# Technical Support for Assessment and Watershed Protection-3 Canonical: https://abierto.us/opportunities/68herw26q0086 - Solicitation number: 68HERW26Q0086 - Notice type: Justification - Status: Awarded to Research Triangle Institute - Department: Environmental Protection Agency - Contracting office: Water, Tribal & Science Division (68HERW) - NAICS: 541620 Environmental Consulting Services - Product or service code: R425 Engineering and Technical Services - Who can bid, by location: Location not published. The notice publishes no state, city or site; its documents may. - First posted: October 5, 2026 - Last posted: October 5, 2026 - SAM.gov: https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/172e7a80dabc42afa5420cae97b3561d/view ## Description R425-Call Order for US Virgin Islands Basic Water Quality Monitoring Program (USVI BWQMP) 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). Authority Cited: 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. Need & Justification: 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 need for additional planning time that would be required if a new/different vendor was awarded this call order. The relationship between the current order and the follow-on is logical in scope 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. 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. 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. ## Attachments - [77e12723b82c4f37a583257df5b0b001](https://www.epa.gov/) ## Award on USAspending - Recipient: Research Triangle Institute (UEI JJHCMK4NT5N3) - Contract: 68HERW26F0244 under 68HERC22A0020, bpa call - Obligated: $349,484.00, current value $370,492 - Competition: Full and Open Competition - Link: solicitation number 68HERW26Q0086 equals the FPDS solicitation identifier; same awarding office 68HERW (high confidence) - Record: https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_68HERW26F0244_6800_68HERC22A0020_6800/ - Recipient: Research Triangle Institute (UEI JJHCMK4NT5N3) - Contract: 68HERC22A0020 under GS00F354CA - Obligated: $0.00 - Competition: Full and Open Competition, 5 offers received - Link: award number 68HERC22A0020 equals the contract number; same sub-agency 6800 (high confidence) - Record: https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_IDV_68HERC22A0020_6800/ ## Open now in the same industry 9 open in NAICS 541620. - Legionella Water Testing (36C26224Q1533), due November 10, 2026 at 1:00 PM EST. https://abierto.us/opportunities/36c26224q1533 - Core Environmental Compliance Support Services – Darby Military Community (DMC), USAG Italy (PAN41426P0000025815), due November 15, 2026 at 9:00 AM EST. https://abierto.us/opportunities/pan41426p0000025815 - 657A4-21-800 - VPIH Services for Remove and Replace End of Life Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Construction (36C25527R0004), due November 2, 2026 at 3:00 PM EST. https://abierto.us/opportunities/36c25527r0004 ## Publications - October 5, 2026: Justification. Notice 172e7a80dabc42afa5420cae97b3561d. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/172e7a80dabc42afa5420cae97b3561d/view ## Points of contact - Jones-Banks, Dionna, JonesBanks.Dionna@epa.gov, (513) 487-2054 --- Source: SAM.gov Contract Opportunities bulk extract and USAspending.gov award data. Confirm deadlines on SAM.gov before responding. Cite https://abierto.us/opportunities/68herw26q0086.