Pumping and Maintenance Services of Sewage Holding and Septic Tanks

The County of Orange, California, through its OC Community Resources department, is soliciting competitive bids for Pumping and Maintenance Services of Sewage Holding and Septic Tanks via Invitation for Bid (IFB) IFB-012-2763503-KC. This fully electronic solicitation requires all bids to be submitted through the County's online bidding system, with no alternative submission methods accepted. The procurement encompasses preventive and on-call septic tank services at multiple county facilities, including OC Parks, OC Animal Care, and OC Libraries throughout Orange County, with services including semiannual maintenance of duplex sewer pump stations, annual maintenance of six sanitary holding tanks, and countywide septic tank pumping, cleaning, and maintenance across approximately 20 specified locations. Contractors must maintain a current California C36-Plumbing Contractor License throughout the contract term and must be capable of providing 24/7 emergency response with a maximum 90-minute response time, with financial penalties of $100 per hour for exceeding response time limits. Required qualifications also include maintaining commercial general liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, automobile liability coverage of $1,000,000 combined single limit, statutory workers' compensation coverage, and $1,000,000 employers' liability insurance. Key dates include a mandatory pre-bid meeting scheduled for December 11, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. at Carbon Canyon Regional Park in Brea, California; a question submission deadline of December 17, 2024, at 2:00 p.m.; and a bid submission deadline of January 6, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., with bids valid for 365 days after the IFB closing date. The contract term is five calendar years from execution date, with potential renewal subject to County Board of Supervisors approval, structured as a firm fixed-fee contract with no price increases permitted during the first year and requiring 30 days' advance notice for any subsequent adjustments.

The County offers preference to County of Orange Local Small Businesses (OCLSB) and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBE) that meet State of California Department of General Services certification requirements. Contractors must submit W-9 forms, certificates of insurance with additional insured endorsements, D-U-N-S numbers, and UEI numbers prior to contract award and must comply with all federal, state, county, and local regulations regarding waste disposal and safety protocols, including OSHA standards and California Labor Code provisions. Prevailing wage requirements apply to this contract, and contractor expenses including labor, equipment, tools, materials, and travel are included in the quoted rates, with unproductive time limited to a maximum one hour per call due to County delays. Pricing is structured in multiple categories including line-item services for preventive maintenance and per-load rates for septic tank pumping based on tank capacity, with separate pricing for in-county and outside-district locations; however, specific award values or budget ranges are not disclosed in the available solicitation documents, as pricing is designated as "TBD" pending the formal bidding process. Payment is made in arrears net 30 days after invoice receipt and approval, and the contract is designated as a cooperative contract available for use by other Orange County departments, requiring a 2 percent administrative rebate on total sales from subordinate contracts.