Request for Proposals for Services Related to the City of Tustin's Solid Waste Management Franchise Agreement

The City of Tustin is requesting proposals for exclusive solid waste collection services — garbage, recyclable materials, construction and demolition debris, and organic waste — under a ten-year franchise agreement beginning April 1, 2028, with proposals due February 1, 2027 at 4:00 p.m. PT and a mandatory pre-proposal conference on November 4, 2026.

The scope covers collection services to residential, commercial, and City facilities serving approximately 78,000 residents across 15,719 current containers and generating approximately 48,682 tons of garbage annually, 10,531 tons of recyclable materials, and 6,337 tons of organic waste. The selected contractor is responsible for transporting and delivering collected materials to City-approved facilities and complying with all transfer, processing, recycling, disposal, reporting, and flow-control requirements under the Draft Franchise Agreement and applicable California state laws including SB 1383, AB 1594, AB 1826, AB 341, and SB 54. The RFP does not procure ownership or operation of post-collection processing or disposal facilities.

Proposers must demonstrate a minimum of three years of verifiable collection-services experience, provide audited financial statements for the previous three fiscal years, secure performance bonds, obtain a City business license, and maintain general liability and workers' compensation insurance per Draft Franchise Agreement specifications. Proposed service rates must be all-inclusive for collection services without additional compensation and are subject to annual adjustments beginning July 1, 2029 per a specified methodology.

Evaluation criteria include service rates, customer service and reliability, qualifications and financial ability, exceptions to the agreement, and sustainability and innovation measures; proposals will be ranked using a consensus approach. The City makes no guarantee of award and reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and negotiate with selected proposers. A $25,000 refundable cashier's check proposal deposit is due no later than February 3, 2027 at 4:00 p.m. PT. The current service provider, CR&R Incorporated, terminates on March 31, 2028. Questions are due December 2, 2026, and January 5, 2027. City Council will make the final award determination on May 18, 2027.