EPA awards $4.78M contract for methane emissions reduction program support

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $4,775,658 ($4.8M)

Contractor: Research Triangle Institute

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2024-03-26

End Date: 2025-09-28

Contract Duration: 551 days

Daily Burn Rate: $8.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: TECHNICAL AND ANALYTICAL SUPPORT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE METHANE EMISSIONS REDUCTION PROGRAM

Place of Performance

Location: INDIAN HEAD, CHARLES County, MARYLAND, 20640

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $4.8 million to RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE for work described as: TECHNICAL AND ANALYTICAL SUPPORT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE METHANE EMISSIONS REDUCTION PROGRAM Key points: 1. Contract focuses on technical and analytical support for a critical environmental program. 2. Research Triangle Institute, a known entity, is the selected contractor. 3. The contract duration is approximately 1.5 years, indicating a focused scope. 4. Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 5. The contract type is Time and Materials, which can pose cost control challenges. 6. The contract is a delivery order, suggesting it's part of a larger indefinite-delivery contract.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $4.78 million for 18 months of support appears reasonable for specialized technical and analytical services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for environmental consulting and program support is difficult without more specific service details. However, the Time and Materials pricing structure warrants careful monitoring to ensure cost efficiency and prevent scope creep, as it can lead to higher overall costs compared to fixed-price contracts if not managed diligently.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple qualified bidders had the opportunity to submit proposals. The presence of four bidders suggests a healthy level of interest and competition for this type of specialized environmental consulting service. This competitive environment generally leads to better price discovery and potentially more innovative solutions for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from a competitive process that aims to secure the best value for the funds expended. The multiple bids likely drove down the price compared to a sole-source award.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the public, through improved management and implementation of the Methane Emissions Reduction Program. Services delivered include technical and analytical support crucial for developing and executing environmental policies. The geographic impact is national, as the Methane Emissions Reduction Program aims to address emissions across the United States. Workforce implications include the need for specialized environmental scientists, analysts, and technical experts within the contractor's organization.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials (T&M) contract type can lead to cost overruns if not closely managed and monitored for efficiency.
The relatively short duration (551 days) might indicate a need for follow-on contracts, potentially leading to continuous spending.
Limited public information on the specific deliverables makes it challenging to assess the full value and impact of the services.
The contractor's track record on similar large-scale environmental program support needs further review to gauge performance reliability.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust and fair selection process.
The contractor, Research Triangle Institute, has a history of performing government contracts, implying some level of established capability.
The contract directly supports a significant environmental initiative (Methane Emissions Reduction Program), aligning with national climate goals.
The contract value, while substantial, is focused on a defined scope of technical and analytical support.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Environmental Consulting Services sector, a market that supports government agencies in addressing complex environmental challenges. The market for such services is driven by regulatory requirements, public demand for environmental protection, and federal initiatives like methane emissions reduction. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing other EPA contracts for program management, technical analysis, and regulatory support, often in the range of millions of dollars for multi-year engagements.

Small Business Impact

The contract data indicates that small business participation was not a specific set-aside (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or specific impacts on the small business ecosystem stemming from this particular award. The primary contractor, Research Triangle Institute, is likely a large business, and any subcontracting would be at their discretion.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures are embedded in the contract's performance work statement and delivery schedules. Transparency is facilitated through federal contract databases like FPDS, where award details are published. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected.

Related Government Programs

Methane Emissions Reduction Program
Environmental Protection Agency Contracts
Environmental Consulting Services
Federal Program Support Contracts

Risk Flags

Time and Materials contract type requires close monitoring for cost control.
Scope definition and management are critical for T&M contracts.
Performance metrics and deliverables need to be clearly defined and tracked.
Potential for follow-on work or contract extensions should be considered.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $4.8 million to RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE. TECHNICAL AND ANALYTICAL SUPPORT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE METHANE EMISSIONS REDUCTION PROGRAM

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $4.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-03-26. End: 2025-09-28.

What is the specific technical and analytical support Research Triangle Institute will provide for the Methane Emissions Reduction Program?

The provided data indicates the contract is for 'TECHNICAL AND ANALYTICAL SUPPORT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE METHANE EMISSIONS REDUCTION PROGRAM.' While the exact nature of the support is not detailed, it likely encompasses activities such as data analysis related to methane sources and emissions, technical assessments of reduction technologies, support in developing program guidelines and regulations, monitoring and evaluation of program effectiveness, and potentially stakeholder engagement or outreach. This support is crucial for the EPA to effectively manage and implement its strategy to reduce methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas.

How does the Time and Materials (T&M) contract type compare to other contract types for similar environmental consulting services?

Time and Materials (T&M) contracts are often used when the scope of work is not clearly defined or when the duration and effort required are uncertain. For environmental consulting services, T&M can offer flexibility, allowing the government to adapt to evolving project needs. However, it carries a higher risk of cost overruns compared to fixed-price contracts, as the government pays for the actual labor hours and material costs incurred by the contractor. This necessitates robust oversight and management from the agency to ensure efficiency and prevent scope creep. Fixed-price contracts, conversely, offer greater cost certainty but may be less adaptable to changing project requirements.

What is Research Triangle Institute's track record with the EPA or similar environmental programs?

Research Triangle Institute (RTI) is a well-established research institute with a significant history of performing work for government agencies, including the EPA. RTI has a broad portfolio of projects in environmental science, policy, and engineering. While specific details of their past performance on methane-related programs are not provided in this data snippet, their general experience suggests they possess the technical expertise and institutional capacity to handle complex environmental projects. A deeper dive into their contract history with the EPA would reveal specific successes, challenges, and client satisfaction levels on related initiatives.

What are the potential risks associated with this contract, and how might they be mitigated?

The primary risk associated with this Time and Materials contract is potential cost escalation if the effort is not efficiently managed or if the scope expands beyond initial expectations. Mitigation strategies include rigorous monitoring of labor hours and rates, clear definition and enforcement of task orders, regular performance reviews, and establishing strong communication channels between the contractor and EPA program managers. Another risk could be the contractor's ability to deliver the specialized analytical support required; this can be mitigated by ensuring the contract has well-defined performance metrics and deliverables, and by actively managing the contractor's performance against these standards.

How does this contract's value compare to overall EPA spending on environmental programs?

The $4.78 million contract value represents a specific investment in technical and analytical support for the Methane Emissions Reduction Program. To contextualize this within overall EPA spending, one would need to examine the EPA's total budget and its allocation across various programs and initiatives. The EPA's annual budget typically runs into the billions of dollars. This contract, while significant for the specific program it supports, likely represents a small fraction of the agency's total expenditure. Its importance lies in enabling the effective implementation of a key climate change mitigation strategy.

What does the 'delivery order' designation imply about this contract?

The 'delivery order' (aw: DELIVERY ORDER) designation suggests that this contract is likely a task order issued under a larger, pre-existing indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract or a similar master agreement. IDIQ contracts allow agencies to procure services or supplies over a period of time from a selected contractor or group of contractors, with specific quantities and delivery schedules defined by individual task or delivery orders. This approach provides flexibility for the agency to order services as needed, while establishing a framework for competition and pricing upfront. This specific delivery order defines the scope, cost, and timeline for the methane emissions reduction program support.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Environmental 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

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 3040 E CORNWALLIS RD, RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, 27709

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $6,655,093

Exercised Options: $6,655,093

Current Obligation: $4,775,658

Actual Outlays: $4,775,665

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 5

Total Subaward Amount: $1,751,130

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 68HERH19D0030

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline