Composting at Vermont State Parks

Agency:	State of Vermont
State:	Vermont
Type of Government:	State & Local
Posted Date:	Feb 27, 2026
Due Date:	Mar 17, 2026
Original Source:	Please Login to View Page
Contact information:	Please Login to View Page
Bid Documents:	Please Login to View Page

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DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS & GENERAL SERVICES

Office of Purchasing and Contracting

133 State Street, 5th Floor | Montpelier VT 05633-8000

802-828-2211 phone |802-828-2222 fax

http://bgs.vermont.gov/purchasing

SEALED BID

Request For Proposal

Composting at Vermont State Parks

ISSUE DATE

QUESTIONS DUE

RFP RESPONSES DUE BY

February 27, 2026

March 10, 2026 – 4:30 PM (EST)

March 17, 2026 – 4:30 PM (EST)

Please be advised that all notifications, releases, and addendums associated with this

RFP will be posted at:

http://www.bgs.state.vt.us/pca/bids/bids.php

The state will make no attempt to contact interested parties with updated information. It is the

responsibility of each bidder to periodically check the above webpage for any and all

notifications, releases and addendums associated with this RFP.

STATE CONTACT: James Meyers, State Senior Purchasing Agent

E-MAIL:

BGS.OPCVendorDocs@vermont.gov

OVERVIEW:

1.1. SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: Through this Request for Proposal (RFP) the Department of

Buildings and General Services, Office of Purchasing and Contracting on behalf of Vermont

Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (hereinafter the “State”) is seeking to establish

contracts with one or more companies that can provide Composting at Vermont State Parks.

1.2. CONTRACT PERIOD: Contracts arising from this RFP will be for a period of 12 months with an

option to renew for up to four additional twelve-month periods. The State anticipates the start

date will be April 1, 2026.

1.3. SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT: All communications concerning this RFP are to be addressed

in writing to the State Contact listed on the front page of this RFP. Actual or attempted contact

with any other individual from the State concerning this RFP is strictly prohibited and may result

in disqualification.

1.4. BIDDERS’ CONFERENCE: Bidders’ conference will not be held.

1.5. QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD: Any bidder requiring clarification of any section of this

RFP or wishing to comment on any requirement of the RFP must submit specific questions in

writing no later than the deadline for question indicated on the first page of this RFP. Questions

may be e-mailed to the point of contact on the front page of this RFP. Questions or comments

not raised in writing on or before the last day of the question period are thereafter waived. At

the close of the question period a copy of all questions or comments and the State's responses

will be posted on the State’s web site http://www.bgs.state.vt.us/pca/bids/bids.php . Every effort

will be made to post this information as soon as possible after the question period ends,

contingent on the number and complexity of the questions. All information provided by vendors

during this process will be public and bidders shall not provide confidential information, except

as described in 4.1 below.

1.6. CHANGES TO THIS RFP: Any modifications to this RFP will be made in writing by the State

through the issuance of an Addendum to this RFP and posted online at

http://www.bgs.state.vt.us/pca/bids/bids.php . Modifications from any other source are not to be

considered.

2. DETAILED REQUIREMENTS/DESIRED OUTCOMES: The State of Vermont is requesting proposals

to provide food scrap collection and removal at Vermont State Park facilities Statewide.

2.1. Contractor shall provide all labor and equipment necessary to complete food scrap removal and

compost recycling services as described in this RFP.

2.2. All container prices per pickup shall include all tip fees, disposal fees, hauling charges, and any

other fees, including but not limited to finance charges, fuel surcharges, environmental fees, etc.

that may be applied. Based on need, the frequency of pickup may be changed at any time during

the contract period by State Parks.

2.3. Right-Size: Contractor shall work with the State Parks to ensure that the containers used for

food scrap recycling are the right-size containers for that location.

2.4 Damaged Containers: Whenever a container is damaged, the contractor replaces the

damaged container as soon as possible but no later than one week following notification by the

agency. All costs associated with replacement or repair of the equipment furnished by the

Revised: February 13, 2026

Page 2 of 23

contractor shall be the responsibility of the contractor or the person/company that damaged the

container.

2.5. Pickups:

2.5.1. State Parks utilizes bear proof containers at parks that have a risk of bear activity. these

bins are designed to hold 2 larger or 3 smaller totes. Vendor must adjust pickup

accordingly.

2.5.2. State Parks reserves the right to increase or decrease the number, size, and location of

recycling containers, in addition to the frequency of pickups, as the need arises. State

Parks shall provide ten days notice for any change in container size, quantity, or service

frequency.

2.5.3. All pickups shall be made on the date and times as directed by State Parks and servicing

of the location shall be made known to the State representative at each location. A written

notice shall be left with agency representative after each service.

2.6. Failure to Pickup Penalty: If the contractor is unable to pick up food scrap recycling on the

regularly scheduled day, they shall notify the agency. Failure to do so will result in a deduction

from the monthly charge equal to one fourth the monthly charge. No deductions will be made

without first notifying the contractor and giving them reasonable time to reply. If the contractor

fails to pick up a location on schedule, the food scrap recycling must be collected by 11:00 a.m.

of the day following.

2.6.1. Holidays: When a pickup is scheduled on a national or state holiday, food scrap recycling

shall be picked up either the day before or the day following the holiday. At no time will the

contractor allow food scrap to accumulate until the next regularly scheduled pick up day.

2.7. Food scrap disposal: All food scrap collected and disposed of under this contract shall be

accomplished in strict accordance with current applicable county, state, and federal air and water

pollution control and food scrap recycling disposal regulations.

2.8. Food scrap Recycling: Contractor shall recycle food scrap in accordance with Appendix-A.

2.9. Contractor shall provide monthly data on the approximate weight of food scraps collected and

composted.

2.10. Contractor shall provide technical assistance for solving issues as they arise.

2.11. Prices: Prices per pickup in Attachment B are all-inclusive. No additional charges will be

allowed. Prices submitted shall include all tip fees in effect on the beginning date of this

contract, disposal fees and hauling charges.

2.11.1

Invoicing is provided monthly, in arrears, based on the per pick up rate. As an example,

$25.00 per pick up for 1xwk service the monthly charge would be $108.25 ($25.00 x

4.33 = $108.25). If it was every other week service, the monthly rate is $54.13 ($25.00

x 2.165 = $54.13). The 1xper month charge would be $25.00.

Revised: February 13, 2026

Page 3 of 23

2.12 Cancellations or additions: The using agency reserves the right to make cancellations, or

any parts thereof, or make additions to upon a ten (10) day written notice to the Contractor.

The charge for any additions or deletions shall be in accordance with the price schedule.

2.13. Price Adjustment:

Prices will remain firm for the initial twelve months (12) of the contract. If the option to

renew is agreed upon by both parties, any cost adjustment shall be increased or decreased per

the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the previous twenty-four (24)

months and adjusted through an executed contract amendment. All increases are subject to

annual review. The Office of Purchasing and Contracting reserves the right to reject any price

increase deeded to be excessive. Decreases to be offered immediately as they become

available. Vendor must notify the Office of Purchasing and Contracting of any decreases in

pricing.

All price changes need to be negotiated and approved by January 15, of each calendar year. All

newly negotiated pricing shall take effect on February 1st, of the same calendar year. Any

requests after January 15th will not be considered until January 15th, of the next calendar year.

2.14 Special Requirements Regarding Invoicing and Payments:

2.14.1

It will be a requirement of contracts that each and all invoices rendered by contractors

must precisely reflect actual per-pick-up costs, of the actual number of pick-ups that

actually occur during the actual date intervals covered by each individual invoice.

Contractors must not prepare or submit any invoices based on any sort of averaging of

what costs would be associated with some fictional average month, nor any other

method that departs from precise actuals.

2.14.2

If there are issues associated with payment of invoices, it is urgent that service

continue uninterrupted. If contractor believes that there is an unreasonable payment

delay or underpayment occurring, contractor shall give written notice to the applicable

Agency or Department of the State responsible for the particular site, with a CC of that

notice to the Purchasing Agent, within the Office of Purchasing and Contracting,

responsible for the waste contracts.

2.15. Contamination and Tote Rejection: Totes shall be examined by Contractor or its nominee for

contaminants listed in Appendix-A prior to being collected and hauled to the compost facility.

Tote examination is required to prevent the transportation of trash to the composting facility.

2.15.1. Totes will be rejected if any of the following are found:

2.15.2 More than two (2) items of easily removable trash, or

2.15.3. Any amount of trash that is difficult to remove such as butter wrappers, disposable

tableware, packaged produce, broken glass, motor oil, or tiny bits of Styrofoam

packaging.

2.16. If a tote(s) is/are rejected as a result of contamination the collection driver shall leave a rejection

notice on the tote. Drivers are not responsible for removing or disposing of trash contamination

found in food scraps. The State shall dispose of the contaminated food scraps along with their

other trash before the next collection.

Revised: February 13, 2026

Page 4 of 23

2.17. Tote rejection incidents shall be followed up, whenever possible, by a phone call from

Contractor to assist the State in identifying ways to improve the system to reduce

contamination. If totes are rejected two or more times both parties shall work together to

address issue(s).

3. In addition to the above terms and conditions as the Contractor shall:

3.1. Accept food scraps only as detailed in appendix A.

3.2. Provide food scrap collection and storage containers that can be rolled into and out of the State-

provided and installed ground level bear proof bin.

3.3. Containers shall be exchanged at each pickup.

3.4. Provide copy and content of education materials that adequately inform the public of the

materials that will be accepted as food waste for their composting operation.

3.4.1. This material will only include accepting the items as outlined in appendix A

4. The State Shall:

4.1. Require that only food scraps are composted in order to maintain simplicity and decrease the

opportunities for contamination,

4.1.1. Even though a company may accept paper or other compostable fiber at their facility,

State Parks will not advertise or endorse collection of that material due to risk of non-

compliance by the visiting public.

4.2. Provide a shelter (bear proof if necessary) for the food scrap recycling containers that will accept

rolling “totes’ or “toters”.

4.3. Provide screening of deposited food scraps and strive to maximize the amount of food scraps by

education and when possible scheduled drop times and observation. The State does NOT

control the waste stream of its visitors as they are responsible for disposal of their own refuse

and recycling.

APPENDIX A

These items cannot be composted:

• Metal

• Plastic

• Styrofoam

• Hazardous wastes

• Paper products with plastic liners

• Milk & orange juice cartons

• Sugar packets

• Grease or food items contaminated with cleaning agents

• Compostable bags, utensils, cups

• Store-bought flowers

• PLU stickers

Revised: February 13, 2026

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This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.

TITLE	QUESTIONS DUE	ANSWERS POSTED	DUE DATE	NO POSTING AFTER
Composting at Vermont State Parks	03/10/2026 04:30PM		03/17/2026 04:30PM

Composting at Vermont State Parks

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