Operation & Maintenance of the South Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) has awarded a fixed-price, sole-source bridge contract to Veolia Water North America – West, LLC for the Operation & Maintenance (O&M) of the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBIWTP) in San Diego, CA. This award ensures uninterrupted critical services while the Government prepares for a new competitive long-term O&M contract.
Scope of Work
This contract covers full-scope Operations & Maintenance services for the 24/7 critical infrastructure facility, the SBIWTP. The services are essential to prevent immediate environmental, public health, regulatory, and treaty compliance impacts. The scope includes maintaining existing O&M services, ensuring regulatory compliance, and providing continuity of operations.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Fixed-Price, Sole-Source Bridge Contract
- Awardee: Veolia Water North America – West, LLC
- Period of Performance: April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027
- Option Period: An additional two-month option (April 1, 2027, through May 31, 2027) is included to support transition to a newly-awarded competitive successor contract, if required.
- Award Date: April 2, 2026
- Set-Aside: Not applicable (sole-source award under FAR 6.302-1)
Reason for Sole Source
This contract was not competitively awarded in accordance with FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source. A formal Determination & Findings (D&F) determined that only the incumbent, Veolia Water North America – West, LLC, could provide uninterrupted O&M services. The prior competitive solicitation (No. 191BWC26R0001) was canceled due to material deficiencies in the Performance Work Statement (PWS), ambiguous requirements, and an undisclosed organizational conflict of interest (OCI). The SBIWTP's critical nature necessitates continuous operation, and the incumbent possesses the unique site-specific knowledge, trained workforce, and certifications to prevent operational lapses during this corrective-action period.
Future Action
This limited-duration bridge action is required solely to maintain uninterrupted operations while the Government prepares, competes, and awards the upcoming full and open long-term O&M contract. The full contract period is needed to properly complete the next competitive procurement.