DoD Awards $3.5M Contract for PFAS Investigation at Westover ARB to Seres Engineering
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $3,532,982 ($3.5M)
Contractor: Seres Engineering & Services LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2022-09-16
End Date: 2026-03-16
Contract Duration: 1,277 days
Daily Burn Rate: $2.8K/day
Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: PHASE I REMEDIAL INVESTIGATION OF PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS) AT WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE (ARB) IN CHICOPEE, MA
Place of Performance
Location: CHICOPEE, HAMPDEN County, MASSACHUSETTS, 01013
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $3.5 million to SERES ENGINEERING & SERVICES LLC for work described as: PHASE I REMEDIAL INVESTIGATION OF PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS) AT WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE (ARB) IN CHICOPEE, MA Key points: 1. Contract awarded for environmental consulting services related to PFAS at Westover ARB. 2. The contract is a definitive contract with a firm fixed price. 3. The contract was not available for competition, raising potential concerns about price discovery. 4. The sector is environmental consulting, a critical area for military base management.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $3,532,982 for a 1277-day period appears reasonable for a Phase I remedial investigation. However, without specific benchmarks for PFAS investigations at military bases, a precise comparison is difficult.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
The contract was not available for competition, indicating a sole-source or limited competition award. This limits the opportunity for competitive bidding and potentially impacts price discovery, as there is no direct comparison to other offers.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition may lead to a higher cost for taxpayers than if multiple firms had bid on the project.
Public Impact
Public health implications due to PFAS contamination at a military installation. Environmental remediation efforts are crucial for base cleanup and surrounding community safety. Transparency in contracting for environmental services is important for public trust.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Potential for inflated costs due to sole-source award
Positive Signals
- Addresses critical environmental issue (PFAS)
- Long-term contract duration allows for thorough investigation
Sector Analysis
Environmental consulting services, particularly for PFAS, are a growing sector driven by regulatory pressures and public health concerns. Spending benchmarks vary widely based on the scope and complexity of investigations.
Small Business Impact
The contract was awarded to SERES ENGINEERING & SERVICES LLC. Information regarding whether this firm is a small business is not provided, nor is there an indication of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses.
Oversight & Accountability
The Department of the Army awarded this contract. Oversight will be crucial to ensure the thoroughness and cost-effectiveness of the PFAS investigation, especially given the limited competition.
Related Government Programs
- Environmental Consulting Services
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Department of the Army Programs
Risk Flags
- Limited competition may result in higher costs.
- Lack of transparency regarding the justification for limited competition.
- Potential for cost overruns if the scope of the investigation expands.
- Effectiveness of the investigation relies heavily on the expertise of the awarded contractor.
Tags
environmental-consulting-services, department-of-defense, ma, definitive-contract, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $3.5 million to SERES ENGINEERING & SERVICES LLC. PHASE I REMEDIAL INVESTIGATION OF PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS) AT WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE (ARB) IN CHICOPEE, MA
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is SERES ENGINEERING & SERVICES LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Army).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $3.5 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2022-09-16. End: 2026-03-16.
What specific factors led to this contract being classified as 'not available for competition', and were alternative procurement methods considered?
The data indicates the contract was 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION'. This classification typically arises from specific circumstances such as urgent and compelling needs, or if only one source is capable of meeting the requirement. Without further details, it's unclear if other procurement methods were explored or if a justification for other than full and open competition was formally documented and approved.
How does the cost of this PFAS investigation compare to similar remedial investigations at other Department of Defense facilities?
Benchmarking the cost of this $3.5 million, 1277-day PFAS investigation against similar DoD projects is challenging without access to a comprehensive database of comparable contracts. Factors like site complexity, specific PFAS compounds, and regional labor costs can significantly influence pricing. A detailed cost-benefit analysis would be needed to assess value for money.
What are the potential long-term environmental and health risks associated with PFAS at Westover ARB if this investigation is not conducted effectively?
Inadequate or ineffective PFAS investigation at Westover ARB poses significant long-term risks. These include continued environmental contamination of soil and groundwater, potential migration to nearby water sources impacting public health, and failure to meet regulatory compliance standards. This could lead to costly future remediation efforts and long-term health monitoring for affected populations.
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
Solicitation ID: W912WJ22R0016
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 669 MARINA DRIVE, SUITE B-7, CHARLESTON, SC, 29492
Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $3,532,982
Exercised Options: $3,532,982
Current Obligation: $3,532,982
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2022-09-16
Current End Date: 2026-03-16
Potential End Date: 2026-03-16 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-01-09
More Contracts from Seres Engineering & Services LLC
- Base Operations Support Services and Environmental Services Including ALL Aspects of, BUT NOT Limited to Operations, Plans, Real Estate, Engineering and Environmental Support Throughout the 81ST Area of Responsibility (AOR) to Include Puerto Rico — $29.3M (Department of Defense)
View all Seres Engineering & Services LLC federal contracts →
Other Department of Defense Contracts
- Federal Contract — $51.3B (Humana Government Business Inc)
- Lrip LOT 12 Advance Acquisition Contract — $35.1B (Lockheed Martin Corporation)
- SSN 802 and 803 Long Lead Time Material — $34.7B (Electric Boat Corporation)
- 200204!008532!1700!AF600 !naval AIR Systems Command !N0001902C3002 !A!N! !N! !20011026!20120430!008016958!008016958!834951691!n!lockheed Martin Corporation !lockheed Blvd !fort Worth !tx!76108!27000!439!48!fort Worth !tarrant !texas !+000026000000!n!n!018981928201!ac15!rdte/Aircraft-Eng/Manuf Develop !a1a!airframes and Spares !2ama!jast/Jsf !336411!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !99990909!B! ! !A! !a!n!r!2!002!n!1a!a!n!z! ! !N!C!N! ! ! !a!a!a!a!000!a!c!n! ! ! !Y! !N00019!0001! — $34.2B (Lockheed Martin Corporation)
- KC-X Modernization Program — $32.0B (THE Boeing Company)