EPA's $9.96M Communications Support Contract Awarded to Environmental Management Support, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $9,994 ($10.0K)

Contractor: Environmental Management Support, Inc

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2025-05-29

End Date: 2026-02-13

Contract Duration: 260 days

Daily Burn Rate: $38/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: OLEM LARGE MISSION SUPPORT CALL ORDER TITLE: COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT FOR THE OFFICE OF UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS (OUST)

Place of Performance

Location: SILVER SPRING, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20910

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $9,993.96 to ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SUPPORT, INC for work described as: OLEM LARGE MISSION SUPPORT CALL ORDER TITLE: COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT FOR THE OFFICE OF UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS (OUST) Key points: 1. Contract focuses on communications support for the Office of Underground Storage Tanks (OUST). 2. Awarded on a Time and Materials basis, which can pose cost control challenges. 3. The contractor, Environmental Management Support, Inc., has secured this award. 4. This contract is part of a larger BPA Call structure. 5. The duration of the contract is 260 days. 6. The contract is for services within Maryland.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract is awarded on a Time and Materials (T&M) basis, which generally offers less price certainty compared to fixed-price contracts. Without detailed breakdowns of labor categories, hours, and material costs, it is difficult to benchmark the value for money. The total award amount of $9.96 million for a 260-day period suggests a high daily burn rate. Further analysis would require comparing the proposed labor rates and estimated hours against industry standards for similar environmental consulting and communications support services.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple bidders were likely considered. This competitive process is generally favorable for price discovery and ensuring the government receives competitive offers. However, the specific number of bids received and the details of the evaluation process are not provided, which limits a deeper assessment of the competition's effectiveness in driving down costs.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition suggests that taxpayers benefit from a potentially more competitive pricing environment, as multiple firms vied for the contract. This process aims to ensure that the selected contractor offers the best value at a reasonable price.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiary is the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Underground Storage Tanks (OUST). The contract will deliver essential communications support services. Services are geographically focused within Maryland. The contract may impact a specialized workforce in communications and environmental consulting.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials contract type can lead to cost overruns if not closely managed.
Lack of detailed performance metrics makes it difficult to assess contractor efficiency.
The relatively short duration (260 days) might indicate a need for ongoing, potentially higher-cost, short-term support.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust bidding process.
Contract supports a critical environmental program (OUST).

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Environmental Consulting Services sector, specifically focusing on communications support. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541620 represents Environmental Consulting Services. The market for such services is competitive, with numerous firms offering specialized expertise. The total value of $9.96 million for a less-than-one-year contract is substantial, indicating the importance and scope of the OUST's communication needs.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses stemming from a set-aside requirement. The primary contractor, Environmental Management Support, Inc., is likely a larger entity, and the contract's value does not inherently suggest a focus on small business participation unless specified in the subcontracting plan, which is not detailed here.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), specifically the Office of Underground Storage Tanks (OUST). As a Time and Materials contract, rigorous monitoring of labor hours, material costs, and deliverables will be crucial. Transparency would be enhanced by public reporting of performance metrics and expenditures. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Contracts
Office of Underground Storage Tanks (OUST) Programs
Environmental Consulting Services
Communications Support Contracts
Time and Materials Contracts

Risk Flags

Time and Materials contract type carries inherent cost risk.
Lack of specific performance metrics makes oversight challenging.
Contract duration is relatively short, potentially indicating ongoing or episodic needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $9,993.96 to ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SUPPORT, INC. OLEM LARGE MISSION SUPPORT CALL ORDER TITLE: COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT FOR THE OFFICE OF UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS (OUST)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SUPPORT, INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $9,993.96.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-05-29. End: 2026-02-13.

What is the track record of Environmental Management Support, Inc. with the EPA or similar agencies?

A comprehensive review of Environmental Management Support, Inc.'s track record would involve examining their past performance on federal contracts, particularly with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and related environmental or communications support programs. This includes assessing their history of meeting deadlines, quality of deliverables, and adherence to budget constraints. Data on past contract awards, performance evaluations (e.g., Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS), and any documented disputes or corrective actions would provide crucial insights. Without specific historical data on this contractor's performance with the EPA, it's difficult to definitively assess their reliability and capability for this specific OUST communications support role.

How does the estimated cost per day for this contract compare to industry benchmarks for similar services?

The contract has a total award amount of $9,993,960 and a duration of 260 days, resulting in an approximate daily cost of $38,438. Given that this is a Time and Materials contract, this figure represents an estimated burn rate based on projected labor and materials. Benchmarking this against industry standards for environmental consulting and communications support requires detailed information on the labor categories, skill levels, and overhead rates involved. Typically, T&M contracts are scrutinized for their potential to exceed initial estimates. A comparison would involve looking at average daily rates for senior consultants, project managers, and communication specialists in the environmental sector, adjusted for geographic location (Maryland) and the specific nature of OUST support.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how will success be measured?

The provided data does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) or the methodology for measuring the success of this communications support contract. For a Time and Materials contract, success is often measured by the efficient use of labor hours and the timely completion of tasks within the scope of work. Specific KPIs for communications support could include metrics related to public outreach effectiveness, message dissemination reach, stakeholder engagement levels, and the quality of communication materials produced. The EPA's contracting office and the OUST program office would be responsible for defining and monitoring these KPIs throughout the contract's lifecycle to ensure value and effectiveness.

What is the historical spending pattern for communications support services by the OUST?

Analyzing historical spending patterns for communications support services by the Office of Underground Storage Tanks (OUST) is crucial for contextualizing the current $9.96 million award. This involves examining previous contract awards for similar services, their values, durations, and the contractors involved. Understanding whether this award represents an increase, decrease, or stable level of spending compared to prior years can indicate shifts in program priorities, resource allocation, or market conditions. Without access to historical OUST procurement data, it's challenging to determine if this contract amount is typical, unusually high, or low for the services required.

What are the potential risks associated with a Time and Materials contract for communications support?

The primary risk associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract for communications support is the potential for cost overruns. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M agreements do not set a ceiling on the total cost, as payment is based on the actual labor hours expended and materials used. This can lead to unpredictable expenditures if the scope of work expands, inefficiencies arise, or the contractor's billing rates are higher than anticipated. Effective oversight, clear task definitions, and robust monitoring of hours and costs are essential to mitigate these risks and ensure the government receives good value for its investment.

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: 68HERH25Q0027

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 8455 COLESVILLE RD, SILVER SPRING, MD, 20910

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $9,994

Exercised Options: $9,994

Current Obligation: $9,994

Actual Outlays: $9,040

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 68HE0P24A0005

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline