RethinkWaste has completed two separate competitive bid processes in order to obtain the lowest costs practical for solid waste, recycling and yard trimmings collections and operations of the Shoreway Recycling and Disposal Center, while enhancing service levels. Allied Waste of San Mateo County, and its predecessor BFI, have provided the collection and operation services continuously since 1974 without any competitive bid process.
RFPs\RFQs FAQs
Submitted by simonk on Thu, 11/06/2008 - 09:48.
- Why is the SBWMA going through the Request for Proposals (RFP) process for Collection Services and Facility Operations Services?
- When did the SBWMA start the Contractor Selection process?
- What stakeholders were engaged in developing the key components of the RFP process?
- Where are we in the Collection Services contractor selection process?
- What Member Agencies have approved negotiating a contract with Recology?
- What will the new Collection Services look like?
- When will the new Collection Services start?
- What is the Facility Operations Contract?
- What is the Shoreway Recycling and Disposal Center?
- What improvements are planned for the Shoreway facility?
- How will my garbage rate be impacted?
Why is the SBWMA going through the Request for Proposals (RFP) process for Collection Services and Facility Operations Services?
When did the SBWMA start the Contractor Selection process?
RethinkWaste initiated this RFP process in July 2005. The 5.5-year selection process will result in 2 separate agreements: 1) collection services and 2) operation of the Shoreway Recycling and Disposal Center. The process involves a 4-year period for planning service levels, a competitive request for proposal process, and time for negotiating with the selected contractors, and a 1.5-year implementation period leading to commencement of services on or before January 1, 2011.
What stakeholders were engaged in developing the key components of the RFP process?
In 2005, the RethinkWaste formed the Programs and Facilities Committee (PAF) and Process and Contracts Committee (PAC) with representatives from the RethinkWaste 12 Member Agencies. The committees were charged with the task of reviewing numerous programs and services, and developing a procurement process which resulted in a series of recommendations that were presented to the RethinkWaste Board. Sixteen public meetings were held to discuss the two committees’ work. Minutes of these meetings can be found at http://www.rethinkwaste.org/rfpsrfqs/contractor-selection-process. In attendance at these meetings were members of the public, elected officials, Member Agency staff members, Allied Waste representatives and other potential bidders. RethinkWaste Board reviewed the committees’ recommendations and made its recommendations to the 12 Member Agencies in October 2006.
Individual city/town councils and the boards of the County of San Mateo and West Bay Sanitary District were asked to comment on the RethinkWaste recommended programs, process and contract terms from December 2006 through March 2007. Several agencies like Atherton, Belmont and Hillsborough provided more customized scopes of service for bidders to consider.
Comments on the Collection Services RFP were received from potential proposers who were provided an opportunity to review the draft documents prior to official release on November 1, 2007.
Where are we in the Collection Services contractor selection process?
On August 28, 2008, the RethinkWaste Board of Directors approved a recommendation for Recology of San Mateo County (formerly Norcal Waste Systems of San Mateo County) to provide collection services.
What Member Agencies have approved negotiating a contract with Recology?
All of the Member Agencies have selected Recology as their future Collection Service provider and are moving forward with finalizing contract negotiations.
What will the new Collection Services look like?
Please refer to the table below for a summary of the new services. Customers will be able to select the level of service best suited to their needs.
| Services | Single-Family Residents | Multi-Family Residents | Businesses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid Waste (garbage) | Weekly collection, in provided wheeled cart. | Weekly collection, in provided wheeled cart or bin. | Regular subscription-based collection. |
| Recycling (commingled glass, plastic and metal cans/bottles, all paper, junk mail, cardboard, etc.) | Weekly collection of single stream (commingled) recyclables in provided wheeled cart. | Weekly collection of single stream (commingled) recyclables in provided wheeled carts or bins. | Regular collection of single stream (commingled) recyclables in provided wheeled carts or bins. |
| Organics(grass, leaves, yard trimmings and food scraps which includes all unwanted food, meat, bones, soiled or wet paper, etc.) | Weekly collection of yard trimmings and food scraps, in provided wheeled cart. | Subscription-based collection of yard trimmings and food scraps, in provided wheeled carts or bins at a discount of 25%-50% of garbage service rate (if service offered by property management). | Subscription-based collection of yard trimmings and food scraps, in provided wheeled carts or bins at a discount of 25%-50% of garbage service rate. |
| On-Call Bulky Item Pick-Up | Twice each year. | Twice each year. | N/A |
| Used Motor Oil & Used Motor Oil Filters | Weekly curbside collection. | N/A | N/A |
| Household Batteries & Cell Phones | Weekly curbside collection. | N/A | N/A |
| Optional Services | May include curbside household hazardous waste and E-Scrap collection, community clean-ups. | May include curbside or door-to-door household hazardous waste and E-Scrap collection, community clean-ups. | May include On-Call Bulky Item Pick-Up. |
Picture of future single-family resident cart set out.
When will the new Collection Services start?
The current collection services franchise agreements with Allied Waste of San Mateo County expire on December 31, 2010. The new collection services will start by January 1, 2011.
What is the Facility Operations Contract?
RethinkWaste owns the Shoreway Recycling and Disposal Center in San Carlos and contracts with an independent company to operate it, currently Allied Waste of San Mateo County. RethinkWaste conducted an RFP process to select the next facility operator which is very similar to the RFP process for future collection services for residents and businesses.
On April 23, 2009, the RethinkWaste Board of Directors approved the selection of South Bay Recycling (SBR) as the future facility operator. A contract with SBR was approved on July 23, 2009 and is now subject to approval by the Member Agencies. Eight of the 12 Member Agencies are required to approve the contract.
What is the Shoreway Recycling and Disposal Center?
RethinkWaste and the Member Agencies own the Shoreway Recycling and Disposal Center in San Carlos. This shared facility serves as a central location for receiving, transferring and/or processing all garbage, recyclables, yard trimmings and food scraps collected in the RethinkWaste service area. Without this facility, collection vehicles would have to travel much greater distances, resulting in higher collection costs for the ratepayer, more pollution and traffic congestion. This facility also houses a corporation yard for the 250+ collection trucks that service the RethinkWaste Member Agencies.
What improvements are planned for the Shoreway facility?
The current recycling facilities are old and inefficient, and need to be replaced to accommodate the single stream recycling services that will be rolled out to residents and business by January 1, 2011. RethinkWaste has completed a master plan to guide facility improvements, including retrofitting the existing transfer station and constructing a new materials recovery facility, to transform the Shoreway Recycling and Disposal Center into the Shoreway Environmental Center. The Shoreway improvements are the outcome of a 2-year planning process to modernize the facilities for the future recycling programs. The plan includes $25.42 million for building and traffic improvements, and $16.87 million for recycling processing equipment that will increase waste diversion and improve customer safety and convenience.
On July 23, 2009, the RethinkWaste Board approved sale of tax-exempt bonds to fund the Shoreway master plan improvements.
For more information on the Shoreway Environmental Center, view our Future Plans.
How will my garbage rate be impacted?
The new collection services and Shoreway master plan improvements will result in rate increases projected to be an average of 8-10% depending on each Member Agency and the services they select. This means about a $2 to $3 increase per month in residential garbage rates.
