Disaster Debris Removal, Management, and Disposal Services (Pre-Event)

Dorchester County (the County) invites qualified firms to submit proposals to provide pre-event Disaster Debris Removal, Management, and Disposal Services following hurricanes or other natural or man-made disasters.

This Request for Proposals (RFP) document provides background and general information for Respondents and should be used in the development of proposals.

Project Details

• Reference ID: 2026-53
• Department: Public Works
• Department Head: Shiva Trakas (Public Works Director)

Important Dates

• Questions Due: 2026-04-21T12:00:00.000Z

Evaluation Criteria

• Firm Qualifications and Experience (25 pts) —

  Description

  This criterion evaluates the proposer’s overall experience and qualifications in providing disaster debris removal and management services for governmental entities, particularly projects involving FEMA reimbursement requirements.

  Demonstration

  Proposers should demonstrate their qualifications by providing:

  • • company history and years of experience in debris management operations
    • experience performing disaster debris removal following hurricanes or other major disasters
    • experience working with local governments or public agencies
    • experience complying with FEMA Public Assistance Program requirements
    • qualifications and experience of proposed key personnel
    • certifications, training, and professional credentials relevant to debris management operations

  Higher scores will be given to firms demonstrating extensive experience with large-scale disaster recovery operations and FEMA-compliant documentation processes.

• Technical Approach and Methodology (20 pts) —

  Description

  This criterion evaluates the proposer’s understanding of the County’s needs and the proposed methods for performing the required services efficiently, safely, and in compliance with regulatory requirements.

  Demonstration

  Proposers should demonstrate their approach by describing:

  • • methodology for debris collection, loading, hauling, and disposal
    • procedures for separating and managing various debris streams
    • approach to establishing and operating Temporary Debris Staging and Reduction Sites (TDSRS)
    • environmental protection and regulatory compliance procedures
    • quality control measures
    • coordination with the County and the Debris Management Monitor
    • approach to documentation and FEMA reimbursement support

  Higher scores will be given to proposals demonstrating well-organized operational plans and strong understanding of FEMA compliance requirements.

• Disaster Response and Mobilization Capability (15 pts) —

  Description

  This criterion evaluates the proposer’s ability to rapidly mobilize personnel, equipment, and resources following a disaster event and sustain operations during large-scale debris removal efforts.

  Demonstration

  Proposers should demonstrate response capability by providing:

  • • mobilization timeline following activation of the contract
    • description of staffing levels and management structure during disaster operations
    • plan for staging equipment outside disaster impact zones when necessary
    • logistical support capabilities including fuel, communications, and support services
    • contingency planning for large-scale or catastrophic events
    • ability to respond to multiple operational scenarios described in the RFP

  Higher scores will be given to firms demonstrating proven ability to mobilize quickly and manage large-scale disaster response operations.

• Past Performance and References (15 pts) —

  Description

  This criterion evaluates the proposer’s history of successfully completing similar projects and the satisfaction of previous clients.

  Demonstration

  Proposers should demonstrate past performance by providing:

  • • a list of similar disaster debris removal projects completed within the past five years
    • project descriptions including scope, contract value, and debris volume managed
    • contact information for project references
    • documentation of successful FEMA reimbursement for previous projects
    • description of how hazardous materials, white goods, and mixed debris were handled on previous projects
    • examples of documentation and reporting systems used

  Higher scores will be given to firms with successful past performance on comparable projects and positive references from governmental clients.

• Resource Capacity and Equipment (10 pts) —

  Description

  This criterion evaluates the proposer’s available resources, equipment inventory, subcontractor network, and ability to provide sufficient operational capacity to support disaster recovery operations.

  Demonstration

  Proposers should demonstrate resource capacity by providing:

  • • inventory of available equipment and hauling units
    • identification of company-owned versus subcontractor equipment
    • number and qualifications of available personnel
    • list of subcontractors and their roles
    • plan for local subcontractor participation
    • description of equipment staging and deployment strategy

  Higher scores will be given to firms demonstrating sufficient resources and equipment to support large-scale debris removal operations.

• Cost Proposal (15 pts) —

  Description

  This criterion evaluates the reasonableness, competitiveness, and completeness of the proposer’s unit pricing for the services requested.

  Demonstration

  Proposers must submit pricing using the electronic Pricing Table provided by Dorchester County. Pricing shall be submitted on a unit cost basis and must include all costs associated with providing the services.

  Evaluation of cost proposals may include:

  • comparison of unit pricing across proposers
  • reasonableness of pricing relative to industry standards
  • completeness of submitted pricing forms
  • consistency of pricing with the proposed technical approach

Submission Requirements

• Access to Downloadable Forms (required) —

  By clicking below, Offeror acknowledges that downloadable forms must be accessed through this section on the website. They are not accessible from an exported document.

• Sample Contract (required) —

  Sample contract in Section 5 has been reviewed. Any questions or concerns have been addressed prior to the question deadline. By confirming below, firm agrees to acceptance of the contract language.

• Proposal Submission (required) —

  Please upload your proposal submission here. If your proposal contains confidential information, you must also upload a redacted copy in the next question.

• Redacted Proposal (If Applicable) —

  If your proposal contains confidential information, please upload a redacted copy here. If not, please skip this question.

• Cost Proposal Assumptions (Optional) —

  Proposers may submit a brief narrative (not to exceed two (2) pages) describing any assumptions used in developing their pricing.  This narrative is for informational purposes only and will not be separately scored but may be considered by Dorchester County in determining the overall reasonableness of pricing.

• Exceptions to RFP (required) —

  State NONE if no exceptions are taken.

• Contract Contact Person (required) —

  Please include the following information:

  • Name
  • Mailing Address
  • Phone Number
  • Email Address
• Compliance with Illegal Immigration Act (required) —

  By submitting a response to this solicitation, the Bidder/Offeror certifies that it will comply with the applicable requirements of Title 8, Chapter 14 of South Carolina Code of Laws and agree to provide to the State upon request any documentation required to establish either; (a) that Title 8, Chapter 14 is inapplicable to the Bidder/Offeror and its subcontractors or sub-subcontractors; or (b) that the Bidder/Offeror and its subcontractors or sub-subcontractors are in compliance with Title 8, Chapter 14.

  Pursuant to Section 8-14-60, “A person who knowingly makes or files any false, fictitious, or fraudulent document, statement, or report pursuant to this chapter is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined within the discretion of the Court or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both.”

  Bidder/Offeror agrees to include in any contracts with subcontractors, language requiring subcontractors to (a) comply with applicable requirements of Title 8, Chapter 14, and (b) include in its contracts with the sub-contractors language requiring the sub-subcontractors to comply with the applicable requirements of Title 8, Chapter 14.

• Vendor Certifications and Representations (required) —

  By submitting a response to this solicitation, the Offeror certifies, represents, and affirms that:

  1. Non-Collusion

  The Offeror’s response is genuine and not collusive or sham; the Offeror has not colluded, conspired, or agreed with any other vendor, supplier, contractor, or person to fix prices, restrict competition, or otherwise undermine the competitive procurement process. The Offeror has not induced or solicited any other firm to submit a false or non-competitive response.

  2. Independent Pricing

  The prices, terms, and conditions contained in this response have been determined independently and without consultation, communication, or agreement with any other Offeror or competitor for the purpose of restricting competition.

  3. Authority to Bind

  The individual submitting this response certifies that they are authorized to bind the Offeror to the representations, certifications, and contractual obligations contained in this submission.

  4. Compliance with Laws

  The Offeror certifies compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, and regulations, including antitrust laws and procurement integrity requirements.

  5. No Conflict of Interest

  The Offeror certifies that no employee, officer, or agent of the County has a financial or other interest in the Offeror’s firm that would constitute a conflict of interest under applicable ethics laws or County policy.

  6. Debarment and Suspension

  The Offeror certifies that it is not debarred, suspended, or otherwise ineligible to participate in public procurement by any federal, state, or local governmental entity.

  7. Truthfulness of Submission

  The Offeror certifies that all information provided in its response is true, accurate, and complete to the best of its knowledge.

• Equal Employment Opportunity Certification (required) —

  Dorchester County requires compliance with State and Federal regulations governing Equal Employment Opportunity, External Equal Opportunities (EO), External On-the-Job Training (OJT), Title VI & VII, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) programs.

  Sub-recipients of federal-aid contracts must include notifications in all solicitations for bids of work or material and agreements subject to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other nondiscrimination authorities. Sub-recipients, contractors and subcontractors may not discriminate in their employment practices or in the selection and retention of any subcontractor.

  By submitting a response to this solicitation, the Contractor/Vendor hereby certifies its commitment to assure nondiscrimination in its programs and activities to the effect that no person shall on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability or income status be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination or retaliation under any federally or non-federally funded program or activity administered by the sub-recipient and/or its contractors. 

• Subcontractor Data Form —

  If applicable, please download the document below, complete, and upload. If no subcontractors will be used, please skip this question.

• How did you hear about this opportunity to do business with the county?
• Project Location - Name (required) —

  Enter the name of the location of the project.

  Example: The Hills

• Project Location - Address (required) —

  Please enter the address of the location for your project.

  Example: 1 Meadowbrook Street, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

• Importance of Solicitation (required) —

  Insert information regarding the importance or significance of this solicitation to the County.

• Will an Evaluation Committee be reviewing results? (required)
• Do you have a proposed budget for the project that you would like to share with your vendors? (required)
• Pricing (required) —
  • Choose Option 1 when you have set line items, for example:
    • This is a quote for goods or commodities.
    • This is a public works bid, with a pricing table that can be uploaded into OpenGov Procurement from an Excel spreadsheet.
    • Seeking services for hourly rate schedules.
  • Choose Option 2 when you need vendors to provide you with the line items.
• Is Security required for your project? (required)
• Type of Security Required for Project: (required)
• Types of Required Insurance (required) —

  Select the types of insurance required for your project.

• Are you allowing exceptions to your solicitation? (required)

Questions & Answers