EPA's $25M contract with Weston Solutions Inc. for environmental services in New Jersey awarded in 2000
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $25,172,858 ($25.2M)
Contractor: Weston Solutions Inc
Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Start Date: 2000-07-15
End Date: 2006-06-30
Contract Duration: 2,176 days
Daily Burn Rate: $11.6K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Place of Performance
Location: EDISON, MIDDLESEX County, NEW JERSEY, 08837
Plain-Language Summary
Environmental Protection Agency obligated $25.2 million to WESTON SOLUTIONS INC for work described as: Key points: 1. Contract awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a robust bidding process. 2. The contract duration of over 6 years indicates a significant, long-term need for these services. 3. Firm Fixed Price contract type likely provides cost certainty for the agency. 4. The award was made by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to Weston Solutions Inc. 5. The contract was awarded in New Jersey, indicating a specific geographic focus for the services. 6. The absence of small business set-aside flags suggests the primary contractor is not a small business, and subcontracting opportunities may be limited.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without more specific details on the services rendered and comparable contract data from the period. The total value of over $25 million spread across more than six years suggests a substantial investment. However, without knowing the scope of work, it's difficult to assess if this represented a good value for money. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract implies that the contractor bore the risk of cost overruns, which can be a positive indicator of value if the work was completed successfully within budget.
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 a bid. This typically leads to a more competitive environment, potentially driving down prices and improving the quality of services offered. The fact that it was fully competed suggests that the EPA sought the best possible solution through a broad solicitation process.
Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive marketplace, which can lead to more cost-effective solutions and prevent price gouging.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiaries are likely the residents and environment of New Jersey, receiving services aimed at environmental protection or remediation. The services delivered would have addressed specific environmental challenges identified by the EPA within the state. The geographic impact is concentrated in New Jersey, where the environmental services were performed. Workforce implications would include employment opportunities for individuals involved in performing the environmental services, potentially including engineers, technicians, and support staff.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of specific details on the environmental services provided makes it difficult to assess performance outcomes.
- The long duration of the contract could lead to potential complacency or reduced urgency if not actively managed.
- Without data on the number of bidders, it's hard to fully gauge the intensity of the competition.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a fair and competitive selection process.
- Firm Fixed Price contract type provides budget certainty for the agency.
- The contract was awarded by a major federal agency (EPA), indicating a significant project.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the environmental services sector, which encompasses a wide range of activities including site remediation, waste management, consulting, and compliance monitoring. The federal government, particularly agencies like the EPA, is a significant consumer of these services to address environmental issues, enforce regulations, and manage federal facilities. The market for environmental services is competitive, with numerous firms ranging from large engineering corporations to specialized remediation contractors.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). This suggests that the primary contract was awarded to a larger entity, and there is no explicit indication of mandatory subcontracting goals for small businesses. While large contracts can sometimes offer subcontracting opportunities, the absence of a set-aside or specific subcontracting provisions means that the direct impact on the small business ecosystem for this particular award is likely limited unless the prime contractor voluntarily engages small businesses.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would have been primarily managed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) contracting officers and program managers. As a firm fixed-price contract awarded under full and open competition, the focus of oversight would be on ensuring the contractor met the defined scope of work, quality standards, and delivery schedules. Transparency would be facilitated through contract award databases and potentially public reports on environmental projects. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.
Related Government Programs
- Superfund Program Contracts
- Environmental Remediation Services
- EPA Region 2 Contracts
- Hazardous Waste Management Contracts
Risk Flags
- Lack of detailed performance metrics
- Limited information on specific services rendered
- No data on number of bidders for competition assessment
Tags
environmental-services, epa, new-jersey, firm-fixed-price, full-and-open-competition, weston-solutions-inc, large-contract, environmental-protection, remediation, federal-agency
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Environmental Protection Agency awarded $25.2 million to WESTON SOLUTIONS INC. See the official description on USAspending.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is WESTON SOLUTIONS INC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Environmental Protection Agency (Environmental Protection Agency).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $25.2 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2000-07-15. End: 2006-06-30.
What specific environmental services were performed under this contract?
The provided data does not specify the exact environmental services rendered under this contract. However, given the awarding agency (EPA) and the duration, it likely involved significant environmental remediation, site assessment, or compliance activities within New Jersey. These could range from cleaning up contaminated sites (e.g., hazardous waste, petroleum spills) to conducting environmental impact studies, developing remediation plans, or providing technical support for regulatory compliance. Without access to the contract's statement of work or performance reports, a precise definition of services remains elusive.
How does the $25 million value compare to similar EPA contracts for environmental services awarded around the year 2000?
Comparing the $25 million value requires context regarding the specific type and scale of environmental services. EPA contracts for large-scale Superfund site cleanups or extensive remediation projects could easily reach tens or hundreds of millions of dollars over several years. Smaller, more localized projects or consulting services would naturally be valued much lower. This $25 million contract, awarded over approximately six years, suggests a substantial, long-term engagement, likely for a significant remediation effort or a portfolio of related environmental tasks within New Jersey. Without specific comparable contract data from that era for similar scope, it's difficult to definitively label it as high or low, but it represents a considerable investment.
What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) or success metrics for this contract?
The provided data does not detail the specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or success metrics for this contract. Typically, for environmental services contracts, KPIs would focus on factors such as the successful remediation of contaminants to regulatory standards, adherence to project timelines and budgets (especially relevant for fixed-price contracts), environmental compliance, health and safety performance on-site, and the quality of deliverables (e.g., reports, plans). The EPA would have established these metrics in the contract's Statement of Work to ensure the contractor met the objectives of the environmental services being procured.
What is the track record of Weston Solutions Inc. with the EPA or similar agencies for environmental contracts?
Weston Solutions Inc. has a significant history of contracting with the EPA and other federal agencies for environmental services. They are a well-established firm known for providing a wide range of environmental engineering, remediation, and consulting services. Information available through federal procurement data systems often shows numerous awards to Weston Solutions across various agencies, including the Department of Defense and the Department of the Interior, for projects involving site investigation, cleanup, hazardous waste management, and environmental planning. Their extensive portfolio suggests considerable experience and a generally recognized capability in the federal environmental contracting space.
Were there any notable challenges or disputes during the performance of this contract?
The provided summary data does not contain information regarding specific challenges, disputes, or performance issues encountered during the execution of this contract. Contract performance can be complex, especially in environmental remediation, where unforeseen site conditions or regulatory changes can arise. Without access to contract performance reports, modification histories, or dispute resolution records, it is impossible to determine if any significant challenges occurred. Federal contract databases sometimes contain indicators of disputes or contract terminations, but this summary lacks such details.
How did the firm fixed-price (FFP) structure impact the cost and risk allocation for this contract?
The Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract structure places the primary responsibility for cost control and risk on the contractor, Weston Solutions Inc. In an FFP arrangement, the price is set and not subject to adjustment based on the contractor's cost experience. This provides the EPA with significant budget certainty, as the total cost is known upfront. For the contractor, it means they must accurately estimate all costs associated with performing the work and absorb any cost overruns. Conversely, if they can perform the work more efficiently than anticipated, they retain the savings, creating an incentive for cost-effective performance. This structure is generally favored for well-defined scopes of work where risks can be reasonably assessed.
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Weston Solutions Holdings, Inc. (UEI: 118341234)
Address: 1400 WESTON WAY, WEST CHESTER, PA, 06
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $3,638,339
Exercised Options: $9,490,913
Current Obligation: $25,172,858
Timeline
Start Date: 2000-07-15
Current End Date: 2006-06-30
Potential End Date: 2006-06-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2008-10-03
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