Professional Services for Managing Food Waste and Other Organic Materials in Dane County

Dane County, Wisconsin, is seeking professional services for managing food waste, yard waste, and other organic materials through Request for Proposal #323028. The county aims to develop innovative solutions for organic waste management, with potential outcomes including a newly permitted county-operated organics recycling facility, public-private partnerships for existing or new facilities, or alternative approaches like food waste-to-energy projects. Proposers may submit bids for design and permitting, facility operations, or alternative organic materials management strategies. The contract period runs from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2026, with potential facility operation through December 31, 2031. A pre-bid meeting was held on September 7, 2023, with proposals due on October 3, 2023, at 2:00 pm. Evaluation criteria will include firm qualifications, project approach, schedule, cost, and local vendor preference. The county seeks comprehensive proposals addressing site characteristics, equipment needs, processing methodologies, odor mitigation, and potential end-use applications for recycled materials.

The solicitation does not explicitly specify set-aside designations or restrictions for specific enterprise types. The anticipated project involves processing approximately 17,500 tons of leaves, 15 tons of food scraps from Madison, 11 tons from other municipalities, 210 tons of pre-consumer food scraps from UW Madison, and 330 tons of post-consumer food scraps. The county has allocated a project budget of $2,200,000 for facility construction and equipment procurement, with potential additional federal grant funding of up to $4,000,000. Four potential sites have been identified for the facility, ranging from 31.98 to 51.12 acres, with varying zoning classifications including farmland preservation and recreational areas. The county prefers that primary organic management activities occur within 5 miles of the proposed landfill site. Proposers should demonstrate experience in organic waste management and provide detailed approaches to facility design, operation, and potential scalability.