35DEPRecyclingHotlineSvcs

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Waste Management, is requesting bids for staffing and operation of a statewide Recycling Hotline service, with bids due September 12, 2026. The hotline will serve Dauphin County and Harveys Lake Borough and must provide information on municipal waste recycling, household hazardous waste, electronics recycling, waste tires, organics, battery recycling, and litter throughout Pennsylvania.

All bids must be submitted electronically through the Department of General Services' eMarketplace website. The contract award goes to the lowest responsive bidder meeting all specified requirements. Contractors must complete the mandatory Worker Protection and Investment Certification Form (BOP-2201), certifying compliance with Pennsylvania's unemployment compensation, workers' compensation, and labor and workforce safety laws. False certification triggers contract termination and a three-year Commonwealth debarment under 62 Pa.C.S. 531.

The Hotline must be staffed to handle approximately 35 calls per week, operating 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, with an answering device fielding calls outside business hours. All recorded messages must be returned on the first working day. The contractor establishes a dedicated phone line, provides all necessary equipment, and receives reimbursement for actual expenses including mailings (approximately 50,000 pieces annually), telephone charges, clearinghouse subscriptions, and photocopying on recycled paper.

The initial contract term runs July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, with optional renewals for up to four additional one-year periods through June 30, 2031. Compensation is based on unit bid prices for actual services performed; invoices are submitted monthly. Unit prices may adjust annually on July 1 by no more than 3 percent upon written request submitted by March 1 prior to each renewal year. Qualified contractors must demonstrate a minimum of five years' experience in recycling education and Pennsylvania-specific technical expertise, with supervisory staff possessing equivalent experience in recycling, household hazardous waste, battery recycling, and organics management.