Contributors: Tina Gaspard – Marketing Coordinator, Ken Swain, PG – Project Planning Lead and Remediation Support Director, and Danyelle Phillips, PG – Project Lead Safety and Environmental Compliance Specialist
Trigon Associates, LLC (Trigon) is a multi-disciplinary engineering firm and Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) with a strong presence along the Gulf Coast of the United States and globally. Shortly after its founding in 2009, Trigon supported a large USAID infrastructure improvement project in the Middle East. Subsequently, Trigon has maintained a successful working relationship with USAID, culminating in the award of a $33M four-year contract for A-E Services for the Dioxin Remediation at Bien Hoa Airbase Area Project in Bien Hoa, Vietnam, the largest remaining hotspot of dioxin contamination in Vietnam. The $450M clean-up is expected to take 10 years to complete. Trigon’s role as the first A-E Contractor from April 2019 to June 2023 was the company’s largest single contract award as a Prime.
Figure 1. Groundbreaking Ceremony in 2019 attended by representatives from the Government of Vietnam, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and nine (9) US Senators.
“The USAID-Vietnam Dioxin Remediation Project at Bien Hoa Airbase marked a significant stride in addressing a longstanding legacy of war and enhancing the quality of life for the people of Vietnam. It also stood as a remarkable achievement for our firm and the small business community,” says Trigon’s CEO, Michelle Herbert. “Serving as the Prime Contractor on a project of this magnitude and complexity, which entailed managing a large, multi-disciplinary team on the other side of the world and navigating intricate technical and regulatory aspects would be a challenge for any firm, but we seized this amazing opportunity and proved that small businesses are capable of phenomenal things!”
The initial phase of the project focused on developing a comprehensive Masterplan that identified remediation measures required to achieve the project’s goals. Trigon led this effort through collaboration with project stakeholders, which included several Vietnamese government ministries and agencies, as well as USAID-Vietnam. In addition, Trigon provided management and oversight for a Project Implementation Masterplan for over 400,000 cubic meters of dioxin-contaminated soil and sediment. We also handled environmental investigations, engineering design, construction management, and project implementation. To expedite approval, Trigon conducted regular “Roadmap Meeting” workshops, which were invaluable for securing stakeholder concurrence.
Figure 2. Master Plan Roadmap Meeting in Bien Hoa, Vietnam, led by Sal Mansour, one of Trigon’s Managing Partners.
Managing a project of this size during a global pandemic required developing and implementing systems for secure information management and to ensure the staff’s health and safety. Suzan Samara, Trigon’s Chief of Party during the project’s final phase, says: “Data management and remote access was key to the success of this project. This was achieved through the development of an integrated database system for storing and accessing data from multiple locations.”
She adds, “This high-profile project was also an opportunity to showcase the talent of our staff as well as the flexibility and resourcefulness Trigon has developed working as a Small Business contractor on international projects.”
In addition to developing a robust, cloud-based data management system, Trigon provided round-the-clock support through home office and in-country staff to meet concurrent deadlines set by 12 separate agencies in multiple time zones. Proactive planning and coordination were used to mitigate customs delays and preserve project schedules. The team completed multiple simultaneous activities across the airbase area, addressing all environments and unexpected discoveries like UXO, grave sites, and buried waste while navigating a large site, scope changes and rigorous PPE and COVID protocols.
Figure 3. Trigon’s field personnel conducting sediment sampling in an aquatic environment.
“This is the largest remediation project I have been involved with in my 30-year career.,” says Ken Swain, Trigon’s Project Planning Lead and Remediation Support Director. “The evolving scope periodically necessitated the addition of subject matter experts and support staff. Trigon addressed this challenge by tapping into its network of technical professionals and made critical decisions without the lengthy approval processes common with larger firms.”
When COVID restrictions hindered travel to Vietnam, Trigon demonstrated its resourcefulness and flexibility by transitioning to host-country field teams trained to US standards. They implemented three-in-place protocols allowing staff to eat, sleep and work on-base, obtained waivers to use GVN labs, and led virtual site tours for contractors and stakeholders. These changes facilitated the collection of 8,000 samples at 70+ sites, maintained project timelines, and met US and GVN data requirements. They also expanded Trigon’s capabilities, fostering new contractor relationships and the recruitment of environmental professionals who later established Trigon’s Environmental Assessment & Remediation Unit.
The A-E Services for Dioxin Remediation Project at Bien Hoa Airbase, which concluded in June 2023, was a resounding success. Trigon not only met project goals but also enhanced local staff capacity in remediation analysis, design, and implementation. The contract concluded with a local office of over 30 skilled Vietnamese professionals, many of whom joined the incoming A-E II contractor. Trigon also achieved significant milestones as a firm: completing its largest contract, establishing a new environmental unit, and solidifying their status as a highly skilled WOSB and Prime consultant on Federal and international projects.
