Municipal Solid Waste Services

The City of Mercedes, Texas is requesting proposals for municipal solid waste services including residential and commercial refuse collection, disposal, and bulk pickup services, with proposals due August 19, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. CST.

The service area encompasses approximately 3,233 active single-family residential utility accounts and 169 commercial accounts within city limits, plus an additional 442 out-of-city accounts in the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). Residential collection occurs once per week with a preferred Thursday pickup day; commercial services operate on a predetermined schedule. Pricing must address single-cart (96-gallon) and multiple-cart residential configurations, commercial accounts, out-of-cycle bulky item services, and specialized services including disaster relief support and emergency debris management. The City bills end-users directly and remits payment to the contractor within 30 days of month-end; the contractor receives no payment for non-pickups.

The initial contract term runs five years through September 30, 2031, with an option for the City to renew for five additional one-year terms at its discretion. Compensation adjustments in renewal terms are limited to a Consumer Price Index adjustment not exceeding 5% per year and 15% cumulative over contract life. The contractor must pay a franchise fee of 4% on residential base rates collected and 15% on commercial and industrial revenues.

Proposers must submit a $5,000 proposal deposit (returned to non-selected proponents) and provide either a performance bond or performance deposit equal to the full estimated contract price. All bidders must be bonded in accordance with state and local requirements, maintain current insurance coverage, and comply with Texas Government Code prevailing wage rate and conflict of interest provisions.

Evaluation criteria weighted across seven categories: Proponent Experience & Qualifications (20 points), Technical Approach & Operational Plan (20 points), Customer Service & Community Relations (15 points), Equipment and Fleet Resources (15 points), Financial Stability & Capacity (10 points), Past Performance & References (10 points), and Price Proposal (10 points). Questions are due August 14, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. CST. Contract award is anticipated September 1, 2026, with service commencement October 1, 2026.