Medical Waste Incineration Services – Fort Detrick, MD

The U.S. Army Contracting Command – Rock Island, on behalf of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC), is issuing this Sources Sought notice to identify qualified sources capable of providing comprehensive operation and maintenance services for a future medical waste incinerator facility planned for construction at Fort Detrick, Maryland. This facility will be a Government-Owned, Contractor-Operated (GOCO) facility, capable of processing a variety of Regulated Medical Waste (RMW), including waste generated from Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2), Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3), and Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) laboratories, while ensuring environmentally sound disposal and adherence to stringent safety and security standards.

The new incinerator facility, utilizing a Pennram incinerator, is currently under construction. The operating contractor will be responsible for all aspects of facility operation, maintenance, and modernization following completion of construction, ensuring compliance with all applicable Federal, State, and Local environmental regulations, as well as Army policies and Department of Defense (DoD) guidelines for medical waste management. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Incinerator operation and process control, specifically for RMW.
• Ash management and disposal in accordance with regulatory requirements.
• Air pollution control system maintenance and monitoring.
• Preventative and corrective maintenance of all facility equipment.
• Facility security and access control, commensurate with the sensitive nature of the waste stream.
• Environmental monitoring and reporting.
• Waste receiving, handling, tracking, and segregation.
• Emergency response and safety procedures, including biohazard protocols.
• Documentation and record-keeping required for RMW disposal.

The United States Government (USG) anticipates awarding a long-term contract with an anticipated period of performance commencing mid-2027, contingent upon facility completion. The facility is projected to process more than 1,000,000 pounds of RMW annually.

Information Requested:

The USG encourages all responsible interested sources to submit their capabilities/qualification data demonstrating experience in the operation and maintenance of similar incinerator facilities. Interested companies should respond by providing the USG the following information:

1. Company Information:
   • Name of company and CAGE Code
   • Point of Contact's name, telephone number, and e-mail address
   • Company address
   • Business size information (as defined above)
   • Identification of whether you are interested in this opportunity as a prime or a subcontractor.
2. Capabilities Summary:
   • A brief summary of the company's capabilities, including descriptions of personnel, skills, experience, and expertise related to incinerator operation, maintenance, and environmental compliance.
   • Specific experience with incinerator facilities processing regulated medical waste from BSL-2, BSL-3, and BSL-4 laboratories.
   • Experience with air pollution control systems and continuous emissions monitoring, particularly as applied to medical waste incineration.
   • Demonstrated understanding of relevant environmental regulations (e.g., Clean Air Act, RCRA) and DoD medical waste management guidelines.
3. Subcontractor Information:
   • Identification of potential sources for major subcontractors, teaming partners, or joint ventures, if applicable.

Additionally, the USG requests industry feedback on more specific questions detailed in the “Industry Expertise” document attached to this Sources Sought.

Submission Information:

All information shall be submitted via email to Alex Hatlestad at alex.j.hatlestad.civ@army.mil and Benjamin Gillen at benjamin.j.gillen.civ@army.mil no later than 2:00 PM CT on September 22, 2025. 

Disclaimer:

This is a Sources Sought notice for planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a Request for Proposal, nor as an obligation on the part of the USG. The USG does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this Sources Sought notice or otherwise pay for information solicited. Participation in this effort is strictly voluntary. Please identify any proprietary information submitted. The USG intends to utilize the information received only to develop the acquisition strategy for future requirements. All of the information stated above is subject to change. If a formal solicitation is generated at a later date, the USG will publish a solicitation notice.

 

12/19/2025: DRAFT PWS POSTED 

The USG invites industry stakeholders to review the attached draft PWS (Fort Detrick Incinerator Draft PWS v.01) for the Medical Waste Incinerator Facility Operations and Maintenance at Fort Detrick, Maryland.

Your feedback is critical to ensuring that the PWS is comprehensive and aligned with industry standards. We greatly value your insights and encourage you to provide comments and questions regarding the content and requirements outlined in the document.

Please submit your feedback/questions by 05 February 2026 to the following email addresses:

• alex.j.hatlestad.civ@army.mil
• a.c.baker2.civ@army.mil

Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your responses.