Biomass Waste Processing - Medium Volume

The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County, Florida is soliciting proposals through RFP 26-205 to establish a contract for biomass waste processing services on a medium-volume basis. The Authority seeks a qualified and experienced contractor to receive, process, and beneficially use or recycle approximately 50,000 tons of biomass waste annually, which includes vegetation and woody material from landscaping maintenance, tree trimming, land clearing, and construction/demolition operations. Proposers must demonstrate facility capacity to receive a minimum of eight 100-cubic-yard tractor-trailer loads daily, Monday through Saturday, with offloading capability within fifteen minutes of arrival, and may submit up to five proposed facility sites provided all locations are within 20 miles of the Authority's renewable energy facility at 6651 N. Jog Road, West Palm Beach, Florida. The initial contract term is three years from the effective date with an option to renew for an additional three years subject to Governing Board approval. Evaluation criteria include experience and qualifications (20 points), technical plan (30 points), price proposal (25 points), SBE plan participation (15 points), and local preference for firms with a permanent place of business in Palm Beach County for at least one year prior to solicitation issuance (10 points out of 100 total points). Proposals must be submitted electronically through the Bonfire e-procurement system by 2:00 P.M. Eastern Time on March 19, 2026, with a non-mandatory pre-proposal conference held on March 4, 2026, and the selection committee meeting tentatively scheduled for March 26, 2026; all questions and clarification requests must be submitted through Bonfire by the deadline specified in the RFP document.

The RFP includes a mandatory twenty percent (20%) Small Business Enterprise (SBE) subcontracting Affirmative Procurement Initiative (API) requirement, with fifteen points awarded for meeting or exceeding this goal, and proposers unable to meet this requirement may request a waiver through the Equal Business Opportunity Office using a 100-point scoring system that requires a minimum of 70 points for approval. Proposers must certify compliance with local preference requirements by providing a valid Palm Beach County Business Tax Receipt and completed Certification of Business Location form, with preference given to businesses maintaining a permanent place of business within Palm Beach County for at least one year prior to solicitation issuance. All proposers must provide proof of current insurance coverage, comply with federal and state environmental regulations, maintain E-Verify enrollment, and certify compliance with Florida Statute 287.087 regarding drug-free workplace requirements, non-collusion certifications, scrutinized lists compliance, and non-engagement in human trafficking. Pricing shall be submitted on a per-ton gate fee (tipping fee) basis for receiving, handling, processing, and disposition of biomass waste, with annual adjustment capped at 4 percent using the Consumer Price Index for Private Transportation and Average Hourly Earnings indices published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Authority guarantees delivery of 50,000 tons per year or will pay for shortfall amounts at the established rate. The RFP documents do not specify an explicit award value or budget range; however, pricing will be evaluated as part of the 25-point technical evaluation component. No incumbent vendors or existing contractors are identified in the procurement documents.