Environmental Protection Agency

The Environmental Protection Agency, an independent civilian agency that administers federal environmental protection and pollution-control programs through regulation, compliance assistance, and remediation funding, operates a dual contracting and grant-making apparatus funding environmental cleanup, monitoring, laboratory services, emergency response, and state and tribal environmental programs.

The EPA's contract portfolio spans 171,030 awards totaling $49.11 billion in combined potential value since 1979, with $48.78 billion obligated. Recent contract volume has declined: 2,375 awards in 2023, 2,442 in 2024, 1,646 in 2025, 1,290 in 2026, and 3 year-to-date in 2027 (the latest recorded award date is in February 2027). Over the last five years, the competitive landscape is moderately concentrated by award count—Environmental Restoration LLC, Eastern Research Group Inc., and ICF Incorporated lead with 561, 427, and 287 awards respectively, covering 16 percent of recent awards—but highly fragmented by potential value, with General Dynamics Information Technology, Eastern Research Group, and EA Engineering Science and Technology holding 7 percent of recent combined value across 99, 427, and 118 awards. The EPA transacts heavily through open competition with no set-aside: 149,504 awards (87 percent) carry no set-aside designation, while small-business set-asides account for 16,534 awards (10 percent). The 8(a) portfolio is minimal across all variants, totaling fewer than 2,600 awards.

The EPA's grant portfolio comprises 88,978 awards obligating $189.98 billion in federal dollars since 1977, with combined federal and non-federal dollars reaching $228.79 billion. Grant volume mirrors contract decline: 3,117 awards in 2023, 3,201 in 2024, 2,462 in 2025, 336 in 2026, and 2 year-to-date in 2027 (the latest recorded grant award is in January 2027). Grant recipients are highly fragmented by award count but moderately concentrated by federal dollars. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Michigan Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy, and The State of Ohio Office of Budget and Management lead by count with 132, 132, and 121 awards respectively, covering 5 percent of recent awards. By federal dollars, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality dominate with $3.54 billion, $2.35 billion, and $2.01 billion respectively, covering 6 percent of recent federal obligations. The grant mix is predominantly Project Grants (71 percent), with Formula Grants and Cooperative Agreements splitting the remainder (16 percent and 14 percent).

Recent contract opportunities reflect EPA's operational footprint: Emergency and Rapid Response Services VI solicitations posted in September and October 2026 across Regions 4, 5, and 6 (due November 2026, set-aside for small business); Laboratory Facility Operation and Maintenance for Region 10 Manchester Laboratory in Port Orchard, Washington (estimated $5 million to $8 million, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business set-aside, RFP anticipated October 2026); and a succession of brand-name laboratory equipment procurements including radioisotope identification devices, gamma radiation detectors, and analytical instrumentation (simplified acquisitions and sole-source notices posted through October 2026).

Grant opportunities include the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act National Program (competitive, due January 2027, retrofits or retirements of legacy diesel engines), Southeast New England Program Innovative Restoration Grants for coastal watershed restoration (Cooperative Agreement or Grant, $5.31 million total, due December 2026), and Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grants for utilities-sector apprenticeships and training (Cooperative Agreement, due October 2026).

The Environmental Protection Agency, with a mission to protect people and the environment from significant health risks, sponsors and conducts research and develops and enforces environmental regulations.