EPA awards $2.1M follow-on oil and gas consulting task order to Research Triangle Institute

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,110,517 ($2.1M)

Contractor: Research Triangle Institute

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2024-07-01

End Date: 2026-08-30

Contract Duration: 790 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: PURPOSE: NEW TASK ORDER [FOLLOW-ON] PROJECT: OIL AND GAS BPA# 68HERD20A0004 CONTRACTOR: RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE (RTI) TOCOR: AMY HAMBRICK ALTERNATE TOCOR: MATTHEW WITOSKY INVOICE APPROVER/COR: BRANDON HAWKINS

Place of Performance

Location: DURHAM, DURHAM County, NORTH CAROLINA, 27711

State: North Carolina Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $2.1 million to RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE for work described as: PURPOSE: NEW TASK ORDER [FOLLOW-ON] PROJECT: OIL AND GAS BPA# 68HERD20A0004 CONTRACTOR: RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE (RTI) TOCOR: AMY HAMBRICK ALTERNATE TOCOR: MATTHEW WITOSKY INVOICE APPROVER/COR: BRANDON HAWKINS Key points: 1. This contract represents a follow-on effort, suggesting a need for continued services in oil and gas consulting. 2. The administrative management and general management consulting services category indicates a focus on advisory and support functions. 3. The contract was awarded using full and open competition, implying a broad search for qualified bidders. 4. The time and materials pricing structure allows for flexibility but requires careful monitoring of labor hours and rates. 5. The relatively short duration of approximately two years suggests a defined scope or phased approach to the project. 6. The awardee, Research Triangle Institute, has experience in this service area, potentially indicating a known quantity for the agency.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $2.1 million over approximately two years for administrative management and general management consulting services appears moderate for a federal task order. Benchmarking against similar contracts for oil and gas consulting services would be necessary to fully assess value for money. The time and materials (T&M) pricing structure can sometimes lead to higher costs if not managed diligently, as it directly ties costs to labor hours and rates. Without specific performance metrics or comparison data, it's difficult to definitively state if this represents excellent value, but it falls within a typical range for specialized consulting services.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that the EPA sought proposals from all responsible sources. This method generally promotes a competitive environment, allowing multiple bidders to submit offers. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the use of this procurement method suggests that the EPA aimed to leverage market competition to obtain the best value. The open competition is a positive indicator for price discovery and potentially achieving a fair market price.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it increases the likelihood of receiving competitive pricing and ensures that the government explores a wide range of potential solutions and providers.

Public Impact

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) benefits from specialized consulting services to support its oil and gas regulatory or operational functions. The services delivered likely involve strategic advice, management support, or technical consulting related to the oil and gas sector. The geographic impact is likely national, given the EPA's broad mandate, though specific project locations are not detailed. The contract supports the federal workforce by providing external expertise, potentially augmenting internal capabilities for specific tasks.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to the Time and Materials (T&M) contract type if not closely monitored.
Lack of specific performance metrics or deliverables in the provided data makes it difficult to assess the effectiveness of the services.
Follow-on nature of the task order could indicate a lack of competitive re-evaluation or potential for vendor lock-in if not managed proactively.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a robust bidding process.
Contractor, Research Triangle Institute, is likely experienced in providing these types of consulting services.
The task order is part of a larger Basic Purchasing Agreement (BPA), which can streamline future procurements.

Sector Analysis

The oil and gas sector is a significant part of the U.S. economy, and federal agencies like the EPA play a crucial role in its regulation and oversight. Consulting services in this area often focus on environmental compliance, policy development, technical assessments, and management strategies. The market for such services is competitive, with numerous firms offering specialized expertise. The EPA's spending in this category is likely driven by evolving environmental regulations, technological advancements, and the need for expert analysis to inform policy and enforcement actions. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found within the broader management and professional services category (NAICS 541611).

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation (ss and sb fields) is false for this specific task order. This suggests that the contract was not set aside for small businesses, nor does it appear to have explicit subcontracting requirements for small businesses detailed in this summary. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem for this particular award seems minimal based on the available information. Future task orders under the same BPA might include small business considerations.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) contracting officer and technical points of contact (TOCORs). The invoice approver/COR also plays a role in financial oversight. As a task order under a BPA, the overarching BPA likely has its own set of oversight mechanisms. Transparency is generally facilitated through federal procurement databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any issues of fraud, waste, or abuse arise.

Related Government Programs

Environmental Consulting Services
Oil and Gas Industry Support
Management and Consulting Services
EPA Task Orders
Follow-on Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for cost creep due to T&M contract type.
Lack of detailed performance metrics in summary data.
Follow-on nature may warrant review for continued competition.
Small business participation not explicitly detailed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $2.1 million to RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE. PURPOSE: NEW TASK ORDER [FOLLOW-ON] PROJECT: OIL AND GAS BPA# 68HERD20A0004 CONTRACTOR: RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE (RTI) TOCOR: AMY HAMBRICK ALTERNATE TOCOR: MATTHEW WITOSKY INVOICE APPROVER/COR: BRANDON HAWKINS

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 $2.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-07-01. End: 2026-08-30.

What is the track record of Research Triangle Institute (RTI) with the EPA, particularly in oil and gas consulting?

Research Triangle Institute (RTI) has a significant history of contracting with the EPA across various service areas. While the provided data focuses on this specific task order, RTI's broader portfolio often includes environmental research, policy analysis, and technical assistance. Their experience with the EPA suggests a familiarity with agency processes, regulations, and objectives. To fully assess their track record for this specific oil and gas consulting niche, a deeper dive into past EPA contracts awarded to RTI would be necessary, examining performance reviews, contract modifications, and the types of services rendered. However, being awarded a follow-on task order under a BPA generally implies satisfactory past performance on previous related work.

How does the $2.1 million value compare to similar EPA oil and gas consulting contracts?

The $2.1 million value for this two-year task order is a moderate figure for specialized federal consulting services. To establish a robust comparison, one would need to analyze a dataset of similar contracts awarded by the EPA or other agencies for oil and gas consulting, management, and technical support. Factors such as contract duration, scope of work (e.g., regulatory analysis, technical studies, policy development), and the specific expertise required would influence pricing. Without access to such a benchmark dataset, it's challenging to definitively label this contract as high or low value. However, it does not appear to be an exceptionally large or small award within the context of federal consulting procurements.

What are the primary risks associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract for consulting services?

The primary risk associated with Time and Materials (T&M) contracts, like this one, is the potential for cost overruns if not managed diligently. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M contracts reimburse the contractor for direct labor hours at specified rates and for the actual cost of materials. This structure can incentivize longer project durations or less efficient work if the government lacks strong oversight. For the EPA, risks include paying for un| necessary labor, inflated hourly rates, or excessive material costs. Mitigating these risks requires robust monitoring of labor hours, verification of work performed, clear definition of 'materials,' and strong project management from the government's technical team.

What does the 'follow-on' nature of this task order imply about the project's history and future?

The 'follow-on' designation indicates that this task order is a continuation or extension of previous work, likely performed under the same or a related contract vehicle (in this case, BPA# 68HERD20A0004). This implies that the EPA has an ongoing need for the services provided by Research Triangle Institute in the oil and gas sector. For taxpayers, a follow-on contract can sometimes suggest efficiency if it builds upon established knowledge and relationships, potentially reducing startup costs. However, it also raises questions about whether the services were re-competed or if this represents a continuation without a fresh competitive review, which could impact price discovery over time. The initial BPA itself was likely competed.

How does the NAICS code 541611 (Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services) apply to oil and gas consulting?

The NAICS code 541611 covers establishments primarily engaged in providing operating, human resource, marketing, information technology, and other administrative and management consulting services. For the oil and gas sector, this translates to a broad range of potential services. This could include strategic planning, organizational restructuring, regulatory compliance consulting, environmental management strategy, risk assessment, operational efficiency improvements, and policy analysis related to the industry. The 'administrative management' aspect suggests a focus on the business and operational support functions rather than highly specialized engineering or geological services, though these might be components of a broader consulting engagement.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT › ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS PROTECTION

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: RFQ-PR-OAR-24-00902

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 3040 CORNWALLIS RD, DURHAM, 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: $3,437,010

Exercised Options: $3,437,010

Current Obligation: $2,110,517

Actual Outlays: $759,157

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 2

Total Subaward Amount: $290,817

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 68HERD20A0004

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline