EPA Awards $2.14M FOIA Support Task Order to Aleut Technical Services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,139,047 ($2.1M)

Contractor: Aleut Technical Services, LLC

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2024-09-26

End Date: 2028-11-15

Contract Duration: 1,511 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.4K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: FOIA SUPPORT TASK ORDER UNDER THE REGION 6 ENFORCEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES (ESS) CONTRACT - THIS TASK ORDER IS FOR FOIA RECORDS SUPPORT SERVICES.

Place of Performance

Location: DALLAS, DALLAS County, TEXAS, 75270

State: Texas Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $2.1 million to ALEUT TECHNICAL SERVICES, LLC for work described as: FOIA SUPPORT TASK ORDER UNDER THE REGION 6 ENFORCEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES (ESS) CONTRACT - THIS TASK ORDER IS FOR FOIA RECORDS SUPPORT SERVICES. Key points: 1. The task order focuses on critical FOIA records support services for the EPA. 2. Aleut Technical Services, LLC, is the awardee, with no competition noted. 3. The contract duration is over four years, indicating a long-term need. 4. The Environmental Consulting Services sector is experiencing steady demand for specialized support.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract is a firm-fixed-price delivery order. Pricing is not directly comparable without more data on the scope of services provided.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was not available for competition, suggesting a limited or sole-source award. This limits price discovery and potentially increases costs.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for essential administrative support services, with the value dependent on the efficiency and effectiveness of the services rendered.

Public Impact

Ensures compliance with Freedom of Information Act requests, promoting government transparency. Supports the Environmental Protection Agency's mission by managing and processing vital records. The long-term nature of the contract suggests ongoing needs for these services.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition
Limited transparency on pricing benchmarks

Positive Signals

Essential service provision
Long-term support agreement

Sector Analysis

This award falls within Environmental Consulting Services, a sector vital for regulatory compliance and agency operations. Spending in this area is often driven by legislative mandates and agency needs for specialized expertise.

Small Business Impact

The awardee, Aleut Technical Services, LLC, is not identified as a small business in the provided data. Further analysis would be needed to determine the impact on small business participation in this contract.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight will be crucial to ensure Aleut Technical Services meets the FOIA support requirements effectively and efficiently, given the limited competition.

Related Government Programs

Environmental Consulting Services
Environmental Protection Agency Contracting
Environmental Protection Agency Programs

Risk Flags

Limited competition
Potential for cost overruns
Dependency on a single provider
Lack of performance benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $2.1 million to ALEUT TECHNICAL SERVICES, LLC. FOIA SUPPORT TASK ORDER UNDER THE REGION 6 ENFORCEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES (ESS) CONTRACT - THIS TASK ORDER IS FOR FOIA RECORDS SUPPORT SERVICES.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ALEUT TECHNICAL SERVICES, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Environmental Protection Agency (Environmental Protection Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-09-26. End: 2028-11-15.

What specific FOIA support services are included in this task order, and how do they align with EPA's core mission needs?

The task order is for FOIA records support services. These services are crucial for the EPA's commitment to transparency and public access to information. They likely involve managing, retrieving, reviewing, and potentially redacting records in response to public requests, directly supporting the agency's operational and legal obligations under FOIA.

What are the risks associated with awarding this task order without competition, particularly regarding cost and service quality?

The primary risk of a limited competition award is the potential for inflated pricing due to the absence of market pressure. There's also a risk that service quality might not be optimized if the contractor faces no competitive incentive to excel. Robust performance monitoring is essential to mitigate these risks.

How effective is this contract in ensuring timely and accurate processing of FOIA requests for the EPA?

Effectiveness hinges on the contractor's performance metrics and the EPA's oversight. If Aleut Technical Services delivers high-quality, timely support as defined in the contract, it will be effective. Regular performance reviews and clear deliverables are key indicators of success in this area.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT › NATURAL RESOURCES - OTHER SVCS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2609 N RIVER RD, PORT ALLEN, LA, 70767

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Alaskan Native Corporation Owned Firm, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $4,430,145

Exercised Options: $2,139,047

Current Obligation: $2,139,047

Actual Outlays: $1,186,890

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 68HE0723D0002

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline