EPA awards $3.08M for Superfund site cleanup, extending remediation services through 2027

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,076,422 ($3.1M)

Contractor: EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc., PBC

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2020-10-01

End Date: 2027-09-30

Contract Duration: 2,555 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: TASK ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE ONGOING REMEDIAL ACTION (RA) FOR THE SOIL VAPOR EXTRACTION SYSTEM AT THE JONES ROAD GROUND WATER PLUME SUPERFUND SITE UNDER EPA'S REMEDIAL ACTION FRAMEWORK (RAF) MULTIPLE-AWARD IDIQS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AND OPE

Place of Performance

Location: DALLAS, DALLAS County, TEXAS, 75270

State: Texas Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $3.1 million to EA ENGINEERING, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY, INC., PBC for work described as: TASK ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE ONGOING REMEDIAL ACTION (RA) FOR THE SOIL VAPOR EXTRACTION SYSTEM AT THE JONES ROAD GROUND WATER PLUME SUPERFUND SITE UNDER EPA'S REMEDIAL ACTION FRAMEWORK (RAF) MULTIPLE-AWARD IDIQS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AND OPE Key points: 1. Contract focuses on ongoing soil vapor extraction system maintenance at a Superfund site. 2. The award utilizes a multiple-award IDIQ for environmental services, suggesting a pre-vetted pool of contractors. 3. Competition was full and open after exclusion of sources, indicating a competitive process with specific justifications. 4. The contract type is Time and Materials, which can pose cost control risks if not managed diligently. 5. Performance is expected to extend over several years, requiring sustained oversight. 6. The remediation services sector is critical for environmental compliance and site restoration.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of approximately $3.08 million for a task order under a larger IDIQ is moderate. Benchmarking against similar remediation contracts is challenging without more specific details on the scope of work and duration. The Time and Materials (T&M) contract type, while flexible, necessitates close monitoring to ensure cost efficiency and prevent scope creep. Without detailed cost breakdowns or comparisons to industry standards for similar remediation tasks, a definitive value-for-money assessment is difficult.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources.' This indicates that while the competition was intended to be broad, specific sources may have been excluded based on pre-defined criteria or requirements of the parent IDIQ. The presence of 5 bidders suggests a reasonable level of competition, which should contribute to price discovery. However, the 'exclusion of sources' aspect warrants further investigation to understand its impact on the breadth of competition.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive process, even with exclusions, likely resulted in a more favorable price for taxpayers compared to a sole-source award. The multiple bidders indicate that the government received proposals from various qualified firms, fostering a degree of price negotiation.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the environment and public health, through the cleanup of a Superfund site. Services delivered include the ongoing operation and maintenance of a soil vapor extraction system. The geographic impact is localized to the Jones Road Ground Water Plume Superfund Site in Texas. Workforce implications include employment for environmental engineers, technicians, and support staff involved in remediation.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials contract type can lead to cost overruns if not closely managed.
The 'exclusion of sources' in the competition may limit the pool of potential bidders and impact price.
Long contract duration requires sustained oversight to ensure performance and cost control.
Reliance on a single task order under an IDIQ might concentrate risk if the contractor faces performance issues.

Positive Signals

Awarded under a Multiple-Award IDIQ, suggesting pre-qualification of capable contractors.
Full and open competition, even with exclusions, generally promotes better pricing.
The contract addresses a critical environmental remediation need at a Superfund site.
The contractor, EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc., PBC, is likely experienced in this domain.

Sector Analysis

The environmental remediation services sector is a significant part of the broader environmental consulting and engineering industry. This contract falls under remediation services, which are essential for addressing contaminated sites under regulatory frameworks like the EPA's Superfund program. Spending in this sector is driven by regulatory compliance, environmental stewardship, and the need to mitigate risks associated with historical industrial activities. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing the cost per cubic yard of soil remediated or per gallon of groundwater treated, which are not detailed here.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation (ss and sb flags) was not a specific requirement or focus for this particular task order, as both are false. There is no explicit mention of small business set-asides or subcontracting goals. This suggests that the primary focus was on securing the most capable contractor for the remediation task, rather than prioritizing small business engagement for this specific award.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which is both the contracting agency and the client. The EPA's Remedial Action Framework (RAF) and the use of Multiple-Award IDIQs suggest established processes for task order management and oversight. Accountability measures would include performance reviews, adherence to contract terms, and milestone completion. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases, though specific operational details of the remediation process may be subject to environmental reporting requirements rather than public disclosure.

Related Government Programs

EPA Superfund Program
Environmental Remediation Services
Remedial Action Framework (RAF)
Multiple-Award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQs)
Site Remediation Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to T&M contract type.
Scope creep risk given the nature of ongoing remediation.
Effectiveness of 'exclusion of sources' in ensuring optimal competition.
Long-term performance reliability of the remediation system.
Environmental compliance risks during operation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $3.1 million to EA ENGINEERING, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY, INC., PBC. TASK ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE ONGOING REMEDIAL ACTION (RA) FOR THE SOIL VAPOR EXTRACTION SYSTEM AT THE JONES ROAD GROUND WATER PLUME SUPERFUND SITE UNDER EPA'S REMEDIAL ACTION FRAMEWORK (RAF) MULTIPLE-AWARD IDIQS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AND OPE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is EA ENGINEERING, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY, INC., PBC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $3.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-10-01. End: 2027-09-30.

What is the historical spending pattern for the Jones Road Ground Water Plume Superfund Site?

Analyzing historical spending for the Jones Road Ground Water Plume Superfund Site requires accessing EPA's historical contract data and Superfund program expenditures. Typically, Superfund sites involve significant, long-term investments. Spending often escalates during initial site investigation and feasibility studies, followed by phased remediation efforts. Remediation phases can include source control, groundwater treatment, and long-term monitoring. The current task order for ongoing remedial action suggests that the site has moved past initial assessment and into an operational phase of cleanup. Without direct access to historical expenditure data for this specific site, it's difficult to provide precise figures, but Superfund site cleanups can range from millions to hundreds of millions of dollars over decades.

How does the contractor's track record compare for similar environmental remediation projects?

EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc., PBC (EA) is a well-established environmental consulting and engineering firm with a significant track record in managing complex remediation projects for government agencies, including the EPA. Their experience often spans various media such as soil, groundwater, and vapor contamination, and they frequently work under IDIQ contracts similar to the RAF. To assess their specific track record for this type of soil vapor extraction system implementation and ongoing operation, one would typically review past performance evaluations, contract awards, and project portfolios. EA's general reputation suggests they possess the technical expertise and project management capabilities required for such tasks, but a detailed comparison would involve scrutinizing their performance on projects of comparable scope, complexity, and regulatory environment.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this remediation task order?

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this soil vapor extraction system remediation task order would likely focus on operational efficiency, environmental compliance, and system effectiveness. Specific KPIs could include: 1) System Uptime: Percentage of time the extraction system is operational and meeting design parameters. 2) Vapor Extraction Rate: Volume of contaminated vapor extracted per unit of time, compared against design specifications. 3) Contaminant Mass Removal: Tracking the reduction of target contaminants in the extracted vapor over time. 4) Compliance with Discharge Limits: Ensuring any treated vapor meets air quality standards before release. 5) Maintenance Schedule Adherence: Timeliness of preventative and corrective maintenance activities. 6) Reporting Timeliness and Accuracy: Ensuring all required progress and monitoring reports are submitted accurately and on schedule to the EPA.

What is the estimated total cost of the entire remediation project at Jones Road?

The provided data pertains to a specific task order valued at approximately $3.08 million, with an estimated completion date in September 2027. This task order represents a portion of the overall remedial action for the Jones Road Ground Water Plume Superfund Site. Superfund projects are often multi-year, multi-phase endeavors, and their total costs can be substantial, often running into tens or hundreds of millions of dollars, depending on the complexity of contamination, the chosen remediation technologies, and the duration of cleanup and long-term monitoring. The total cost for the entire remediation project at Jones Road cannot be determined from this single task order; it would require analysis of all awarded contracts and EPA's long-term remediation plans for the site.

Are there any identified risks associated with the Time and Materials (T&M) contract type for this project?

Yes, the primary risk associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract type for environmental remediation is the potential for cost overruns and lack of definitive cost control. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M agreements reimburse the contractor for direct labor hours and costs, plus a percentage for overhead and profit. If the scope of work is not precisely defined, or if project management is insufficient, the contractor may incur more hours or material costs than anticipated, leading to a higher final price for the government. For this specific task order, risks include potential inefficiencies in labor application, unexpected material needs, or scope creep that inflates the total cost beyond initial expectations. Robust oversight, detailed tracking of labor hours, and clear definition of 'materials' are crucial to mitigate these risks.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Remediation and Other Waste Management Services › Remediation Services

Product/Service Code: SPECIAL STUDIES/ANALYSIS, NOT R&D › SPECIAL STUDIES - NOT R and D

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 68HERH20Q0086

Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 225 SCHILLING CIR STE 400, HUNT VALLEY, MD, 21031

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $3,076,422

Exercised Options: $3,076,422

Current Obligation: $3,076,422

Actual Outlays: $1,617,685

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 6

Total Subaward Amount: $229,737

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 68HE0118D0004

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline