DoD awards $3.98M engineering services contract for PCE Plume Superfund feasibility study

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,977,187 ($4.0M)

Contractor: CDM Federal Programs Corporation

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2022-07-22

End Date: 2026-07-21

Contract Duration: 1,460 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 10

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: FEASIBILITY STUDY AT THE PCE PLUME SUPERFUND

Place of Performance

Location: MAGNA, SALT LAKE County, UTAH, 84044

State: Utah Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $4.0 million to CDM FEDERAL PROGRAMS CORPORATION for work described as: FEASIBILITY STUDY AT THE PCE PLUME SUPERFUND Key points: 1. Contract awarded to CDM Federal Programs Corporation for critical environmental remediation planning. 2. Competition was full and open, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. Contract duration of 1460 days indicates a long-term commitment to the study. 4. The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can introduce cost overrun risks. 5. This award represents a small portion of the overall Superfund program spending. 6. The geographic focus is Utah, impacting local environmental cleanup efforts.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $3.98 million for a feasibility study is moderate. Benchmarking against similar environmental consulting contracts for Superfund sites is difficult without more specific service details. The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type, while allowing for flexibility, can lead to higher costs if not managed closely, as the contractor is reimbursed for allowable costs plus a fixed fee. The total value appears reasonable for a multi-year feasibility study, but the ultimate value for money will depend on the thoroughness and accuracy of the study's findings and recommendations.

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. With 10 bidders, this suggests a healthy level of competition for this engineering services requirement. A higher number of bidders generally leads to better price discovery and potentially lower costs for the government. The presence of multiple qualified firms vying for the contract implies that the government had a good selection of capable contractors.

Taxpayer Impact: The full and open competition with 10 bidders is beneficial for taxpayers, as it likely drove down the price through competitive pressure and ensured the government received proposals from a wide range of qualified firms.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Department of Defense and potentially the local community in Utah, through the planning for the remediation of the PCE Plume Superfund site. The services delivered include a feasibility study, which is a critical step in determining the best approach for environmental cleanup. The geographic impact is focused on the specific Superfund site location in Utah. Workforce implications may include employment for engineers, scientists, and environmental specialists involved in conducting the study.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type may incentivize cost overruns if not rigorously monitored.
Feasibility studies are planning documents; their ultimate impact depends on subsequent funding and execution.
Superfund site remediation can be complex and lengthy, with potential for unforeseen challenges.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition with 10 bidders, indicating strong market interest and competitive pricing.
Contract awarded to CDM Federal Programs Corporation, a known entity in federal contracting.
The contract addresses a critical environmental issue at a Superfund site, demonstrating commitment to environmental stewardship.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Engineering Services sector, specifically focusing on environmental consulting and remediation planning. The market for environmental services supporting federal agencies, particularly for Superfund sites, is substantial. This contract represents a specific, albeit small, investment within the broader environmental cleanup and compliance industry. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found within the EPA's Superfund program or other agencies managing hazardous waste sites.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, the primary contractor, CDM Federal Programs Corporation, is likely a larger entity. There is no explicit information on subcontracting plans for small businesses within this award notice. The lack of a small business set-aside means that opportunities for small businesses would primarily arise through subcontracting, the extent of which is not detailed here.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the Department of the Army contracting and technical officers. The Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure necessitates close monitoring of allowable costs and the contractor's progress to ensure adherence to the fixed fee and overall project objectives. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and reporting requirements. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected.

Related Government Programs

EPA Superfund Program
Department of Defense Environmental Remediation
Hazardous Waste Site Cleanup Contracts
Engineering and Technical Services Contracts

Risk Flags

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type requires diligent oversight to manage potential cost escalations.
Feasibility studies are planning documents; their success is contingent on subsequent implementation and funding.
Superfund site remediation can be complex and subject to unforeseen environmental or technical challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $4.0 million to CDM FEDERAL PROGRAMS CORPORATION. FEASIBILITY STUDY AT THE PCE PLUME SUPERFUND

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CDM FEDERAL PROGRAMS CORPORATION.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Army).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $4.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-07-22. End: 2026-07-21.

What is CDM Federal Programs Corporation's track record with similar environmental feasibility studies for Superfund sites?

CDM Federal Programs Corporation has a significant history of performing environmental consulting and remediation services for federal agencies, including extensive work related to Superfund sites. While specific details on their past feasibility studies for PCE plumes are not provided in this data, their general experience suggests they possess the technical expertise required. A deeper dive into their contract history with the EPA and DoD would reveal the scale and complexity of similar projects they have managed, their performance ratings on those contracts, and any notable successes or challenges encountered. This would provide a more robust assessment of their suitability and potential performance on this specific contract.

How does the $3.98 million cost compare to similar feasibility studies for Superfund sites?

Benchmarking the $3.98 million cost for this feasibility study against similar contracts is challenging without more granular data on the scope of work, site complexity, and specific environmental conditions. Feasibility studies for Superfund sites can vary widely in cost depending on factors such as the size of the contaminated area, the types of contaminants, the number of potential remediation technologies to be evaluated, and the required level of detail in the analysis. Generally, multi-year studies for complex sites can range from hundreds of thousands to several million dollars. This award appears to be within a moderate range for such a critical planning phase, but a definitive value-for-money assessment would require comparison with studies of comparable complexity and duration.

What are the primary risks associated with a Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract for this type of study?

The primary risk with a Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract, like the one awarded here, is the potential for cost overruns. While the contractor's profit (the fixed fee) is predetermined, they are reimbursed for all allowable costs incurred. If the project scope expands, unforeseen technical challenges arise, or the contractor is inefficient, the total cost to the government can increase significantly beyond initial estimates, even though the fee remains constant. Effective oversight, rigorous cost tracking, and clear definition of allowable costs are crucial to mitigate this risk and ensure the government receives good value. The CPFF structure can also incentivize contractors to incur costs to ensure project completion, potentially leading to less cost-consciousness than a fixed-price contract.

What is the expected effectiveness of the feasibility study in guiding the PCE Plume Superfund remediation?

The effectiveness of the feasibility study hinges on its thoroughness, the accuracy of its data collection and analysis, and the soundness of its recommendations. A well-executed study will identify and evaluate various remediation technologies, assess their technical feasibility, environmental impact, cost-effectiveness, and implementability. It should provide a clear basis for selecting the most appropriate remediation strategy. The DoD's investment in this study indicates its commitment to addressing the PCE contamination. However, the study itself is a planning document; its ultimate effectiveness in achieving remediation goals depends on subsequent funding, regulatory approvals, and the successful implementation of the chosen remedy.

How does this $3.98 million award fit into the historical spending patterns for environmental remediation by the Department of Defense?

This $3.98 million award for a feasibility study represents a specific, planned expenditure within the DoD's broader environmental remediation efforts. The DoD manages numerous contaminated sites across its installations, and spending on environmental cleanup and compliance is substantial, often spanning decades and billions of dollars. Awards for feasibility studies are typically early-stage investments that precede larger, multi-year cleanup contracts. This particular award is a relatively small component when viewed against the backdrop of the DoD's total environmental program budget, which includes site investigation, remediation, monitoring, and compliance activities across thousands of locations.

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

Solicitation ID: W912DQ20R3014

Offers Received: 10

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 9200 WARD PKWY STE 320, KANSAS CITY, MO, 64114

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $3,977,187

Exercised Options: $3,977,187

Current Obligation: $3,977,187

Actual Outlays: $173,404

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 10

Total Subaward Amount: $1,386,392

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: W912DQ21D3004

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline