Public private partnership for the development and operation of a materials recovery facility

Orange County, Florida is seeking a public-private partnership (P3) for the development and operation of a new Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) through Solicitation Y23-810. The county is requesting proposals from qualified contractors to design, permit, finance, build, operate, and maintain a single-stream recycling processing facility on county-owned land adjacent to the existing landfill. The proposed MRF will have a processing capacity of 35 tons per hour, targeting 7,000 tons per month of recyclable materials from Orange County and potential partner counties. Key deliverables include a fully operational facility with a targeted commercial operations date of July 2026, a public education center, and comprehensive recycling processing capabilities with 95% capture rates for specific recyclable materials. The solicitation requires electronic proposal submissions through the OpenGov e-Procurement Platform, with a strict submission deadline of November 16, 2023, at 4:00 pm EST. A non-mandatory pre-proposal meeting was held on May 18, 2023, and the final deadline for submitting questions was June 8, 2023. The proposed contract term is 20 years, with potential for two additional 5-year renewal terms, and evaluation will likely focus on technical capabilities, operational expertise, financial stability, and proposed processing and revenue-sharing mechanisms.

The solicitation does not explicitly specify set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The proposed MRF will be compensated through a Processing Fee structure with two components: a Fixed Fee for capital investment and an Operating Fee for processing and operational expenses. The county will receive 90% of any excess revenue above the Processing Fee, creating a revenue-sharing model. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the project involves significant capital investment for a +/-20 acre facility with advanced recycling infrastructure. The contractor will be responsible for marketing and selling recovered commodities, with performance standards including specific operating hours (Monday through Saturday) and comprehensive security provisions. The project emphasizes innovation and sustainable operations, suggesting that proposers with advanced technological capabilities and proven track records in waste management and recycling infrastructure will be most competitive. Potential respondents should demonstrate expertise in designing, constructing, and operating modern materials recovery facilities with high efficiency and environmental performance.