Disaster Debris Monitoring and Recovery Services (Pre-Event)

Dorchester County, South Carolina is soliciting proposals for pre-event Disaster Debris Monitoring and Recovery Services through a Request for Proposals process with a submission deadline of May 14, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. The procurement seeks qualified firms to provide comprehensive disaster debris management support including field monitoring, load ticketing, FEMA compliance documentation, damage assessment, and recovery services. Core deliverables and objectives encompass debris monitoring operations, emergency planning and preparedness, FEMA compliance and cost recovery support, and damage assessment services. Required staffing includes a Project Manager, Field Supervisors, Debris Monitors, Data Entry/Ticketing staff, and FEMA Specialists, with the specific staffing levels dependent on the scale of the declared disaster event. Proposals will be evaluated on six criteria: Firm Experience and Past Performance (25 points), FEMA Expertise and Compliance Capability (20 points), Technical Approach (20 points), Key Personnel and Staffing (15 points), Systems and Reporting (10 points), and Cost Proposal (10 points). Qualified respondents must submit written questions by April 30, 2026 at 8:00 a.m., and the resulting contract will commence July 1, 2026, with an initial one-year term and up to four additional one-year renewal options. Pricing must be submitted on a fully burdened hourly rate basis for each labor category with no tiered, lump sum, or cost-plus-percentage pricing permitted, and reimbursable non-labor expenses such as travel, lodging, and equipment rental will be reimbursed at actual cost without markup subject to prior approval.

The RFP does not identify specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting the types of organizations eligible to respond. The current contract holder is TetraTech, Inc., which was awarded the previous contract in July 2021 and has no remaining renewal options; therefore, a new contractor will be selected through this procurement. Respondents must meet comprehensive insurance requirements including General Liability ($1,000,000 minimum), Automobile Liability ($1,000,000 combined single limit), Workers' Compensation as required by South Carolina law, Professional Liability ($1,000,000 per occurrence), and Owners' and Contractors' Protective Liability if the project exceeds $1,000,000. This is a zero-cost pre-event contract until activated by written Notice to Proceed following a disaster declaration, meaning no compensation is due until the County officially engages the contractor following a qualifying disaster event. The County reserves the right to award contracts to multiple firms to ensure adequate response capacity during disaster response operations. Proposals must be submitted electronically through the OpenGov Procurement Portal, with questions directed to Rebecca Dantzler at RDantzler@DorchesterCountySC.gov.