Wastewater Collection and Treatment

NASA Shared Services Center has awarded a sole-source utility contract to the Hancock County Utility Authority (HCUA) for wastewater collection and treatment services at the John C. Stennis Space Center (SSC) and its 125,000-acre Buffer Zone in Mississippi. This ten-year agreement, commencing in January 2026, is justified under FAR 6.302-1 as HCUA is the only entity with the statutory authority, legal jurisdiction, and existing infrastructure required to provide these services. The acquisition is critical for the decommissioning of aging on-site sewage lagoons and ensures the facility remains in compliance with Environmental Protection Agency and Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality regulations. Under the terms of the agreement, SSC is responsible for the construction and maintenance of internal conveyance systems to deliver wastewater to a mutually agreed-upon entry point outside the Fee Area. From that point, HCUA assumes full responsibility for the operation, maintenance, and metering of the conveyance infrastructure and the final treatment and disposal of wastewater at its facility on Texas Flat Road. The contract was executed following a GSA delegation of authority under FAR 41.103 and a determination that the pricing is fair and reasonable.