EPA awards $13.2M for Great Lakes water media criteria support to Great Lakes Environmental Center, Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $13,201,842 ($13.2M)
Contractor: Great Lakes Environmental Center, Inc
Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Start Date: 2003-12-15
End Date: 2008-11-30
Contract Duration: 1,812 days
Daily Burn Rate: $7.3K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 5
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: Other
Official Description: TECHNICAL AND REGULATORY SUPPORT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CRITERIA FOR WATER MEDIA (ECOLOGICAL EMPHASIS)
Place of Performance
Location: TRAVERSE CITY, GRAND TRAVERSE County, MICHIGAN, 49686
State: Michigan Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Environmental Protection Agency obligated $13.2 million to GREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER, INC for work described as: TECHNICAL AND REGULATORY SUPPORT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CRITERIA FOR WATER MEDIA (ECOLOGICAL EMPHASIS) Key points: 1. Contract awarded for critical ecological research support. 2. Competition was full and open, indicating market availability. 3. Potential risk associated with long contract duration (2003-2008). 4. Spending falls within the 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services' sector.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $13.2M over nearly 5 years suggests a moderate annual spend. Benchmarking against similar scientific consulting contracts is difficult without more specific service details.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting multiple vendors could bid. This method generally promotes competitive pricing and value for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for essential environmental research, aiming to improve water quality standards.
Public Impact
Supports the development of crucial water quality standards for the Great Lakes. Involves scientific and technical expertise in ecological assessment. Contract duration spans significant environmental research and development phases.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 100 / 10
Warning Flags
- Long contract duration may lead to cost overruns or scope creep.
- Reliance on a single contractor for extended technical support.
- Potential for outdated technical specifications over the contract's lifespan.
Positive Signals
- Addresses a critical environmental need for the Great Lakes region.
- Utilizes a competitive bidding process to ensure value.
- Contract supports scientific advancement in ecological understanding.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services,' a broad category. Spending benchmarks for specific ecological criteria development are not readily available, but the value appears significant for specialized research.
Small Business Impact
The contract was not awarded to a small business. There is no indication of specific small business subcontracting goals or requirements in the provided data.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract was awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency, a federal agency with established oversight mechanisms. The duration and nature of the work suggest ongoing monitoring would be necessary.
Related Government Programs
- Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Environmental Protection Agency Contracting
- Environmental Protection Agency Programs
Risk Flags
- Long contract duration
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type
- Lack of small business participation
- Potential for scope creep
- Limited detail on specific deliverables and impact
Tags
other-scientific-and-technical-consultin, environmental-protection-agency, mi, dca, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Environmental Protection Agency awarded $13.2 million to GREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER, INC. TECHNICAL AND REGULATORY SUPPORT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CRITERIA FOR WATER MEDIA (ECOLOGICAL EMPHASIS)
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is GREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER, INC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Environmental Protection Agency (Environmental Protection Agency).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $13.2 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2003-12-15. End: 2008-11-30.
What specific technical criteria were developed, and what was their measurable impact on water quality?
The provided data does not detail the specific technical criteria developed or their measurable impact. Further analysis would require access to contract deliverables and EPA reports on water quality improvements attributed to these criteria. Understanding the tangible outcomes is crucial for assessing the true value of this investment.
Were there any performance issues or contract modifications during the 5-year period that impacted cost or schedule?
The data does not specify performance issues or modifications. A contract of this length (2003-2008) often involves adjustments. Reviewing contract modification logs and performance reviews would be necessary to identify any deviations from the original plan and their financial or temporal consequences.
How does the cost of this contract compare to similar scientific consulting efforts for environmental agencies?
Benchmarking this $13.2M contract against similar efforts is challenging without more granular data on the specific services rendered and the complexity of the ecological focus. While 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services' is a broad category, the specialized nature of water media criteria development suggests it might be within a reasonable range, but a definitive comparison requires more detailed cost breakdowns.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation ID: PRCI0310291
Offers Received: 5
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Contractor Details
Address: 739 HASTINGS STREET, TRAVERSE CITY, MI, 01
Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $19,812,384
Exercised Options: $14,981,037
Current Obligation: $13,201,842
Timeline
Start Date: 2003-12-15
Current End Date: 2008-11-30
Potential End Date: 2008-11-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2013-10-14
More Contracts from Great Lakes Environmental Center, Inc
- 68herc23d0009, to #68herc24f0505 Support for Ucmr Implementation AT Small Public Water Systems — $2.7M (Environmental Protection Agency)
- R499 - National Wetland Condition Assessment 2026: Logistics Support and Training — $709.0K (Environmental Protection Agency)
View all Great Lakes Environmental Center, Inc federal contracts →
Other Environmental Protection Agency Contracts
- Remedial Action Contract 2 — $383.3M (CH2M Hill, Inc)
- A&E Services — $309.2M (Sultrac, JV)
- Federal Contract — $181.4M (Weston Solutions Inc)
- Central Data Exchange (CDX) Support Services — $160.9M (CGI Federal Inc.)
- This Remedial Action Contract 2 Full Service (RAC 2 FS) for Epa's Region 8 Provides Professional Architect/Engineer, Technical, and Management Services to Support Remedial Response, Enforcement Oversight and Non-Time Critical Removal Activities Under Cercla, AS Amended by Sara; and the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance ACT Pursuant to the Federal Response Plan (FRP) and Other Laws to Help Address And/Or Mitigate Endangerment to the Public Health, Welfare or Environment, and to Support States and Communities in Preparing for Responses to Releases of Hazardous Substances, AS Well AS Counter-Terrorism — $145.9M (CDM Federal Programs Corporation)