R--Technical Support for Assessment and Watershed Protection-3

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.