Emerge Knowledge Design Inc.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Division of Waste Management, has posted a statutorily mandated fifteen business day advertisement for an intended single source procurement for Re-TRAC Connect Software License and associated professional and technical services from Emerge Knowledge Design Inc. The procurement is being conducted on behalf of Leon County and will support paperless reporting of recycling and solid waste management information as required under Florida Statute Chapter 403.706(7), enabling counties to submit annual solid waste management and recycling data to the EPA. The deliverables include annual software subscriptions, technical maintenance and support, staff training, and professional services for configuration of new reporting requirements across multiple state programs including the County Annual Solid Waste Management program, Recovered Materials Dealer Reporting, Public Sector Recycling Reports, and the Annual Voluntary Recycling Recognition Program. The contract term runs from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The notice was posted on April 20, 2026, with the last day for receipt of information from prospective vendors set for May 11, 2026, providing the statutorily required minimum 15 business day advertisement period. Inquiries should be directed to Kimberly Bowling, Purchasing Specialist Supervisor, at the DEP's Commonwealth Boulevard office in Tallahassee.

The justification for this single source procurement centers on Emerge Knowledge Design Inc.'s proprietary ownership of the Re-TRAC software, which has no authorized distributors or resellers in Florida, making the vendor a sole source provider. The vendor has provided historical annual software subscriptions, technical maintenance and support, staff training, and professional services for configuration of new reporting requirements across multiple state programs, establishing continuity of service as a key requirement. No specific set-aside designations or restrictions on organizational types have been identified in the procurement documentation. The estimated dollar amount for this single source procurement is $52,000, representing the complete budget allocation for the contract period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The procurement was approved by Tamela Starling (Government Analyst I), Natasha Lampkin (Assistant Director), and Kimberly Bowling (Purchasing Specialist Supervisor) at the DEP.