Environmental Quality Management, Inc. awarded $96K for industrial waste processing at ERRS 5 contract

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $92,973 ($93.0K)

Contractor: Environmental Quality Management, Inc

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2020-03-03

End Date: 2022-11-27

Contract Duration: 999 days

Daily Burn Rate: $93/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: $96K PR FOR THE INDUSTRIAL WASTE PROCESSING SITE ON THE ERRS 5 CONTRACT. TO NO. D0001-9026.

Place of Performance

Location: FRESNO, FRESNO County, CALIFORNIA, 93711

State: California Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $92,973.13 to ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT, INC for work described as: $96K PR FOR THE INDUSTRIAL WASTE PROCESSING SITE ON THE ERRS 5 CONTRACT. TO NO. D0001-9026. Key points: 1. Contract awarded for remediation services, indicating a need for environmental cleanup. 2. The contract type is Time and Materials, which can pose cost control challenges. 3. Awarded under full and open competition after exclusion of sources, suggesting a specific justification for the competition method. 4. The duration of 999 days (though this appears to be a placeholder or error) suggests a long-term need for these services. 5. The small business set-aside flag is false, meaning large businesses were likely primary bidders. 6. The contract is a delivery order under a larger contract (ERRS 5).

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The awarded amount of $96K is relatively small for industrial waste processing, suggesting this may be a specific task order or a very limited scope of work. Without more context on the specific services rendered and the duration, it's difficult to benchmark against similar contracts. The Time and Materials pricing structure, while common, requires diligent oversight to ensure cost-effectiveness and prevent scope creep. The contract's value is low compared to the potential costs associated with industrial waste processing, raising questions about the overall scale of the task.

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 procurement method implies that while the competition was intended to be open, certain sources were excluded, possibly due to specific qualifications, existing contracts, or other justifications. The number of bidders is not provided, making it difficult to assess the level of competition. This method can sometimes lead to less competitive pricing if the exclusion criteria are too narrow.

Taxpayer Impact: The 'exclusion of sources' aspect warrants scrutiny to ensure it did not unduly limit competition and potentially increase costs for taxpayers.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiary is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in managing industrial waste. Services delivered include remediation and processing of industrial waste at a specific site. The geographic impact is localized to the industrial waste processing site in California. Workforce implications are likely related to specialized environmental remediation personnel.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials contract type can lead to cost overruns if not closely monitored.
The 'exclusion of sources' in the competition method needs clear justification to ensure fairness and optimal pricing.
The low award amount for a potentially complex service like industrial waste processing may indicate a very narrow scope or insufficient funding for the task.

Positive Signals

Awarded under a competitive process, suggesting some level of market vetting.
The contract addresses a critical environmental need for waste processing.
The contractor, Environmental Quality Management, Inc., is likely experienced in this domain.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Environmental Remediation Services sector, a critical component of the broader environmental services industry. This sector involves cleaning up contaminated sites and managing hazardous waste. The market size for environmental remediation is substantial, driven by regulatory requirements and industrial activity. This specific contract, being a delivery order under a larger IDIQ (ERRS 5), represents a small slice of the overall federal spending in this area, which often includes large-scale cleanup projects.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). This indicates that the competition was open to all qualified businesses, including large corporations. There is no explicit information on subcontracting requirements for small businesses within this specific delivery order. The lack of a small business set-aside suggests that the primary focus was on securing the most capable contractor, regardless of size, for this particular task.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which is the contracting agency. As a delivery order under a larger contract (ERRS 5), oversight mechanisms are likely integrated into the parent contract's management structure. Transparency would be facilitated through federal procurement databases like FPDS. The Inspector General of the EPA would have jurisdiction to investigate any potential fraud, waste, or abuse related to this contract.

Related Government Programs

EPA ERRS Contracts
Environmental Remediation Services
Hazardous Waste Management
Industrial Site Cleanup

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to T&M pricing structure.
Lack of transparency regarding excluded sources in the competition.
Unclear scope of work for the awarded amount.
Potential for insufficient funding if the task is underestimated.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $92,973.13 to ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT, INC. $96K PR FOR THE INDUSTRIAL WASTE PROCESSING SITE ON THE ERRS 5 CONTRACT. TO NO. D0001-9026.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT, INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $92,973.13.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-03-03. End: 2022-11-27.

What is the specific scope of work for this $96K delivery order?

The provided data indicates this is a 'PR FOR THE INDUSTRIAL WASTE PROCESSING SITE ON THE ERRS 5 CONTRACT.' The 'PR' likely refers to a Purchase Request. The specific industrial waste processing activities are not detailed in the provided snippet. However, given the context of environmental remediation services, it could involve characterization, treatment, stabilization, or disposal of various industrial byproducts. The low dollar amount suggests a focused task, perhaps related to a specific phase of processing or a limited quantity of waste, rather than a comprehensive site cleanup.

How does the 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' method impact pricing and fairness?

This procurement method is unusual. 'Full and Open Competition' typically means all responsible sources are permitted to submit offers. However, 'After Exclusion of Sources' implies that specific potential bidders were identified and then excluded from the competition, possibly due to pre-qualification requirements, specific technical needs, or prior performance issues on related contracts. While it aims for a competitive pool, the exclusion of certain sources could limit the number of viable bidders, potentially reducing price competition and leading to higher costs for the government compared to a truly unrestricted full and open competition. The justification for excluding sources is critical for ensuring fairness and value for taxpayers.

What are the risks associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract for waste processing?

Time and Materials contracts are inherently riskier for the government in terms of cost control. Unlike fixed-price contracts, the government pays for the actual labor hours and material costs incurred by the contractor, plus a markup. This structure provides less incentive for the contractor to control costs efficiently. For industrial waste processing, where unforeseen conditions or complexities can arise, T&M contracts require rigorous oversight, detailed tracking of hours and materials, and strong management to prevent scope creep and ensure the final cost remains reasonable and within budget expectations. Without strict monitoring, costs can escalate significantly.

What is the typical scale of EPA ERRS contracts, and how does this delivery order compare?

EPA's Emergency and Remedial Response Services (ERRS) contracts are typically large, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) vehicles designed to provide rapid response and remediation services across various EPA regions. These overarching contracts can be valued in the hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars over their lifespan, supporting numerous complex and large-scale cleanup projects. This specific delivery order, valued at $96K, represents a very small task order issued under the umbrella of the larger ERRS 5 contract. It signifies a minor component or a specific, limited-scope task within the broader remediation efforts managed by the EPA.

What does the 'st': 'CA' designation signify for this contract?

The 'st': 'CA' designation indicates that the contract's performance location or the primary place of service delivery is California. This is crucial for understanding the geographic scope of the work and potentially for analyzing regional economic impacts or logistical considerations. For environmental remediation contracts, the specific site location within California would be paramount for assessing operational requirements, regulatory compliance (state-specific environmental laws), and transportation of waste materials. This designation helps attribute the spending to a particular state's economy.

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: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1800 CARILLON BLVD 100, CINCINNATI, OH, 45240

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $92,973

Exercised Options: $92,973

Current Obligation: $92,973

Actual Outlays: $50,062

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 68HE0919D0001

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline