BIDS DUE DECEMBER 13, 2021 AT 2:00 P.M., CST 1. Questions

DECEMBER 2, 2021

RFB NO. 2022-046

ADDENDUM NO. 1

ANNUAL CONTRACT FOR BIOMEDICAL AND HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL WASTE PICKUP AND DISPOSAL

BIDS DUE DECEMBER 13, 2021 AT 2:00 P.M., CST

1. Questions and Responses: A. Questions received by the due date and their responses are included in this

Addendum No. 1 on the following pages.

2. Change(s): A. Discard page 35 of the original RFB package and replace with the attached revised

Price Form pages 35 and 35A dated 12/02/2021. This Addendum No. 1 must be signed and the original and one (1) copy must be returned with Bid!

NAME AND ADDRESS OF COMPANY: AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE:

____________________________________ Signature __________________________

____________________________________ Name _____________________________

____________________________________ Title ______________________________

____________________________________ Tel. No. ___________________________

E-Mail Address_______________________ Fax No:___________________________

TARRANT COUNTY PURCHASING DEPARTMENT 100 E. Weatherford St. #303 • Fort Worth, TX 76196 • (817) 884-1414 • (817) 884-2629 (Fax)

Melissa Lee, C.P.M., A.P.P. Purchasing Agent

Chris Lax, CPSM Assistant Purchasing Agent


RFB NO. 2022-046 PAGE 2 OF ADDENDUM NO. 1 12/02/2021

QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES 1. If there are any requested revisions to the County’s terms and conditions, should we

include them in our proposal or will terms be negotiated upon award? RESPONSE:

Please include them with your bid. 2. Will the tax exemption certificate reference all the sites or will it only state that the

County in general is exempt? Our Tax Department requires that the certificate references the sites rather than just the County in general in order to update our system of the exempt status for each location.

RESPONSE: The certificate will only state that the County in general is exempt.

3. It states that the awarded Vendor will be given a reasonable opportunity before termination to correct any deficiencies that may occur but does not specify the amount of time. May a cure period of 10 business days be referenced?

RESPONSE: A cure period of thirty (30) days will be given.

4. Who is the current vendor providing services? RESPONSE:

For services listed in Section I – Oncore Technologies. For services listed in Section II – multiple.

5. What are the current disposal rates? RESPONSE:

Current rates for Section I - $14.00/box for scheduled pickups; $17.00/box for unscheduled pickups. For Section II, we are in between contracts and do not have an awarded vendor. Individual quotes are being obtained until this RFB is awarded.

6. With regard to biomedical waste, will any of the sites generate any waste that will require incineration such as pathological, chemotherapy or pharmaceutical waste?

RESPONSE: 25 TAC Chapter 1 Subchapter K Rule 1.136 (4) (A) “Approved Methods of Treatment and Disposition” apply to TCME. Texas Administrative Code (state.tx.us) Treatment and Disposal options include: incineration followed by deposition of the residue in a sanitary landfill; grinding and discharging to a sanitary sewer system; moist heat disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill; chlorine disinfection/maceration followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill; or an approved alternate treatment process, provided that the process renders the item as unrecognizable, followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill.



QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES 7. If pharmaceutical waste is being generated, is the waste hazardous or non-hazardous? RESPONSE:

Not applicable. 8. Do vendors have to submit a proposal for both biomedical and hazardous chemical waste

disposal or can proposals be submitted for just one type of waste disposal service? RESPONSE:

Vendors may bid on one (1) or both sections. 9. Is the estimated quantity of 70 boxes of biomedical waste correct? If each facility

generates at least one box per pickup, the total number of boxes generated will be at least 250 per year. If the quantity listed is not correct, are you able to provide the estimated quantity of boxes each site will generate per year?

RESPONSE: The estimated quantity of 70 boxes of biomedical waste per year is incorrect. Please see this Addendum No. 1.

10. Would it be permissible to utilize subcontractors as transporters for the waste streams outlined in the contract so long as the vendors are fully licensed to transport medical and/or hazardous wastes? We might want to utilize these vendors for part of or the entirety of the contract term, depending on which route is more economical.

RESPONSE: Yes.

11. My question pertains to the pick-up required frequency and box count (page 16, 17, 35). On page 35 it lists the estimated quantity at 70 boxes/yr, but if you look at the pick-up frequencies and estimate 1 box/pick up that would equal 284 boxes/yr. Which is the more accurate representation? Are there times where there will be no boxes to pick up?

RESPONSE: The estimated quantity of 70 boxes of biomedical waste per year is incorrect. Please see this Addendum No. 1.

12. Scope of Work - Does this show the current requirement whereas the list of possible cities that could be added over the 3 year contract term?

RESPONSE: The Scope of Work shows the current requirement. The list of possible cities refers to the County’s cooperative members.



QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES 13. Section B – Can a subcontractor be used for the hazardous waste portion of this

requirement? If no, may we bid only the regulated medical waste portion?

RESPONSE: Yes. Potential subcontractor information must be provided with bid submission. Vendors may bid on one (1) or both sections.

14. Price Form Section II –I see where there is the estimated quantity, however there is no pickup schedule in place like there is for the biowaste. Can we assume the schedule will be as needed and on call?

RESPONSE: Yes.

15. Please provide a better idea of what exactly you include in the “biohazardous” portion? It is understood that they will have sharps, but are they including anything other than sharps? The definition they included in the bid is pretty broad:

“The term ‘medical waste’ includes treated and untreated special waste from health care-related facilities that is comprised of animal waste, bulk blood, bulk human blood, bulk human body fluids, microbiological waste, pathological waste, and sharps from the sources specified in 25 TAC §1.1.34), as well as ‘regulated medical waste’ (defined in 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 173, §173.134(a)(5)).”

RESPONSE: Biohazardous waste may include any or all items referenced in 25 TAC §1.1.34. Typical biohazardous waste includes sharps and specula for Public Health; and pathological waste for the Medical Examiner’s Office.

16. Can the regulated medical waste include scheduled drugs that may contain P codes or be DEA regulated? If so, please describe in more detail.

RESPONSE: Regulated medical waste does not include scheduled drugs.

17. Is there a specific size box that they require for sharps? Nothing is indicated on the price form, except “box”.

RESPONSE: Sharps are disposed of in either 2, 4, or 8 gallon buckets, which are then placed in a box for removal. Four (4) 2 gallon buckets fit into a box; two (2) four gallon buckets fit into a box; and one (1) 8 gallon bucket fits into a box.



QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES 18. Contractor is required to supply all boxes with handles. Boxes should be a one (1) piece

self-lock box. Contractor will leave no less than the same number of boxes and biohazard bags as picked up during each service day, and when requested will provide additional supplies.

Please supply any pictures you have of the Biomedical waste containers mentioned in the RFB. Also provide pictures of the bagged material inside the Biomedical waste containers so we can see exactly how it is packaged and presented for disposal.

RESPONSE: Please see attached photographs. 19. Please provide the most recent contract pricing you have utilized for recent shipments.

RESPONSE: Please see response to Question No. 5. 20. Please provide copies of invoices, with manifests for your most recent 6 pickups.

RESPONSE: This information is only available through an open records request. 21. Please advise how we determine the HUB goal of 20% when we do not know the value

of this RFB?

RESPONSE: The HUB goal is related to Tarrant County Purchasing’s effort of doing business

with disadvantaged businesses. 22. Please provide a list of current or recently used HUB entities and their roles in other RFB

awards.

RESPONSE: Green Planet Inc. – Chemical waste pickup.

23. Can you provide SDS sheets and waste profiles?

RESPONSE: These have been posted to the Tarrant County website.


PAGE 35 OF RFB NO. 2022-046 REVISED 12/02/2021

PRICE FORM SECTION I - BIOMEDICAL WASTE PICKUP AND DISPOSAL

ITEM DESCRIPTION UNIT EST. QTY. PRICE EXTENDED

PRICE Scheduled Pick-Up and Disposal of Biomedical Waste (Not including pathological waste)

Per Box 280-300

boxes per year

Unscheduled Pick-Up and Disposal of Biomedical Waste (Not including pathological waste)

Per Box Unknown

Scheduled Pick-Up and Disposal of Pathological Waste Per pickup 250kg per

month

SECTION II - HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL WASTE PICKUP AND DISPOSAL

ITEM DESCRIPTION UNIT EST. QTY. PRICE EXTENDED

PRICE

DNA Extraction Cartridges 55 gal. open drum

2-3 times per year

Formalin and Water 55 gal. closed drum

8-12 times per year

Inorganic Salts Solution 35 gal. open drum

2 times per year

Paraffin and Xylene 35 gal. open drum

3-6 times per year

Spent Acid in Rinse Water 5 gal. container

2 times per year

Spent Organic Solvents 55 gal. closed drum

12 times per year

Liquid Waste Stream for Public Health Lab

15 gal. drum

3 – 4 times per Year

Halogenated Solvents 5 gal. drum

2-3 times per year

THE ORIGINAL AND ONE (1) COPY OF THIS FORM SHOULD BE RETURNED WITH BID!


PAGE 35A OF RFB NO. 2022-046 REVISED 12/02/2021

PRICE FORM

Please include a separate price sheet for services not identified in this proposal, including lab pack service. If requested, awarded vendor will provide quote for Lab Pack Pickup and Disposal Service.

SUPPLIES (IF NEEDED) EST. QTY. UNIT PRICE

Empty, Poly, Open Top Drum – 55 gal. Unknown $______________/Each

Empty, Poly, Open Top Pail – 5 gal. Unknown $______________/Each

Empty, Poly, Closed Top Drum – 5 gal. Unknown $______________/Each

Pricing for the supplies above will not be part of the price evaluation.

Documents

BIDS DUE DECEMBER 13, 2021 AT 2:00 P.M., CST 1. Questions