Biosolids Hauling & Disposal Services

VSD has prepared this Request for Proposals (“RFP”) and is requesting proposals from qualified and interested firms (“Proposers”). Valley Sanitary District (VSD) is soliciting sealed proposals from qualified and experienced biosolids hauling firms to provide transportation and beneficial reuse or disposal services for biosolids generated at the District’s wastewater treatment facility. The selected contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, vehicles, fuel, permits, and incidentals necessary to transport and deliver biosolids to an approved composting or processing facility capable of converting the material to Class A biosolids or otherwise managing the material in full regulatory compliance. This Request for Proposals is intended to establish a multi-year service agreement, with clearly defined pricing for daily hauling services and associated contingency conditions. Proposals will be evaluated and scored by District staff in accordance with the criteria set forth herein, and award, if made, will be to the proposer determined to provide the best overall value to the (the “Project”), RFP NO. 2026-0125 Title: Biosolids Hauling & Disposal Services

The production of biosolids is a continuous and unavoidable byproduct of municipal wastewater treatment. Reliable removal of this material is necessary to maintain uninterrupted plant operations, prevent storage limitations, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements governing solids handling, vector attraction reduction, and land application standards, including 40 CFR Part 503. Insufficient or unreliable hauling capacity may result in operational constraints, increased risk of permit non-compliance, and potential impacts to public health and environmental protection. The District’s existing biosolids hauling agreement is approaching expiration, and continued service is required to ensure operational continuity. During the first quarter of 2026 Valley Sanitary District has produced over 1000 wet tons of biosolids to be removed. Moving forward, the District is projecting the amount of biosolids produced to marginally increase. Based on this projection, the District seeks to establish clearly defined pricing, service performance standards, and contingency response requirements under a multi-year agreement to reduce operational risk and maintain budget predictability. This procurement is therefore necessary to secure qualified and experienced hauling services capable of transporting dewatered biosolids to an approved composting or processing facility for conversion to Class A biosolids or other compliant end use. The project supports the District’s strategic objectives of environmental stewardship, regulatory compliance, infrastructure reliability, and responsible fiscal management. The issuance of this Request for Proposals will enable the District to competitively evaluate service providers based on cost, experience, regulatory compliance history, equipment capacity, and operational reliability, and to select a contractor that provides the best overall value while maintaining uninterrupted biosolids management services.

Background

The Valley Sanitary District (“VSD”) is in the Coachella Valley about 20 miles southwest of the Palm Springs airport. VSD is a wastewater district, founded in 1925, operating under the Sanitary District Act of 1923. VSD has over 28,000 service connections in a 19.5 square mile service area serving a population of about 89,000 in the communities of Indio, Coachella, La Quinta, and unincorporated Riverside County. VSD is governed by a five-member Board of Directors and led by a senior management team comprised of a General Manager, District Engineer, Wastewater Operations Manager, and Chief Administrative Officer.

Project Details

• Reference ID: 2026-0125
• Department: Operations
• Department Head: Ian Wilson (Wastewater Operations Manager)

Important Dates

• Questions Due: 2026-05-29T00:00:00.000Z
• Answers Posted By: 2026-05-30T00:00:00.000Z

Evaluation Criteria

• Understanding of Project and Project Approach (30 pts)
• Scope of Work and Schedule (25 pts)
• Relevant Qualifications/Experience (25 pts)
• Overall Quality of Proposal (10 pts)
• Cost Evaluation (10 pts)

Submission Requirements

• Technical Proposal (required) —

  Please upload your Technical Proposal here, Please do not include COST

  A. Cover Letter. Provide a cover letter and introduction, including the name and address of the organization and individual submitting the proposal, together with the name, address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address of the contact person who will be authorized to represent the organization, and an expression of the Proposer’s ability and desire to meet the requirements of this RFP. The letter must be signed by an individual authorized to bind the firm contractually.

  B. Proposer Statement Of Qualifications. Describe the Proposer’s resources, experience, and capabilities as they relate to providing the Services. Submit in the order identified below:

  1. Executive Summary. An executive summary should briefly describe the Proposer’s qualifications and ability to perform the Services.

  2. Qualifications and Experience. The proposal should:

  a. Provide a description of how the Proposer’s experience, technical and professional skills will meet the goals and fulfill the general functions identified in this RFP.

  b. Any key staff members who would be involved in the performance of the scope of work. Provide their resumes, describe their experience, and identify their proposed role for the Project.

  c. State the number of years the firm has conducted business.

  d. Provide a description of the three most relevant contracts held within the last five years.

  3. Evidence Of California Licensing. The proposal should include appropriate documentation showing the Proposer is properly licensed in the State of California to perform the Services requested in the scope of work.

  4. References. The Proposer shall provide a minimum of four (4) client references, preferably city, county, or special district governments for whom the Proposer has previously performed services of similar type and scope within the last 5 years.

  5. Subcontractors. The Proposer shall identify functions that are likely to be subcontracted and identify the subcontractor that is anticipated to perform each function, if known at this time.

  C. Proposed Method to Accomplish the Work. Describe the technical and management approach to providing the Services to VSD. Proposer should take into account the scope of the Project, goals of VSD, and general functions required. Include a draft schedule of tasks, milestones, and deliverables that will provide for timely provision of the Project. In reviewing the scope of work, the Proposer may identify additional necessary tasks and is invited to bring these to VSD’s attention within the discussion of its proposed method to accomplish the Project.

  D. Certification of Proposal. This section shall state: “The undersigned hereby submits its proposal and, by doing so, agrees to furnish services to VSD in accordance with the Request for Proposal (RFP), and to be bound by the terms and conditions of the RFP.”

   

• Sealed Cost Proposal (required) —

  Please download and fill out Attachment A - Cost Proposal and upload it here.

• Have you read and agreed to all Terms and Conditions? (required)
• Please confirm that your license is active (required)
• Non Collusion Declaration (required) —

  Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Description of Project (required)
• BACKGROUND REGARDING NEED FOR PROJECT (if necessary) (required)
• Pricing table required? (required)
• Bid Bond required? (required)
• Proposal Submittal Requirement (required) —

  Do you want a complete Proposal submittal?

  (if you answer NO, the Technical Proposal and Cost Proposal will be requested/submitted separately

• Are substitutions/alternate materials allowed? (required)
• Is this a Public Works/Construction Project? (required) —

  PUBLIC WORKS PREVAILING WAGE AND DIR CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION

• PRE PROPOSAL MEETING (required)

Questions & Answers