EPA's $14.6M consulting contract with ABT GLOBAL LLC for environmental support awarded via full and open competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $14,617,605 ($14.6M)

Contractor: ABT Global LLC

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2007-06-04

End Date: 2013-09-30

Contract Duration: 2,310 days

Daily Burn Rate: $6.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND REGULATORY ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: CAMBRIDGE, MIDDLESEX County, MASSACHUSETTS, 02138

State: Massachusetts Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $14.6 million to ABT GLOBAL LLC for work described as: ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND REGULATORY ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract awarded for comprehensive economic, environmental, and regulatory support services. 2. ABT GLOBAL LLC, the contractor, has a significant role in providing these specialized consulting services. 3. The contract duration of 2310 days (over 6 years) indicates a long-term need for these services. 4. Awarded under a Definitive Contract, suggesting a structured and well-defined agreement. 5. The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) pricing structure implies shared risk between the government and contractor. 6. This contract falls under the 'Process, Physical Distribution, and Logistics Consulting Services' NAICS code.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without specific performance metrics or comparable contract data. The Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure can sometimes lead to cost overruns if not managed tightly. However, the fixed fee component provides some cost certainty for the government. The total award amount of $14.6 million over more than six years suggests a substantial investment in specialized consulting.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded through 'full and open competition,' indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. This approach generally fosters a competitive environment, potentially leading to better pricing and service quality. The presence of 2 bids suggests a moderate level of competition for this specific requirement.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it maximizes the pool of potential offerors, driving down costs and encouraging innovation.

Public Impact

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) benefits from expert consulting services to navigate complex economic, environmental, and regulatory landscapes. Services delivered likely include analysis, strategy development, and support for EPA's mission-critical functions. The geographic impact is national, supporting EPA's nationwide environmental protection efforts. Workforce implications include the engagement of specialized consultants, potentially augmenting EPA's internal capabilities.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts require diligent oversight to ensure costs remain within reasonable bounds and the fixed fee is justified by performance.
The long contract duration necessitates ongoing performance monitoring to ensure continued value and alignment with EPA's evolving needs.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, maximizing potential for competitive pricing.
The Definitive Contract structure provides a clear framework for service delivery and payment.
The fixed fee component offers some predictability in contractor compensation.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically focusing on management and technical consulting. The market for environmental consulting is substantial, driven by increasing regulatory complexity and a growing emphasis on sustainability. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve other large federal contracts for similar advisory and analytical services provided to agencies like the EPA, Department of the Interior, or Department of Energy.

Small Business Impact

The contract data indicates that small business participation was not a specific set-aside criterion (ss: false, sb: false). This suggests that the primary focus was on securing the best value through open competition, rather than specifically targeting small businesses for this particular award. Subcontracting opportunities for small businesses may exist at the discretion of the prime contractor, ABT GLOBAL LLC, but are not explicitly mandated by the contract terms provided.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Environmental Protection Agency's contracting officers and program managers. They are responsible for monitoring performance, approving payments, and ensuring compliance with contract terms. The Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure necessitates careful review of incurred costs against the fixed fee to ensure fair value. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and reporting requirements, though specific performance details may be internal.

Related Government Programs

Environmental Consulting Services
Regulatory Compliance Support
Economic Impact Analysis
Logistics Consulting
Federal Agency Support Contracts

Risk Flags

Long-term contract duration requires sustained oversight.
CPFF structure necessitates robust cost monitoring.
Limited number of bidders may indicate potential for increased competition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $14.6 million to ABT GLOBAL LLC. ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND REGULATORY ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ABT GLOBAL LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $14.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2007-06-04. End: 2013-09-30.

What specific types of economic, environmental, and regulatory support did ABT GLOBAL LLC provide under this contract?

While the provided data outlines the broad categories of 'ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND REGULATORY ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT,' the specific deliverables under this $14.6 million contract are not detailed. Typically, such support could encompass a wide range of activities including policy analysis, regulatory impact assessments, economic modeling related to environmental regulations, compliance strategy development, environmental permitting assistance, and logistical planning for environmental programs. The 'Process, Physical Distribution, and Logistics Consulting Services' NAICS code suggests a focus on operational efficiency and strategic planning within these domains. Further details would likely be found in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) or task orders issued against the definitive contract.

How does the Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) structure impact cost control and contractor incentive for this EPA contract?

The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract structure involves the government reimbursing the contractor for allowable costs incurred, plus a predetermined fixed fee representing profit. This structure aims to balance risk: the contractor is incentivized to control costs to protect their fixed fee, but the government bears the risk of cost overruns if actual costs exceed estimates. For this EPA contract, the fixed fee provides a level of cost certainty for the government regarding the contractor's profit. However, effective oversight is crucial to ensure that all costs claimed are reasonable, allocable, and allowable, and that the contractor is motivated to perform efficiently to achieve the contract objectives within the estimated cost parameters.

What is the significance of the contract being a 'Definitive Contract' awarded under 'Full and Open Competition'?

A 'Definitive Contract' is a fixed-price contract that provides for a price that is not based upon a fluctuating market index or market prices. It is typically used for long-term requirements. Awarding it under 'Full and Open Competition' signifies that the EPA solicited proposals from all responsible sources and awarded the contract to the responsible offeror that provided the best value. This competitive process is designed to ensure fair pricing and access to a broad range of capabilities. The fact that there were 2 bids suggests a moderate level of interest, which is generally positive for price discovery, though more bidders could potentially yield even greater competition.

What does the contract duration of 2310 days imply about the nature of the services provided?

A contract duration of 2310 days, which is approximately 6.3 years, implies that the services required by the EPA are ongoing and strategic in nature, rather than short-term or project-specific. This extended period suggests a need for consistent expertise in economic, environmental, and regulatory analysis and support. Such long-term engagements are common for complex advisory roles where building institutional knowledge and maintaining continuity are important for effective program execution and policy development. It also indicates a stable, long-term requirement within the agency for the specialized consulting provided by ABT GLOBAL LLC.

Are there any indications of contractor performance issues or successes based on the provided data?

The provided data does not contain specific information regarding ABT GLOBAL LLC's performance on this particular contract. It details the contract's award, value, duration, type, and competition level. To assess performance, one would need to examine contract performance reports, quality assurance reviews, past performance evaluations, or any documented issues or commendations. The fact that the contract was awarded and executed over a significant period suggests a baseline level of acceptable performance, but without further data, a detailed assessment of successes or failures is not possible.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Process, Physical Distribution, and Logistics Consulting Services

Product/Service Code: SPECIAL STUDIES/ANALYSIS, NOT R&D › SPECIAL STUDIES - NOT R and D

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: PRCI0610599

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 55 WHEELER ST, CAMBRIDGE, MA, 02138

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $26,790,387

Exercised Options: $17,666,323

Current Obligation: $14,617,605

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Timeline