TOWN OF CHARLESTOWN
INVITATION TO BID
SEPTIC PUMPING SERVICES
The Town of Charlestown is presently accepting bids from licensed/approved Septic Pumpers to
service Town owned properties for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027). Sealed bids
shall be received no later than TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2026, AT 3:00 PM at the Town Clerk’s
Office, 4540 South County Trail, Charlestown 02813. All bids shall be clearly marked
“SEPTIC PUMPING” in the lower left-hand corner of the envelope. Electronic (e-mail or
fax) bids will not be accepted. Questions regarding this bid should be directed to Michael
DiCicco, Director of Public Works at (401) 364-1230. Bid award shall be made by the
“evaluated method” and evaluated by a minimum of the following criteria: cost, experience,
reputation of the bidder, and other criteria determined relevant by the Town Council. The Town
reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to accept that bid which it deems, in their sole
judgment, to be in the best interest of the Town.
Jeffrey Allen
Town Administrator
1
DETAILED SPECIFICATIONS FOR
SEPTIC PUMPING SERVICE
Town of Charlestown
Invitation to Bid
1. The bidder shall not withdraw their bid within ninety (90) days after the scheduled
closing time of the bid.
2. The Town seeks to award an annual service contract for qualified tradespersons, licensed
by the State of Rhode Island, to provide routine and emergency service to all municipal
properties.
3. The bidder shall present their costs on the BID PROPOSAL form provided with the bid.
Additional information may be attached as necessary.
4. Bid proposals shall be submitted using a cost per gallon of septage removed.
5. ‘REGULAR’ pumping shall be provided by request of the Town person. In addition,
there shall be annual pumping of the recreational facilities in the month of September.
“Regular” pumping shall be done within 24 hours of notification.
6. The bidder shall provide ‘EMERGENCY’ pumping as necessary 7 days a week including
days, nights, weekends and holidays. Response to service calls shall be, no longer than
two hours following official notification. The Town official shall state whether the call is
of a regular or emergency nature.
7. It is expected that the majority of the work will be of a non-emergency nature and
scheduled during regular working hours, however emergencies are to be expected.
Failure of the bidder to respond within the allocated response times may be grounds for
cancellation of the contract, at the sole discretion of the Town.
8. All work shall be performed according to recognized industry standards, in accordance
with all Federal, State, and Local laws, regulations and codes.
9. All bidders shall be insured for general liability, motor vehicle liability and workers
compensation in amounts sufficient to satisfy Town requirements for the duration of the
contract period. The bid award winner shall provide a certification of insurance listing the
Town of Charlestown as additional insured prior to issuance of the contract.
10. The contractor shall comply with all provisions, conditions and stipulations of the
DAVIS-BACON ACT as applicable, and all provisions, conditions and stipulations of
RHODE ISLAND GENERAL LAW as applicable.
11. The BIDDER shall provide adequate statutory Workman’s Compensation Insurance for
all labor employed on the Project who may come within the protection of such laws and
2
shall provide EMPLOYERS GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE in the amount of
One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) for the benefit of his employees not protected by
such compensation laws.
12. The Town of Charlestown makes no assurances, intended or implied, that the winning
bidder will receive any given number of service requests during the contract period, or
that any total dollar expenditure is guaranteed during the period of the contract. The
Town also reserves the right to cancel the contract at any time with or without cause,
without penalty or obligation.
13. The successful bidder shall supply phone numbers that allow twenty-four (24) hours a
day, seven (7) days a week contact.
14. The initial contract shall be from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. However, the Town
reserves the right to extend the contract length to TWO (2) additional years upon
agreement to same by the vendor and the Town. Nothing herein shall obligate the Town
to any such extension. All bid prices contained within the accepted proposal must be held
for the original and extended contract term or terms, should said agreement to extend the
term or terms take effect.
3
ADDENDUM TO SEPTIC PUMPING BID
Liability and Workers Compensation Insurance
The contractor shall maintain, at all times, public liability and worker's compensation insurance in the following
amounts. Insurance coverage required of the contractor under this section shall be primary and the Town of
Charlestown's insurance coverage shall be secondary with respect to any claims.
A. Liability Insurance
1. The contractor shall maintain public liability and property damage insurance that protects the contractor and the
Town of Charlestown and its officers, agents, and employees from any and all claims, demands, actions and suits for
damage to property or personal injury, including death, arising from the contractor's work under this agreement.
The insurance shall provide coverage for not less than $1,000,000.00 for personal injury to each person,
$1,000,000.00 for each occurrence and $1,000,000.00 covering all claims per occurrence. The limits of the
insurance shall be subject to statutory changes as to the maximum limits of liability imposed on municipalities of the
State of Rhode Island during the term of the agreement.
2. The contractor shall maintain automobile liability insurance for not less than $1,000,000.00 for all owned, non-
owned and hired vehicles.
The insurance shall be without prejudice to coverage otherwise existing and shall name as additional insureds the
Town of Charlestown and its officers, agents and employees. Notwithstanding the naming of additional insureds,
the insurance shall protect each insured in the same manner as though a separate policy had been issued to each, but
nothing herein, shall operate to increase the insurer's liability as set forth elsewhere in the policy beyond the amount
or amounts for which the insurer would have been liable if only one person or interest had been named as insured.
The coverage must apply as to claims between insureds on the policy. The insurance policy shall provide that the
insurance shall not terminate or be canceled without thirty (30) days’ written notice first being given to the Town
Financial Director. If the insurance is canceled or terminated prior to completion of the contract, the contractor shall
provide a new policy with the same terms, or terms otherwise acceptable to the Town of Charlestown. Contractor
agrees to maintain continuous uninterrupted coverage for the duration of the contract.
3. The contractor shall maintain on file with the Financial Director a certificate of insurance certifying the coverage
required under Section (1) and (2). The adequacy of the insurance shall be subject to the approval of the Town
Solicitor. Failure to maintain liability insurance shall be cause for immediate termination of the contract by the
Town of Charlestown.
B. Worker's Compensation Insurance
1. The contractor shall obtain worker's compensation insurance coverage if legally allowed and available for all of
its workers, employees and sub-contractors either as a carrier-insured employer or as a self-insured employer, as
provided by Rhode Island statutes. A certification of insurance, or a copy thereof, shall be attached to the contract
between the contractor and the Town of Charlestown. The contractor shall maintain worker's compensation
insurance for the term of the contract.
2. In the event the contractor's workers' compensation insurance coverage expires during the term of this agreement,
the Town of Charlestown shall require the contractor to renew its insurance in a timely fashion, either as a carrier-
insured employer or a self-insured employer, before its expiration, and the contractor shall provide the Town of
Charlestown with further certification of workers' compensation insurance as renewals of said insurance occur.
4
BID PROPOSAL COST SHEET
Licensed/Approved Septage Pumping & Hauling
I, _______________________________of________________________________________
Name
Company
propose to furnish the Town of Charlestown the services of septage pumping & hauling for a
one (1) year service contract from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027 according to the following
rates and schedules. I agree to furnish the Town of Charlestown with adequate proof of
general liability, motor vehicle liability, and workers compensation insurance in amounts
sufficient to satisfy the Town’s requirements pursuant to this bid, and to maintain said
insurance for the duration of the contract period.
A. Regular Service
During normal business hours, 8:30 am through 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.
Licensed/Approved technician and truck - $_________per gallon hauled to a state
approved septage disposal station.
(24-hour response time)
B. Emergency Service
Days, Nights, weekends and holidays as needed.
Licensed/Approved technician and truck - $_______per gallon.
(2-hour response time).
D. Company’s Workday Telephone#__________________________________________
E. Company’s After Hours/Holiday Telephone # ________________________________
F. Contact Name _________________________________________________________
Signature
Title
Date
5
This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.