8960--FY26: Emergency Potable Water Delivery

Due to the ongoing drought being experienced in Puerto Rico, an emergency Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) is needed for the delivery of potable water to the VA Caribbean Healthcare System (VACHS) and some of its external locations. Potable water delivery will be required upon request or on emergency basis such as continuous water delivery to avoid from compromising the VACHS mission external clinics are accomplished. BPA holder is to provide potable water in a timely manner to avoid interruptions of services.

Millennium Pure Water Bottlers Corp (Small Disadvatanged Business, SDB) is the only source able to satisfy the Government s emergency requirement. This is because it is the only vendor with same-day potable water delivery capacity, established healthcare-compliant production standards, and sufficient water reserves during the current drought which do not depend on the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA). No other supplier in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico was found to provide the necessary amount of potable water estimated to be neeeded at the VACHS, while being in regulatory compliance to ensure uninterrupted patient care during this emergency.

The results of the SBS query were eight (8) Small Businesses, with two (2) of them being SDVOSBs. However, these two (2) SDVSOBs are from the continental US, which will not be able to provide potable water to the VACHS up to the required amount (1,000,000 gallons). The previous BPA for potable water delivery at the VACHS was reviewed ((BPA no. 36C24818A0033). This BPA was awarded on 09/28/2018 as unrestricted, since it was found that only Millenium Pure Water could satisfy the Government s requirement, since they possess a water source external from PRASA, are registered in SAM, and have the necessary potable water storage and distribution certifications. Additionally, an internet search was conducted using the following keywords: potable water delivery in Puerto Rico . This search resulted in three (3) vendors: Wonderful Water, Diamond Drinking Water, and Agua Mia Delivery. Of these, only Wonderful Water responded to the Government s inquiry, and they stated that they obtained their potable water from PRASA, and that have also been affected by the potable water shortages in Puerto Rico. Therefore, through this market research, it is confirmed that only Millenium Pure Water can satisfy the Government s requirement, since they possess a water source external from PRASA, are registered in SAM, and have the necessary potable water storage and distribution certifications.