EPA awards $740K BPA Call for State Revolving Fund Transaction Testing to The Northbridge Group, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $740,290 ($740.3K)

Contractor: THE Northbridge Group, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2025-10-09

End Date: 2026-10-28

Contract Duration: 384 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: PSC R425 - "2025-2026 STATE REVOLVING FUND TRANSACTION TESTING" AWARD OF NEW CALL ORDER - TIME-AND-MATERIALS (TERM-TYPE) PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE - OCTOBER 29, 2025 - OCTOBER 28, 2026 TERM TYPE, TIME-AND-MATERIALS 12-MONTH BASE PER

Place of Performance

Location: KANSAS CITY, WYANDOTTE County, KANSAS, 66101

State: Kansas Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $740,290 to THE NORTHBRIDGE GROUP, INC. for work described as: PSC R425 - "2025-2026 STATE REVOLVING FUND TRANSACTION TESTING" AWARD OF NEW CALL ORDER - TIME-AND-MATERIALS (TERM-TYPE) PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE - OCTOBER 29, 2025 - OCTOBER 28, 2026 TERM TYPE, TIME-AND-MATERIALS 12-MONTH BASE PER Key points: 1. Contract focuses on administrative and management consulting services for environmental programs. 2. Awarded under a broader Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call, indicating pre-negotiated terms. 3. Time-and-materials contract type allows for flexibility but requires careful monitoring of hours and rates. 4. Performance period spans one year, from October 2025 to October 2026. 5. The Northbridge Group, Inc. is the sole awardee for this specific call order. 6. The contract is not set aside for small businesses.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $740,290 for a one-year period of performance for administrative management and general management consulting services appears reasonable given the scope of transaction testing for state revolving funds. Benchmarking against similar consulting contracts for environmental program oversight would provide a clearer picture of value for money. The time-and-materials pricing structure necessitates diligent oversight to ensure efficient use of resources and prevent cost overruns.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. As this is a BPA Call, the underlying BPA was likely competed previously. The specific call order process would involve soliciting proposals from pre-qualified vendors under the BPA. The level of competition for the BPA itself is not detailed here, but the full and open designation for this call order is a positive indicator.

Taxpayer Impact: 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

Benefits federal and state environmental agencies by ensuring the integrity of State Revolving Fund transactions. Services delivered include testing and analysis of financial transactions related to water infrastructure funding. Geographic impact is national, supporting EPA's oversight of state-level environmental programs. Workforce implications include the need for skilled consultants with expertise in financial management and environmental regulations.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost creep due to the time-and-materials contract type if not closely monitored.
Reliance on a single contractor for this specific call order under the BPA.
Scope definition for 'transaction testing' needs to be clearly delineated to avoid scope creep.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process for the underlying BPA.
The Northbridge Group, Inc. is likely an established entity with experience in government contracting.
BPA structure can streamline future procurements and potentially offer better pricing over time.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically administrative and management consulting. The market for such services supporting environmental compliance and financial oversight is substantial, driven by regulatory requirements and federal funding programs like the State Revolving Funds. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other EPA contracts for similar consulting services or contracts awarded by other agencies for program evaluation and financial auditing.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses in the provided data. This means that opportunities for small business participation in this specific call order are limited unless The Northbridge Group, Inc. voluntarily includes them in their team. The overall impact on the small business ecosystem for this particular award is minimal.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight will be managed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The time-and-materials contract type requires diligent monitoring of labor hours, rates, and direct costs to ensure compliance with the contract terms and prevent overspending. Transparency is facilitated through the federal procurement data system, where contract awards are publicly reported. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

State Revolving Fund (SRF) Program
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Grants and Assistance Programs
Federal Financial Management Consulting Services
Government Auditing and Program Evaluation

Risk Flags

Time-and-materials contract type requires close monitoring to control costs.
Potential for scope creep in 'transaction testing' definition.
Sole awardee for this specific call order under the BPA.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $740,290 to THE NORTHBRIDGE GROUP, INC.. PSC R425 - "2025-2026 STATE REVOLVING FUND TRANSACTION TESTING" AWARD OF NEW CALL ORDER - TIME-AND-MATERIALS (TERM-TYPE) PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE - OCTOBER 29, 2025 - OCTOBER 28, 2026 TERM TYPE, TIME-AND-MATERIALS 12-MONTH BASE PER

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is THE NORTHBRIDGE GROUP, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $740,290.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-10-09. End: 2026-10-28.

What is the historical performance record of The Northbridge Group, Inc. with the EPA or similar agencies for consulting services?

A review of The Northbridge Group, Inc.'s contract history with the EPA and other federal agencies would be necessary to assess their performance record. This would involve examining past contract awards, performance evaluations (e.g., Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS), and any documented issues or successes. For this specific contract, understanding their experience with State Revolving Fund transactions or similar financial testing would be particularly relevant. Without access to detailed performance data, it's difficult to definitively assess their track record, but the award suggests they met the agency's requirements for the BPA and this call order.

How does the $740,290 award for one year of transaction testing compare to similar contracts for environmental program oversight?

Benchmarking this $740,290 award against similar contracts requires access to a broader dataset of EPA or other agency procurements for administrative and management consulting services related to environmental programs. Factors such as the scope of work, duration, complexity of the programs being tested, and the specific services provided (e.g., audit, analysis, compliance review) would influence pricing. Given that this is a time-and-materials contract, the actual cost could vary based on hours expended. However, for a one-year engagement focused on transaction testing for State Revolving Funds, this value appears within a reasonable range for specialized consulting services, assuming a well-defined scope.

What are the primary risks associated with a time-and-materials contract for transaction testing?

The primary risk with a time-and-materials (T&M) contract for transaction testing is the potential for cost overruns if not managed diligently. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M agreements allow the contractor to bill for actual labor hours and materials used. This can lead to increased costs if the scope of work expands, inefficiencies arise, or if the contractor's billing rates are high. For transaction testing, risks include scope creep, where the definition of 'testing' becomes broader than initially intended, leading to more hours being billed. Effective oversight, clear task definitions, and regular progress reviews are crucial to mitigate these risks and ensure the government receives good value.

What is the expected effectiveness of this contract in improving the State Revolving Fund program's financial integrity?

The effectiveness of this contract hinges on the thoroughness and accuracy of the transaction testing performed by The Northbridge Group, Inc. By scrutinizing financial transactions within the State Revolving Fund program, the contract aims to identify potential errors, fraud, waste, or non-compliance. Successful execution should lead to improved financial controls, greater accountability in fund management, and enhanced confidence in the program's integrity. The EPA's oversight and the contractor's expertise in financial analysis and environmental regulations will be key determinants of the program's overall benefit and the contract's success in achieving its objectives.

How does current spending on State Revolving Fund transaction testing compare to historical spending patterns?

To assess historical spending patterns for State Revolving Fund transaction testing, one would need to analyze multi-year procurement data from the EPA. This would involve identifying contracts with similar Product/Service Codes (PSCs) and keywords related to SRF testing and consulting. Comparing the current $740,290 award to previous years' spending would reveal trends in contract values, the number of awards, and the types of contractors engaged. Without this historical data, it's challenging to determine if current spending represents an increase, decrease, or stable trend in this specific area of procurement.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 68HERC25Q0082

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 319 LITTLETON RD STE 108, WESTFORD, MA, 01886

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $740,290

Exercised Options: $740,290

Current Obligation: $740,290

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 68HERC23A0002

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline