RFP - Emergency Debris Removal and Management Services for Harris County (Grant Funded)

Harris County, Texas is soliciting proposals for Emergency Debris Removal and Management Services through a grant-funded Request for Proposals (RFP) designed to provide comprehensive debris removal and management across the county's 1,777 square miles and four Commissioner Precincts. The procurement encompasses clearing, removing, and managing disaster-generated debris including right-of-way vegetative debris, construction and demolition debris, debris management site establishment and operation, private property debris removal, hazardous tree removal, white goods and electronics handling, animal carcass removal, waterway debris removal, and public drop-off site operations. The anticipated contract term is three years with two optional one-year renewal periods contingent upon performance approval by Harris County Commissioners Court, with compensation based entirely on unit prices for 18 pricing groups plus reimbursable pass-through tipping fees. Minimum qualifications require contractors to demonstrate five years of emergency debris removal experience, completion of at least one federally declared disaster project involving 1 million cubic yards within ten years, completion of at least three projects each involving 500,000 cubic yards, at least one federally funded private property debris removal project, and documented ability to mobilize and sustain 150 debris hauling units with 20+ cubic yard capacity, 40 small trucks, and 20 self-loading units for 90+ days before first payment, with bonding capacity up to $200 million. Evaluation criteria allocate 50 percent weight to price and 50 percent to technical qualifications including mobilization capability, company experience and past performance, and key personnel qualifications. The pre-proposal conference is scheduled for May 19, 2026, at 10:00 AM CST via Microsoft Teams; written questions must be submitted by May 21, 2026, at 12:00 PM CST; and proposals are due June 8, 2026, at 2:00 PM CST via Bonfire portal or hand delivery to Harris County Purchasing at 1111 Fannin, 12th Floor, Houston, TX 77002.

Harris County intends to award contracts to a qualified contractor pool of two to four contractors ranked by total evaluated score, with no identified incumbent vendors or existing contractors specified in the RFP documents. The solicitation includes mandatory Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) utilization with a goal of 7.56 percent of total contract value, requiring bidders to submit M/WBE Utilization Plans demonstrating achievement of the goal or documented good faith efforts to meet the target through engagement of certified M/WBE firms from approved agencies including the City of Houston, Texas Unified Certification Program, U.S. Small Business Administration 8(a) program, and other recognized certification bodies. Contractors must comply with Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements, Harris County's mandatory minimum wage policy of $21.65 per hour (adjusted annually), and Section 3 compliance for HUD-funded projects exceeding $200,000. Performance bonds equal to 100 percent of estimated annual contract work (approximately $50 million annually) and comprehensive insurance coverage are required, with specific operational readiness standards mandating 80 percent daily operational capacity, establishment of minimum 15 debris management sites across all precincts within specified timeframes, and adherence to performance deadlines ranging from 45 days for standard events to negotiated timelines for catastrophic events exceeding 8 million cubic yards. The contract is funded through federal grant monies from the Texas General Land Office (GLO), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and all work must comply with 2 CFR Part 200, FEMA Public Assistance requirements, and the Build America Buy America Act, with estimated annual expenditures of approximately $50 million based on unit pricing submissions.