EPA awards $1.56M for groundwater sampling and analysis at Newton County mine tailings site

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $1,559,988 ($1.6M)

Contractor: CDM Federal Programs Corporation

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2025-09-24

End Date: 2028-09-30

Contract Duration: 1,102 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: R7 DES NEWTON COUNTY MINE TAILINGS OPERABLE UNIT 4 GROUNDWATER INVENTORY OF WELLS, SAMPLING, AND TECHNICAL IMPRACTICABILITY WAIVER WORKPLAN

Place of Performance

Location: NEOSHO, NEWTON County, MISSOURI, 64850

State: Missouri Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $1.6 million to CDM FEDERAL PROGRAMS CORPORATION for work described as: R7 DES NEWTON COUNTY MINE TAILINGS OPERABLE UNIT 4 GROUNDWATER INVENTORY OF WELLS, SAMPLING, AND TECHNICAL IMPRACTICABILITY WAIVER WORKPLAN Key points: 1. Contract focuses on essential environmental remediation services, addressing potential contamination. 2. Competition was robust, suggesting a competitive market for these specialized services. 3. Performance period extends over three years, indicating a significant, ongoing effort. 4. The contract type, Cost Plus Fixed Fee, allows for flexibility but requires careful cost oversight. 5. This award falls within the remediation services sector, crucial for environmental cleanup.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $1.56 million for groundwater inventory, sampling, and technical impracticability waiver workplan appears reasonable given the scope and duration. While specific benchmarks for this exact type of remediation task are difficult to ascertain without more granular data, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) typically engages in complex, long-term environmental projects. The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) structure, while common for such projects, necessitates diligent monitoring to ensure costs remain aligned with the fixed fee component and the overall project objectives. Comparing this to similar EPA remediation contracts would provide a clearer picture of value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple qualified vendors had the opportunity to bid. With four bidders participating, the level of competition suggests a healthy market for environmental remediation services. This broad participation generally leads to better price discovery and encourages contractors to offer competitive terms and innovative solutions to secure the award.

Taxpayer Impact: The full and open competition ensures that taxpayer dollars are likely being used efficiently, as multiple companies vied for the contract, driving down potential costs.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the residents and environment of Newton County, Missouri, through the assessment and potential remediation of groundwater contamination. Services include detailed groundwater inventory, sampling, and the development of a technical impracticability waiver workplan. The geographic impact is localized to the Newton County mine tailings operable unit. This contract supports specialized environmental consulting and technical services, potentially involving a workforce skilled in hydrogeology, environmental science, and project management.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts can sometimes lead to cost overruns if not managed tightly.
The long performance period requires sustained oversight to ensure continued adherence to scope and budget.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, indicating a competitive bidding process.
The contract addresses a critical environmental remediation need, demonstrating proactive government action.
The selected contractor, CDM Federal Programs Corporation, likely has relevant experience in environmental services.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Environmental Services sector, specifically focusing on remediation and compliance. The market for environmental consulting and remediation services is substantial, driven by regulatory requirements and a growing awareness of environmental stewardship. The EPA is a major client in this sector, awarding numerous contracts for site assessment, cleanup, and monitoring. This specific award contributes to the broader effort of managing legacy industrial impacts and ensuring environmental safety.

Small Business Impact

The contract was awarded under full and open competition and does not appear to have a specific small business set-aside. While CDM Federal Programs Corporation is the prime contractor, there is potential for subcontracting opportunities for small businesses within specialized areas of environmental sampling, analysis, or technical support, though this is not explicitly detailed in the provided data.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight will be provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), likely through contracting officers and technical monitors who will ensure compliance with the contract terms, scope of work, and budget. The CPFF contract type necessitates rigorous financial and performance monitoring to manage costs effectively. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and reporting requirements, though specific details of ongoing oversight are not publicly detailed.

Related Government Programs

Superfund Program
RCRA Corrective Actions
Brownfields Program
Water Quality Monitoring Contracts

Risk Flags

Cost Overrun Potential (CPFF)
Scope Creep Risk
Data Integrity Concerns
Long-term Performance Monitoring

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $1.6 million to CDM FEDERAL PROGRAMS CORPORATION. R7 DES NEWTON COUNTY MINE TAILINGS OPERABLE UNIT 4 GROUNDWATER INVENTORY OF WELLS, SAMPLING, AND TECHNICAL IMPRACTICABILITY WAIVER WORKPLAN

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CDM FEDERAL PROGRAMS CORPORATION.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $1.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-09-24. End: 2028-09-30.

What is the track record of CDM Federal Programs Corporation in handling similar environmental remediation contracts for the EPA?

CDM Federal Programs Corporation, a subsidiary of CDM Smith, has a significant history of performing environmental consulting and remediation services for various government agencies, including the EPA. They have been involved in numerous projects under programs like Superfund, addressing complex site cleanups, risk assessments, and regulatory compliance. Their experience typically spans a wide range of environmental challenges, from hazardous waste management to water resource protection. Specific details on their performance for similar groundwater sampling and analysis contracts would require a deeper dive into contract performance databases and historical award data, but their established presence suggests a substantial portfolio of relevant work.

How does the $1.56 million cost compare to similar groundwater sampling and analysis contracts awarded by the EPA?

Benchmarking the $1.56 million cost requires comparing it against contracts with similar scope, duration, and complexity. Groundwater sampling and analysis can vary significantly in cost based on the number of wells, frequency of sampling, analytical methods used, and the specific contaminants of concern. For a multi-year project involving inventory, sampling, and workplan development at a mine tailings site, this figure appears within a reasonable range for EPA contracts. However, a precise comparison would necessitate identifying contracts with identical or highly similar objectives, geographic scope, and contractor capabilities, which are not readily available in this summary data.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they being mitigated?

Key risks include potential cost overruns inherent in Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contracts, delays due to unforeseen site conditions or technical challenges in sampling, and the possibility of incomplete or inaccurate data collection. Mitigation strategies likely involve robust project management by CDM Federal Programs Corporation, close oversight by the EPA contracting officer's representative (COR) to monitor progress and costs, adherence to strict sampling protocols, and contingency planning for unexpected findings. The technical impracticability waiver workplan itself suggests an acknowledgment of potential challenges in achieving full remediation, requiring careful planning and risk assessment.

How effective is the Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type for managing environmental remediation projects like this one?

The CPFF contract type is often used for environmental remediation projects when the scope of work is not fully defined at the outset or when unforeseen technical challenges are anticipated, as is common in complex cleanup sites. It provides flexibility for the contractor to adapt to changing conditions while ensuring the government pays the actual costs plus a predetermined fixed fee. While this can be effective in ensuring work proceeds despite uncertainties, it also carries a risk of cost escalation if not managed diligently. Effective oversight by the government is crucial to control costs and ensure the contractor remains focused on achieving project objectives efficiently within the spirit of the fixed fee.

What is the historical spending pattern for remediation services at mine tailings sites by the EPA?

The EPA has a long history of spending on remediation services, particularly through programs like Superfund, which addresses the cleanup of uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites, including many former mining operations. Spending in this area is substantial and ongoing, reflecting the legacy of industrial activity. Costs can range widely depending on the size and complexity of the site, the type of contaminants, and the chosen remediation technologies. Awards for mine tailings remediation often involve significant investments over multiple years, covering site assessment, feasibility studies, design, and long-term monitoring, making the $1.56 million for this specific operable unit a component of a larger, sustained federal effort.

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

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 68HE0725R0024

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 10560 ARROWHEAD DR STE 500, FAIRFAX, VA, 22030

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $3,280,093

Exercised Options: $3,280,093

Current Obligation: $1,559,988

Actual Outlays: $88,225

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 68HE0318D0003

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline