This is a service / maintenance or supply contract in Tulare, California. Contact the soliciting agency for additional information.

The City of Tulare (City) is requesting proposals from qualified firms to perform a comprehensive solid waste cost of service/rate study. The purpose of this cost of service study is to validate the appropriate rate structure and recommend rates for the City that generate adequate revenue to operate the utility. The study will consist of: Prepare a cost of service analysis, including revenue requirements. Develop and analyze appropriate rate structures (up to 4 alternatives that includes variable garbage rate, variable organics rate, variable recyclables rates, special rate). Develop a revenue plan to help ensure that the City meets all of the State's recycling mandates, primarily the regulations set by SB 1383. o Estimate the City's cost to provide the billing service for each rate structure. Determine the rates necessary to meet the City's revenue requirements. Develop appropriate customer service fees for each user class. Participate in presentations and meetings. The analysis period shall be five years. At the conclusion of the Study, the City anticipates proceeding with the Prop. 218 process to adopt a 5-year rate schedule. The proposal may recommend additional components that would benefit the City. If additional components are recommended, please provide a detailed description of the value to the City. SCOPE OF SERVICES The purpose of this RFP is to facilitate the selection of a qualified consulting firm to compete the tasks summarized on Page 3 (INFORMATION SECTION), and specifically defined in this section. A. Investigation and Data Collection Assemble the information necessary to understand and describe the City's current solid waste enterprise finances and rates. The objectives of investigation and data collection are to develop a complete understanding of the solid waste enterprise and its finances, project future service needs to comply with projected growth and state and federal mandates, especially California SB 1383, and to reach an agreement on basic assumptions to be used in the study. General information needs will include: 1. Adopted solid waste service charges 2. Financial information regarding solid waste revenues and expenditures. 3. Identification of any additional long-term funding needs related to the solid waste enterprise, including those related to proposed legislation and recently adopted laws. B. Survey Regional Solid Waste Rates and Facilities Conduct a survey of regional solid waste rates and summarize findings in an easy-to-understand format. Work with City staff to identify agencies to be included in the survey and to identify any key issues for the survey to address. C. Review the City's Existing Solid Waste Rate Structure Review the City's existing solid waste and recycling rate structure and discuss advantages and disadvantages compared to other approaches. Summarize and discuss finding with the City's project team. D. Evaluate Rate Structure Alternatives Identify alternative rate structures or modifications to the City's existing solid waste and recycling rates designed to improve equity and/or better achieve City objectives. Discuss pros and cons of different rate structure options and their general impacts on different types of customers. Rate structure options will be refined as the study progresses based on input from the City's project team. Receive City input and revise recommendations as needed. E. Develop Cost of Service Rate Analysis Allocate costs of service to the various customer classes and rate categories to support the recommended rate structure and demonstrate that proposed rates reasonably reflect the cost of providing service and are fair and equitable to all customer classes. F. Develop Plan for Equipment Purchases and Operational Changes Review proposed equipment purchases and operational changes, including proposed methods of financing and its impacts on operational efficiency. G. Develop Solid Waste Rate Recommendations Based on evaluation of alternatives and their impacts, develop draft recommendations for City consideration. Incorporate City input and revise as needed. H. Conduct Public Workshop(s) Attend up to four meetings (afternoon and evening) with the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and/or City Council at work sessions to present the interim status of the study, preliminary and final report and obtain their input. Develop a PowerPoint presentation summarizing key findings, alternatives, and draft rate recommendations. Conduct a workshop to present the findings and input from the Board of Public Utilities and the public. Input received from the Board of Public Utilities, staff, the public, and others should be incorporated in final recommendations. I. Proposition 218 Assistance The consultant will provide guidance and advice to City staff to assure compliance with the Proposition 218 process as it applies to solid waste services. The consultant will include the preparation and completion of the Proposition 218 Notification (in English and Spanish) as a service to the City. The consultant shall ensure that the proposed rates are in conformance with all applicable laws, including the provisions of Proposition 218, court cases interpreting these provisions, and court cases concerning the effects of Proposition on tiered rate structures. J. Prepare Draft and Final Summary Memos and Rate Models Prepare a draft memorandum of the Solid Waste Rate Analysis findings and recommendations. The rate model shall be prepared and provided to the City in Excel spreadsheet format. The model's construction shall be documented in a manner that allows the City to understand the formulas which are utilized, and how variables affect rate calculations. The City should be able to use the model in the future to evaluate actual performance against projections and to make adjustments as necessary. The model will be the property of the City and may be used by the City for any purpose. K. Submit the Draft Report to City Staff for Review and Comments Following staff review and input, Consultant shall prepare and submit a final version. L. Attend Public Hearing on Solid Waste Rates Attend the Prop. 218 Public Hearing on the rate study and proposed rate adjustments. Remain available to give a summary presentation highlighting key findings and recommendations. Remain available to answer questions at the Board of Public Utilities' direction. It is the intent of the City to adopt the rate study and proposed solid waste rates at the conclusion of the Prop. 218 Public Hearing. Question Deadline 01/30/2024 at 5:00 PM PT. Directed, all communications regarding this Request for Proposals should be directed to Andrew Bettencourt, Senior Management Analyst at (559) 684-4382, or fax (559) 685-2378. However, to prevent misinterpretations, the Public Works Department would prefer that all questions be sent by email to abettencourt@tulare.ca.gov. Any revisions to the Request for Proposals will be issued and distributed as addenda. Proposers are specifically directed not to contact any other City personnel for meetings or technical discussions related to this Request for Proposal. Failure to adhere to this policy may be grounds for rejection of proposals. Questions due by 5:00 p.m. ................................................................................... January 30, 2024 Responses to Questions.........................................................................................February 1, 2024 Interviews/Presentations with short-listed vendors (if required) ..................... February 22-23, 2024 Award of Contract @ Board of Public Utilities Meeting................. ..........................March 7, 2024 Contract Begins..............................................................................................................April 1, 2024 The City of Tulare reserves the right to reject any and all proposals; to waive any informality in any proposal; to select the proposal which appears from all consideration to be the most economical and advantageous to the City; and to make sure final selection and award for any other reason deemed to be in the best interest of the City of Tulare. The method of Contractor Selection has not been Determined at this time.