EPA awards $115K for Silresim Superfund site work plan and cost estimate, with future funds for remedial action

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $16,083,952 ($16.1M)

Contractor: Nobis Engineering, Inc

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2009-05-12

End Date: 2013-09-30

Contract Duration: 1,602 days

Daily Burn Rate: $10.0K/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: TAS::68 8195::TAS THIS TASK ORDER OBLIGATES $115,451 FOR PREPARATION OF A WORK PLAN AND COST ESTIMATE FOR WORK TO BE PERFORMED AT THE SILRESIM CHEMICAL CORP. (SILRESIM) SUPERFUND SITE IN LOWELL, MA. ONCE THE WORK PLAN AND COST ESTIMATE ARE APPROVED, ADDITIONAL RECOVERY FUNDS WILL BE OBLIGATED FOR COMPLETION OF THE EFFORT. THE PURPOSE OF THIS TASK ORDER IS TO IMPLEMENT A REMEDIAL ACTION (RA) AT THE SILRESIM SUPERFUND SITE. THE CONTRACTOR WILL HAVE OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A FINAL ENGINEERED BARRIER OVER A PORTION OF THE SILRESIM PROPERTY AND IMPLEMENTING THERMALLY-ENHANCED SOIL-VAPOR EXTRACTION (SVE) FOR THE REDUCTION OF VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOCS) IN SHALLOW SOIL AND GROUNDWATER. ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE HEATING (ERH) WILL BE USED FOR VOC REDUCTION. ERH IS A "THERMALLY-ENHANCED" VARIATION OF SVE THAT EMPLOYS ELECTRICAL CURRENT TO HEAT BOTH THE UNDERLYING SOIL AND GROUNDWATER; THE HEATED CONTAMINATED MEDIA LIBERATES SUBSTANTIALLY MORE CONTAMINATION WHICH CAN THEN BE CAPTURED, TREATED AND/OR DESTROYED. THE PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE IS FROM 11 MAY 2009 THROUGH 30 APRIL 2011. THE TASK ORDER HAS BEEN ISSUED UNDER THE REGION 1 SMALL BUSINESS REMEDIAL ACTION CONTRACT 2 (RAC2) ON 11 MAY 2009, AND IS TASK ORDER NUMBER 045-RARA-0122. ARRA::YES::ARRA

Place of Performance

Location: LOWELL, MIDDLESEX County, MASSACHUSETTS, 01852, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

State: Massachusetts Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $16.1 million to NOBIS ENGINEERING, INC for work described as: TAS::68 8195::TAS THIS TASK ORDER OBLIGATES $115,451 FOR PREPARATION OF A WORK PLAN AND COST ESTIMATE FOR WORK TO BE PERFORMED AT THE SILRESIM CHEMICAL CORP. (SILRESIM) SUPERFUND SITE IN LOWELL, MA. ONCE THE WORK PLAN AND COST ESTIMATE ARE APPROVED, ADDITIONAL RECOVERY FUNDS W… Key points: 1. Contract focuses on critical planning and estimation for a Superfund site remediation. 2. The initial award is for preparatory work, with significant additional funding anticipated for the actual cleanup. 3. Remedial actions include constructing an engineered barrier and implementing soil-vapor extraction using advanced heating techniques. 4. The project addresses volatile organic compound reduction in soil and groundwater. 5. Contractor Nobis Engineering, Inc. is responsible for the overall construction and implementation. 6. The contract type is Time and Materials, which can pose cost control challenges if not closely managed.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The initial $115,451 obligation is for a work plan and cost estimate, making direct value assessment difficult at this stage. However, the scope of the subsequent remedial action, which will require substantial additional funding, suggests a complex and potentially high-cost environmental cleanup. Benchmarking this specific planning phase is challenging without more granular cost breakdowns. The Time and Materials contract type, while flexible, carries inherent risks for cost overruns if not meticulously monitored against the approved work plan and estimate.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources.' This designation suggests that while the competition was intended to be open, specific circumstances led to the exclusion of certain potential sources. The exact reasons for this exclusion are not detailed, but it implies a potentially narrower field of bidders than a truly full and open competition. The limited competition may have impacted price discovery, potentially leading to higher costs than if a broader range of contractors had participated.

Taxpayer Impact: The limited competition may mean taxpayers did not benefit from the most competitive pricing achievable through a wider bidding process.

Public Impact

Residents and the environment in Lowell, Massachusetts, will benefit from the remediation of the Silresim Superfund site. Services delivered include the preparation of a detailed work plan and cost estimate for a complex environmental cleanup. The geographic impact is localized to the Silresim Superfund site in Lowell, MA. The project will likely involve specialized environmental engineering and construction workforce.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials contract type.
Limited competition may have resulted in less favorable pricing.
Scope creep is a risk if the work plan and estimate are not strictly adhered to.
Long-term effectiveness of the chosen remediation technologies needs careful monitoring.

Positive Signals

Focus on a critical Superfund site remediation addresses significant environmental and public health concerns.
Use of advanced technologies like Electrical Resistance Heating (ERH) indicates a commitment to effective cleanup.
The initial phase is focused on thorough planning and cost estimation, which is crucial for project success.
Contractor Nobis Engineering, Inc. is tasked with overall responsibility, implying a structured approach to execution.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Environmental Remediation Services sector, a critical component of the broader Environmental Services industry. This sector involves the cleanup of contaminated sites, often under regulatory oversight like the EPA's Superfund program. The market for environmental remediation is substantial, driven by historical industrial activity and increasing environmental regulations. Comparable spending benchmarks for Superfund site remediation vary widely based on site complexity, contamination levels, and chosen technologies, but planning and engineering phases typically represent a fraction of the total cleanup cost.

Small Business Impact

There is no explicit indication of small business set-asides or subcontracting requirements in the provided data for this specific task order. The contract was awarded to Nobis Engineering, Inc. Further analysis would be needed to determine if subcontracting opportunities exist for small businesses within the scope of the remedial action, or if the prime contractor has a history of engaging small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract is provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Superfund program has established oversight mechanisms to ensure contractor performance and adherence to approved plans. Accountability measures will be tied to the successful development of the work plan and cost estimate, and subsequently, the effective execution of the remedial action. Transparency will be facilitated through public dockets and EPA reporting on Superfund site progress. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply to investigations of fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

Superfund Program
Hazardous Waste Remediation
Environmental Consulting Services
Site Remediation Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns
Limited competition
Uncertainty of total project cost and timeline

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $16.1 million to NOBIS ENGINEERING, INC. TAS::68 8195::TAS THIS TASK ORDER OBLIGATES $115,451 FOR PREPARATION OF A WORK PLAN AND COST ESTIMATE FOR WORK TO BE PERFORMED AT THE SILRESIM CHEMICAL CORP. (SILRESIM) SUPERFUND SITE IN LOWELL, MA. ONCE THE WORK PLAN AND COST ESTIMATE ARE APPROVED, ADDITIONAL RECOVERY FUNDS WILL BE OBLIGATED FOR COMPLETION OF THE EFFORT. THE PURPOSE OF THIS TASK ORDER IS TO IMPLEMENT A REMEDIAL ACTION (RA) AT THE SILRESIM SUPERFUND SITE. THE CONTRACTOR WILL HAVE OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is NOBIS ENGINEERING, INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $16.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2009-05-12. End: 2013-09-30.

What is the track record of Nobis Engineering, Inc. with EPA Superfund projects?

Nobis Engineering, Inc. has a history of performing environmental consulting and engineering services for various government agencies, including the EPA. Their involvement in Superfund projects typically includes site investigation, feasibility studies, remedial design, and construction oversight. A detailed review of their past performance on similar EPA contracts, particularly those involving complex remediation technologies like Electrical Resistance Heating (ERH) and large-scale site cleanups, would be necessary to fully assess their capabilities and reliability for the Silresim site. Past performance evaluations and any documented issues or successes on prior EPA contracts would provide crucial context for this specific task order.

How does the estimated cost of this planning phase compare to similar Superfund site work plans?

The initial obligation of $115,451 for a work plan and cost estimate at the Silresim Superfund site is difficult to benchmark directly without more detailed cost breakdowns and comparison to sites with similar complexity and contamination profiles. However, for large-scale Superfund remedial actions, the planning and design phases typically constitute a significant portion of the overall project cost, often ranging from 10% to 25% of the total remediation budget. This initial award represents the very first step, and the subsequent cost estimate will be critical for understanding the full financial scope. Without data on the total anticipated remediation cost, it's challenging to definitively state if this planning phase cost is high or low relative to industry standards for similar sites.

What are the primary risks associated with the chosen remediation technologies (ERH and SVE)?

The primary risks associated with Electrical Resistance Heating (ERH) and Soil Vapor Extraction (SVE) for volatile organic compound (VOC) reduction at the Silresim site relate to technical efficacy, operational challenges, and cost. ERH involves significant energy consumption and requires careful management of subsurface conditions to ensure uniform heating and effective vapor generation. Risks include incomplete treatment, potential for vapor migration issues if containment is not robust, and high operational costs. SVE effectiveness depends on soil permeability and the volatility of the contaminants; risks include poor vapor capture in low-permeability soils, potential for air emissions if not properly treated, and the need for long-term operation. Both technologies require skilled personnel and robust monitoring systems to mitigate these risks and ensure successful remediation.

What is the anticipated timeline and total cost for the full remedial action at Silresim?

The provided data indicates that the current task order ($115,451) is solely for the preparation of a work plan and cost estimate. The actual remedial action (RA) will commence once these documents are approved, at which point additional recovery funds will be obligated. Therefore, the total cost and timeline for the full remedial action are not yet defined by this initial award. Superfund cleanups are notoriously lengthy and expensive, often spanning several years and costing millions to tens of millions of dollars, depending on the complexity of the contamination and the chosen remediation strategies. A detailed cost estimate and project schedule will be developed as part of the work plan.

How does the 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' procurement method impact taxpayer value?

The 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' method, while aiming for competition, introduces a layer of complexity that can impact taxpayer value. By excluding certain sources, the pool of potential bidders is narrowed, which can reduce the intensity of competition compared to a truly unrestricted full and open process. This reduced competition might lead to less aggressive pricing from the remaining bidders. Taxpayers may not benefit from the lowest possible price that could have been achieved if all qualified sources were allowed to compete. The justification for excluding sources is critical; if based on specific technical requirements or past performance issues with certain contractors, it might be warranted. However, if the exclusion is arbitrary, it represents a missed opportunity for optimal price discovery and potentially higher costs for the government.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: ARCHITECT/ENGINEER SERVICES › ARCH-ENG SVCS - GENERAL

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: ARCHITECT-ENGINEER FAR 6.102

Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 18 CHENELL DRIVE, CONCORD, NH, 03301

Business Categories: Category Business, Emerging Small Business, Minority Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Indian (Subcontinent) American Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $16,083,952

Exercised Options: $16,083,952

Current Obligation: $16,083,952

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: EPS10603

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline