Active SLED Opportunity · TEXAS · PORT OF BROWNSVILLE
AI Summary
The Port of Brownsville seeks proposals for on-call services for disposal of wastewater treatment residuals. The RFP includes a virtual prebid conference and requires multiple submission documents. Proposals are due by July 16, 2026.
Notice is hereby given that sealed Proposals for On-Call Services for the Disposal of Wastewater Treatment Residuals and Related Services will be received by the Brownsville Navigation District of Cameron County, Texas. **Solicitation Type**: RFP - Request for Proposal (Formal) **Source ID**: PU.SP.USA.2519980.C15194876 **Piggyback Contract**: No **Questions are submitted online**: Yes **Onsite Visit**: 07/08/2026 03:00 PM EDT **Bid Submission Type**: Electronic or Physical Bid Submission **Owner Organization**: Brownsville Navigation District **Solicitation Number**: OWT-063026-51 **Reference Number**: 0000427976 **Pricing**: In attached document **Bid Documents List**: | Item Name | Description | Mandatory | Limited to 1 file | |---|---|---|---| | Bid Documents | Documents defining the proposal. | Yes | No | | BND Acknowledgement Form | Respondent's Acknowledgement Form | Yes | No | | Vendor Registration Form | Vendor Registration Form | Yes | No | | CIQ | Conflict of Interest Questionnaire | Yes | No | | 2270 & 2252 | 2270.002 and 2252.152 Disclosure Statement | Yes | No | | Statement of Non-Collusion | Statement of Non-Collusion | Yes | No | | Certificate of Insurance | Proof of Insurance | Yes | No | | 1295 | 1295 to be filed electronically once awarded. | No | No | **Pre-Bidding Events**: Event: Prebid Conference | Date: 06/30/2026 03:00 PM EDT | Location: TEAMS VIRTUAL MEETING Event: Onsite Visit | Date: 07/08/2026 03:00 PM EDT | Location: 1000 Foust Rd. Brownsville, TX. 78521 Port of Brownsville Administration Building **Questions and Answers**: | Question | Answer | |---|---| | I plan to subcontract the entire project to qualified subcontractors who already carry the required commercial general liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage. As the prime contractor, VENDOR NAME will be submitting the proposal and providing the required performance bond. Given that the subcontractors will have the required insurance in place, is VENDOR NAME also required to carry commercial general liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage for this project? | Answered in Addendum 2 | | Since this is a solutions-based solicitation, will a separate performance bond be required each time the Port issues a purchase order for services? For example, if the Port issues a purchase order on June 29, 2026, for the removal of 50,000 gallons of oily sludge, we would obtain a performance bond for that project. Once the project is completed and the bond is released, if the Port later issues another purchase order on October 1, 2026, for the removal of 70,000 gallons, would we then be required to obtain a new performance bond for that separate project? | Answered in Addendum 2 | | The RFP requests sample pricing for the removal of 100,000 gallons of oily sludge. Could you please clarify what is meant by "sample pricing"? For example, if the sample pricing is based on a straightforward project involving the removal of 70,000 gallons from a digester with no significant obstacles, we may quote a unit price for example of $0.10 per gallon. However, if the Port later requests the removal of 50,000 gallons under significantly different conditions—such as requiring bypass pumping, flow control, confined access, or other unforeseen obstacles—the scope of work would be substantially different and the original unit price would no longer be applicable. In those situations, would contractors be permitted to submit a project-specific price based on the actual scope and conditions of the work, or would the original sample pricing be binding throughout the contract term? | Answered in Addendum 2 | | May we separate our pricing by showing the transportation and disposal cost on a per-gallon basis and list laboratory analysis costs as a separate line item? | Answered in Addendum 2 | | May we provide different pricing for each wastewater treatment plant based on site accessibility and operating conditions? | Answered in Addendum 2 | | Since VENDOR will be subcontracting the work, should we provide project references and qualifications from our subcontractors? Would you also like ST Sanitation to provide its own government entity references? | Answered in Addendum 2 | | Since there is no specific project currently identified, how long would the Port hold the required payment bond? Because there is a cost associated with obtaining a bond, we would like to better understand this requirement. | Answered in Addendum 2 | | Since all field work will be performed by subcontractors, is PRIMARY VENDOR required to carry Workers' Compensation insurance if we will not have any employees performing work on the project? Is Commercial General Liability insurance still required for PRIMARY VENDOR in addition to the insurance maintained by our subcontractors? | Answered in Addendum 2 | | Could you please provide examples of "catalog pricing" and "sample pricing" as referenced in the solicitation? | Answered in Addendum 2 | | Would it be possible to arrange a site visit to all three wastewater treatment plants? | Answered in Addendum 2 | | Should all questions and responses in the proposal be completed under the "Residual Hauling Services" section? | Answered in Addendum 2 | | Should VENDOR provide its own project experience and qualifications in addition to those of our subcontractors? | Answered in Addendum 2 | | Since there are currently no identified projects or contract values, how should bidders satisfy the payment bond requirement, considering payment bonds are typically issued based on a specific contract amount? | Answered in Addendum 2 | | Approximately two weeks ago, I observed what appeared to be roughly 100,000 gallons of sludge in one of the Port's digesters. Has that project since been completed? | Answered in Addendum 2 | | Is REQUESTING VENDOR eligible to request consideration under the Port's local preference policy? | Answered in Addendum 2 | | If available, could you provide the current estimated volume of sludge at each facility and indicate when sludge was last removed? • Fishing Harbor Digester • Northside Digester • Turning Basin Digester | Answered in Addendum 2 | | Would it be possible to include the ballast pits during the site visit? While we would not anticipate using them under normal operations, it would be helpful to understand their availability as a contingency option during major emergencies or natural disasters. | Answered in Addendum 2 | | Based on the Port's historical laboratory testing, have any sludge or residual materials from the wastewater treatment plants been classified as anything other than Texas Class 1 nonhazardous industrial waste? If so, could you please identify the classifications that have been encountered? | Answered in Addendum 2 | | Could you provide examples of emergency situations the Port's Maintenance Department has encountered involving oily sludge management at any of the wastewater treatment plants? This information would help us better understand the types of emergency response services the successful vendor may be expected to provide. | Answered in Addendum 2 | | Could you describe the Port's ideal operational approach for integrating the successful vendor into its ongoing oily sludge maintenance program? Specifically, what level of communication, scheduling, response time, and preventive maintenance would the Port consider to be a successful long-term partnership that meets or exceeds its expectations? | Answered in Addendum 2 | | Do you have any laboratory analysis or test results for the skimmed oil/water mixture? | Answered in Addendum 2 | | May vendors include the rental of frac tanks in their bid to help manage temporary waste surges until vacuum trucks are available for loading? | Answered in Addendum 2 | | During the site visit at the Northside Digester (Karpowership), it was mentioned that when Karpowership is in production, the Port will require at least 5,000 gallons of sludge to be removed weekly. Could you please clarify what is meant by "in production"? Does this refer to 24-hour operations or another level of plant activity? | Answered in Addendum 2 | | Since the Port's maintenance department typically leaves at 5:00 p.m., do emergency situations related to oily sludge occur after normal business hours during production? | Answered in Addendum 2 | | Could you provide examples of emergency situations that have occurred at each of the three plants in regards to oily sludge? Please include: o The approximate time the emergency occurred. o The root cause of the emergency. o How the situation was resolved. | Answered in Addendum 2 | | Will the Port provide a pump and hose for transferring waste from the frac tank, or should vendors include this equipment in their pricing? | Answered in Addendum 2 | | Have there been instances of significant waste surges during Karpowership's production? If so, do these typically occur after normal business hours or at specific times of the day? | Answered in Addendum 2 | | How many bidders have acknowledged and signed Addendum No. 1? | Answered in Addendum 2 | | Based on the waste flow experienced at the three plants, would it be feasible to establish a preventative maintenance schedule for removing oily sludge rather than responding to emergencies? If not, please explain why. | Answered in Addendum 2 | | Please describe an actual emergency scenario in which a delay in removing oily sludge caused an operational problem at one of the plants. What were the consequences, and how was the issue resolved? | Answered in Addendum 2 | | During production, does Karpowership operate on weekends? | Answered in Addendum 2 | | Would the Port consider this contract to be primarily a preventative maintenance contract, an emergency response contract, or a combination of both? | Answered in Addendum 2 | | Can you provide an estimate of the amount of oily sludge expected to be removed annually? | Answered in Addendum 2 | | Would the Port consider implementing a scheduled annual maintenance program for the removal of oily sludge from all three wastewater treatment plants? | Answered in Addendum 2 | | If VENDOR is awarded the contract, are we required to provide the bonds and insurance certificates if there is no project at this time? | Answered in Addendum 2 | **Addendums**: | Addendum | Date | Note | |---|---|---| | Addendum No. 1 | 07/02/2026 02:49 PM EDT | | | Addendum No. 2 | 07/16/2026 08:32 AM EDT | | | Addendum No. 3 | 07/17/2026 04:44 PM EDT | | | Addendum No. 4 | 07/29/2026 03:07 PM EDT | |
SLED stands for State, Local, and Education. These are solicitations issued by state governments, counties, cities, school districts, utilities, and higher education institutions — as opposed to federal agencies.
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