[en] We work with a sech trial function with space-dependent soliton parameters and envisage a variational study for the nonlinear Schoedinger (NLS) equation in the presence of third-order dispersion. We demonstrate that the variational equations for pulse evolution in this NLS equation provide a natural basis to derive a potential model which can account for the existence of a continuous family of embedded solitons supported by the third-order NLS equation. Each member of the family is parameterized by the propagation velocity and co-efficient of the third-order dispersion