TechLaw Consultants Inc. awarded $297,854.96 for environmental oversight at Edwards AFB by EPA

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $297,855 ($297.9K)

Contractor: Techlaw Consultants Inc

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2024-07-31

End Date: 2026-07-30

Contract Duration: 729 days

Daily Burn Rate: $409/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: RAF-ESO TASK ORDER FOR OVERSIGHT AT EDWARDS AFB

Place of Performance

Location: EDWARDS, KERN County, CALIFORNIA, 93524

State: California Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $297,854.76 to TECHLAW CONSULTANTS INC for work described as: RAF-ESO TASK ORDER FOR OVERSIGHT AT EDWARDS AFB Key points: 1. Contract value appears reasonable for specialized environmental oversight services. 2. Full and open competition after exclusion of sources suggests a potentially limited but justified bidding process. 3. Contract duration of approximately two years indicates a need for sustained support. 4. Fixed-price contract type shifts performance risk to the contractor. 5. The contract aligns with EPA's mission to protect human health and the environment. 6. Geographic focus on California is noted.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of approximately $297,854.96 for a two-year period for environmental oversight at Edwards AFB seems within a reasonable range for specialized services. Benchmarking against similar EPA contracts for remediation services or environmental consulting at military installations would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. The fixed-price nature of the contract is generally favorable for cost control, assuming the scope is well-defined.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES'. This indicates that while the competition was intended to be open, specific sources may have been excluded for a defined reason, or the initial solicitation might have been limited. The number of bidders is not specified, but this procurement method suggests a potentially narrower field than a standard full and open competition, which could impact price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from a competitive process, even if limited, as it aims to secure the best value. However, the exclusion of sources warrants scrutiny to ensure no potential cost savings were foregone.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the U.S. Air Force at Edwards AFB, receiving essential environmental oversight. Services delivered include remediation support and environmental compliance monitoring. Geographic impact is concentrated at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The contract supports specialized environmental consulting roles, potentially involving scientists and engineers.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

The 'exclusion of sources' in the competition type requires further investigation to ensure full market potential was explored.
Lack of specific performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the contractor's effectiveness beyond contract completion.
The specific nature of the 'remediation services' and the associated risks are not detailed.

Positive Signals

The fixed-price contract type incentivizes contractor efficiency and cost management.
The contract duration of two years suggests a stable and predictable need for these services.
Awarding to TechLaw Consultants Inc. implies they met the technical and performance requirements of the EPA.

Sector Analysis

The environmental consulting and remediation services sector is a significant part of the broader professional services industry supporting government operations. This contract falls within the environmental services sub-sector, which includes activities like site assessment, cleanup, compliance monitoring, and regulatory support. Spending in this area is often driven by regulatory requirements and the need to manage legacy environmental issues at federal facilities. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve looking at other EPA or DoD contracts for similar environmental support services at military bases.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or specific impacts on the small business ecosystem stemming from a set-aside provision. The prime contractor, TechLaw Consultants Inc., is likely a larger entity capable of performing these services directly.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight of this contract would typically be managed by the EPA's contracting officer and program managers, ensuring adherence to the contract terms and delivery of required services. Accountability measures are embedded in the fixed-price contract, where the contractor is responsible for delivering the specified outcomes. Transparency is facilitated by public contract databases, though detailed performance reports may not be publicly available. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

EPA Environmental Services Contracts
DoD Environmental Remediation Programs
Federal Facility Environmental Compliance
Environmental Consulting Services

Risk Flags

Competition Method: 'Exclusion of sources' warrants review to ensure maximum competition.
Performance Metrics: Lack of defined KPIs makes objective performance assessment challenging.
Scope Clarity: Potential for scope creep in oversight and remediation services.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $297,854.76 to TECHLAW CONSULTANTS INC. RAF-ESO TASK ORDER FOR OVERSIGHT AT EDWARDS AFB

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TECHLAW CONSULTANTS INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $297,854.76.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-07-31. End: 2026-07-30.

What is the track record of TechLaw Consultants Inc. with the EPA and similar federal agencies?

A review of federal procurement data would be necessary to fully assess TechLaw Consultants Inc.'s track record. This would involve examining past contract awards, performance evaluations (e.g., Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS), and any history of disputes or contract terminations. Understanding their experience with environmental remediation, oversight, and compliance, particularly at military installations like Edwards AFB, is crucial. A strong history of successful contract completion and positive performance reviews would indicate a lower risk associated with this current award. Conversely, any significant past performance issues could raise concerns about their ability to meet the requirements of this new contract effectively and efficiently.

How does the awarded price compare to similar environmental oversight contracts at military installations?

To benchmark the value for money, we would compare the $297,854.96 contract value against similar contracts awarded by the EPA or Department of Defense (DoD) for environmental oversight and remediation services at other Air Force bases or federal facilities of comparable size and complexity. Key comparison points would include the duration of the contract (729 days), the scope of work (remediation services, oversight), and the specific services provided. If similar contracts for similar services over a similar period were awarded at significantly lower or higher price points, it would indicate whether this contract represents excellent, fair, or questionable value. Factors like geographic location and prevailing labor rates can influence pricing, so comparisons should ideally be made with contracts in similar regions or account for regional cost differences.

What are the specific risks associated with the 'Remediation Services' and 'Oversight' scope of work?

The risks associated with 'Remediation Services' can be substantial and include unforeseen site conditions (e.g., discovering more contamination than initially assessed), technical challenges in cleanup methods, potential for environmental incidents during remediation, and delays caused by regulatory hurdles or community concerns. Oversight risks involve ensuring the contractor's work is technically sound, compliant with regulations, and cost-effective. There's also a risk of scope creep if the oversight requirements are not clearly defined. For this specific contract, the 'exclusion of sources' in the competition type might introduce a risk if it limited the pool of qualified and potentially more cost-effective providers. The fixed-price nature shifts financial risk to the contractor, but performance risk remains if the contractor lacks the expertise or resources to execute the work properly.

What is the historical spending pattern for environmental services at Edwards AFB by the EPA?

Analyzing historical spending patterns for environmental services at Edwards AFB by the EPA would involve querying federal procurement databases for all contracts awarded to this installation within the environmental services category (NAICS code 562910 or similar). This would reveal the total amount spent over several fiscal years, the types of services procured (e.g., assessment, remediation, monitoring, consulting), the primary contracting agencies (EPA, DoD, etc.), and the key contractors involved. Understanding this history helps contextualize the current $297,854.96 award. For instance, if historical spending has been significantly higher or lower, it might suggest a change in the base's environmental needs or a shift in procurement strategy. It also helps identify if TechLaw Consultants Inc. has been a frequent recipient of such contracts at this location.

What does the 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' procurement method imply for cost efficiency?

This procurement method, 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES,' is somewhat unusual. Typically, 'full and open competition' implies soliciting offers from all responsible sources. The 'after exclusion of sources' clause suggests that while the intent was broad, specific potential offerors were deliberately excluded, possibly due to pre-qualification requirements, past performance issues, or specific technical capabilities needed that only a subset of the market possesses. This exclusion could limit the number of bidders, potentially reducing the intensity of price competition compared to a truly unrestricted full and open solicitation. While it aims to ensure qualified bidders, it might forgo the potential for lower prices that could arise from a wider, more competitive field. The justification for excluding sources is critical to understanding if this method ultimately served taxpayer interests efficiently.

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

Solicitation ID: 68HE0924R0014

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 14840 CONFERENCE CENTER DR STE 200, CHANTILLY, VA, 20151

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $712,867

Exercised Options: $320,004

Current Obligation: $297,855

Actual Outlays: $169,087

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 68HE0118D0010

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline