FEMA's $33M Hurricane Harvey PA TAC Contract Awarded to CH2M HILL for Engineering Services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $33,222,955 ($33.2M)

Contractor: CH2M Hill - CDM Pa-Tac Recovery Services

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2017-09-18

End Date: 2022-05-18

Contract Duration: 1,703 days

Daily Burn Rate: $19.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: IGF::CT::IGF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (PA) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACTS (TAC) CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE ENGINEERS, INSURANCE, AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SUPPORTING THE PA PROGRAM AS A RESULT OF HURRICANE HARVEY DR-4332-TX.

Place of Performance

Location: AUSTIN, TRAVIS County, TEXAS, 78753

State: Texas Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $33.2 million to CH2M HILL - CDM PA-TAC RECOVERY SERVICES for work described as: IGF::CT::IGF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (PA) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACTS (TAC) CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE ENGINEERS, INSURANCE, AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SUPPORTING THE PA PROGRAM AS A RESULT OF HURRICANE HARVEY DR-4332-TX. Key points: 1. Contract supports Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts in Texas. 2. Services include engineers, insurance, and professional support for the PA Program. 3. Significant duration of over 1700 days indicates long-term recovery needs. 4. The award was made under full and open competition.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract's Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure can lead to cost overruns if not closely managed. Benchmarking against similar engineering services contracts is difficult without more granular data on specific tasks and labor categories.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. However, the Time and Materials pricing model may not be the most effective for price discovery and cost control in long-term recovery efforts.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for essential recovery services following a major disaster. The T&M structure necessitates vigilant oversight to ensure cost-effectiveness.

Public Impact

Directly addresses critical infrastructure and community needs post-Hurricane Harvey. Supports the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Public Assistance Program. Ensures availability of specialized engineering and professional services for disaster recovery.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to T&M pricing.
Long contract duration may indicate scope creep or extended recovery needs.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition.
Provides essential technical assistance for disaster recovery.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under Engineering Services (NAICS 541330), a sector crucial for infrastructure repair and development, especially after natural disasters. Spending benchmarks for such services vary widely based on project scope and complexity.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not awarded to small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). There is no indication of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses within this award.

Oversight & Accountability

The long duration and T&M pricing structure necessitate robust oversight from FEMA to ensure the contractor is delivering services efficiently and cost-effectively, preventing potential waste or fraud.

Related Government Programs

Engineering Services
Department of Homeland Security Contracting
Federal Emergency Management Agency Programs

Risk Flags

Time and Materials pricing structure.
Long contract duration (1703 days).
Lack of small business subcontracting noted.
Potential for cost overruns without strict oversight.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $33.2 million to CH2M HILL - CDM PA-TAC RECOVERY SERVICES. IGF::CT::IGF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (PA) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACTS (TAC) CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE ENGINEERS, INSURANCE, AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SUPPORTING THE PA PROGRAM AS A RESULT OF HURRICANE HARVEY DR-4332-TX.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CH2M HILL - CDM PA-TAC RECOVERY SERVICES.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (Federal Emergency Management Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $33.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2017-09-18. End: 2022-05-18.

What specific engineering and professional services were provided under this contract, and how did they directly contribute to Hurricane Harvey recovery?

The contract required CH2M HILL to provide engineers, insurance, and other professional services supporting FEMA's Public Assistance Program. These services likely included damage assessments, project scoping, cost estimation, technical guidance on repair and reconstruction, and assistance with insurance claims processing to facilitate the recovery and rebuilding of public infrastructure and facilities impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

Given the Time and Materials pricing, what mechanisms were in place to control costs and ensure value for taxpayer money?

While the provided data specifies Time and Materials (T&M) pricing, it does not detail the specific cost control mechanisms employed. Typically, effective T&M contracts include strict labor hour limitations, pre-approved overhead rates, regular progress reviews, and detailed invoicing requirements. FEMA's oversight would be critical in monitoring these aspects to ensure fair pricing and prevent cost escalation.

How does the $33.2 million expenditure compare to similar technical assistance contracts for large-scale disaster recovery efforts?

Comparing this $33.2 million expenditure requires context on the scale and duration of Hurricane Harvey's impact versus other disasters. However, for a multi-year recovery effort involving extensive engineering and professional services, this amount appears within a reasonable range, especially considering the complexity of FEMA's PA program and the long recovery timeline. Benchmarking would ideally involve similar-sized events and service scopes.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Engineering Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Jacobs Engineering Group Inc

Address: 15010 CONFERENCE CENTER DR STE 200, CHANTILLY, VA, 20151

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $33,222,955

Exercised Options: $33,222,955

Current Obligation: $33,222,955

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 147

Total Subaward Amount: $11,666,512

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HSFEHQ12D0881

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline