Commission approves $1.5 million amendment request to Abby & Associates contract for zero‑waste work

The San Francisco Commission on the Environment voted April 28 to approve a resolution authorizing a contract amendment with Abby & Associates LLC to add funds for zero‑waste consulting services. The motion, made by Commissioner Austin Hunter and seconded by Commissioner Tompkins, passed on a voice roll call.

The measure authorizes an increase to the existing contract that San Francisco Environment staff said originally ran from July 2022 through 2028 and provided access to a pool of consultants in zero‑waste work. "The original term, as I mentioned, is those, 6 years and 3,000,000," said Hillary Neer, the departmentzero‑waste coordinator, noting the contract allowed the department to draw on more than 100 consultants. Neer told commissioners the city has encumbered and spent nearly $2 million to date and has identified additional task orders that bring the contract close to its notional limit.

Why the amendment: Neer described two expedited funding sources that increased demand on the contract: a state grant related to SB 1383 (Californiaorganic waste reduction mandates) that distributed noncompetitive funding to local jurisdictions, and California Redemption Value (bottle bill) funds that required quick expenditure. Neer said Abby & Associates' ability to respond quickly made the firm useful as an interim procurement vehicle while the department conducted longer competitive solicitations.

The amendment request would add $1,500,000 over three years to the current Abby & Associates contract, according to the presentation. Neer also said the department intends to hire or purchase from local small business enterprises named on the contract, including a firm listed as Green Motivate for community‑based social marketing and outreach work.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about how the contract was used to distribute grant funds and whether the consultants had enabled the department to spend down time‑sensitive grants faster than a standard RFP would allow. Neer and staff confirmed the contract helped move program work (repair clinics, business reuse incentives and edible food recovery) faster than alternative procurement paths in some cases.

Action and vote: The motion to approve the resolution was made by Commissioner Hunter and seconded by Commissioner Tompkins. The commission recorded the motion as passed. The resolution and the associated agreement between the City and County of San Francisco and Abby & Associates LLC were listed in the meeting materials.

What the amendment does not do: The resolution authorizes the additional funding but does not change the contract scope beyond the types of consulting and task orders described in the contract documents presented to the commission. Specific task orders and individual consultant selections will be managed under the contract's existing procedures and any applicable city procurement rules.

Next steps: With the commission vote, staff can execute the amendment and allocate the added funds to the task orders described. Staff told commissioners the amendment is intended to bridge timing until longer procurement processes (RFPs) can be completed.