844851recycAACc.pdf

101 COLLEGE PARKWAY, ARNOLD, MARYLAND 21012-1895

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

PROJECT NO. C2027-11-P

REFUSE AND RECYCLING SERVICES

September 16, 2026

Submit Proposals To:

Heidi Frist Senior Purchasing Agent Anne Arundel Community College hmfrist@aacc.edu

Deadline for Receipt of Proposals: October 29, 2026, 11:00 AM ET mailto:hmfrist@aacc.edu

September 16, 2026

To All Interested Contractors:

Anne Arundel Community College (AACC or “the College”) is requesting proposals from qualified contractors to provide refuse and recycling services for the Arnold, Glen Burnie, and Arundel Mills campuses.

A pre-proposal Microsoft Teams meeting is scheduled for Friday, October 2, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

ET. Contractors are strongly encouraged to attend. Refer to page 3 of the RFP for more details.

Proposals must be submitted by email, digitally signed, endorsed in the subject line of the email “RFP: Project C2027-11-P Refuse & Recycling Services” to Ms. Heidi Frist, Senior Purchasing Agent, Email: hmfrist@aacc.edu. Proposals will be accepted until 11:00 a.m. ET Thursday, October 29, 2026. The time stamp that will be considered for the timely receipt of proposals will be the College’s email time stamp, NOT the Contractor’s email sent time stamp. It is the responsibility of each Contractor to ensure that their proposal is delivered prior to the scheduled due date and time.

Copies of the Request for Proposal (RFP) may be obtained from the eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA) website. Contractors assume the responsibility of downloading RFP documents and addendums from this website prior to submission of their proposals. Anne Arundel Community College assumes no liability for damages incurred directly or indirectly as a result of errors, omissions, discrepancies, unauthorized modification of electronic data, errors in transmission, HTML browser incompatibilities, and other aspects of electronic communications that are beyond the control of the College.

Anne Arundel Community College reserves the right to reject any and all submittals and to waive any formalities, informalities, or technicalities as it deems necessary, appropriate and in the College’s best interest. Final award of contract is subject to the availability of funding for this project.

Sincerely, Heidi Frist Senior Purchasing Agent hmfrist@aacc.edu

Notice of Nondiscrimination: Anne Arundel Community College prohibits all types of discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, and retaliation on the basis of race, including hair style and hair texture, color, religion or creed, ancestry or national origin, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, citizenship, and genetic information. To file a complaint of discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, or retaliation, please contact the chief compliance and fair practices officer/Title IX coordinator at 410-777-1239 or complianceofficer@aacc.edu. Firms/Contractors who need a reasonable accommodation should contact Disability Support Services at DSS@aacc.edu or 410-777- 1411. Requests for most accommodations must be made at least seventy-two (72) hours prior to the event or activity; however, requests for sign language interpreters, live captioning, alternate format books, or assistive technology need to be submitted at least thirty (30) days prior to the event or activity.

mailto:hmfrist@aacc.edu https://emma.maryland.gov/page.aspx/en/usr/login?ReturnUrl=%2Fpage.aspx%2Fen%2Fbpm%2Fprocess_browse https://emma.maryland.gov/page.aspx/en/usr/login?ReturnUrl=%2Fpage.aspx%2Fen%2Fbpm%2Fprocess_browse mailto:hmfrist@aacc.edu mailto:complianceofficer@aacc.edu mailto:DSS@aacc.edu

NON-SUBMITTAL RESPONSE FORM

Please complete this form only if your company will not submit a response.

Project Name: Refuse and Recycling Services Project Number: C2027-11-P

NOTE TO VENDOR:

If your company’s response is a “non-submittal”, Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) is very interested in the reason for such response since AACC desires to ensure that the procurement process is fair, non-restrictive and attracts maximum participation from interested companies. We, therefore, appreciate your responses to this Non-Submittal Response Form.

Please complete and Email to: Heidi Frist, hmfrist@aacc.edu

Please indicate your reason for responding with a “non-submittal”:

□ Unable to meet the requirements for this solicitation.

□ Unable to provide the goods or services specified in this solicitation

□ Unable to meet time frame established for start and/or completion of project.

□ Received too late to submit a bid. Received on:

Other (Please explain):

Your response will be reviewed and placed in the solicitation file. Your input will assist AACC in determining changes necessary to increase participation in the solicitation process.

Company name

Company address

Company telephone number

Primary company contact e-mail address

Authorized company official signature Title Date

ANNE ARUNDEL COMMUNITY COLLEGE

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PROJECT NO. C2027-11-P

TABLE OF CONTENTS

RFP COMPLETION CHECKLIST ...................................................................................................................................................................... i

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

PART ONE – INSTRUCTIONS & INFORMATION FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS

1.1 INTRODUCTION

1.2 CONTACT POINT

1.3 PROPOSAL DOCUMENTS

1.4 PRE-PROPOSAL MICROSOFT TEAMS MEETING

1.5 INTERPRETATIONS, DISCREPANCIES AND OMISSIONS

1.6 RIGHT TO AMEND, MODIFY OR CANCEL RFP

1.7 TWO VOLUME PROPOSAL

1.8 SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS

1.9 CONFIDENTIAL/PROPRIETARY INFORMATION

1.10 LATE PROPOSALS, LATE WITHDRAWALS, AND LATE MODIFICATIONS

1.11 ERRORS IN PROPOSALS

1.12 EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS

1.13 INTERVIEWS

1.14 FINANCIAL STABILITY

1.15 EVALUATION CRITERIA

1.16 ANNE ARUNDEL COMMUNITY COLLEGE RESERVED RIGHTS

1.17 AWARD OR REJECTION OF PROPOSALS

1.18 POST-AWARD REQUIREMENTS

1.19 NOTICE OF AWARD

1.20 NOTICE TO PROCEED

1.21 DEBRIEFINGS

1.22 PROTEST OF AWARD

PART TWO – SUBMITTAL FORMAT

2.1 PROPOSAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS

2.2 GENERAL ORGANIZATION OF CONTRACTOR’S PROPOSAL CONTENTS

2.3 SECTION 1.0 – TITLE PAGE

2.4 SECTION 2.0 – CONTRACTOR’S QUALIFICATIONS AND RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

2.5 SECTION 3.0 – DISCLOSURE OF CONDITIONS AFFECTING PERFORMANCE

2.6 SECTION 4.0 – REFERENCES

2.7 SECTION 5.0 – SUBCONTRACTORS

2.8 SECTION 6.0 – VALUE ADDED

2.9 SECTION 7.0 – CONTRACTOR’S CONTRACT PRICING

2.10 SECTION 8.0 – ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ADDENDA

2.11 SECTION 9.0 – CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT

2.12 SECTION 10.0 – PARTICIPATION IN PROCUREMENT STATEMENT

2.13 SECTION 11.0 – BID/PROPOSAL AFFIDAVIT

2.14 SECTION 12.0 – SERVICE PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENT

2.15 SECTION 13.0 – SITE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENT

2.16 SECTION 14.0 – PROOF OF INSURANCE

2.17 SECTION 15.0 – MINORITY PARTICIPATION

PART THREE – GENERAL CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT

3.1 ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

3.2 CONTRACT PROVISIONS FOR CONTRACTS UNDER FEDERAL AWARDS

3.3 GOVERNING LAW

3.4 RELATIONSHIP OF PROPOSAL AND FINAL CONTRACT

3.5 CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION

3.6 CONTRACT TERM

3.7 CONTRACT DOCUMENTS, PAYMENT, AND INVOICING

3.8 REVISIONS AND CHANGES TO CONTRACT

3.9 CONFIDENTIAL AND SENSITIVE INFORMATION (CSI)

3.10 CONFIDENTIALITY

3.11 NON-VISUAL ACCESS (IF APPLICABLE)

3.12 ACCESSIBILITY (IF APPLICABLE)

3.13 NON-PERFORMANCE OF WORK

3.14 FUEL SURCHARGES AND ADDITIONAL FEES

3.15 PRICE ADJUSTMENTS (ANNUAL)

3.16 PRICE ADJUSTMENTS FOR GOVERNMENT IMPOSED TARIFFS

3.17 INSURANCE

3.18 DAMAGES

3.19 BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR CONTRACTOR AND SUBCONTRACTORS

3.20 NON-HIRING OF OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES

3.21 NEW MATERIAL

3.22 COOPERATIVE PURCHASING (IF APPLICABLE)

PART FOUR – SCOPE OF SERVICES

TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)

APPENDIX A – VOLUME ONE SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS

SECTION 1.0 – TITLE PAGE

SECTION 2.0 – CONTRACTOR’S QUALIFICATIONS AND RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

SECTION 3.0 – DISCLOSURE OF CONDITIONS AFFECTING PERFORMANCE

SECTION 4.0 – REFERENCES

SECTION 5.0 – LIST OF SUBCONTRACTORS

SECTION 6.0 – VALUE ADDED

APPENDIX B – VOLUME TWO SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS

SECTION 7.0 – CONTRACTOR’S PRICE PROPOSAL

SECTION 8.0 – ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ADDENDA

SECTION 9.0 – CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT

SECTION 10.0 – PARTICIPATION IN PROCUREMENT STATEMENT

SECTION 11.0 – BID/PROPOSAL AFFIDAVIT

SECTION 12.0 – SERVICE PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENT

SECTION 13.0 – SITE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENT

SECTION 14.0 – PROOF OF INSURANCE

SECTION 15.0 – MINORITY PARTICIPATION

RFP COMPLETION CHECKLIST

The checklist is a summary of some of the required components of the RFP. It is provided as a convenience to proposers, but is not intended to be all-inclusive or to imply acceptance or evidence of compliance by its use. It is the responsibility of the proposer to submit a complete and compliant proposal.

Volume One Technical Proposal

____ Section 1.0, Title Page.

____ Section 2.0, Contractor’s Qualifications and Relevant Experience

____ Section 3.0, Disclosure of Conditions Affecting Performance

____ Section 4.0, References

____ Section 5.0, List of Subcontractors

____ Section 6.0, Value Added

Volume Two College Submittal Documents

____ Section 7.0 Contractor’s Price Proposal

____ Section 8.0 Acknowledgement of Addenda

____ Section 9.0 Conflict of Interest Statement

____ Section 10.0 Participation in Procurement Statement

____ Section 11.0 Bid/Proposal Affidavit

____ Section 12.0 Service Performance Requirements Acknowledgment

____ Section 13.0 Site Safety Requirements Acknowledgment

____ Section 14.0 Proof of Insurance

____ Section 15.0 Minority Participation

C2027-11-P

September 16, 2026

ANNE ARUNDEL COMMUNITY COLLEGE

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

09/16/26 RFP Advertisement posted on eMaryland

10/02/26 Pre-Proposal TEAM Meeting, 10:00 a.m. ET. See page 3 for details.

10/05/26 Addendum with the minutes from the Pre-Proposal meeting posted on eMaryland.

10/12/26 Cut-off date for questions/inquiries/requests. All questions/inquiries/requests must be submitted by Email to hmfrist@aacc.edu no later than 11:00 a.m. ET.

10/14/26 Addendum posted on eMaryland, if applicable.

10/29/26 Proposals are due no later than 11:00 a.m. ET. Proposals must be submitted by Email to hmfrist@aacc.edu, no later than 11:00 a.m. ET. Proposals may be submitted at any time prior to this date and time. Proposals will not be publicly opened.

10/30/26 – 11/06/26 Evaluation of Proposals by College officials.

11/12/26 Interview with Qualified Contractor(s) (optional)

11/20/26 Successful Contractor notified of contract award

11/26/26 – 11/29/26 College Closed – Thanksgiving Break

12/01/26 Purchase Order and Notice to Proceed issued

12/01/26-12/31/26 Transition Phase

12/23/26 – 01/03/27 College Closed – Winter Break

01/01/27 – 12/31/28 Base Contract Period – 2 years

Schedule is tentative and can change any time.

END OF SECTION

September 16, 2026

PART ONE – INSTRUCTIONS & INFORMATION FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS

1.1 INTRODUCTION

Anne Arundel Community College (AACC or the College) is seeking proposals from qualified contractors to provide comprehensive refuse and recycling services in support of its campus operations.

The selected contractor shall provide collection, transportation, disposal, and recycling services for the College's facilities located in Arnold, Glen Burnie, and Arundel Mills, Maryland. Required services include refuse collection and disposal, cardboard recycling, single-stream recycling, and related services as described in this RFP.

The contractor shall furnish all labor, supervision, equipment, materials, transportation, and incidental items necessary to perform the work in a safe, efficient, and professional manner and in accordance with the requirements of this solicitation.

The College intends to establish a contract with the responsible contractor whose proposal is determined to provide the best value, based on the evaluation criteria set forth in this RFP.

To learn more about Anne Arundel Community College, please visit AACC Fast Facts.

1.2 CONTACT POINT

All communications regarding this Request for Proposal (RFP) shall be directed in writing via email to:

Heidi Frist Senior Purchasing Agent hmfrist@aacc.edu

To preserve the integrity of the procurement process, firms, including their employees, representatives, consultants, subcontractors, and other third parties acting on their behalf, shall not contact any other College employee, faculty member, Board member, or College representative regarding this RFP.

Prohibited contact includes, but is not limited to, seeking, obtaining, or providing information related to this procurement. A firm's failure to comply with this requirement may result in disqualification from further consideration.

At its sole discretion, the College may designate one or more representatives to serve as liaisons for communications with firms. Such designation may occur after the Technical/Price Proposal submission deadline. Upon notification by the College, all communications regarding this procurement shall be directed through the designated liaison(s).

1.3 PROPOSAL DOCUMENTS

The Request for Proposals (RFP) and all related solicitation documents may be obtained through eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA).

Offerors are solely responsible for obtaining the RFP, all addenda, and any subsequent solicitation documents issued through eMMA prior to submitting a response. All addenda will be posted on eMMA, and it is the responsibility of each offeror to regularly monitor the website for updates. Addenda may be issued at any time, including shortly before the submission deadline.

Anne Arundel Community College assumes no responsibility or liability for errors, omissions, discrepancies, unauthorized modifications of electronic data, transmission failures, browser incompatibilities, or other electronic communication issues that are beyond the College’s control.

The College does not provide solicitation documents in any format other than those made available through eMMA.

The RFP and related documents are provided solely for the purpose of obtaining proposals for the work described herein. No other use of these documents is authorized without the express written consent of the College.

https://www.aacc.edu/about/fast-facts/ https://emma.maryland.gov/page.aspx/en/usr/login?ReturnUrl=%2Fpage.aspx%2Fen%2Fbpm%2Fprocess_browse

September 16, 2026

1.4 PRE-PROPOSAL MICROSOFT TEAMS MEETING

A pre-proposal Microsoft Teams meeting is scheduled for Friday, October 2, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. ET.

Contractors are strongly encouraged to attend. Contractors should make sure they have audio and visual access to the meeting. To join the Teams meeting, use the following link/information:

Microsoft Teams meeting Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/24431068444969?p=pU9ROOwKxKvkoVc7ec Meeting ID: 244 310 684 449 69 Passcode: 8FL74KL7 Need help? | System reference Dial in by phone +1 240-491-0163,,827267623# United States, Bethesda Find a local number Phone conference ID: 827 267 623# For organizers: Meeting options | Reset dial-in PIN

1.5 INTERPRETATIONS, DISCREPANCIES AND OMISSIONS

Contractors are responsible for carefully reviewing this RFP and all related documents. If a Contractor identifies any discrepancies, omissions, ambiguities, or has questions regarding the requirements, specifications, or procurement process, the Contractor shall submit all requests for interpretation or clarification in writing to:

Heidi Frist Senior Purchasing Agent hmfrist@aacc.edu

Requests for clarification must be received no later than 11:00 a.m. ET on October 12, 2026.

Submission of a proposal shall constitute acknowledgment that the Contractor has examined and understands the requirements and conditions set forth in this RFP.

The College reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to respond or decline to respond to questions received after the stated deadline.

1.6 RIGHT TO AMEND, MODIFY OR CANCEL RFP

The College reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to amend or modify any provision of this RFP or to withdraw the procurement at any time prior to contract award. Such actions will be based on the best interest of the College.

Any changes to this RFP will be issued through written addenda and posted on the eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA) website.

Offerors are solely responsible for obtaining all addenda issued. Addenda may be released shortly prior to the proposal due date, including within 24 hours. Therefore, Offerors are strongly advised to frequently monitor the eMMA website to ensure receipt of all updates.

Verbal modifications to this RFP shall not be considered binding unless confirmed through written addenda.

1.7 TWO VOLUME PROPOSAL

To ensure an independent evaluation, technical proposals and price proposals/College-required submittal documents will be reviewed separately. This approach allows technical proposals to be evaluated solely on their technical merits, without consideration of pricing or other submittal information during the technical review process.

Each Contractor shall submit its proposal as two separate electronic PDF files:

• Volume One: Technical Proposal https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/24431068444969?p=pU9ROOwKxKvkoVc7ec https://aka.ms/JoinTeamsMeeting?omkt=en-US https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_Nzg1MzE3YmMtZDc0Yi00NmM5LWFkN2ItMGRmYzViZDM3YTlh%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2236597c6b-c613-484e-86f7-5b992342257a%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%224c578458-319a-47c4-b9ac-5be76e341c1c%22%7d tel:+12404910163,,827267623 https://dialin.teams.cloud.microsoft/1864aad7-c956-4642-abc7-e9c66f7b728c?id=827267623 https://teams.microsoft.com/meetingOptions/?organizerId=4c578458-319a-47c4-b9ac-5be76e341c1c&tenantId=36597c6b-c613-484e-86f7-5b992342257a&threadId=19_meeting_Nzg1MzE3YmMtZDc0Yi00NmM5LWFkN2ItMGRmYzViZDM3YTlh@thread.v2&messageId=0&language=en-US https://dialin.teams.cloud.microsoft/usp/pstnconferencing

September 16, 2026

• Volume Two: Price Proposal and Required Submittal Documents

Both PDF files shall be submitted in a single email unless the file size requires separate transmissions.

If submitted separately, each email shall clearly identify the project number and volume, and all transmissions must be received before the proposal submission deadline.

For detailed content and organization requirements, refer to Part Two, Submittal Format, Section 2.2, General Organization of Contractor’s Proposal Contents.

1.8 SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS

Respondents must be registered with eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA). Registration instructions are available on the eMMA website.

Respondents shall submit their proposal using the forms provided in this solicitation. Proposals must be digitally signed and submitted via email to:

Heidi Frist Senior Purchasing Agent hmfrist@aacc.edu

The subject line of the email shall state: “RFP C2027-11-P Refuse & Recycling Services”.

Proposals must be received no later than 11:00 a.m. ET on October 29, 2026. For purposes of determining timely receipt, the timestamp recorded by the College's email system shall govern. The sender's email timestamp shall not constitute evidence of timely submission. Each respondent is solely responsible for ensuring that its proposal is received by the College prior to the submission deadline.

Proposals will not be accepted through eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA).

All costs incurred by respondents in connection with the preparation, submission, presentation, clarification, or negotiation of a proposal, including participation in meetings, interviews, demonstrations, or presentations, shall be borne solely by the respondent. Under no circumstances shall the College be responsible for or reimburse any such costs.

1.9 CONFIDENTIAL/PROPRIETARY INFORMATION

Contractors shall clearly identify any portions of their proposals that they consider confidential, proprietary, or trade secret information. Each page, section, or item claimed to be confidential, proprietary, or a trade secret must be specifically and conspicuously marked as such.

A blanket designation of the entire proposal as confidential, proprietary, or trade secret information is not acceptable and may be disregarded by the College. Contractors are responsible for justifying any claim of confidentiality in accordance with applicable law.

1.10 LATE PROPOSALS, LATE WITHDRAWALS, AND LATE MODIFICATIONS

It is the responsibility of each Contractor to ensure that its proposal is received by Heidi Frist, Senior Purchasing Agent, at hmfrist@aacc.edu, no later than 11:00 a.m. ET on October 29, 2026. For purposes of determining timely receipt, the timestamp recorded by the College's email system shall govern. The sender's email timestamp shall not constitute evidence of timely submission.

Proposals may be submitted at any time prior to the submission deadline. Any proposal, request for withdrawal, or request for modification received after the stated deadline shall be considered late.

Late proposals, withdrawals, or modification requests will not be considered unless received prior to award and the late receipt was due solely or primarily to an action or inaction of College personnel.

A late modification to a successful proposal that makes its terms more favorable to the College may be considered at any time it is received and may be accepted.

https://emma.maryland.gov/page.aspx/en/usr/login?ReturnUrl=%2Fpage.aspx%2Fen%2Fbpm%2Fprocess_browse

September 16, 2026

1.11 ERRORS IN PROPOSALS

Contractors are solely responsible for the accuracy and completeness of their proposals. A proposal may be withdrawn or modified only if written notice is received by the Senior Purchasing Agent prior to the deadline specified for proposal submission.

All proposals shall be deemed final upon the proposal submission deadline and may not be withdrawn, modified, or canceled for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days thereafter.

After the proposal submission deadline, withdrawal of a proposal will not be permitted except when the College determines, in its sole discretion and based upon clear and convincing evidence, that the Contractor made a bona fide error in the preparation of its proposal and that enforcement of the proposal would result in substantial loss to the Contractor. In such cases, the College may allow withdrawal of the proposal. Negligence, oversight, or errors in judgment by the Contractor do not constitute grounds for withdrawal, modification, or cancellation after the submission deadline.

Contractors are responsible for the accuracy of all proposed pricing. In the event of a discrepancy between a unit price and the extended total, the unit price shall prevail. In the event of a discrepancy between amounts stated in words and amounts stated in figures, the amount stated in words shall prevail.

1.12 EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS

Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the requirements of this RFP and the evaluation criteria set forth herein.

The College's Selection and Evaluation Committee will review proposals to determine responsiveness to the requirements of the solicitation and evaluate the qualifications, experience, proposed approach, pricing, and other factors identified in this RFP.

The College may request clarification of information contained in a proposal for the purpose of resolving ambiguities, verifying information, or facilitating the evaluation process. Clarifications shall not be considered an opportunity for a Contractor to materially modify its proposal.

Award will not be based solely on price and may not be made to the lowest-priced proposal. The College intends to award a contract to the Contractor whose proposal is determined to provide the best value and be most advantageous to the College, considering all evaluation criteria identified in this RFP.

The College may conduct interviews, reference checks, financial reviews, or other investigations it deems necessary to evaluate a Contractor's qualifications, responsibility, and ability to successfully perform the required services.

1.13 INTERVIEWS

The College evaluation committee will evaluate proposals based on the information submitted by the Contractors. Following the initial evaluation, the College may, at its sole discretion, invite one or more Contractors to participate in an interview, either virtually or in person, to clarify information contained in their proposals and respond to questions from the evaluation committee.

Information obtained during an interview will be considered in conjunction with the written proposal and may be used in the final evaluation of the Contractor's qualifications, experience, and technical capabilities. Following the interviews, if conducted, the evaluation committee may revise its rankings and provide its final recommendations to the Purchasing Agent for further consideration.

Interviews are solely at the discretion of the College and may or may not be conducted. Contractors shall not rely on the opportunity to provide additional information during an interview and are expected to submit a complete, thorough, and responsive proposal.

If the College elects to conduct interviews, Contractors shall make themselves available on the date(s) specified by the College in accordance with the tentative schedule of events set forth in this RFP. The Contractor's key personnel proposed for assignment to this project shall be required to attend and

September 16, 2026 participate in the interview and shall be prepared to discuss the proposal, project approach, qualifications, experience, and ability to perform the required services.

Failure of a Contractor to participate in a scheduled interview or to make its designated key personnel available may result in the proposal receiving no further consideration.

1.14 FINANCIAL STABILITY

The College reserves the right, at any time before or after contract award, to require additional documentation demonstrating a Contractor's financial stability and ability to successfully perform the required services. Such documentation may be requested to reduce the College's risk exposure and may include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Independently audited, reviewed or compiled financial statements for the two most recent complete years. Financial statements should include Balance Sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows, as well as notes, disclosures, and/or opinions as referenced in the auditor’s report.

• If audited, reviewed, or compiled financial statements are not available, the Contractor shall provide all the following documents to support financial stability:

a. A letter of reference from the Contractor's bank or financial institution;

b. Credit reference letters;

c. Internal financial statements;

d. The two most recent years’ tax returns.

• Complete Dun & Bradstreet report inclusive of a Dun & Bradstreet rating, interim internal financial reports, performance bond, letter of credit, or the establishment of an escrow account.

FAILURE TO PROVE FINANCIAL STABILITY MAY RENDER THE CONTRACTOR’S PROPOSAL

NON-RESPONSIVE AND INELIGIBLE FOR AWARD.

1.15 EVALUATION CRITERIA

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria and assigned weights:

Cost 60% Qualifications and Relevant Experience 30% Minority Participation 5% Overall, any other factors the College may deem appropriate 5%

1.16 ANNE ARUNDEL COMMUNITY COLLEGE RESERVED RIGHTS

The College reserves the right to:

• Adopt any portion or all portions of a Contractor's proposal when determined to be in the best interest of the College.

• Reject any or all proposals received in response to this RFP.

• Waive minor informalities, irregularities, or technical defects in any proposal when such action is determined to be in the best interest of the College.

• Request clarification, additional information, or supporting documentation from any Contractor.

• Clarify information submitted in a proposal to determine whether an error has been made or whether a waiver of a formality, informality, or technicality is appropriate. Contractors shall provide all information reasonably requested by the College to determine responsiveness and responsibility.

• Conduct investigations deemed necessary to evaluate a Contractor's qualifications, experience, financial stability, references, past performance, and ability to successfully perform the required services. Such investigations may include contacting current and former clients and verifying information contained in the proposal.

September 16, 2026

• Negotiate with one or more Contractors regarding any aspect of their proposals.

• Modify or refine administrative aspects of the evaluation process, when determined necessary and consistent with the terms of this RFP, to obtain the best overall value for the College.

• Make an award with or without discussions or negotiations.

• Cancel, amend, postpone, or reissue this RFP at any time prior to contract award.

• Take any other action consistent with applicable procurement requirements and deemed to be in the best interest of the College.

1.17 AWARD OR REJECTION OF PROPOSALS

Subject to the availability of funding, the College intends to award a contract to the responsible and responsive Contractor whose proposal is determined to be most advantageous to the College.

A proposal may be rejected for reasons including, but not limited to, the following:

• Failure to submit the proposal by the required deadline.

• Failure to provide required information, forms, certifications, signatures, or other documentation.

• Failure to acknowledge addenda, when required.

• Failure to comply with the requirements and instructions contained in this RFP.

• Submission of a proposal determined to be non-responsive.

• Submission of a materially unbalanced proposal in which pricing is inconsistent with the requirements of the RFP.

• Failure to demonstrate responsibility, qualifications, experience, or financial capacity necessary to perform the required services.

• Failure to participate in required discussions, interviews, or requests for clarification.

• Failure to successfully negotiate a contract, if negotiations are conducted.

• Evidence of collusion, fraud, misrepresentation, or other improper conduct.

The College reserves the right to reject any proposal if the information provided by the Contractor, or the results of the College's investigation, fails to demonstrate the Contractor's ability to successfully perform the required services.

Conditional proposals will not be accepted and will be deemed non-responsive.

If the Contractor selected for award fails to execute the contract as required, the College may cancel the award and award the contract to the next most responsive and responsible Contractor. If the next most responsive and responsible Contractor fails to fulfill the requirements for award, the College may reject any or all proposals at its sole discretion.

The College reserves the right to reject any proposal when it determines that acceptance would not be in the best interest of the College.

1.18 POST-AWARD REQUIREMENTS

Upon Notice of Award, the successful Contractor will be required to:

• Self-register in the College’s procurement system (Unimarket)

• Provide proof of an active Sam.gov registration upon request by the College.

The successful Contractor must complete these requirements prior to issuance of a purchase order and/or Notice to Proceed.

https://sam.gov/

September 16, 2026

1.19 NOTICE OF AWARD

Upon determination of the most responsive and responsible Contractor, the College will issue a Notice of Award to the successful Contractor and notification letters to all unsuccessful Contractors. The Contractor and the College shall work diligently to finalize and execute a written agreement following issuance of the Notice of Award.

Issuance of a Notice of Award does not authorize the Contractor to begin performance of services. The Contractor shall not commence work until receipt of a written Notice to Proceed from the College.

1.20 NOTICE TO PROCEED

Following execution of the agreement and satisfaction of all applicable contract requirements, including submission and approval of required insurance certificates and other post-award documents, the College may issue a written Notice to Proceed. The Contractor shall commence performance in accordance with the date specified in the Notice to Proceed.

1.21 DEBRIEFINGS

An unsuccessful Contractor may request a debriefing by submitting a written request to the Purchasing Agent within ten (10) days following the announcement of the recommended award.

Debriefings will be conducted orally and will be limited to a discussion of the requesting Contractor's proposal. The debriefing will identify areas in which the proposal was determined to be deficient or less advantageous when evaluated against the requirements and evaluation criteria of the RFP.

1.22 PROTEST OF AWARD

An interested party (actual bidder, offeror, or contractor) may protest an award or proposed award of a contract for goods or services to all publicly solicited items or services with a value of $50,000 or more.

The protest must be submitted in writing to the Director of Purchasing & Contracting within seven (7) days after announcement of the award and must be clearly identified as a “Protest.”

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PART TWO – SUBMITTAL FORMAT

2.1 PROPOSAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS

Proposals shall be prepared in accordance with the format and requirements set forth in this Part Two and the forms provided in this RFP.

Proposals should be clear, concise, and well organized to facilitate review by the College's Selection and Evaluation Committee. Contractors are encouraged to include a table of contents and any supporting documentation, literature, or supplemental information that demonstrates their qualifications, experience, and ability to successfully perform the services described in this RFP.

Each proposal shall include a transmittal letter signed by an individual authorized to bind the Contractor.

The transmittal letter should briefly introduce the Contractor, identify the contents of the proposal, and acknowledge the Contractor's commitment to the statements and representations contained in the proposal.

To ensure a complete and consistent evaluation, Contractors shall address each required section in the order presented in this Part Two. Proposals that fail to conform to the requirements of this solicitation or omit requested information may be deemed non-responsive and may be rejected at the sole discretion of the College.

2.2 GENERAL ORGANIZATION OF CONTRACTOR’S PROPOSAL CONTENTS

Proposals must be organized in the following format:

Volume One Technical Proposal:

Section 1.0 Title Page Section 2.0 Contractor’s Qualifications and Relevant Experience Section 3.0 Disclosure of Conditions Affecting Performance Section 4.0 References Section 5.0 Subcontractors Section 6.0 Value Added

Volume Two Submittal Documents:

Section 7.0 Contractor’s Price Proposal Section 8.0 Acknowledgement of Addenda Section 9.0 Conflict of Interest Statement Section 10.0 Participation in Procurement Statement Section 11.0 Bid/Proposal Affidavit Section 12.0 Service Performance Requirements Acknowledgment Section 13.0 Site Safety Requirements Acknowledgment Section 14.0 Proof of Insurance Section 15.0 Minority Participation

2.3 SECTION 1.0 – TITLE PAGE

The title page must:

• Be printed on official company letterhead.

• Include:

o The name and business address of the Contractor submitting the proposal.

o The name, email address, and telephone number of the primary company representative for proposal-related inquiries.

o The date of submission.

The title page must also display the following statement:

“Proposal – Project C2027-11-P, Refuse & Recycling Services.”

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2.4 SECTION 2.0 – CONTRACTOR’S QUALIFICATIONS AND RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

All services furnished under this contract shall be from Contractors regularly engaged in this type of work for a minimum of five consecutive years, and must be currently licensed, bonded and insured in the area where the work is to be performed. Failure to provide such proof may result in the Contractor being determined to be non-responsive and not eligible for award.

The College reserves the right to request any other information and data it deems necessary to determine if the Contractor’s proposal is both responsive and responsible and that the Contractor is fully qualified to handle the project as specified.

An inspection of the Contractor’s business operations may be required prior to the award of contract.

Complete Section 2.0 of the submittal documents and provide all requested information. Contractors may use their own word processing software to respond to each item and must address each item in the order presented to allow the Selection and Evaluation Committee to conduct a thorough and accurate assessment of the Contractor’s capabilities. Omission of any required items may result in disqualification.

When applicable, include a detailed description and supporting evidence of qualifications.

Organize qualifications and experience in the following order:

1. Contractor Background and Experience

2. Technical Capability and Operations

3. Project Management and Customer Service

4. Safety, Compliance, and Risk Management

5. Staffing and Personnel

2.5 SECTION 3.0 – DISCLOSURE OF CONDITIONS AFFECTING PERFORMANCE

Offerors must disclose any past or current circumstances that may impact their ability to successfully perform the services described in this solicitation.

Complete Section 3.0 of the submittal documents, including detailed explanations and supporting documentation for any “Yes” responses

2.6 SECTION 4.0 – REFERENCES

Anne Arundel Community College may contact references as it deems necessary to determine the ability of the Contractor to meet all the terms of the stated specifications.

Using the reference sheet provided under Section 4.0 of the submittal documents, submit information for three (3) clients, preferably located in the local area, for whom your company has provided refuse and recycling services comparable in size, scope, and service requirements to those required by Anne Arundel Community College within the past three (3) years. Anne Arundel Community College may not be listed as a reference. For each reference, include the following details:

1. Name of client;

2. Address of client;

3. Name and title of person who may be contacted for the reference;

4. Telephone number and e-mail address, for the contact person;

5. Value of the contract.

6. Scope of services provided, dates of service, and an explanation of how the refuse and recycling services performed are comparable in size, scope, and service requirements to those required by Anne Arundel Community College.

2.7 SECTION 5.0 – SUBCONTRACTORS

Using the subcontractor sheet provided in Section 5.0 of the submittal documents, submit details for all subcontractors, including their names, addresses, phone numbers, primary contacts, and the type of service they will provide. If no subcontractors are engaged, clearly state this in this section.

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Subcontractors may not be changed or substituted during the contract term without prior written approval from the College.

2.8 SECTION 6.0 – VALUE ADDED

Briefly share what makes your company unique among other contractors regularly engaged in this type of work. What differentiates your company from your competitors?

Describe any additional value added services that were not previously mentioned in your response for Section 2.0 above.

2.9 SECTION 7.0 – CONTRACTOR’S CONTRACT PRICING

Price proposals shall be signed by an authorized Contractor representative and shall be in accordance with the requirements of this RFP and all addenda.

By submitting a proposal, it is understood that your company agrees to provide said services as specified and that those services shall be provided or performed in accordance with the RFP specifications, stipulations and terms and conditions specified and that your company has read and agrees to the College terms, conditions, stipulations, and specifications and any College approved or authorized exceptions, and that your company will adhere to said terms and conditions in any resulting contract.

It is also understood that the proposed price will be firm for a period of one hundred and eighty (180) calendar days from the deadline for receipt of price proposals and that if the authorized signatory is notified of acceptance of this price within this time period, the Contractor shall execute a contract for the proposed compensation.

All proposals for goods and services shall be exclusive of taxes, where applicable. A copy of the College’s tax exemption certificate can be provided upon request. Contractors are not permitted to utilize the College’s tax exemption for the purchase of supplies and materials that will be incorporated into real property construction and renovation projects at the College.

Using the Contractor’s Price Proposal sheet provided in Section 7.0 of the submittal documents, please include the following details:

1. Refuse Collection Services Pricing

2. Cardboard Recycling Services Pricing

3. Paper Shredding Services Pricing

4. Recycling Toter Collection Services Pricing

5. 30-Yard Roll-Off Container Services Pricing – Main Campus

2.10 SECTION 8.0 – ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ADDENDA

All addenda form an integral part of this RFP.

Before submitting a proposal, Contractors are responsible for ensuring they have received all issued addenda. Receipt of each addendum must be acknowledged by completing Section 8.0 of the RFP submittal documents and including it with the contractor’s proposal. Failure to acknowledge receipt of issued addenda may result in the proposal being deemed non-responsive.

2.11 SECTION 9.0 – CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT

Contractors must certify that no current or potential conflicts of interest exist for this project. If any such facts or circumstances do exist, they must be disclosed in detail. The Conflict of Interest Statement, provided as Section 9.0 in the RFP submittal documents, must be completed and included with the Contractor’s proposal package.

2.12 SECTION 10.0 – PARTICIPATION IN PROCUREMENT STATEMENT

Maryland State Finance and Procurement Code Ann. §13-212.1 Compliance To ensure fairness in the procurement process, Maryland law prohibits the following:

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1. Any individual who assists the College in preparing specifications, an Invitation for Bids (IFB), or a Request for Proposals (RFP) may not submit a bid or proposal for that same procurement; and

2. That individual may not assist or represent another person – directly or indirectly – who is submitting a bid or proposal for that procurement.

This restriction also applies to any company that employs such an individual during the assistance period.

Compliance with this requirement is mandatory. This statement appears as Section 10.0 in the RFP submittal documents and must be signed by an authorized representative and included in the proposal submission.

2.13 SECTION 11.0 – BID/PROPOSAL AFFIDAVIT

Contractors must complete and sign the Bid/Proposal Affidavit, as detailed in Section 11.0 of the submission documents, and include it with their proposal to demonstrate compliance with Maryland’s integrity and transparency requirements.

2.14 SECTION 12.0 – SERVICE PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This section establishes the minimum service performance expectations for the Contractor and defines the standards by which services will be evaluated. It ensures that the Contractor understands and agrees to perform all services in a professional, timely, and reliable manner consistent with industry standards and the requirements of this RFP.

By signing this acknowledgment, the Contractor confirms its responsibility to meet service requirements, including, but not limited to, scheduled collections, responsiveness to service issues, maintenance of containers and equipment, and cleanup of any spillage resulting from operations.

This acknowledgment further affirms that failure to meet these performance standards may result in corrective action as outlined in this RFP.

The Service Performance Requirements Acknowledgment is attached as Section 12.0 under the Submittal Documents section of this RFP and must be signed and returned with the Contractor’s proposal package.

2.15 SECTION 13.0 – SITE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Anne Arundel Community College is dedicated to maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all employees, students, and individuals impacted by the Contractor’s activities. To achieve this, the College requires full compliance with OSHA and MOSH regulations, as well as additional site-specific safety standards outlined in the Site Safety Requirements Acknowledgment.

This acknowledgment, included as Section 13.0 under the Submittal Documents of this RFP, must be signed and submitted with the Contractor’s proposal package.

2.16 SECTION 14.0 – PROOF OF INSURANCE

Contractors must provide either a letter from their insurance company or a current certificate of insurance.

The documentation must include the policy number(s), insurance company and agent name(s), effective date(s), and coverage amounts as specified in Part Three – General Conditions of Contract, Section 3.17 Insurance (pages 18 -19).

Additionally, proof of insurance must confirm that the primary Contractor currently holds, or if awarded the contract, will hold all required insurance in the company's name at the specified limits. The documentation must confirm that waivers of subrogation in favor of the College will be provided for General Liability, Automobile Liability, Excess/Umbrella Liability, and Workers' Compensation coverage.

2.17 SECTION 15.0 – MINORITY PARTICIPATION

Anne Arundel Community College actively encourages Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) to provide goods and services that support the College’s operations. MBEs include:

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• Non-profit organizations that promote the interests of individuals with disabilities.

• Contractors that are at least 51% owned and controlled by members of socially or economically disadvantaged groups, such as African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asians, Pacific Islanders, women, and individuals with mental or physical disabilities.

MBE participation may occur through roles such as prime contractors, joint venture partners, consultants, suppliers, or trade contractors. While the College does not operate its own MBE certification program, it recognizes certifications issued by any government agency.

To document participation, Contractors should use the form provided under Section 15.0 of the submittal documents. Contractors who are not MBEs are encouraged to include a narrative describing their outreach efforts to engage MBEs, including details of initiatives and strategies used to promote participation.

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PART THREE – GENERAL CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT

3.1 ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Please refer to the Purchase Order Terms and Conditions for a full list of applicable terms. The Purchase Order Terms and Conditions are incorporated into this RFP by reference. These terms are subject to change without notice. Contractors are encouraged to review the link regularly to stay informed about any changes.

3.2 CONTRACT PROVISIONS FOR CONTRACTS UNDER FEDERAL AWARDS

In addition to other provisions required by the College, all contracts made by the College under Federal awards must contain provisions in Appendix II to Part 200 - Contract Provision for Non-Federal Entity Contracts Under Federal Awards. These Contract provisions are subject to change without notice.

Contractors are encouraged to check the above link frequently to learn of any changes made to these contract provisions.

3.3 GOVERNING LAW

Any contract awarded as a result of this RFP will be governed by the laws of the State of Maryland. The successful Contractor will be required to observe and comply with all Federal, State, and local laws, ordinances, orders, codes and regulations, including but not limited to, those relating to undocumented workers and the Uniform Commercial Code, all existing at the time of, or as amended subsequent to, the execution of a contract which in any manner affects the contractual requirements. Furthermore, all employees of the Contractor working anytime at Anne Arundel Community College must be in compliance with the State of Maryland Annotated Code Article 11-701 - 11-721 Criminal Procedure for Sex Offender and the Contractor is prohibited from staffing this contract with any individual who has been convicted of any act requiring registration under said article.

Any contract awarded as a result of this RFP will require that only United States citizens and/or persons legally authorized to work in the United States be employed on this project. It is the responsibility of the Contractor to ensure that all work to be performed under the awarded contract shall be done in strict compliance with all applicable Federal, State and local laws and regulations. In the event that a provision or specification in this RFP is in conflict with applicable laws and regulations, the Contractor must inform the College, indicate such in its proposal and propose alterations to the conditions specified.

As required by Maryland law, all foreign corporations doing business within the State of Maryland are required to be registered with the State Department of Assessment and Taxation. In order to be eligible to contract with the College, compliance with this law is mandatory.

3.4 RELATIONSHIP OF PROPOSAL AND FINAL CONTRACT

The Request for Proposals (RFP), all addenda, the Contractor's proposal, and any clarifications, negotiated modifications, and other documents incorporated by reference shall become part of the resulting contract.

The successful Contractor shall perform all services and provide all required documents in accordance with the requirements of this RFP and the resulting contract. No payment shall be due until all required documents have been received and approved by the College and the services have been satisfactorily performed and accepted by the College.

The College's Purchase Order Terms and Conditions are incorporated into the resulting contract by reference.