EPA Spends $25.7M on Environmental Consulting Services for Metals, Minerals, and Energy Sector
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $25,694,535 ($25.7M)
Contractor: Research Triangle Institute
Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Start Date: 2011-10-01
End Date: 2020-05-29
Contract Duration: 3,163 days
Daily Burn Rate: $8.1K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: Other
Official Description: SUPPORT FOR THE METALS, MINERALS AND ENERGY SECTOR
Place of Performance
Location: DURHAM, DURHAM County, NORTH CAROLINA, 27709
Plain-Language Summary
Environmental Protection Agency obligated $25.7 million to RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE for work described as: SUPPORT FOR THE METALS, MINERALS AND ENERGY SECTOR Key points: 1. Significant investment in a specialized sector, indicating a focus on environmental impact. 2. Competition was full and open, suggesting a robust price discovery process. 3. Contract duration is long (over 8 years), potentially leading to scope creep or evolving needs. 4. No small business participation noted, which could be a missed opportunity for economic inclusion.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can lead to higher costs if not managed closely. Benchmarking against similar environmental consulting contracts is difficult without more detailed cost breakdowns.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
Full and open competition was utilized, which is generally positive for price discovery. However, the long duration and specific nature of the services might have limited the number of truly competitive bids.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds were used for specialized environmental consulting. The effectiveness and necessity of these services over the long contract period will determine the ultimate value for money.
Public Impact
Supports environmental protection efforts within a critical industrial sector. Long-term engagement may ensure continuity of expertise for complex environmental issues. Potential for cost overruns due to Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure if not rigorously overseen.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Long contract duration (over 8 years)
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type
- No small business participation
Positive Signals
- Full and open competition
- Support for critical environmental sector
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within environmental consulting services, supporting the metals, minerals, and energy sector. Spending benchmarks for this specific niche are hard to establish without more granular data, but the amount suggests a substantial, long-term need.
Small Business Impact
The contract data indicates no small business participation. This suggests that either small businesses were not involved in the bidding process or were not awarded any portion of this contract, which is a missed opportunity for economic development.
Oversight & Accountability
The long duration of the contract necessitates strong oversight from the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure cost control, adherence to scope, and effective delivery of services. Regular performance reviews are crucial.
Related Government Programs
- Environmental Consulting Services
- Environmental Protection Agency Contracting
- Environmental Protection Agency Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for cost overruns due to CPFF structure
- Lack of small business participation
- Long contract duration may indicate potential for scope creep or evolving needs
- Limited transparency on specific deliverables and outcomes
Tags
environmental-consulting-services, environmental-protection-agency, nc, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Environmental Protection Agency awarded $25.7 million to RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE. SUPPORT FOR THE METALS, MINERALS AND ENERGY SECTOR
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 $25.7 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2011-10-01. End: 2020-05-29.
What specific environmental challenges or regulations prompted such a long-term, high-value contract for consulting services in the metals, minerals, and energy sector?
The specific environmental challenges likely relate to complex regulatory compliance, remediation efforts, impact assessments, and policy development within the metals, minerals, and energy industries. These sectors often face evolving environmental standards and require specialized expertise for long-term monitoring and management, justifying a multi-year engagement to ensure continuity and institutional knowledge.
How effectively was the Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure managed to prevent cost overruns, given the contract's significant value and duration?
Effective management of a Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract relies heavily on stringent oversight, detailed cost tracking, and clear performance metrics. Without access to detailed financial reports and performance reviews, it's difficult to assess the effectiveness. However, the long duration increases the inherent risk of cost escalation if not meticulously managed by the agency.
What was the rationale for not including small businesses in this significant environmental consulting contract?
The rationale for excluding small businesses could stem from several factors, including the specialized nature of the required expertise, the large scale of the project potentially exceeding small business capacity, or a lack of competitive proposals from small firms. Agencies typically aim for small business participation, so its absence here warrants further investigation into the procurement process and market dynamics.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Environmental 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: SOL-NC-11-00017
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 3040 CORNWALLIS RD, RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, 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: $56,330,576
Exercised Options: $36,586,070
Current Obligation: $25,694,535
Actual Outlays: $-952
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 51
Total Subaward Amount: $2,160,705
Contract Characteristics
Multi-Year Contract: Yes
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Timeline
Start Date: 2011-10-01
Current End Date: 2020-05-29
Potential End Date: 2020-05-29 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2024-03-07
More Contracts from Research Triangle Institute
- Iraq Strengthening Local & Provincial Governance Program — $569.9M (Agency for International Development)
- - REF. NO. 283-17-0491, "2018-2022 National Survey on Drug USE and Health (nsduh)" — $303.8M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- ADP INF, Broadcast&dist Svcs — $234.2M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- 2014-2017 National Survey on Drug USE and Health (nsduh) — $220.1M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- THE Contractor Under This Task Order Award Shall Provide Technical Assistance to Build the Capacity and Strengthen the Performance of the Local Government Institutions in the Areas of Planning, Provincial Budget Formulation and Execution, Representation of Local Priorities, Creation of Laws, Regulations and By-Laws, and Supervision of Local Public Administration — $206.8M (Agency for International Development)
Other Environmental Protection Agency Contracts
- Remedial Action Contract 2 — $383.3M (CH2M Hill, Inc)
- A&E Services — $309.2M (Sultrac, JV)
- Federal Contract — $181.4M (Weston Solutions Inc)
- Central Data Exchange (CDX) Support Services — $160.9M (CGI Federal Inc.)
- This Remedial Action Contract 2 Full Service (RAC 2 FS) for Epa's Region 8 Provides Professional Architect/Engineer, Technical, and Management Services to Support Remedial Response, Enforcement Oversight and Non-Time Critical Removal Activities Under Cercla, AS Amended by Sara; and the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance ACT Pursuant to the Federal Response Plan (FRP) and Other Laws to Help Address And/Or Mitigate Endangerment to the Public Health, Welfare or Environment, and to Support States and Communities in Preparing for Responses to Releases of Hazardous Substances, AS Well AS Counter-Terrorism — $145.9M (CDM Federal Programs Corporation)