Operation of water treatment and distribution systems for municipalities and federal facilities. Find active federal and state water supply and irrigation systems contracts — AI-scored against your profile across SAM.gov and 200+ portals.
Annual federal spend for NAICS 221310 is estimated at $2-3 billion, driven by aging infrastructure, drought resilience, and regulatory compliance. The Bureau of Reclamation and Army Corps of Engineers lead with large water treatment plant upgrades and distribution system repairs. Contracts are often multi-year IDIQs or fixed-price task orders under regional MATOCs. Competition is moderate, with a mix of large engineering firms and specialized small businesses. Demand spikes during drought emergencies and after EPA enforcement actions.
These agencies are the largest buyers of water supply and irrigation systems services and products in the federal government. Each awards contracts under NAICS 221310 regularly — build relationships with their small business offices first.
Win by targeting small business set-asides under the Bureau of Reclamation's 8(a) program and Army Corps' Small Business MATOCs. The highest-leverage move is to obtain a GSA Schedule 51V (Facilities Maintenance and Management) or 871 (Professional Engineering Services) to be eligible for streamlined task orders. Also, build past performance in municipal water system operations and maintenance—agencies value proven reliability over low price.
Contracts are mostly LPTA for routine O&M and best-value for complex design-build. Common vehicles include GSA 51V and 871, SEWP for SCADA systems, 8(a) STARS III for IT-integrated water management, and agency-specific MATOCs like USACE's MVD Small Business MATOC. Evaluation emphasizes past performance, technical approach, and safety record.
Yes, many task orders require key personnel to hold a valid Water Treatment Operator or Distribution System Operator certification from a state agency (e.g., California SWRCB). Check each solicitation's personnel qualifications.
For contracts over $150,000, Miller Act bonds are required. Typical bid bonds are 5% of bid value, and performance/payment bonds are 100% of contract value. Some IDIQs require annual aggregate bonds up to $10 million.
Yes, it's a popular set-aside code. The Bureau of Reclamation and EPA actively use 8(a) sole-source and competitive set-asides. However, expect competition from other 8(a) firms—differentiate with specific water treatment experience.
Task orders range from $500,000 to $25 million. Small business set-asides average $2-5 million, while full-and-open contracts can exceed $100 million. Many are multi-year with base plus four option years.
Yes, many primes seek small business subcontractors for operations, maintenance, and repair. Register as a subcontractor in SBA's SUB-Net and target primes like AECOM, Jacobs, and Tetra Tech.