EPA awards $2.87M contract for environmental consulting services to WSP USA

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,872,503 ($2.9M)

Contractor: WSP USA Environment & Infrastructure Inc.

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2025-07-02

End Date: 2026-07-08

Contract Duration: 371 days

Daily Burn Rate: $7.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: CASTNET BASE PROGRAM (4003)

Place of Performance

Location: BLUE BELL, MONTGOMERY County, PENNSYLVANIA, 19422

State: Pennsylvania Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $2.9 million to WSP USA ENVIRONMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE INC. for work described as: CASTNET BASE PROGRAM (4003) Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract duration is 371 days, indicating a medium-term engagement. 3. The contract type is Time and Materials, which can pose cost control challenges if not managed closely. 4. The base program is CASTNET, a network for monitoring air quality. 5. The awardee, WSP USA, is a significant player in the engineering and consulting sector. 6. The contract is a delivery order, implying it's part of a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract or a similar framework.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $2.87 million for environmental consulting services over approximately one year appears reasonable given the scope of supporting the CASTNET program. Benchmarking against similar EPA contracts for environmental consulting services would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. However, the Time and Materials pricing structure necessitates careful monitoring to ensure costs remain within expected parameters and do not escalate beyond the anticipated value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. The number of bidders is not specified, but this method generally fosters price discovery and encourages competitive pricing. The EPA's use of full and open competition for this environmental consulting service suggests a commitment to obtaining the best value through a broad market solicitation.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from full and open competition as it typically leads to more competitive pricing and a wider selection of qualified contractors, ultimately maximizing the value of federal spending.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the public, who will receive services supporting the CASTNET air quality monitoring program. Services delivered will likely include technical expertise, data analysis, and reporting related to air quality monitoring. The geographic impact is focused on areas covered by the CASTNET network, which spans across the United States. Workforce implications may involve specialized environmental scientists, engineers, and technicians employed by WSP USA.

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.
Lack of specific performance metrics or deliverables in the provided data makes it difficult to assess the contractor's performance potential.
The contract is a delivery order, suggesting it might be one of many under a larger IDIQ, potentially obscuring the full scope and value of the overall program.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a robust and fair bidding process.
The contractor, WSP USA, is a well-established firm with significant experience in environmental consulting.
The contract supports the CASTNET program, which is crucial for environmental monitoring and public health.

Sector Analysis

The environmental consulting services sector is a significant market driven by regulatory compliance, infrastructure development, and environmental stewardship initiatives. Federal agencies like the EPA are major clients, procuring services for monitoring, assessment, and remediation. The market includes a wide range of firms, from large engineering conglomerates to specialized boutique consultancies. This contract fits within the broader category of environmental services, supporting critical government functions related to air quality.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation (sb) is false and there is no indication of a small business set-aside (ss). This suggests that the contract was not specifically targeted towards small businesses. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal, and there are no explicit subcontracting requirements for small businesses mentioned in this data.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Accountability measures would be established through the contract's terms and conditions, including performance standards and reporting requirements. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of federal contract awards, though detailed operational oversight information is typically internal to the agency. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

CASTNET Program
Environmental Consulting Services
Air Quality Monitoring Contracts
EPA Environmental Services Contracts

Risk Flags

Time and Materials contract type requires close monitoring to prevent cost overruns.
Lack of specific performance metrics in the provided data hinders immediate assessment of potential effectiveness.
The contract is a delivery order, which may obscure the full scope and value of the overarching program.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $2.9 million to WSP USA ENVIRONMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE INC.. CASTNET BASE PROGRAM (4003)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is WSP USA ENVIRONMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-07-02. End: 2026-07-08.

What is the historical spending pattern for the CASTNET program and similar environmental consulting services by the EPA?

Analyzing historical spending for the CASTNET program and comparable EPA environmental consulting contracts is crucial for understanding trends and establishing benchmarks. While specific historical data for CASTNET is not provided here, the EPA consistently awards significant contracts for environmental monitoring, data analysis, and consulting services. These contracts often range from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars, depending on the scope and duration. Factors influencing spending include regulatory changes, advancements in monitoring technology, and the geographic coverage of monitoring networks. A detailed analysis would involve examining past contract awards, their values, durations, and the services rendered to identify patterns and assess the current $2.87 million award in context.

How does the awarded amount of $2.87 million compare to the typical value of environmental consulting contracts for air quality monitoring?

The $2.87 million award for environmental consulting services supporting the CASTNET program appears to be within a reasonable range for a contract of approximately one year's duration, especially considering the complexity and national scope of air quality monitoring networks. Comparable contracts for similar services, such as those involving data acquisition, analysis, and reporting for large-scale environmental programs, often fall within the low to mid-single-digit millions of dollars. The specific value is influenced by factors like the number of monitoring sites, the types of pollutants monitored, the required analytical rigor, and the level of technical expertise needed. Without specific details on the deliverables and the competitive landscape for this particular award, a precise comparison is challenging, but the amount is not an immediate outlier for federal environmental consulting.

What is the track record of WSP USA Environment & Infrastructure Inc. with the EPA and similar federal agencies?

WSP USA Environment & Infrastructure Inc. is a subsidiary of WSP Global, a large multinational engineering and professional services consulting firm. They have a substantial track record of working with federal agencies, including the EPA, Department of Transportation, Department of Defense, and others. Their experience typically encompasses a wide array of environmental services, such as environmental impact assessments, site remediation, air and water quality management, and infrastructure engineering. A review of federal procurement databases would likely reveal numerous past awards to WSP USA for similar environmental consulting and engineering services. Their established presence and extensive portfolio suggest a capacity to handle complex federal contracts, though specific performance on past EPA contracts would require deeper investigation.

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

Time and Materials (T&M) contracts, like the one awarded to WSP USA, carry inherent risks, primarily concerning cost control. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M agreements reimburse the contractor for direct labor hours at specified hourly rates and for the actual cost of materials. This structure can lead to cost overruns if the project scope expands, if labor hours are not efficiently utilized, or if material costs increase unexpectedly. For the government, the risk is that the final cost could significantly exceed initial estimates, potentially leading to less value for money. Effective oversight, detailed tracking of labor hours and expenses, and clear communication channels are essential to mitigate these risks and ensure the contract remains within budget and delivers the intended outcomes.

How does the 'full and open competition' award method impact the overall effectiveness and cost-efficiency of this contract?

Awarding this contract through 'full and open competition' is generally viewed as a positive indicator for both effectiveness and cost-efficiency. This method ensures that a broad range of qualified contractors have the opportunity to bid, fostering a competitive environment. Competition typically drives down prices as contractors strive to offer the most attractive bids to win the contract. Furthermore, it increases the likelihood that the government will select a contractor with the most suitable qualifications and innovative solutions for the specific needs of the CASTNET program. While the Time and Materials pricing structure introduces some cost uncertainty, the competitive bidding process itself helps to establish a reasonable baseline and encourages efficient performance from the selected contractor.

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: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 751 ARBOR WAY, BLUE BELL, PA, 19422

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $3,900,803

Exercised Options: $3,900,803

Current Obligation: $2,872,503

Actual Outlays: $1,915,226

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 68HERH21D0006

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline