INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE

PIERCE TRANSIT is soliciting proposals from providers of Environmental Services.

This is a multi-faceted request for proposals relating to collection, disposal and/or recycle of hazardous, dangerous, and moderate risk waste in liquid and solid forms including both regulated and unregulated products. Interested companies may propose on any one or more aspects of the work described. Similarly, the Agency may engage one or more companies to carry out any aspect of the work.

Pierce Transit is a municipal corporation formed under authority of Chapter 36.57A of the Revised Code of Washington. The Agency operates fixed route and elderly and disabled transportation services in urban Pierce County, from Tacoma to Olympia and Seattle. In 2001, the Agency operated a fleet of 229 coaches, 35 SHUTTLE vehicles (the Agency’s demand responsive service for disabled people), 220 Vanpool vans and 86 support vehicles (includes vans, automobiles, and trucks). The mix and quantity of vehicles may change during the term of the contract. Pierce Transit is currently classified as a small quantity generator.

A pre-proposal conference will be held February 6, 2002, 10:00 AM at Pierce Transit Headquarters, 3701 96th Street SW, Tacoma, Washington 98499. All prospective proposers are strongly encouraged to attend. The pre-proposal conference will provide the opportunity to review the requirements and intent of the contract documents and to observe Pierce Transit’s operating conditions. Following the meeting attendees will be invited to a walk through of base facility buildings 1 and 2.

Proposals must be received by the Pierce Transit Purchasing Department not later than February 25, 2002 at 4:00 PM.

DEFINITIONS

Hazardous Waste – the term used by EPA to identify those wastes with properties that could pose dangers to human health and the environment.

Dangerous Waste – same thing as the federal term “hazardous waste” but with additional "Washington only" wastes, such as criteria wastes.

Criteria Waste – wastes that are hazardous in Washington State because they are toxic or persistent in the environment.

Moderate Risk Waste – hazardous waste that is exempt from most state and federal regulations because it is generated by businesses in quantities typically less than 220 pounds per month.

Recycling – processing waste in order to recover a useable product or energy, regenerate the material or use the waste as an effective substitute for a commercial product.

Solid Waste – any compact material that is not liquid or gas, that is no longer used. It is either thrown away, recycled or stored temporarily until enough has been accumulated to recycle or dispose of.

SCOPE OF WORK

1. Emergency Response Service
   This portion of the work requires a fully qualified company available on a 24-hour per day, 7-day per week basis to respond to emergency hazardous, dangerous, or moderate risk product spill incidents. The scope of the required service pertains to incidents within Pierce Transit current and future jurisdictional boundaries including all Pierce Transit facilities, transit centers, and park and rides throughout Pierce County

   Proposer must be qualified to respond to spill incidents, including undertaking any of the following activities:

   • Spilled product identification,
   • Spill mitigation activities,
   • neutralize spilled product,
   • provide expert advice concerning products and their potential impacts on people and the environment,
   • undertake spill clean-up activities,
   • handle and dispose of product and product residuals in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements,
   • prepare required documentation and related activities on behalf of Pierce Transit.

2. Collect, handle, package, transport, dispose of and/or recycle goods. This portion of the work requires a qualified hazardous, dangerous, and moderate risk waste collection, transport, disposal and/or recycle company to deliver services of collection, handling, preparation (including packaging, manifests and shipping documents), transporting, disposing, recycling, providing documentation, submitting required documentation and other required activities relating to this work. The scope of required service pertains to waste products within Pierce Transit current and future jurisdictional boundaries including all Pierce Transit facilities, transit centers, and park and rides throughout Pierce County.

   Products will include but not be limited to waste oil, sludge, oil/water mix, waste lacquer thinner, waste solvent, and fluorescent light tubes. It is expected that the successful contractor will provide expert advice concerning other products that should have special disposal activities or that may be recycled.

   Attachment A lists locations, measurements and quantities of all Pierce Transit catch basins. Following the chart of catch basins is a list of known waste products and locations within the Agency’s Base site and other properties. The next chart lists Pierce Transit’s estimates for frequency of collection. The final chart lists the physical addresses of current sites listed within Attachment A.

COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS

The Contractor agrees to comply with the conditions of the following laws and regulations, as may be amended, and any standards and regulations which may be promulgated during the contract term. The Contractor agrees that both services and items furnished under this contract will comply with said laws, standards and regulations. The Contractor further agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Pierce Transit from all damages assessed against Pierce Transit as a result of the Contractor’s failure to comply with these laws, standards and regulations.

1. Federal Resources Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA). Hazardous and Solid Waste Act of 1984 HSWA and 40 CFR and Liability Act of 1984 (HSWA) and 40 CFR parts 260-280.

2. Washington State Hazardous Waste Management Act of 1976 and the Washington State Dangerous Waste Regulations (WAC 173-303).

3. Federal Hazardous Material Transportation Regulations (49 CFR).

4. Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA and Superfund Amendment Reauthorization Act of 1986) (SARA).

5. Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA).

6. Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act of 1972 (WISHA).

7. Washington State Model Toxics Control Act WAC 173-340 (MTCA).

8. Management as per the Universal Waste Rule for Washington and Oregon adopted from the EPA Universal Waste Rule of January 6, 2000, Federal Register July 6, 1999, Volume 64, Number 128, Pages 36465-36490.

SPILL AND RELEASE RESPONSIBILITES

The Contractor is solely responsible for any and all spills, leaks or releases, which occur as a result of or are contributed to by the actions of its agents, employees, or subcontractors. In the event of a spill, leak, or release, the Contractor agrees to take the following actions:

1. Evacuate and warn those persons that may be affected by the spill.

2. Clean up the spill in a manner, which complies with local, state and federal laws, regulations and standards at its own cost.

3. For spills, which occur elsewhere than Pierce Transit owned or leased property, provide all notifications and reports as specified by local, state and federal laws, regulations and standards.

4. For spills, which occur on property owned or operated by Pierce Transit, notify the Agency Maintenance Safety Coordinator.

TERM OF CONTRACT

The contract(s) resulting from this request for proposals shall be for a three (3) year period with an option for two (2) one-year extensions. The contract is expected to commence May 1, 2002.