Destruction of pharmaceuticals

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has issued a Special Notice for the destruction of pharmaceutical waste collected during the National Drug Take Back Day. The agency intends to award a sole source purchase order to Veolia ES Technical Solutions LLC of Sauget, Illinois, for pharmaceutical waste destruction services. The contract will cover the period from October 25, 2025, through December 31, 2025, and includes the destruction of approximately 40,000 pounds of pharmaceuticals. The DEA has determined that Veolia is the only source with the proper state and federal permits required for pharmaceutical waste disposal via incineration. This procurement will be conducted under FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures with NAICS code 562211 and is not designated as a small business set-aside.

The purpose of this Special Notice is to inform potential contractors of the DEA's intent to proceed with a sole source award rather than open the requirement to competition. Interested vendors may submit capability statements to Jose Marin by October 16, 2025, at 10:00 AM EST, though the government is not obligated to consider alternative sources. The contract includes three line items: destruction services charged on a per-pound basis, witness fees for two individuals, and a potential disposal fee for a second incineration burn if necessary. This procurement supports the National Drug Take Back Day initiative, which collects unwanted pharmaceutical waste from the public for safe disposal. The DEA has justified the sole source approach based on Veolia's unique federal and state permit requirements for pharmaceutical incineration services.