Waste Disposal and Compactor Services for Austin State Hospital

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and Department of State Health Services (DSHS) are seeking a waste disposal and compactor services contractor for Austin State Hospital, located at 4110 Guadalupe Street in Austin. The solicitation requires comprehensive waste management services involving the collection, transportation, and disposal of non-hazardous solid waste and recyclables using multiple container sizes, including 21 four-yard side-load containers (three times weekly), 11 four-yard side-load containers (weekly), 9 four-yard front-load recycle containers (weekly), 4 eight-yard side-load containers (weekly), and 2-3 thirty-yard open-top roll-off containers (monthly). Bidders must provide all necessary labor, equipment, tools, licenses, and permits to execute services. Required qualifications include a minimum of five years of relevant waste disposal experience, personnel with at least three years of industry experience, and compliance with background check requirements. Key submission deadlines include January 15, 2026, for questions, January 30, 2026, for HUB Subcontracting Plan courtesy review, and February 9, 2026, at 10:30 AM Central Time for bid responses. The initial contract term runs from September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2026, with potential two one-year renewals and an additional one-year extension possible.

The procurement includes a mandatory Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Subcontracting Plan with a 26.0% HUB utilization goal, established based on the 2009 State of Texas Disparity Study. Bidders must demonstrate good-faith efforts in HUB subcontracting through one of five prescribed methods, with Method IV requiring written notification to at least three certified HUB vendors and two trade organizations per subcontracting opportunity. Respondents must submit detailed reference information, including three verifiable references for similar contracts completed within the last five years. While no specific incumbent vendor is mentioned, the historical spend for similar services is approximately $100,000 for the period September 1, 2024, through August 31, 2025. Contractors must maintain specific insurance coverages, including workers' compensation, commercial general liability ($1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate), commercial automobile liability ($1,000,000 combined single limit), professional liability ($1,000,000), and umbrella liability ($1,000,000). The contract requires compliance with numerous state and federal regulations, including E-Verify requirements and various statutory provisions related to business practices and ethics.