Shopping Cart Retrieval Program

Location:	Colorado
Posted:	Nov 12, 2026
Due:	Dec 15, 2026
Agency:	City of Thornton
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	39 - Materials Handling Equipment
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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RFQ No. 313-26

REQUEST FOR QUOTATION (RFQ)

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

RFQ No. 313-26

Shopping Cart Retrieval Program

• RFQ Issued

11/12/26

• Deadline to Submit Additional Questions 12/08/26

11:00 P.M. Local Time

• Response to Written Questions

12/11/26

11:00 P.M. Local Time

• RFQ Due Date

12/15/26

11:00 P.M. Local Time

GENERAL INFORMATION:

The City of Thornton (Thornton) is requesting Quotations for Procurement of qualified Service

Provider to collect abandoned shopping carts from public property and private properties that

are accessible to the public within the Thornton city limits which have been reported by Thornton

staff or residents.

BUYER CONTACT INFORMATION: The Purchasing Analyst’s (“PA’s”) contact information

from the City’s Purchasing Office for this solicitation is as follows:

PA’s Name:

PA’s Title:

PA’s Email:

Nykeba Klein

Purchasing Analyst ll

Nykeba.Klein@thorntonco.gov

Note: Communications with anyone other than the Purchasing Division during the course of the

solicitation may result in rejection of your Quotation. All questions, comments, and submissions

regarding this Request for Quotation (RFQ) shall be addressed to the Buyer, not to the end user.

CURRENT STATE:

The City previously contracted these services; however, the prior provider was unable to meet

Thornton’s operational requirements, specifically the provision of reliable, verifiable cart-location

data needed to support retailer billing under City Code. Thornton is therefore issuing this RFQ

to secure a qualified Service Provider capable of performing compliant cart retrievals within city

limits and delivering the required documentation.

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RFQ No. 313-26

Shopping Cart Retrieval Program

SCOPE OF WORK:

Thornton requires a Service Provider capable of retrieving abandoned shopping carts strictly

within Thornton city limits and providing complete, accurate documentation for each retrieval to

support City Code compliance and retailer billing. Retrievals, patrols, or time spent outside the city

boundaries will not be paid. Unauthorized retrievals outside Thornton are considered non-compliant

and subject to rejection.

Thornton requires that all shopping cart owners that own, possess, control or operate a retail

establishment in the city or whose shopping carts become abandoned shopping carts in the city,

regardless of whether the owner owns, possesses, or operates a retail establishment in the city

to adhere to City Code requirements pertaining to abandoned shopping carts. Examples of code

requirements include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Provide for the prompt retrieval of abandoned shopping carts to owners to promote public

health, safety, and welfare, and improve the aesthetic appearance of the city, to comply

with City Code.

2. Encourage owners of shopping carts to deter, prevent and mitigate the removal

of shopping carts from the premises of retail establishments and require owners to

retrieve any shopping carts that were removed despite these efforts.

3. Mitigate the accumulation of abandoned shopping carts on public and private

properties.

Requirements For Shopping Cart Retrieval:

Under this Award, the Service Provider shall return abandoned shopping carts at least once (1)

per week or as directed by Thornton’s Representative, directly to the retail owner’s

establishment. If the retail establishment is part of a chain business, the Service Provider shall

return abandoned shopping carts to the closest location of the chain business’s retail

establishment in the city. Service Provider shall bring private and public property into compliance

with Thornton’s City Code as directed by Thornton. The services shall result in properties with an

overall appearance of aesthetic quality and care with attention given to every detail of the

abandoned shopping cart retrieval and return program.

Service Provider must provide:

1. Provide a toll-free phone number to report abandoned shopping carts;

2. Provide a website to report abandoned shopping carts. For carts reported through the

website, Service Provider will provide an e-mail confirmation that the report has been

received; and

3. Return abandoned shopping carts to retail establishments or otherwise dispose of carts

that are not usable. Thornton may provide a location for recycling of metal carts at no cost

to Service Provider.

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RFQ No. 313-26

Shopping Cart Retrieval Program

Cart Retrieval Limits & Restrictions:

1. Collect carts at minimum one (1) day per week strictly in Thornton city limits. Collection

day(s) will be directed by Thornton’s Representative and may be required more frequently

or on call as needed. If the Service Provider does not or is unable to complete collection

on certain days (e.g., Saturday, Sunday, observed holidays), it shall provide a list of those

days to Thornton’s Representative.

2. Shopping carts located within retailer-owned parking lots or on any retail

establishment’s private premises are not eligible for retrieval or payment under this

award. Retailers are responsible for retrieving carts from their own premises. The Service

Provider shall only retrieve carts found in public spaces.

3. If the Service Provider retrieves a cart from a retailer parking lot whether intentionally or

in error the retrieval will not be paid and may be considered noncompliance.

4. For purposes of this award, “public spaces” include:

a. public streets

b. Sidewalks

c. Alleys

d. Parks

e. Trails

f. drainage areas

g. medians

h. open spaces

i. bus stops, and;

j. non-retail private properties accessible to the public.

Public spaces do not include retail parking lots, loading zones, storefront walkways, or

any retailer-owned property.

5. Repeated attempts by the Service Provider to invoice Thornton for carts retrieved from

retailer parking lots or outside city limits may result in corrective action, including

withholding payment, rejection of work orders, or award termination under the terms of

the award.

6. The Service Provider is prohibited from conducting routine patrols, drive-throughs, or

monitoring activities within retailer parking lots or retail premises. Entry into retailer parking

lots is permitted only for the purpose of returning carts to the retailer and shall not be used

as an opportunity to identify carts for retrieval.

7. Collect abandoned shopping carts that are empty, as well as carts that may have litter,

trash, or debris in them. If carts have debris in them, the Service Provider will place debris

from carts in a plastic bag and securely tie the bag shut so debris does not blow out of the

collection vehicle while transporting carts and debris. Service Provider is not required to and

will not retrieve carts that clearly hold personal possessions. In those situations, Service

Provider will report the location of the cart to a designated Thornton contact for assistance.

Thornton may provide Service Provider with the opportunity to dispose of debris from carts

at no cost.

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RFQ No. 313-26

Shopping Cart Retrieval Program

8. Collect usable abandoned shopping carts as well as carts which are dirty, damaged, dented,

in disrepair, and/or otherwise unusable.

Photographs & Proof of Retrieval Documentation:

1. Each retrieved cart must be documented with three (3) timestamped photographs

before, during, and after retrieval taken from the same vantage point.

2. Photographs must clearly show:

a. GPS- verified location within Thornton city limits

b. Date/Time

c. Cart owner/retailer (if identifiable)

d. Photo documentation

3. All photographs shall be supplied in electronic JPG format at a resolution sufficient to

produce a sharp 4"×6" print. Images must be compatible with standard Microsoft photo

viewer software.

4. All images must support Thornton’s ability to bill retailers accurately. Missing, unclear,

or incomplete photos will result in nonpayment.

Unacceptable Actions & Nonpayment Conditions:

1. Retrievals made from retailer parking lots or any restricted private property.

2. Retrievals occurring outside Thornton city limits.

3. Missing or unclear photo documentation, including any failure to demonstrate that retrieval

occurred in a public space.

4. Incomplete or inaccurate records (e.g. missing GPS location, missing date/time, no retailer

identification when identifiable).

5. Repeated attempts to invoice for carts retrieved from retailer parking lots or outside city limits

may result in corrective action, including:

a. Withholding payment

b. Rejection of work orders

c. Award termination

Recordkeeping & Reporting Requirements:

1. The Service Provider shall maintain complete and accurate records for each cart retrieved,

including:

a. GPS- verified location within Thornton city limits

b. Date and time of retrieval

c. Cart owner/retailer (if identifiable)

d. Full photo documentation as defined above

2. Monthly invoices must include itemized, auditable backup for each cart retrieved, including

photographs, retrieval location, disposition, and retailer identification. Invoices lacking full

documentation will be rejected.

3. The Service Provider shall submit monthly statements and invoice Thornton directly.

Thornton will bill retailers as applicable under City Code.

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RFQ No. 313-26

Shopping Cart Retrieval Program

4. Within 3 working days of request, provide Thornton with a list of retail establishments that

directly contract with Service Provider for abandoned shopping cart retrieval services in the

City and verify if a retail establishment is not contracted for collection.

Communication:

Service Provider shall provide the following:

1. An e-mail address to receive and confirm receipt of records of number of carts collected,

owners of such carts, date and location of carts and all photographic documentation to

enable prompt transmission of documents between Service Provider and Thornton staff;

2. A telephone answering service or pager, or telephone answering machine for routine

verbal communication;

3. A primary phone number which is promptly answered during normal working hours of

8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Service Provider’s observed

holidays;

a. A mobile phone number for Service Provider’s work crew supervisor(s). The work

crew supervisor’s mobile phone number may be used as the primary phone number,

provided it is answered every workday regardless of whether the supervisor is at

work or not.

Supervision:

At least one (1) person on the Service Provider's on-site work crew shall be in a supervisory role,

shall be trained and experienced in the necessary supervisory skills, shall speak, read, and write

English fluently, shall be present at all times during progress of the Services, and shall be

responsible for the direction of labor and equipment on the work site. The person assigned to the

supervisory role during performance of the Service must be listed in Exhibit “A” as a supervisor and

shall be available by cellular/mobile phone during normal work hours as defined herein.

Safety and Hazardous Conditions:

Service Provider shall notify Thornton’s Code Compliance Office immediately if unsafe and/or

hazardous conditions exist The Service Provider's employees and equipment shall comply with

all applicable provisions of the Colorado Occupational Safety and Health Act throughout the

duration of the specified Services. Thornton, its officers, employees, and agents are not

responsible for injury or damage to any of the Service Provider’s personnel or equipment

in the performance of the Services.

Appropriate Care of Persons and Property:

Service Provider shall be responsible for maintaining all areas in a neat and orderly

manner. Service Provider shall be responsible to protect persons and property in the

performance of their Services.

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This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

Shopping Cart Retrieval Program

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See also