EPA awards $1.9M for tribal drinking water and wastewater technical assistance across four regions

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $1,919,558 ($1.9M)

Contractor: S C & a Inc

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2024-06-28

End Date: 2026-06-27

Contract Duration: 729 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: DRINKING WATER AND WASTEWATER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO TRIBES AND ALASKAN NATIVE VILLAGES REGIONS 1, 2, 3, AND 4 - GEOGRAPHIC AREA A SUPPORT LSLR AND EC ACTIVITIES FOR TRIBES IN REGIONS 1, 2, 3, AND 4

Place of Performance

Location: ARLINGTON, ARLINGTON County, VIRGINIA, 22201

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $1.9 million to S C & A INC for work described as: DRINKING WATER AND WASTEWATER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO TRIBES AND ALASKAN NATIVE VILLAGES REGIONS 1, 2, 3, AND 4 - GEOGRAPHIC AREA A SUPPORT LSLR AND EC ACTIVITIES FOR TRIBES IN REGIONS 1, 2, 3, AND 4 Key points: 1. Contract focuses on critical infrastructure support for tribal communities. 2. Technical assistance aims to improve drinking water and wastewater systems. 3. Geographic scope covers Regions 1, 2, 3, and 4, impacting numerous tribal nations. 4. Contract duration of approximately two years allows for sustained support. 5. The award type, BPA Call, suggests a pre-competed framework. 6. Focus on LSLR (Lead and Copper Rule) and EC (Environmental Compliance) activities highlights key regulatory drivers.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $1.92 million for a two-year period appears reasonable for specialized technical assistance to multiple tribal regions. Benchmarking against similar EPA contracts for environmental consulting services to tribal entities would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. The Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure necessitates careful monitoring of labor hours and rates to ensure cost efficiency.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but this competitive approach generally fosters price discovery and encourages vendors to offer competitive rates. The BPA Call award mechanism suggests that the underlying contract was previously competed, with this call-off being a further competitive action or a streamlined process for an existing agreement.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition process is beneficial for taxpayers as it is expected to yield the most cost-effective solution by leveraging market forces to drive down prices and improve service quality.

Public Impact

Tribal governments and Alaskan Native Villages in EPA Regions 1, 2, 3, and 4 will benefit from enhanced technical expertise. Services delivered will support the improvement and maintenance of essential drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. The geographic impact is significant, covering a broad area of the United States and its territories. Workforce implications include the potential for specialized environmental consultants to engage with tribal communities, fostering capacity building.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns with Time and Materials contract if not closely managed.
Ensuring equitable distribution of technical assistance across all eligible tribes within the specified regions.
Measuring the tangible impact of technical assistance on actual improvements in water quality and system reliability.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting competitive pricing.
Focus on critical environmental compliance and infrastructure upgrades addresses significant public health needs.
The contractor, S C & A INC, likely has prior experience in environmental consulting, providing a degree of confidence in their capabilities.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Environmental Consulting Services sector, a segment of the broader professional services market. The market for environmental consulting is driven by regulatory compliance, infrastructure needs, and sustainability initiatives. Spending in this area by federal agencies like the EPA is substantial, supporting efforts to protect public health and the environment, particularly for underserved communities like tribal nations. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other EPA or agency contracts for similar technical assistance programs.

Small Business Impact

The contract data indicates that small business participation (ss: false, sb: false) was not a specific set-aside requirement for this particular award. While this contract was not set aside for small businesses, the prime contractor, S C & A INC, may engage small businesses as subcontractors. The impact on the small business ecosystem would depend on the subcontracting opportunities offered and the specific capabilities required for this technical assistance.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the Environmental Protection Agency's contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures will be tied to the delivery of technical assistance as outlined in the contract statement of work and performance metrics. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases, though detailed performance reports may not be publicly available. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

EPA Tribal Drinking Water Program
EPA Wastewater Infrastructure Programs
Indian Health Service Sanitation Facilities Construction Program
Lead and Copper Rule Revisions Implementation

Risk Flags

Potential for cost creep due to T&M contract type.
Ensuring equitable service delivery across diverse tribal communities.
Measuring long-term impact on water system reliability and public health.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $1.9 million to S C & A INC. DRINKING WATER AND WASTEWATER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO TRIBES AND ALASKAN NATIVE VILLAGES REGIONS 1, 2, 3, AND 4 - GEOGRAPHIC AREA A SUPPORT LSLR AND EC ACTIVITIES FOR TRIBES IN REGIONS 1, 2, 3, AND 4

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is S C & A INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $1.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-06-28. End: 2026-06-27.

What is the track record of S C & A INC in providing technical assistance to tribal communities for water and wastewater systems?

Information regarding the specific track record of S C & A INC in providing technical assistance to tribal communities for water and wastewater systems is not detailed in the provided data. A thorough assessment would require reviewing past performance evaluations, client references, and any previous contracts awarded to S C & A INC for similar services. Federal procurement databases and agency performance records would be the primary sources for this information. Understanding their experience with the unique regulatory and cultural contexts of tribal nations is crucial for evaluating their suitability for this contract.

How does the awarded amount of $1.92 million compare to similar technical assistance contracts for tribal water infrastructure?

To benchmark the $1.92 million award, a comparative analysis of similar technical assistance contracts awarded by the EPA or other federal agencies to tribal entities for drinking water and wastewater systems is necessary. Factors such as the scope of work, geographic coverage, duration, and the number of tribes served would need to be considered. Without specific comparable contract data, it's difficult to definitively state if this award represents excellent, good, or fair value. However, the amount appears reasonable for a two-year engagement covering multiple regions and complex technical needs.

What are the primary risks associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract for this type of service?

The primary risks associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract for technical assistance services revolve around cost control and contractor efficiency. Since the government pays for direct labor hours at specified rates and for the cost of materials, there is a risk of cost overruns if the contractor's hours are not managed effectively or if material costs escalate unexpectedly. For the EPA, this means diligent oversight of the contractor's timekeeping, ensuring that all hours billed are necessary and reasonable for the tasks performed. Without strong oversight, T&M contracts can become more expensive than fixed-price alternatives.

What specific performance metrics will be used to evaluate the success of the technical assistance provided?

The provided data does not specify the performance metrics for this contract. Typically, for technical assistance contracts related to water and wastewater systems, success metrics might include the number of tribes receiving assistance, the types of technical challenges addressed (e.g., regulatory compliance, system upgrades, operational efficiency), the successful implementation of recommendations, improvements in water quality testing results, or enhanced capacity within tribal utility staff. The contract's Statement of Work (SOW) would detail these specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives and the methods for tracking progress.

How has EPA's spending on tribal water infrastructure technical assistance evolved over the past five years?

Analyzing EPA's spending trends on tribal water infrastructure technical assistance over the past five years would reveal patterns in funding priorities and program focus. This would involve aggregating data from similar contracts awarded by the EPA's various program offices (e.g., Office of Water, Office of Environmental Justice) that support tribal water systems. Such an analysis could indicate whether spending has increased, decreased, or remained stable, and whether there has been a shift in the types of technical assistance being funded, perhaps in response to new regulations or emerging challenges like climate change impacts on water resources.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: PR-OW-24-00250

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2200 WILSON BLVD, ARLINGTON, VA, 22201

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $18,406,757

Exercised Options: $12,787,078

Current Obligation: $1,919,558

Actual Outlays: $1,217,302

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 68HERH22A0029

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline