Hillsborough County hosted a virtual pre-proposal conference to review RFP 2500303, the solicitation for a mixed-waste processing facility that will accept, process and market municipal solid waste. Cybil Tucker, the county procurement buyer for the project, opened the session and walked attendees through submission rules and supporting documents.

The county is seeking one or multiple contractors for a 15-year term. "The contractor must provide a facility capable of handling 300 to 500 tons of MSW daily," Tucker said, a capacity that the county described as roughly 109,000 to 182,500 tons annually. County officials said the project aims to reduce the volume of waste sent to the Southeast County landfill.

Tucker cautioned vendors that only a written addendum may change the RFP document. She also reminded proposers that a cone of silence is in effect and that all questions must be submitted in writing through the solicitation's vendor discussions area on the UNI Procurement platform (formerly Bonfire). "Proposers are cautioned that only a written addendum may change the RFP document," Tucker said, adding that question responses will likely be published in an addendum so proposers can adjust proposals accordingly.

Damien Trammell, the department director, clarified an eligibility requirement: "The building of the site must be in Hillsborough County, and it will not be built on public property that's owned by the county," Trammell said, instructing potential proposers to secure private property within the county to qualify.

Tucker reviewed the supporting documentation available in the solicitation — contract terms and conditions, the RFP document and required attachments — and said required files must be uploaded in the designated areas of the UNI Procurement platform. She advised teams to begin their submissions early, save progress as they go, and to avoid waiting until the deadline.

The close date for proposals is January 23 at 2:00 p.m.; late submissions will not be accepted. Tucker said the meeting recording and any addenda will be posted in the supporting documentation area and notified to registered document takers via public notice email. The county reiterated that staff will respond to vendor questions in writing and that proposers should monitor the platform or their email (including junk mail) for notices.

The pre-proposal conference ended with Tucker thanking attendees and reminding proposers that all submissions must be made electronically through UNI Procurement and that inquiries about the solicitation must go through the vendor discussions channel.