South Carolina) would provide valuable context for this $150,000 award. Understanding the typical value, duration, and types of contractors engaged for such incidents can help determine if this contract is an outlier or representative. Significant deviations from historical norms in terms of cost or scope might warrant further investigation. This data point helps in benchmarking the current award against past expenditures and assessing whether the EPA is managing its emergency response budget efficiently across the region.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Remediation and Other Waste Management Services › Remediation Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1359-A ELLSWORTH INDUSTRIAL BLVD, ATLANTA, GA, 30318

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $136,476

Exercised Options: $136,476

Current Obligation: $136,476

Actual Outlays: $136,476

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NOT OBTAINED - WAIVED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 68HE0421D0016

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline