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Taos regional landfill board approves award of RFP 250604 to Souder Miller and Associates
Summary
The Taos Regional Landfill Board voted to award RFP 250604 for engineering and environmental services to Souder Miller and Associates after procurement reported three proposals and staff recommended continuity with SMA; the board requested documentation on existing notices of violation and a corrective-action update at the next meeting.
The Taos Regional Landfill Board voted to award RFP 250604 to Souder Miller and Associates (SMA) after a procurement presentation and staff endorsements.
Procurement officer Lisa Vaca Medina told the board that RFP 250604, released Nov. 3, sought engineering and environmental monitoring and reporting services for the Taos Regional Landfill and drew three proposals. Medina recommended SMA, saying the firm has the expertise to provide design support, quarterly groundwater monitoring, coordinate site inspections with the New Mexico Environment Department and maintain required records. She said SMA would present a detailed scope of work and timeline once contract terms are finalized.
Why it matters: awarding the RFP keeps landfill oversight and remedial work with a firm staff and the regional landfill board say has been responsive during recent compliance efforts, including work on a new landfill cell design and permit renewals.
Councilor Millie Romero asked whether a dollar amount needed to be specified when approving the RFP. Tom, the board’s legal counsel, said a contract maximum is not required at the RFP-approval stage because a formal contract has not yet been drafted and contracts commonly include a statutory right to terminate for convenience. "It is a good practice, but there is not much risk to the town or anyone because there is a statutory right to termination through convenience in every contract," Tom said.
Public works director Vasquez and Deputy/Assistant Manager Flores described SMA’s recent work. Vasquez said SMA staff "answered" questions promptly and had helped the town get past several notices of violation (NOVs). Flores, who sat on the review panel, said SMA had been especially responsive, assisting with cell design and permit modifications, and recommended awarding the RFP to maintain continuity.
Following positive remarks from staff and board members, Chair Jason Silva moved to approve the award and Councilor Romero seconded. The board conducted a roll-call vote; the motion carried with the members present voting in favor.
Next steps and follow-up: board members asked staff to provide the historical NOV documents, a summary of outstanding NOVs, their status and timeframes, and a corrective-action plan before the next meeting. Flores and Vasquez committed to prepare a brief presentation and distribute the documents in advance so new board members can review.
The meeting record shows procurement received three proposals and the RFP name/number as RFP 250604; the exact contract amount was not specified at the time of the award and will be negotiated when the contract is drafted.
The board moved next to public comment (none) and then adjourned. The board indicated the February meeting will include an update on NOVs and suggested an in-person visit to the operations facility to view the recycling center and landfill operations.
