EPA awards $37.25M contract to TETRA TECH, INC. for professional development training

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $37,254,209 ($37.3M)

Contractor: Tetra Tech, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2003-01-15

End Date: 2008-07-31

Contract Duration: 2,024 days

Daily Burn Rate: $18.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Other

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20460

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $37.3 million to TETRA TECH, INC. for work described as: Key points: 1. Contract awarded via full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can incentivize cost control but also carries inherent risks. 3. The duration of the contract is 2024 months, indicating a long-term engagement. 4. The contract was awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for professional and management development training. 5. The contractor, TETRA TECH, INC., has a significant federal contract history. 6. The contract was awarded in the District of Columbia.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract's value of $37.25 million over a 2024-month period (approximately 170 years) appears exceptionally long and may warrant further investigation into the actual period of performance and task orders. Without specific details on the services delivered and the number of individuals trained, a direct value-for-money assessment is challenging. Benchmarking against similar professional development contracts is difficult due to the unusual duration and lack of specific service details. The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) structure means the government pays the contractor's costs plus a fixed fee, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed tightly.

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 a bid. The presence of two bidders suggests a degree of competition, but the extent to which this competition drove down prices or ensured the best value cannot be determined without knowing the bid amounts and the specific evaluation criteria. A competitive process is generally favorable for price discovery and ensuring the government receives competitive offers.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition process is beneficial for taxpayers as it increases the likelihood of obtaining services at competitive prices and encourages a wider range of contractors to participate, potentially leading to innovative solutions.

Public Impact

Federal employees within the Environmental Protection Agency are the primary beneficiaries, receiving professional and management development training. The services delivered are focused on enhancing the skills and capabilities of EPA personnel. The geographic impact is centered in the District of Columbia, where the contract was awarded. Workforce implications include the potential for improved performance and efficiency within the EPA due to enhanced employee skills.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

The exceptionally long contract duration of 2024 months (over 170 years) raises significant concerns about contract management and potential for scope creep or inefficiencies over such an extended period.
The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type, while common, can lead to higher costs if not rigorously managed, as contractor incentives may not always align perfectly with cost savings.
Lack of specific details on the training provided makes it difficult to assess the true value and effectiveness of the awarded funds.
The contract's primary performance location is listed as the District of Columbia, which might limit broader geographic reach for training delivery if not managed through task orders.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a robust and fair bidding process.
The contractor, TETRA TECH, INC., is an established entity with experience in federal contracting.
The contract aims to improve the skills and capabilities of federal employees, which can lead to better agency performance.
The fixed fee component of the CPFF contract provides some level of cost certainty for the government regarding the contractor's profit.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically focusing on management and professional development training. This sector is crucial for government agencies to maintain a skilled and effective workforce. Comparable spending benchmarks are difficult to establish without more granular data on the specific training modules and the number of personnel served. However, federal spending on training and development is a significant component of overall agency budgets, aimed at ensuring compliance, enhancing expertise, and improving operational efficiency.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation (ss: false, sb: false) was not a specific set-aside requirement for this contract. There is no explicit information regarding subcontracting plans for small businesses. This suggests that the primary focus was on full and open competition, and the impact on the small business ecosystem would depend on whether TETRA TECH, INC. voluntarily engages small businesses as subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the Environmental Protection Agency's contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures would be tied to the performance work statement and the terms of the Cost Plus Fixed Fee agreement. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, which provide basic award information. Specific Inspector General (IG) jurisdiction would depend on the EPA's IG mandate and any specific audits or investigations initiated related to this contract.

Related Government Programs

Federal Employee Training Programs
Professional Development Services
Management Training Contracts
Environmental Agency Operations Support

Risk Flags

Unusually long contract duration (2024 months)
Potential for cost overruns with CPFF contract type
Lack of specific performance metrics in summary data
Limited information on the scope and nature of training services

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $37.3 million to TETRA TECH, INC.. See the official description on USAspending.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TETRA TECH, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $37.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2003-01-15. End: 2008-07-31.

What is the specific nature and scope of the professional and management development training provided under this contract?

The provided data indicates the contract is for 'Professional and Management Development Training' (NAICS 611430) awarded to TETRA TECH, INC. by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, the specific curriculum, training methodologies, target audience within the EPA, and learning objectives are not detailed in the summary data. This level of detail is typically found in the Performance Work Statement (PWS) or Statement of Work (SOW) associated with the contract. Without access to these documents, it's impossible to ascertain the precise nature and scope of the training, making it difficult to evaluate its relevance and effectiveness for the EPA's mission.

How does the $37.25 million award amount compare to typical federal spending on similar professional development contracts?

Comparing the $37.25 million award to typical federal spending on professional development is challenging without more specific context. Federal spending on training varies widely based on agency size, mission, employee count, and the complexity of the training required. Contracts for broad management development can be substantial, especially if they cover a large workforce over several years. However, the 2024-month duration (over 170 years) is highly unusual and suggests this might be an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract or a very long-term requirements contract where the $37.25 million represents a ceiling rather than guaranteed spending. Standard professional development contracts are often shorter-term or task-order based, making direct comparison difficult without understanding the full contract structure and expected service delivery.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success and effectiveness of the training provided by TETRA TECH, INC.?

The provided summary data does not include specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract. Typically, for professional development contracts, KPIs might include participant satisfaction surveys, pre- and post-training assessments of knowledge or skill acquisition, observed changes in on-the-job performance, completion rates, and alignment of training content with agency strategic goals. The effectiveness of the training would be evaluated against these metrics, which should be defined in the contract's Performance Work Statement (PWS). Without these defined KPIs, assessing the contractor's performance and the overall success of the training program is not possible from the given data.

What is TETRA TECH, INC.'s track record with federal contracts, particularly in providing training and development services?

TETRA TECH, INC. is a well-established government contractor with a significant history of receiving federal awards across various agencies and service areas, including professional, scientific, and technical services. While the provided data confirms they received this specific EPA contract, a comprehensive review of their track record would involve examining their past performance on similar training and development contracts. This would include looking at contract values, performance ratings, any past performance issues or disputes, and their overall success in delivering services to government clients. Their extensive federal contracting history suggests they possess the capacity and experience to manage large contracts, but specific performance on training contracts would require a deeper dive into their portfolio.

Given the Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) structure, what mechanisms are in place to control costs and ensure value for money?

The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract structure involves the government reimbursing the contractor for allowable costs plus a predetermined fixed fee representing profit. To control costs and ensure value, the EPA would rely on several mechanisms. These include rigorous oversight by contracting officers and program managers to ensure only reasonable and necessary costs are reimbursed, detailed review of contractor expenditures, and adherence to the contract's scope of work. The fixed fee itself provides a ceiling on the contractor's profit, incentivizing efficiency to complete the work within projected cost parameters to maximize their return on the fixed fee. Furthermore, the contract likely includes clauses for cost accounting standards and reporting requirements, enabling the government to monitor spending closely and identify potential inefficiencies or unallowable costs.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Educational Services › Business Schools and Computer and Management Training › Professional and Management Development Training

Product/Service Code: EDUCATION AND TRAINING › EDUCATION AND TRAINING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Contractor Details

Address: 3475 E FOOTHILL BLVD, PASADENA, CA, 91107

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Timeline