Owner-operated Semi-tractors and Equipment Operators

The Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD), located in Dane County and Madison City, Wisconsin, is soliciting submittals for owner-operated semi-tractors and equipment operators to support its Metrogro Program, which recycles liquid biosolids as agricultural fertilizer. The District seeks up to nineteen (19) owner-operated semi-tractors with drivers and four (4) equipment operators on an as-needed basis during the hauling season from early April through late November, with individual contractors limited to submitting proposals for no more than four (4) semi-tractors. Work involves loading and transporting District-owned biosolids trailers (approximately 6,000-gallon capacity, 35 to 40 feet in length) to field application sites within a 35-mile radius, and equipment operators must operate District-owned biosolids application vehicles equipped with computerized nutrient management systems and utilize range finders and acreage calculation capabilities. Required qualifications include Class A Commercial Driver's Licenses with tanker endorsements, current DOT inspections, workers compensation and employer's liability insurance ($100,000 minimum per occurrence), commercial general liability insurance ($1,000,000 per person/$2,500,000 per occurrence), and property damage liability insurance ($1,000,000 per occurrence), with the District named as additional insured; contractors must also participate in a DOT-approved drug and alcohol testing program and are responsible for minor equipment damage and spill cleanup costs. Compensation is established at $127.45 per hour for owner-operated semi-tractor services and $58.76 per hour for equipment operator services, both subject to fuel price adjustments based on diesel prices; hourly rates are reviewed annually using the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index, with fuel adjustments tied to U.S. Energy Information Administration Midwest diesel pricing. The contract term runs through December 31, 2026, with no guaranteed minimum hours or days of work; submittals must be received by 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at the District office located at 1610 Moorland Road, Madison, Wisconsin 53713, and prospective bidders should check the District's website for any addenda within 72 hours of the proposal deadline. Questions should be directed to Ross Hollfelder at 608-609-7725 or rfp@madsewer.org.

No specific set-aside designations or restrictions on organization types are identified in the solicitation documents; however, selection criteria include past Metrogro program experience, ability to supply both semi-tractors and equipment operators, and availability of suitable land for biosolids application. The solicitation does not identify any incumbent vendors or current contractors, nor does it reference existing infrastructure or technology requiring integration beyond the District-owned biosolids application vehicles with computerized nutrient management systems that operators must be capable of using. The District reserves the right to reject any or all proposals or waive any technicality, and all proposal responses and their contents will be public record. No specific award values or budget ranges are provided in the solicitation documents; however, the contract is structured as a time-and-materials arrangement based on actual hours worked at the established hourly rates subject to fuel adjustments. Payment is made bi-weekly following District approval of submitted invoices, with payment due within twenty-one days of approval. The District is federal and state tax exempt.