EPA awards $6.8M contract for Earth Mission Support to Eastern Research Group Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $6,769,655 ($6.8M)
Contractor: Eastern Research Group Inc
Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Start Date: 2023-12-13
End Date: 2026-06-17
Contract Duration: 917 days
Daily Burn Rate: $7.4K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: EARTH MISSION SUPPORT - OFFICE OF CHEMICAL SAFETY AND POLLUTION PREVENTION (OCSPP) / DATA GATHERING AND ANALYSIS DIVISION (DGAD) INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA)
Place of Performance
Location: CONCORD, MIDDLESEX County, MASSACHUSETTS, 01742
Plain-Language Summary
Environmental Protection Agency obligated $6.8 million to EASTERN RESEARCH GROUP INC for work described as: EARTH MISSION SUPPORT - OFFICE OF CHEMICAL SAFETY AND POLLUTION PREVENTION (OCSPP) / DATA GATHERING AND ANALYSIS DIVISION (DGAD) INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA) Key points: 1. Contract awarded under a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call. 2. Eastern Research Group Inc. is the sole awardee for this specific call. 3. The contract is for Environmental Consulting Services, NAICS 541620. 4. Funding is tied to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The award amount of $6.8M appears reasonable for a 2.5-year contract for specialized environmental consulting services. Benchmarking against similar EPA contracts for data gathering and analysis would provide further validation.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, likely through a pre-existing BPA. This method generally promotes competitive pricing, although the specific BPA call may have had limited participants.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for essential environmental data gathering and analysis, supporting the goals of the Inflation Reduction Act.
Public Impact
Supports critical environmental data gathering and analysis for the EPA. Funds are allocated through the Inflation Reduction Act, indicating a focus on climate and environmental initiatives. The contract duration extends into mid-2026, ensuring continuity of services.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for limited competition within the BPA call structure.
- Reliance on a single contractor for this specific task.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under full and open competition framework.
- Supports a key government initiative (IRA).
- Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost certainty.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Environmental Consulting Services sector. Spending in this area is often driven by regulatory requirements and specific government initiatives like the IRA, which aims to address climate change and related environmental issues.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses had opportunities to participate as subcontractors.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract is managed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has established oversight mechanisms for its procurements. The BPA call structure suggests a degree of pre-vetting and established terms.
Related Government Programs
- Environmental Consulting Services
- Environmental Protection Agency Contracting
- Environmental Protection Agency Programs
Risk Flags
- Contract duration is relatively long (over 2 years).
- Potential for limited competition within BPA call.
- No small business set-aside identified.
- Reliance on a single awardee for this specific task.
Tags
environmental-consulting-services, environmental-protection-agency, ma, bpa-call, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Environmental Protection Agency awarded $6.8 million to EASTERN RESEARCH GROUP INC. EARTH MISSION SUPPORT - OFFICE OF CHEMICAL SAFETY AND POLLUTION PREVENTION (OCSPP) / DATA GATHERING AND ANALYSIS DIVISION (DGAD) INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA)
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is EASTERN RESEARCH GROUP INC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Environmental Protection Agency (Environmental Protection Agency).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $6.8 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2023-12-13. End: 2026-06-17.
What specific data analysis tasks are included in this contract, and how do they directly support the EPA's mission and IRA objectives?
This contract likely involves collecting, processing, and analyzing environmental data related to pollution prevention and chemical safety, as managed by the OCSPP and DGAD. These analyses are crucial for informing policy decisions, tracking progress on environmental goals, and ensuring compliance with regulations, directly supporting the EPA's core mission and the specific objectives outlined within the Inflation Reduction Act concerning environmental protection and climate resilience.
What are the potential risks associated with relying on a single contractor for this specific BPA call, even if the overall BPA was competitively sourced?
While the overall BPA may have been competitively sourced, a single contractor receiving this specific call could lead to risks such as reduced innovation, potential price increases in future calls if competition is not actively maintained, and a lack of alternative solutions if the contractor underperforms. It also concentrates critical data gathering and analysis capabilities within one entity, potentially creating a single point of failure.
How effectively will the data gathered and analyzed under this contract be integrated into broader EPA decision-making processes and public reporting related to the IRA?
The effectiveness hinges on the EPA's internal data management and integration protocols. If robust systems are in place to ingest, validate, and utilize the contractor's output, the data will significantly inform policy adjustments, resource allocation, and progress reporting for IRA initiatives. Clear communication channels and defined data-sharing agreements between the contractor and EPA divisions are essential for seamless integration and maximizing the impact of the analysis.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Environmental Consulting Services
Product/Service Code: NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT › ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS PROTECTION
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 561 VIRGINIA RD, CONCORD, MA, 01742
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $57,113,802
Exercised Options: $24,046,172
Current Obligation: $6,769,655
Actual Outlays: $5,544,180
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 8
Total Subaward Amount: $1,832,284
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 68HERH22A0020
IDV Type: BPA
Timeline
Start Date: 2023-12-13
Current End Date: 2026-06-17
Potential End Date: 2029-06-17 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-01
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