Forest Service awards $604K for water treatment system maintenance to Tetra Tech, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $604,480 ($604.5K)

Contractor: Tetra Tech, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2024-07-01

End Date: 2025-08-15

Contract Duration: 410 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: WATER TREATMENT AND REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEM MAINTENANCE

Place of Performance

Location: BUTTE, SILVER BOW County, MONTANA, 59701

State: Montana Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $604,480.35 to TETRA TECH, INC. for work described as: WATER TREATMENT AND REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEM MAINTENANCE Key points: 1. Value for money appears reasonable given the specialized nature of water treatment and reverse osmosis system maintenance. 2. The contract was awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. No specific risk indicators are immediately apparent from the provided data. 4. Performance context is limited to maintenance services for water treatment systems. 5. This contract falls within the Environmental Consulting Services sector. 6. The firm-fixed-price contract type helps manage cost certainty for the government.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

Benchmarking the value of this specific contract is challenging without more detailed cost breakdowns or comparisons to similar specialized maintenance contracts. However, the total award amount of $604,480.35 over approximately 13 months for specialized environmental consulting services, including water treatment and reverse osmosis system maintenance, appears within a reasonable range for such technical expertise. The firm-fixed-price structure also indicates an effort to control costs.

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. The data does not specify the number of bidders, but this procurement method generally fosters a competitive environment, which should lead to better pricing and service options for the government. The Forest Service likely sought multiple proposals to ensure they received the best value.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition process is beneficial for taxpayers as it maximizes the pool of potential offerors, driving down prices through competitive pressure and ensuring that government funds are used efficiently.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the U.S. Forest Service facilities in Montana requiring specialized water treatment and reverse osmosis system maintenance. The services delivered include essential maintenance to ensure the proper functioning and longevity of critical water infrastructure. The geographic impact is focused on Montana, where the Forest Service operates. This contract supports specialized technical jobs within the environmental consulting sector.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a robust bidding process.
Firm-fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty.
Specialized service for critical infrastructure maintenance.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under the Environmental Consulting Services industry (NAICS code 541620). This sector provides expertise in areas such as environmental impact assessment, remediation, and compliance. Spending in this sector often supports government agencies in managing natural resources, complying with environmental regulations, and maintaining infrastructure. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing other contracts for environmental consulting, particularly those focused on water systems or facility maintenance.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or specific impacts on the small business ecosystem stemming from a set-aside requirement. The competition was open to all responsible sources, which may include small businesses if they chose to compete.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is a Delivery Order under a larger contract vehicle, implying that the parent contract likely has established oversight mechanisms. The firm-fixed-price nature of the award provides a degree of cost control. Transparency is generally facilitated by the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS), where such awards are reported. Specific oversight for this delivery order would fall under the Forest Service's contracting officer and program managers.

Related Government Programs

Environmental Consulting Services
Water Infrastructure Maintenance
Federal Facilities Maintenance
Forest Service Operations Support

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $604,480.35 to TETRA TECH, INC.. WATER TREATMENT AND REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEM MAINTENANCE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TETRA TECH, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Forest Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $604,480.35.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-07-01. End: 2025-08-15.

What is the track record of Tetra Tech, Inc. in performing similar water treatment system maintenance for federal agencies?

Tetra Tech, Inc. is a large, well-established engineering and consulting firm with extensive experience in environmental services, including water and wastewater systems. They frequently contract with federal agencies like the EPA, Army Corps of Engineers, and various departments within the Department of the Interior and Agriculture. Their past performance on similar contracts would typically be assessed during the bidding process for new awards. While specific details of past performance on water treatment maintenance for the Forest Service are not provided here, their general profile suggests a strong capability in this area. A deeper dive into their contract history within FPDS or agency-specific performance evaluations would offer more granular insights into their reliability and quality of service for such specialized maintenance.

How does the pricing of this contract compare to similar water treatment system maintenance contracts awarded by the Forest Service or other agencies?

Direct comparison of this contract's pricing to similar ones is difficult without access to detailed cost breakdowns and a broader dataset of comparable contracts. The total award of $604,480.35 is for a period of approximately 13 months (July 1, 2024, to August 15, 2025). To benchmark effectively, one would need to analyze contracts for similar scope (maintenance of water treatment and reverse osmosis systems), duration, geographic location, and complexity. Factors like the number of facilities serviced, specific equipment models, and required response times significantly influence pricing. The firm-fixed-price structure suggests that Tetra Tech, Inc. has estimated these costs and built in their profit margin. Without more data points, assessing whether this represents a particularly high or low price is speculative.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they being mitigated?

Potential risks for a contract focused on water treatment and reverse osmosis system maintenance could include technical failures of the equipment, unforeseen complexities during maintenance, contractor performance issues, or changes in regulatory requirements. Given that this is a firm-fixed-price contract awarded through full and open competition, some risks are inherently managed. The fixed price incentivizes the contractor to perform efficiently. Full and open competition suggests a vetting process for bidders, including past performance reviews. Mitigation strategies likely involve clear performance standards and deliverables outlined in the contract, regular progress reporting, and the Forest Service's oversight through a contracting officer's representative (COR). The specialized nature of the work also implies that Tetra Tech, Inc. possesses the necessary expertise, reducing technical risk.

How effective is the Forest Service in managing contracts for environmental consulting services like this one?

The effectiveness of the Forest Service in managing contracts for environmental consulting services can be assessed through various indicators, including contract performance metrics, timely delivery of services, adherence to budget, and overall satisfaction with the outcomes. This specific contract is a delivery order, suggesting it's part of a broader framework agreement or IDIQ (Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity) contract, which often have established management protocols. The Forest Service's use of firm-fixed-price contracts and full and open competition indicates a standard approach to procurement aimed at achieving value and managing costs. Evaluating overall effectiveness would require analyzing a portfolio of their environmental consulting contracts, looking at dispute rates, contract modifications, and successful completion of objectives across various projects.

What is the historical spending pattern of the Forest Service on water treatment and environmental consulting services?

Historical spending patterns for the Forest Service on water treatment and environmental consulting services would reveal trends in investment in these areas. Analyzing past contract awards for similar services (e.g., NAICS code 541620) over several fiscal years would indicate whether spending has been consistent, increasing, or decreasing. This could be influenced by factors such as infrastructure needs, regulatory changes, budget allocations, and specific program initiatives. For instance, increased focus on water quality or aging infrastructure could lead to higher spending. Without access to historical data specific to the Forest Service's environmental consulting and water treatment maintenance expenditures, it's impossible to detail these patterns. However, such analysis is crucial for understanding budget priorities and long-term resource allocation.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Environmental Consulting Services

Product/Service Code: NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT › NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVERVAT SVCS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 1282B124Q0045

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 3475 EAST FOOTHILL BOULEVARD, PASADENA, CA, 91107

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $604,480

Exercised Options: $604,480

Current Obligation: $604,480

Actual Outlays: $604,480

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS00F168CA

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline