# SAM #68HERW26Q0086

Sole-source technical support for the U.S. Virgin Islands Basic Water Quality Monitoring Program

**Buyer:** WATER, TRIBAL & SCIENCE DIVISION
**Posted:** October 05, 2026
**Identifier:** 68HERW26Q0086
**NAICS:** 541620

EPA issued a sole-source call order for technical support to continue the U.S. Virgin Islands Basic Water Quality Monitoring Program.
- **Agency and action:** The Environmental Protection Agency’s Water, Tribal & Science Division issued a sole-source call order.
- **Scope:** Technical support for the USVI Basic Water Quality Monitoring Program, including complex, multi-year Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) projects and analysis under Clean Water Act regulatory frameworks.
- **Award rationale:** EPA described the work as a logical follow-on to a previously competed order. Continuity of specialized technical work was cited as necessary to avoid delays and added costs and to meet court-mandated deadlines.
- **Products and quantities:** No products, quantities, or part numbers are identified; the requirement is for services.
- **Timing and value:** The period of performance and contract value are not provided in the available information.

### Description

R425-Call Order for US Virgin Islands Basic Water Quality Monitoring Program (USVI BWQMP)<br/><br/>The purpose of this justification is to notify the public of the sole source award to Research Triangle Institute for the Water and OITA Branch /Water Tribal Science Division BPA Contract (Award # 68HERC22A0020/68HERW26F0244). <br/><br/>Authority Cited:<br/>The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C. 253(c) (2) in accordance with GSAM/R 538.7104-3(b)(iii) as this is a logical follow to an FSS order already issued on a competitive basis.  <br/> <br/>Need & Justification:<br/>Under GSAM/R 538.7104-3(b)(iii) this Call Order has been issued on a sole-source basis to provide support for the US Virgin Islands Basic Water Quality Monitoring Program (USVI BWQMP).  In the interest of efficiency, awarding this call order to RTI would allow work to continue without the<br/>need for additional planning time that would be required if a new/different vendor was awarded<br/>this call order. The relationship between the current order and the follow-on is logical in scope<br/>and technical expertise.  This new call order will allow the continuation of highly technical work that needs to be restarted under the new call order. The Contracting Officer and the Program Office are confident that the anticipated cost to the government will be fair and reasonable.<br/><br/>The Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) technical projects are inherently complex, multi-year endeavors that require extensive scientific analysis before reports can be authored and results organized within the Clean Water Act regulatory frameworks. These projects are large and complex in several ways: they cover expansive geographic areas, require detailed technical analyses, and involve the integration of multiple Clean Water Act programs. Due to their complexity, TMDL projects often span multiple years and are divided into different phases to effectively organize and manage the workload. Moreover, these projects involve comprehensive administrative processes, including public comment periods and hearings, before the TMDLs can be officially established.<br/><br/>The complexity and specificity of these projects necessitate an uninterrupted continuation of work to ensure compliance with the court-mandated schedule. Introducing a new contractor at this stage would risk significant delays and increased costs, potentially jeopardizing the EPA's ability to meet critical deadlines and fulfill its legal obligations.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><strong>Additional Links:</strong><br/><a href='https://www.epa.gov/' target='_blank'>https://www.epa.gov/</a>

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