Interior's $11.7M environmental remediation contract awarded to Clean Harbors for Louisiana services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $11,666,599 ($11.7M)

Contractor: Clean Harbors Environmental Services Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2006-07-31

End Date: 2007-11-29

Contract Duration: 486 days

Daily Burn Rate: $24.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Place of Performance

Location: BELL CITY, CAMERON County, LOUISIANA, 70630

State: Louisiana Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $11.7 million to CLEAN HARBORS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES INC for work described as: Key points: 1. Contract value appears reasonable for specialized environmental remediation services. 2. Full and open competition suggests a competitive bidding process. 3. Contract duration of 486 days indicates a medium-term project. 4. Award type 'DO' (Defense Order) is unusual for environmental services, warranting clarification. 5. The specific remediation services are not detailed, limiting performance context. 6. Geographic focus on Louisiana points to regional environmental needs.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $11.7 million for a 486-day period for remediation services is difficult to benchmark without specific details on the scope of work. However, given the specialized nature of environmental remediation, the price may be within a reasonable range. Further analysis would require comparing this to similar contracts for the type and scale of remediation performed. The 'TIME AND MATERIALS' contract type can sometimes lead to cost overruns if not closely monitored.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. This suggests a robust bidding process. The number of bidders is not specified, but the open competition generally promotes price discovery and can lead to more favorable pricing for the government compared to limited or sole-source procurements.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from the potential for competitive pricing due to the open competition, which aims to ensure the government receives the best value for its investment in environmental cleanup.

Public Impact

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service benefits from this contract by securing necessary environmental remediation services. Services delivered include remediation of contaminated sites, crucial for ecological health and regulatory compliance. The geographic impact is focused on Louisiana, addressing specific environmental challenges in that state. Workforce implications include employment opportunities for skilled environmental technicians and project managers.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

The 'DO' award type is atypical for environmental services and may indicate a non-standard procurement or a specific urgency not fully explained.
Lack of detailed scope of work makes it challenging to assess if the full value for money was achieved.
The 'TIME AND MATERIALS' pricing structure requires diligent oversight to prevent cost escalation.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a fair and competitive process.
The contract addresses critical environmental remediation needs for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The contract is geographically focused, indicating targeted resource allocation.

Sector Analysis

Environmental remediation services fall under the broader environmental consulting and services sector. This sector is characterized by specialized expertise in areas such as hazardous waste management, site cleanup, and compliance. The market size for federal environmental remediation is substantial, driven by regulatory requirements and the need to manage legacy contamination. This contract represents a specific instance of federal spending within this critical sector, supporting ecological restoration and public health.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (sb: false) and there is no indication of small business subcontracting requirements (ss: false). Therefore, this contract likely did not directly benefit small businesses through set-asides. The absence of subcontracting requirements means that the prime contractor, Clean Harbors Environmental Services Inc., has the discretion on whether to engage small businesses for any part of the work, which could limit the broader impact on the small business ecosystem for this specific award.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service contracting officer and their representatives. Accountability measures would be tied to the performance standards outlined in the contract and the 'TIME AND MATERIALS' payment terms, requiring detailed reporting and justification of hours and materials. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases, though specific project details and oversight activities may not always be publicly disclosed.

Related Government Programs

Environmental Remediation Services
Hazardous Waste Management
Site Cleanup Contracts
Federal Environmental Protection Agency Contracts

Risk Flags

Unusual Award Type ('DO')
Lack of Detailed Scope of Work
Potential for Cost Overruns (T&M Contract)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $11.7 million to CLEAN HARBORS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES INC. See the official description on USAspending.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CLEAN HARBORS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $11.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2006-07-31. End: 2007-11-29.

What specific environmental remediation activities were performed under this contract?

The provided data does not specify the exact nature of the environmental remediation activities undertaken by Clean Harbors Environmental Services Inc. under this contract. It only indicates the general category of 'Remediation Services' (NAICS code 562910) and the awarding agency as the Department of the Interior, specifically the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. To understand the specific activities, one would need to access the contract's statement of work (SOW) or performance reports. These documents would detail the types of contaminants addressed, the methods used for cleanup (e.g., soil excavation, groundwater treatment, hazardous waste disposal), and the locations within Louisiana where the work was conducted. Without this granular detail, it is impossible to fully assess the scope and impact of the services delivered.

How does the $11.7 million contract value compare to similar environmental remediation projects in Louisiana?

Benchmarking the $11.7 million contract value against similar environmental remediation projects in Louisiana requires access to a broader dataset of comparable contracts. Factors such as the scale of contamination, the types of pollutants involved (e.g., petroleum, heavy metals, industrial chemicals), the complexity of the site, and the duration of the remediation effort significantly influence costs. Given that this contract was awarded under full and open competition for a period of 486 days (approximately 1.3 years), the value seems plausible for a significant remediation project. However, without specific details on the scope of work and comparing it to other federal, state, or private sector remediation projects of similar complexity and duration in the region, a definitive value-for-money assessment is challenging. The 'TIME AND MATERIALS' pricing structure also introduces variability.

What are the potential risks associated with a 'TIME AND MATERIALS' contract for environmental remediation?

The primary risk associated with a 'TIME AND MATERIALS' (T&M) contract for environmental remediation is the potential for cost overruns. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M contracts reimburse the contractor for the actual labor hours and material costs incurred, plus a fee. If not managed diligently, this structure can incentivize longer project durations or higher-than-necessary material usage, as the contractor's profit is directly tied to costs. For the government, this necessitates robust oversight, detailed tracking of all hours and materials, and clear definitions of what constitutes a billable item. Without stringent monitoring and controls, the total cost can exceed initial estimates, potentially leading to poor value for taxpayers. Effective management requires a strong government project management team to scrutinize invoices and ensure efficiency.

Why was this contract awarded under a 'DO' (Defense Order) type, and what does this imply?

The data indicates the contract award type was 'DO', which typically refers to orders placed under specific authorities, often related to national defense priorities or urgent needs, allowing agencies to procure goods and services rapidly. It is unusual for a standard environmental remediation service contract awarded by the Department of the Interior to fall under a 'DO' designation, which is more commonly associated with defense-related procurements or specific emergency response situations authorized under certain defense production acts. This designation might suggest an urgent requirement, a specific type of hazardous material related to defense activities, or a unique inter-agency agreement. Clarification from the awarding agency would be necessary to understand the rationale behind using this specific award type for environmental remediation services and its implications for oversight and funding.

What is the historical spending pattern for environmental remediation services by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service?

Analyzing the historical spending patterns for environmental remediation services by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) requires examining contract data over multiple fiscal years. This specific $11.7 million contract awarded in 2006 represents a single data point. To understand broader trends, one would need to aggregate spending on similar NAICS codes (e.g., 562910) and contract types across various years. This analysis could reveal whether spending has increased or decreased, identify the primary contractors utilized, and highlight the geographic areas or types of environmental issues that USFWS most frequently addresses. Such historical data is crucial for budget planning, identifying potential cost efficiencies, and understanding the agency's long-term commitment to environmental stewardship and site cleanup.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT › ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS PROTECTION

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Clean Harbors, Inc (UEI: 157793639)

Address: 1501 WASHINGTON ST, BRAINTREE, MA, 08

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $11,666,599

Exercised Options: $11,666,599

Current Obligation: $11,666,599

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HSCG8405A100085

IDV Type: BOA

Timeline