Solid Waste Collection & Disposal Services

The East Texas Municipal Utility District (ETMUD) is seeking qualified contractors to provide comprehensive solid waste collection and disposal services across residential, commercial, district facilities, and wastewater treatment plant bio-solids operations under solicitation 26-ETMUD-001, with responses due by June 5, 2026. The contract operates on a five-year base term with up to five optional one-year renewals and requires proposers to submit detailed operational plans, financial stability evidence, and experience demonstrating at least five years of municipal solid waste management, particularly within Texas. Performance is evaluated using a best-value approach, with pricing accounting for 50% of the scoring, while experience and qualifications comprise 25%, operational plan and safety 15%, and fleet and equipment condition 10%. Safety performance is measured through TRIR and DART rates, and driver retention is a critical performance indicator. Contractors must manage weekly residential pickups and up to five times weekly commercial collections, as well as on-call bio-solids hauling to TCEQ-permitted landfills, adhering to strict container standards including 95-gallon HDPE polycarts compatible with automated lifters and maintenance of leak-proof, clearly marked vehicles with contractor identification legible from 150 feet. Contractors are required to submit a bid bond of $25,000 or 5% of estimated annual value, whichever is greater, and a performance bond of $250,000 or the total annual contract value, whichever is higher, both issued by a Texas-authorized surety. Insurance mandates include $1 million per occurrence in commercial and automobile liability, a $1 million umbrella policy, and named insured status for ETMUD. Exclusivity rights are granted for roll-off container services, with monthly fees of $50, $75, or $100 per 20-, 30-, or 40-yard haul respectively, remitted directly to the District. Contractors must provide at no cost designated roll-off containers and dumpsters for district facilities, including the wastewater plant, and maintain a local or toll-free customer service line. All pricing must be submitted in the District-provided Excel workbook, with base rates locked for the first two years and annual increases capped at 5% via CPI-U adjustments, unless tied to government-imposed fee changes requiring prior approval. Failure to meet performance standards results in liquidated damages ranging from $50 to $2,00