Operation of sewage treatment and wastewater management systems. Find active federal and state sewage treatment facilities contracts — AI-scored against your profile across SAM.gov and 200+ portals.
Annual federal spend on NAICS 221320 is estimated at $2-3 billion, primarily through EPA Clean Water State Revolving Fund grants and Army Corps civil works projects. Competition is moderate with a mix of large engineering firms and specialized small businesses. Contracts are predominantly fixed-price, awarded via competitive sealed bidding under the Brooks Act for design-build or traditional design-bid-build. Demand is driven by aging infrastructure, consent decrees, and new EPA nutrient removal standards. Work ranges from plant upgrades to collection system rehabilitation, with many projects funded through state revolving funds requiring Davis-Bacon wage rates.
These agencies are the largest buyers of sewage treatment facilities services and products in the federal government. Each awards contracts under NAICS 221320 regularly — build relationships with their small business offices first.
To win Sewage Treatment Facilities contracts, focus on EPA and Army Corps district offices that issue the most task orders. The most common set-asides are 8(a) and HUBZone for small businesses. The single highest-leverage move is to form a joint venture with a large engineering firm that holds an EPA IDIQ, allowing you to compete for design-build projects as a prime while meeting small business goals. Register in SAM, but also get prequalified with state environmental agencies and the Corps' MACC program.
Contracts are primarily awarded via LPTA for design-bid-build and best-value tradeoff for design-build. Common vehicles include EPA's Clean Water SRF grants (passed through states), Army Corps MACC IDIQs, GSA Schedule 899 (Environmental Services), and 8(a) STARS III for IT-related wastewater monitoring. Evaluation focuses on past performance, technical approach, and price, with technical factors often weighted 60-70% for complex projects.
Contractors typically need a state-level wastewater operator certification (e.g., Grade IV or V) for plant operations, and a professional engineer (PE) license for design-build work. Federal contracts may also require OSHA 30-hour construction safety training and EPA's NPDES permit compliance experience.
For federal projects, bid bonds are usually 5-10% of the bid amount, performance bonds 100%, and payment bonds 50%. Typical contract values range from $500,000 to $20 million, so bonding capacity of $5-10 million is common. Small businesses can use the SBA Surety Bond Guarantee program to obtain bonds up to $10 million.
Key certifications include ISO 14001 (environmental management), OSHA VPP (safety), and state-specific wastewater operator licenses. For federal contracts, having an 8(a) or HUBZone certification can open sole-source opportunities up to $7 million for 8(a) firms.
The market is moderately competitive, with about 30% of federal contracts set aside for small businesses. Many awards go to 8(a) and HUBZone firms. Competition is higher for large plant upgrades ($10M+) but lower for small collection system repairs ($500K-$2M).
Typical award sizes vary: small repair projects average $500K-$2M, medium plant upgrades $5M-$20M, and large design-build projects $20M-$100M+. The most common awards are between $1M and $10M, often as task orders under IDIQ contracts.