VA awards $6,145 for Portland VAMC emergency water tank cleaning to River City Environmental Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $6,146 ($6.1K)

Contractor: River City Environmental Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2026-04-03

End Date: 2026-05-01

Contract Duration: 28 days

Daily Burn Rate: $219/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: PORTLAND VAMC EMERGENCY WATER TANK CLEANING

Place of Performance

Location: PORTLAND, MULTNOMAH County, OREGON, 97239

State: Oregon Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $6,145.89 to RIVER CITY ENVIRONMENTAL INC for work described as: PORTLAND VAMC EMERGENCY WATER TANK CLEANING Key points: 1. The contract value is relatively low, suggesting a localized or specific service need. 2. Competition was not utilized, raising questions about potential price discovery and value. 3. The service falls under 'All Other Miscellaneous Waste Management Services', a broad category. 4. The short duration (28 days) indicates an urgent or temporary requirement.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract was not competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), making direct pricing comparisons difficult. The Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure can sometimes lead to higher costs if not closely managed.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was not competed, indicating a limited competition approach. This may have restricted the opportunity for competitive bidding and potentially impacted the final price achieved.

Taxpayer Impact: The taxpayer impact is minimal due to the low contract value, but the lack of competition represents a missed opportunity for potential savings.

Public Impact

Ensures operational readiness of the Portland VAMC by maintaining essential water systems. Addresses a specific, potentially urgent need for environmental services. Supports a vendor for a critical, albeit small-scale, facility maintenance task.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 100 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition
Time and Materials pricing

Positive Signals

Addresses an urgent need
Low dollar value contract

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under miscellaneous waste management services, a broad sector. Benchmarks for such specific emergency services are hard to establish without more detail on the scope of work.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication whether this contract was awarded to a small business. Further analysis would be needed to determine small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

The use of a Purchase Order suggests a streamlined process, but the lack of competition warrants oversight to ensure fair pricing and adherence to procurement regulations.

Related Government Programs

All Other Miscellaneous Waste Management Services
Department of Veterans Affairs Contracting
Department of Veterans Affairs Programs

Risk Flags

Lack of competition
Potential for cost overruns due to T&M pricing
Limited transparency on justification for non-competition
No clear indication of small business participation

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $6,145.89 to RIVER CITY ENVIRONMENTAL INC. PORTLAND VAMC EMERGENCY WATER TANK CLEANING

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is RIVER CITY ENVIRONMENTAL INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Veterans Affairs (Department of Veterans Affairs).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $6,145.89.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-03. End: 2026-05-01.

What was the justification for not competing this contract?

The provided data indicates the contract was 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP'. A specific justification, such as an emergency or sole-source requirement, would be necessary to fully understand the procurement rationale. Without this, it's difficult to assess if the limited competition was appropriate or if it led to suboptimal pricing.

What is the typical cost for emergency water tank cleaning of this size?

Benchmarking the cost for emergency water tank cleaning is challenging without detailed specifications of the tank size, type, and the specific services required (e.g., disinfection, sediment removal). The $6,145 award for a 28-day period suggests a localized or specific need, but a broader market analysis would be needed for a definitive cost assessment.

What are the risks associated with a Time and Materials contract for this service?

Time and Materials (T&M) contracts carry inherent risks of cost overruns if not managed diligently. The contractor may have less incentive to control labor hours or material costs. For emergency services, T&M can be justified for unforeseen circumstances, but requires robust monitoring by the agency to ensure the final cost aligns with the value received.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Remediation and Other Waste Management Services › All Other Miscellaneous Waste Management Services

Product/Service Code: MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD EQUIPMENT › MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD OF EQUIPMENT

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 5410 NE 109TH AVE, PORTLAND, OR, 97220

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $6,146

Exercised Options: $6,146

Current Obligation: $6,146

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline