GBB helps formulate RFP for Pennsylvania city

Solid waste and recycling consulting firm Gershman, Brickner & Bratton Inc. (GBB), Fairfax, Virginia, says it has assisted the city of Allentown, Pennsylvania, with a newly released request for proposals (RFP) for municipal solid waste (MSW) and recyclables collection, disposal and related services.

The RFP was released in late August and is available by contacting the city's purchasing department at purchasing.agent@allentownpa.gov to request a copy of the RFP. An announcement of availability of the RFP is on the city website at www.allentownpa.gov/Finance/Purchasing/Bid-Advertisements.

The deadline to submit responses to the RFP is Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2015, with a mandatory preproposal conference to be held in Allentown Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015, at 10 a.m.

”GBB has provided valuable assistance to the city of Allentown in the past and will be instrumental in working closely with us during this procurement process to foster a win-win relationship between the city and the selected private collection contractor,” says Ann Saurman, the city’s manager of the Bureau of Recycling and Solid Waste.

“Over the years, we have assisted many communities in procuring services and facilities that yielded increased efficiency, reduced and stabilized costs, enhanced revenues, and substantially elevated waste diversion through reuse and recycling,” says Bob Brickner, GBB executive vice president and client manager for this assignment. “Together with the city, we are approaching this procurement from a strategic standpoint to help create a successful public-private partnership,” he adds.

The city of Allentown encompasses approximately 17 square miles and has a population of 118,032, according to the 2010 census. Through third-party contracts, the city currently provides collection and disposal of MSW and collection and processing of recyclables from more than 35,000 households, including single-family dwellings and multifamily dwellings up to and including 25 units. Additionally, approximately 450 small businesses, commercial and nonprofit establishments that meet the city's collection eligibility criteria are to be part of the contracted services.

Per the RFP, the selected contractor will transport the collected MSW and recyclables to a location approved of or contracted by the city that is either within city limits or within a reasonable driving distance from the city center. Firms are asked to submit proposals for two base contract period options: five-year (with up to four one-year extension options) or seven-years (with up to two one-year extension options).