Solicitation Q and A - Refuse 28 July 2026.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

AIR FORCE SUSTAINMENT CENTER (AFMC)

HILL AIR FORCE BASE UTAH

Questions and Answers

Notice ID FA820126Q0026

INTEGRATED SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR HILL AFB

Below are the questions received regarding the aforementioned solicitation that is currently active on SAM.gov. This is currently a live document that will be updated with any and all questions received for this solicitation. The final day for email inquiries for this solicitation is 5 August 2026 at 2:00pm MDT.

Once the final question has been added to this document it will no longer be considered a live document.

Notice of this change will be stated below.

Current Document Status: Live Document as of 28 July 2026 at 8:20am MDT Final Document: 5 August 2026 at 2:00pm MDT

Is there any incumbent/recompete or is this a brand-new project? If yes, could you please provide us with their award number or even if the customer bought similar services in the past.

o This is not a brand-new project. The incumbent is Robinson Waste Services, and the award number is FA820122C0001.

Missing PWS. The solicitation Section J lists the Performance Work Statement as Attachment 02, "Final ISWM HillAFB PWS Refuse FY27" dated June 23, 2026, and the evaluation factors reference it throughout, but it does not appear in the attachments posted on the SAM listing.

Could you please post or send the PWS and any appendices? We need the container inventory and collection frequencies to price the CLINs.

o It has been posted.

Site visit. Will there be a site visit or pre-quote conference where offerors can view the container locations and routes?

o A Site visit has been scheduled for 29 July 2026. Please see Solicitation amendment

0001 and site visit attachments on Sam.gov for more information.

Meaning of “Organic Recycle” in Table A-5. PWS Section 1.1.1.3 addresses recycling collection, PWS Section 1.2 addresses recyclable materials processing, PWS Section 1.2.1 lists recyclable materials, and PWS Section 1.2.3.1.1 refers to “Organic materials.” Appendix A, Table A-5 is titled “Organic Recycle Collection Stations & Frequency.” Please clarify the material stream intended by Table A-5. Should offerors treat these containers as single-stream recycling containers, cardboard/paper-only containers, OCC/mixed paper containers, organic material containers, or another material stream? Please confirm whether plastics, aluminum, steel, glass, food waste, and wood waste are included or excluded from this stream.

o Organic recycling references paper and cardboard (biodegradable material).

However, we have seen a variety of materials being thrown in the recycle containers, so offerors should treat these containers as single-stream commercial recycling.

Local landfills put single-stream commercial on all the recycling weight tickets.

Food Waste Containers and Compactors. PWS Section 1.1.1.2 addresses food waste collection, PWS Section 1.1.7.5 identifies three self-contained food compactor units at Building 849, Building 400 Commissary, and Building 412 BX, and Appendix A, Table A-4 lists those same three scheduled permanent compactors. Appendix A, Table A-3 also identifies two 8 CY Building 519 Dining Hall Food Waste containers. Please confirm whether the three compactors and the two Building 519 containers are the complete food waste collection requirement, and please reconcile the applicable pickup frequencies, service days, and CLIN treatment for each food waste location.

o Those are the only areas that currently have and previously had food containers, so offerors should treat these containers as the only areas. Any additional areas that might come up in the future would be addressed at that time by modification.

Current Food Waste Disposal / Processing Location. PWS Section 1.1.1.2 states that the Government reserves the right to add hauling of food waste to the food digester in Salt Lake City as an option to the food waste CLINs. PWS Section 1.3 addresses disposal. Please identify where food waste is currently disposed or processed, and confirm whether hauling to the Salt Lake City food digester is currently required, optional, or only reserved for future addition by the Government.

o Food waste is currently disposed or processed at local landfills with other trash.

Hauling to the Salt Lake City food digester is currently only reserved for possible future addition by the Government.

Current Recycling Processing Facility / MRF. PWS Section 1.2 states that recycling material must be taken off base to be sorted at a Municipal Recycle Facility. PWS Section 1.2.3 states that the Government will provide use of the base recycling area, but also permits use of a contractor-owned or third-party off-base facility if Government recyclable materials are sorted and weighed prior to commingling. PWS Section 1.3.1 also references transport of recyclable commodities to an off-base material recovery facility. Please identify the current recycling processing facility or MRF used for this requirement, and confirm whether offerors may propose an alternate qualified MRF or processing facility.

o Currently, the base facility is not staffed to handle our single-stream commercial loads, so an off base third party facility is used. However, there needs to be containers there that are serviced.

Landfill Tipping Fees / CLIN Scope. PWS Appendix A, Table A-1 lists X018 Landfill Tipping Fees at 4,250 tons at $52/ton. PWS Section 1.3.1 references invoicing disposal-location permits or fees to CLIN 0018, and PWS Section 1.5 requires monthly reporting of landfill tipping fees, weight tickets, diverted recyclable commodity weights, and sales proceeds. Please clarify the intended scope of the Landfill Tipping Fees CLIN. Should offerors apply landfill tipping fees only to landfill/disposal tons for MSW/refuse, or should this CLIN include food waste, C&D debris, recyclable residue, non-marketable recyclable materials, or all estimated tons shown in Appendix A, Table A-1?

o This CLIN includes general refuse, food waste, C&D debris, recyclable residue, non-marketable recyclable materials, etc.; basically, all estimated tons shown in Appendix A, Table A-1.

MSW Container Count / Additional Container Allowance. PWS Appendix A, Table A-3 lists 468 total refuse cans for scheduled service. PWS Section 1.1.5 states that the Government reserves the right to add up to 60 rented front-loader containers sized 6 CY of type MSW, in addition to the locations listed in Appendix A, throughout the life of the contract at no additional charge. PWS Section 1.1.7.1 also references contractor-furnished bulk refuse dumpsters, including up to 60 additional refuse containers.

o Please confirm that the 468 refuse cans listed in Appendix A, Table A-3 represent the base scheduled MSW container inventory at contract start, and that the up to 60 additional 6 CY MSW containers referenced in PWS Sections 1.1.5 and 1.1.7.1 are separate from, and in addition to, the 468 listed containers.

o Please also confirm whether the contractor must have the additional 60 MSW containers available at contract start, or only provide them if and when directed by the Government during the contract term.

o Correct. The 468 refuse cans listed in Appendix A, Table A-3 represent the base scheduled MSW container inventory and the number of MSW containers needed at contract start. The up to 60 additional 6 CY MSW containers referenced in PWS Sections 1.1.5 and 1.1.7.1 are separate from, and in addition to, the 468 listed containers.

Please provide the container inventory, collection locations, service frequencies, estimated quantities, and CLIN pricing schedule in Excel format. Although this information appears in the PWS and solicitation, an Excel workbook would help bidders price the requirement accurately and consistently.

o Unfortunately, with time constraints and current workload an excel file cannot be accommodated at this time.

Would Hill AFB consider a contract term longer than the current one-year base period plus four one-year options? Because the contractor must make a substantial investment in containers, compactors, vehicles, and supporting equipment, a longer potential term may result in more competitive pricing.

o The requiring authority has determined that 5 years is the need.

PWS §1.1.7 and Appendix C state that Hill AFB will provide approximately 210 8-yard recycling containers, while the contractor must furnish the remaining refuse, recycling, compactor, and roll-off equipment. Please explain the reason for this ownership arrangement and clarify whether all 210 government-owned containers are currently serviceable and available at contract commencement.

o All 210 containers are in acceptable condition, and our reasoning is that by using existing containers, we save the USAF money.

Please confirm how long the food-waste/organics program has been operating and provide historical annual tonnage, pickup counts, and service levels. Is the estimated 315 tons based on actual incumbent performance?

o The estimated 315 tons was based on recent history.

Please provide additional information regarding the on-base recycling area, including the equipment provided, equipment condition, staffing expectations, operating hours, historical volumes processed onsite, commodities handled, and whether the current contractor uses the onsite area or transports recyclables directly to an off-base MRF.

o The base recycling area is a vacant structure with minimal staff by appointment with a paved area adjoining east side that has 8CY recycling containers in a U-shape.

Please clarify the required painting frequency. PWS §1.1.7.2 requires all containers to be washed and painted annually, while §1.4.2.1 requires painting within the first 90 days and at least once every two years. Which requirement controls?

o It should be once a year (annually).

Please provide the incumbent’s container-condition checklists or, at minimum, the actual number of containers cleaned, painted, repaired, and replaced during each of the last three contract years.

o Please see Container Condition Checklist and Container Placement excel docs attached to the solicitation.

Please clarify how annual container washing, painting, signage, repair, and replacement should be priced. Are these services charged per container according to CLIN 0017?

o It would be the total you would charge for each container to be washed, painted with signage, and repaired as a monthly charge. Replacement for damage caused by contractor is by contractor expense.

In the RFP it states that a map can be provided upon request. Can you provide a map of all of the placement of the containers as it states in the RFP.

o Unfortunately, due to current events and dumpsters placed in sensitive areas a base map cannot be provided to offerors but will be provided to the eventual winner.

Can the start date be extended further than October? Given that over 600 dumpsters need to be provided.

o No, the start date cannot be extended. The government cannot have a lapse in service.

Are the compactors contractor owned?

o All containers, except 210 of the 8CY recycle containers, are contractor furnished

(whether contractor owns or rents them).