Request for Proposal for Waste Disposal Systems

The Austin Independent School District (AISD) in Travis County, Texas, has issued a Request for Proposal for district-wide Waste Disposal Systems to be posted April 20, 2026, with proposals due May 5, 2026. AISD seeks qualified vendors experienced in providing comprehensive collection, transport, processing, and disposal services for non-hazardous landfill trash, single-stream recycling, and compostable organic waste across multiple school facilities and administrative locations. The district has established detailed service parameters based on historical hauls data covering over 300 locations, including elementary schools, administrative facilities, bus terminals, and athletic centers, with existing service frequencies ranging from one to five days per week depending on waste stream type and location. Vendors must demonstrate commitment to supporting AISD's zero waste initiative and provide services optimized toward waste reduction and sustainability goals. Required deliverables include waste collection and transport services, processing and disposal services for multiple waste streams, staff and student training capabilities (both in-person and virtual), waste characterization reporting, contamination reporting, and monthly waste collection data tracking per site. Vendors must submit all proposals through the Bonfire platform and include completed required forms, including Bid Certification, Notification of Criminal History, Debarment and Suspension Certification, EDGAR Vendor Certification, Strategic Partner Profile, and Conflict of Interest Questionnaire, with all signed originals required.

The procurement includes specific provisions for vendors operating in disadvantaged or historically underutilized business (HUB) categories, with vendors able to identify applicable HUB/DBE certifications within the Strategic Partner Profile submission. All vendors and subcontractors must comply with federal certifications when federal funds are expended, including adherence to the Clean Air Act, Federal Water Pollution Control Act, Byrd Anti-Lobbying Amendment, Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act, and domestic preference requirements for United States-manufactured products. The proposal evaluation will consider cost components including base pricing for collection, transport, processing, and disposal services, with additional fee schedules provided separately for transition fees, equipment replacement, indoor receptacles of varying sizes (7, 23, and 32-gallon containers), training services, data reporting, and contamination management. A detailed rebate structure has been established reflecting expected waste stream composition, including OCC cardboard (24%), mixed paper (56%), PETE plastic (1%), UBC aluminum (0.5%), tin cans (5%), glass (3.5%), residual waste (10%), and other materials, which will factor into financial calculations and vendor compensation. The specific award value or budget range for this contract was not disclosed in the posted materials, though the extensive historical service data across 300+ locations indicates a substantial district-wide contract of significant scope and complexity.