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RESOLUTION APPROVING AWARD OF CONTRACT NO. EVN0037379, HAULING AND DISPOSAL OF DEWATERED BIOSOLIDS (GROUP 2), TO WASTE MANAGEMENT INC. OF FLORIDA IN THE AMOUNT OF $101,251,800.00 FOR AN INITIAL FIVE-YEAR TERM AND ONE, FIVE-YEAR OPTION TO RENEW FOR THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT; REJECTING ALL BIDS RECEIVED FOR GROUP 1; AND AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO GIVE NOTICE OF THIS AWARD TO THE RECOMMENDED VENDOR, ISSUE THE APPROPRIATE PURCHASE ORDERS TO GIVE EFFECT TO SAME, AND EXERCISE ALL PROVISIONS OF THE CONTRACT, INCLUDING ANY CANCELLATION, RENEWAL, OR EXTENSIONS, PURSUANT TO SECTION 2-8.1 OF THE COUNTY CODE AND IMPLEMENTING ORDER 3-38

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WHEREAS, this Board desires to accomplish the purposes outlined in the accompanying memorandum, a copy of which is incorporated herein by reference,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that:

Section 1. This Board finds it is in the best interest of Miami-Dade County to approve award of Contract No. EVN0037379, Hauling and Disposal of Dewatered Biosolids (Group 2), to Waste Management Inc. of Florida in the amount of $101,251,800.00 for an initial five-year term and one, five-year option to renew for the Water and Sewer Department.

Section 2. This Board authorizes rejection of all bids received for Group 1.

Section 3. This Board authorizes the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee to give notice of this award to the recommended vendor, issue the appropriate purchase orders to give effect to same, and exercise all provisions of the contract, including any cancellation, renewal, or extensions, pursuant to Section 2-8.1 of the County Code and Implementing Order 3-38. A copy of the contracts is on file with and available upon request from the Strategic Procurement Department.

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Date:
To: Honorable Chairman Anthony Rodriguez
and Members, Board of County Commissioners
From: Daniella Levine Cava
Mayor
Subject: Recommendation to Reject Bids for Group 1 (Hauling and Disposal of Dewatered Biosolids) and Award a Contract for Group 2 (Grit and Mechanical Screenings)

STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Executive Summary
This item seeks approval from the Board of County Commissioners (the �Board�) to reject all bids received for Group 1 for the hauling and disposal of dewatered biosolids, and award a contract for the hauling and disposal of grit and mechanical screenings produced at Miami-Dade County�s (the �County�s�) wastewater treatment plants under Group 2. The recommended rejection reflects recent changes in Florida law, approved on April 2, 2026, which restrict available biosolids disposal options and necessitate the rejection and re-advertisement of Group 1 under the new regulatory conditions.

The services addressed in this solicitation include the hauling and disposal of dewatered biosolids produced at the County�s Central District Wastewater Treatment Plant (�CDWWTP�) and at the North District Wastewater Treatment Plant (�NDWWTP�), as well as the hauling and disposal of grit and mechanical screenings from the County�s three wastewater treatment plants. The timely removal of biosolids and related residuals is critical to maintaining compliance with the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department�s (�WASD�s�) operating permit issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (�FDEP�), to protect human health, prevent odor impacts, and to avoid operational backlogs.

The solicitation was structured into two groups to establish contracts on a group-by-group basis. Group 1 includes the hauling and disposal of Class B and Non-Class B biosolids by any legal and County-approved method from the CDWWTP and the NDWWTP. Staff recommends the rejection of all bids received for Group 1 due to the introduction and approval of significant changes to Florida Statutes and regulatory requirements governing biosolids management which significantly increased bid prices received. Group 2 includes the hauling and disposal of grit and mechanical screenings for landfill disposal from the County�s three wastewater treatment plants. These materials were not the subject of recent legislation, as landfill disposal is the only option. Following evaluation of the bids received, staff recommends award of Group 2 to Waste Management Inc. of Florida (�WMI�), as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. Approval of this item will ensure continuity of critical hauling and disposal services necessary to maintain compliance with applicable federal, state, and local environmental regulations and to support uninterrupted wastewater treatment plant operations.

Recommendation
It is recommended that the Board reject all bids received for Group 1 to allow the County to reassess, update, and re-advertise the solicitation for these services in light of recent changes to Florida State Statutes and regulations. It is further recommended that the Board approve a competitive contract award, Contract No. EVN0037379, Hauling and Disposal of Dewatered Biosolids and Related Materials (Group 2), to WMI in the amount of $101,251,800 for a five-year term with one, five-year option to renew (�OTR�) for WASD. The contract for Group 2 will replace Contract No. 7122-1/23-1 (Group C only), which was approved by the Board via Resolution No. R-212-14.

Background
The County is the largest producer of biosolids in the State of Florida, with the CDWWTP and the NDWWTP generating approximately 200 to 400 wet tons of biosolids daily. Additionally, WASD generates 90 to 110 tons of grit and screening daily that require landfill disposal. The timely hauling and disposal of biosolids and related residuals is critical to maintaining compliance with Chapter 62-640, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), preventing odor impacts, and avoiding operational backlogs that could affect treatment plant performance.

An Invitation to Bid (ITB) was issued under full and open competition on February 12, 2026. Market research revealed a limited number of local vendors and certified Small Business Enterprise (SBE) firms capable of providing the required services in accordance with the solicitation specifications. On the closing date of March 24, 2026, the County received six (6) bids. A total of 942 vendors were notified of the solicitation, including firms identified through market research and incumbent vendors.

The solicitation was structured into two groups to establish contracts on a group-by-group basis to support critical hauling and disposal operations. Group 1 included the hauling and disposal of Class B and Non-Class B biosolids by any legal and County-approved method from the CDWWTP and the NDWWTP. Group 2 included the hauling and disposal of grit and mechanical screenings generated at the County�s three wastewater treatment plants.

Following evaluation of the bids received, staff determined that the award of Group 2 to WMI is in the best interest of the County. WMI is an experienced provider that has demonstrated the ability to manage the volume and complexity of grit, screenings, and mixed residuals generated by the County�s wastewater treatment facilities while maintaining compliance with applicable regulatory requirements. Grit and mechanical screenings are removed at plant headworks to protect equipment and ensure efficient treatment. Grit consists of inorganic materials such as sand and gravel; screenings include debris such as rags and plastics. Both are disposed of at Class I landfills. Group 2 also covers mixed biosolids that cannot be processed for beneficial use. Timely removal of these materials is essential to maintaining uninterrupted operations and regulatory compliance.

Since 2023, Florida State Statute changes significantly inhibited the County�s ability to responsibly dispose biosolids with costs more than doubling. Before 2023, WASD Class B biosolids were applied on land as fertilizer at permitted sites in Central Florida. New phosphorus and nitrogen limits reduced the number of sites able to accept the County�s volumes, significantly constraining available disposal capacity. In 2024, the County awarded a one-year with one, one-year OTR contract to dispose of its CDWWTP biosolids with Compost USA of Highlands County, LLC and a five-year with one, two-year OTR contract with Environmental Protection & Improvement Company, LLC to haul South District Wastewater Treatment Plant (�SDWWTP�) biosolids via rail to landfill and with Merrell Bros., Inc. for additional fertilizer processing.

At the time of solicitation of this Contract, four major biosolids bills were pending before the Florida Legislature that would create tighter restrictions on biosolids land application (fertilizer) requirements. The uncertainty around the regulations led to higher bids than the County�s budget. Now that the Governor signed the bills into law on April 2, 2026, that uncertainty has been resolved. As a result, staff recommends rejecting all bids for Group 1 and re-advertising the project. The County anticipates that the revised solicitation will yield more competitive and budget-aligned pricing. Services under Group 1 will continue to be provided under Contract No. BW-10481, approved by the Board pursuant to Resolution No. R-764-25. Additionally, hauling and disposal of biosolids generated at the SDWWTP are currently being provided under Contract No. EVN0017499, approved by the Board pursuant to Resolution No. R-321-25.

These regulatory changes do not impact the services required under Group 2. Failure to provide these services would adversely impact wastewater treatment operations and could result in permit exceedances and non-compliance with applicable environmental regulations. In preparation for the evolving regulatory landscape, WASD completed a Business Case Evaluation of long-term biosolids management alternatives. Thermal drying was selected for its lowest lifecycle cost and highest resiliency. Work is now underway to finalize technology selection, facility configuration, and a delivery model � culminating in capital procurement for permanent infrastructure.

Scope
The scope of this item is countywide in nature.

Fiscal Impact/Funding Source
The fiscal impact for the initial five-year term is $50,625,900 for Group 2. Should the County choose to exercise, at its sole discretion, the five-year OTR, the estimated cumulative value for the entire 10-year term will be $101,251,800. The current contract, which includes both biosolids and grit and mechanical screenings hauling and disposal services, has a cumulative allocation for both groups of $139,242,000 for its 12 years and six-month term and expires on October 31, 2026. Although the overall allocation under the replacement contract is lower in total value, the annualized allocation for Group 2 is higher than the current contract due to increases in both the estimated quantities and unit pricing for the hauling and disposal services. The current unit price is $78.27 per wet ton, while the proposed contract reflects a price of $129.81 per wet ton, subject to annual price adjustment based on the index in the contract. Additionally, the annual estimated quantity has increased from 46,000 tons to 78,000 tons per year under the replacement contract.

Department Allocation Funding Source Budgeted Contract Manager
WASD $101,251,800 Proprietary Funds FY 2025-26 Adopted Budget, Volume 3, Page 100, Other Operating Susan Pascul
Total $101,251,800

Track Record/Monitor
Manuel Jimenez of the Strategic Procurement Department (�SPD�) is the Procurement Contracting Manager.

Delegated Authority
If this item (award of the Group 2 contract) is approved, the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee will have the authority to give notice of this award to the recommended vendor, issue the appropriate purchase orders to give effect to same, and exercise all provisions of the contract, including any cancellation, renewals, or extensions, pursuant to Section 2-8.1 of the County Code and Implementing Order 3-38. There is no delegated authority requested for rejection of Group 1.

Vendor Recommended for Award
Vendor Principal Address Local Address Number of Employee Residents Principal Group Awarded
1) Miami-Dade
2) Percentage*
Waste Management Inc. of Florida 800 Capitol Street
Suite 3000
Houston, Texas 8801 NW 91 Street
Medley, FL 685 David M. Myhan 2
14.6%
*Provided pursuant to Resolution No. R-1011-15. Percentage of employee residents is the percentage of vendor�s employees who reside in Miami-Dade County as compared to the vendor�s total workforce.
Vendors Not Recommended for Award
Vendor Local Address Reason for Not Recommending
Environmental Protection & Improvement Company, LLC No No Bid* (Group 1); Higher than lowest bid (Group 2)
H&H Liquid Sludge Disposal, Inc. No Rejection of bids (Group 1); No Bid* (Group 2)
Merrell Bros., Inc. No
Southern Logistics, Inc. No
US Submergent Technologies, LLC No
*A �No Bid� means the vendor responded indicating that it will not be providing an offer.

Due Diligence
Pursuant to Resolution No. R-187-12, due diligence was conducted in accordance with SPD�s Procurement Guidelines to determine vendor responsibility, including verifying corporate status and that there are no performance and compliance issues through various vendor responsibility lists and a keyword internet search. The lists that were referenced included: convicted vendors, debarred vendors, delinquent contractors, suspended vendors, and federal excluded parties. There were no adverse findings relating to vendor responsibility.

Pursuant to Resolution No. R-140-15, prior to re-procurement, a full review of the scope of services was conducted to ensure the replacement contract reflects the County�s current needs. The review included conducting market research, posting a draft solicitation for industry comment, and holding meetings, and drafting sessions with the user department. As a result, the scope of services was updated to focus on the CDWWTP and NDWWTP and to revise the estimated quantities for hauling and disposal of biosolids as well as grit and mechanical screenings.

Pursuant to Resolution No. R-252-25, efforts were made to identify any potential piggybacking opportunities prior to issuance of a competitive solicitation. No contracts were identified with a similar scope of services and sufficient capacity to handle the volume of biosolids generated by Miami-Dade County. Additionally, establishing a competitively procured contract supports increased competition and reduces operational risk to the County.

Applicability of Ordinances and Contract Measures
� The two percent User Access Program applies.
� The SBE Bid Preference and Local Preference applied.
� The Living Wage Ordinance does not apply.

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Roy Coley
Chief Utilities and Regulatory Services Officer