Rental activated carbon-based air treatment units

The City of Austin, Texas, through its Austin Water department, is issuing an Invitation for Bids (IFB 2200 CSH1058) for the rental of activated carbon-based air treatment units designed to provide odor control services throughout the city. The procurement encompasses installation, operation, maintenance, replacement of activated carbon media, and removal of equipment at specified locations including Lost Creek WWTP, Walnut Creek WWTP, Onion Creek Odor Treatment Unit, and Fallwell. Bidders must provide qualified, trained personnel with a minimum of three years' recent experience in activated carbon-based odor control systems for hydrogen sulfide reduction and must demonstrate financial responsibility with comprehensive insurance coverage naming the City as an insured party. The contract is for an initial twenty-four-month term with options for up to three additional twelve-month renewal periods at the City's sole discretion, and pricing is fixed with optional adjustments after the first twelve months, capped at twenty-five percent for any single line item. The City will award the contract using best value competition methodology, and all mobilization, installation, and demobilization costs are included in a one-time fee due with the first invoice. Critical deadlines include a pre-offer meeting scheduled for March 23, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. CT via Microsoft Teams; questions must be submitted by March 5, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. CT; and sealed bids are due by April 14, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. CT, with bids opening at 3:00 p.m. CT the same day. The contractor must provide 24/7 emergency contact capability through a designated single point of contact.

The procurement offers local and small business discounts of five percent for bids up to $500,000 and three percent for bids between $500,000 and $50 million, and while no Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise subcontracting goals apply, offerors intending to use subcontractors must comply with the City's M/WBE Procurement Program procedures and demonstrate good faith efforts to solicit certified M/WBE firms. All contractors and subcontractors must comply with wage theft regulations under City of Austin Ordinance No. 20221201-031 and complete wage theft training within thirty days of contract award, and all employees directly assigned to the contract must receive a minimum living wage of $22.05 per hour with annual recertification requirements. Contractors must obtain insurance from companies authorized to do business in Texas with an A.M. Best rating of B+VII or better, including Worker's Compensation and Employers' Liability Insurance with minimum limits of $100,000 per accident, Commercial General Liability Insurance with minimum limits of $500,000 per occurrence, Business Automobile Liability Insurance with a combined single limit of $500,000 per occurrence, and Environmental Impairment/Pollution Liability Insurance with a minimum limit of $1,000,000 per claim, with all policies naming the City as an additional insured with waiver of subrogation and 30 days' notice of cancellation. The solicitation does not identify incumbent vendors or specific budget allocations; however, the contract structure suggests significant service requirements across multiple wastewater treatment facilities with potential values within the $500,000 to $50 million range based on the tiered discount structure offered to local and small businesses.