EPA awards $90K BPA Call for Kurt Manufacturing Superfund Site environmental consulting

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $90,000 ($90.0K)

Contractor: S.S. Papadopulos & Associates, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2026-04-07

End Date: 2026-09-08

Contract Duration: 154 days

Daily Burn Rate: $584/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: GEOS4 CALL ORDER UNDER GEOS4 FOR KURT MANUFACTURING (05X1) SUPERFUND SITE.

Place of Performance

Location: MINNEAPOLIS, ANOKA County, MINNESOTA, 55421

State: Minnesota Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $90,000 to S.S. PAPADOPULOS & ASSOCIATES, INC. for work described as: GEOS4 CALL ORDER UNDER GEOS4 FOR KURT MANUFACTURING (05X1) SUPERFUND SITE. Key points: 1. Contract awarded via a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call, indicating pre-competed services. 2. The contract type is Time and Materials, which can pose cost control challenges. 3. The duration of 154 days is relatively short, suggesting a focused scope of work. 4. The small award amount suggests a specific, localized environmental task. 5. The contractor, S.S. Papadopulos & Associates, Inc., has experience in environmental services.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The award amount of $90,000 is modest, making direct comparison to larger contracts difficult. As a Time and Materials contract, the value is contingent on the hours worked and rates charged. Without detailed labor categories and hours, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. However, the limited duration and scope suggest it may be appropriately priced for the specific task at the Kurt Manufacturing Superfund Site.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under a full and open competition BPA Call. This implies that multiple vendors were likely considered or had the opportunity to bid on the underlying BPA, and this specific call order was also competed. The level of competition for the BPA itself is not detailed here, but the 'full and open' designation suggests a broad solicitation.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition generally leads to better price discovery and potentially lower costs for taxpayers compared to sole-source or limited competition awards.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and potentially the public through the remediation of the Kurt Manufacturing Superfund Site. The services delivered are environmental consulting, likely involving site assessment, monitoring, or technical support for cleanup activities. The geographic impact is localized to the Kurt Manufacturing Superfund Site in Minnesota. Workforce implications are likely minimal, involving a small team of specialized consultants.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials (T&M) contract type can lead to cost overruns if not closely monitored.
Limited visibility into the specific labor rates and hours billed without further detail.
The scope of work for this specific call order is not fully detailed, making it hard to assess if it fully addresses the site's needs.

Positive Signals

Awarded under a full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process.
The contractor, S.S. Papadopulos & Associates, Inc., is likely experienced in environmental consulting.
The short duration suggests a focused and potentially manageable task.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Environmental Consulting Services sector, a subset of professional services. The market for environmental consulting is diverse, serving government agencies and private industry. Spending in this sector is driven by regulatory compliance, site remediation, and environmental impact assessments. Comparable spending benchmarks would depend on the specific nature of the consulting services and the scale of the environmental project.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation (ss: false, sb: false) was not a specific set-aside for this BPA Call. Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses stemming from this particular award. The broader BPA may have provisions for small business participation, but this specific call order does not appear to prioritize it.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As a BPA Call order, it leverages existing oversight mechanisms established for the parent BPA. Transparency is facilitated by the contract award data being publicly available. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Superfund Program
Environmental Remediation Services
Environmental Consulting Contracts
EPA BPA Calls

Risk Flags

Time and Materials contract type requires close monitoring to control costs.
Scope of work for this specific call order is not fully detailed, limiting assessment of completeness.
Potential for unforeseen site conditions at a Superfund site could impact schedule and cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $90,000 to S.S. PAPADOPULOS & ASSOCIATES, INC.. GEOS4 CALL ORDER UNDER GEOS4 FOR KURT MANUFACTURING (05X1) SUPERFUND SITE.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is S.S. PAPADOPULOS & ASSOCIATES, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $90,000.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-07. End: 2026-09-08.

What is the track record of S.S. Papadopulos & Associates, Inc. with the federal government, particularly with the EPA?

S.S. Papadopulos & Associates, Inc. has a history of federal contracts, primarily with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Their awards often fall within the environmental consulting and engineering services categories, consistent with the NAICS code 541620. Analyzing their past performance on similar EPA contracts, such as site assessments or remedial action support, would provide further insight into their capabilities and reliability. A review of contract databases would reveal the volume and value of their federal awards, as well as any performance evaluations or past performance questionnaires submitted by agencies. This information is crucial for understanding their experience in managing government contracts and delivering on environmental objectives.

How does the $90,000 award compare to typical environmental consulting contracts for Superfund sites?

The $90,000 award for environmental consulting services at the Kurt Manufacturing Superfund Site is relatively small when compared to the overall spending on Superfund site cleanups, which can run into millions or even tens of millions of dollars. However, this award likely represents a specific task order or a phase of work within a larger remediation effort, rather than the entire cleanup project. Typical contracts for Superfund sites often involve extensive site characterization, feasibility studies, design, construction, and long-term monitoring. Therefore, this $90,000 award is likely for a focused scope, such as a specific sampling event, a technical review, or a short-term support role. Its value should be assessed in the context of the specific services rendered and the overall project timeline, rather than as a standalone indicator of Superfund spending.

What are the primary risks associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract for environmental consulting?

The primary risk associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract for environmental consulting is the potential for cost overruns. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M agreements reimburse the contractor for direct labor hours at specified hourly rates and for the actual cost of materials. This structure can incentivize longer project durations or less efficient work if not managed diligently by the contracting agency. For environmental consulting, risks include unexpected site conditions requiring more extensive investigation, delays in obtaining permits or access, or the need for specialized equipment or analyses not initially anticipated. Effective risk mitigation requires robust oversight, detailed tracking of labor hours and material costs, and clear communication between the contractor and the agency to ensure the work remains within scope and budget.

What does the 'BPA Call' designation imply about the competition and pricing for this contract?

The 'BPA Call' designation signifies that this contract is a task order issued under a pre-existing Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA). BPAs are typically established through full and open competition, meaning multiple vendors competed to be included on the BPA list. When a specific need arises, agencies can issue 'calls' or task orders against the BPA. While the initial BPA was competed, the specific call order might have its own level of competition, or it could be awarded to a single vendor on the BPA based on specific qualifications or pricing. In this case, the 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION' tag suggests that the underlying BPA was competed broadly. The pricing for this call order would be based on the rates negotiated and agreed upon during the original BPA competition, which are expected to be competitive.

How does the duration of 154 days impact the assessment of this contract's performance?

The duration of 154 days (approximately five months) for this contract suggests a relatively short-term engagement focused on a specific set of tasks related to the Kurt Manufacturing Superfund Site. A shorter duration can imply a well-defined scope of work, potentially reducing the risk of significant scope creep or unforeseen complexities. It also allows for quicker project completion and delivery of results. However, it also means that the contractor must be highly efficient and organized to meet the objectives within the timeframe. Assessing performance would involve evaluating whether the contractor successfully completed the defined tasks within this period, met quality standards, and adhered to the budget, considering the limited timeframe.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT › NATURAL RESOURCES - OTHER SVCS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1801 ROCKVILLE PIKE, ROCKVILLE, MD, 20852

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $251,611

Exercised Options: $130,400

Current Obligation: $90,000

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 68HE0524A0002

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline