RFP No. RFP2M26-5 – Citywide Shopping Cart Retrieval Services
Table of Contents
Section
1. Introduction
2. Description of the City
3. Background
4. Purpose and Overview
5. Scope of Services
6. Contract Term
7. Anticipated Schedule
8. Questions and Answers Period
9. Proposal Contents
10. Proposal Submission
11. Evaluation and Award of Contract
12. General Requirements and Conditions
Attachments
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Attachment 1: Agreement for Contract Services
Attachment 2: Service Questionnaire – Shopping Cart Retrieval Services
Attachment 3: City of Alhambra, CA Cart Containment Map, Spring 2026
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RFP No. RFP2M26-5 – Citywide Shopping Cart Retrieval Services
1. Introduction
The City of Alhambra is requesting proposals from qualified vendors to provide citywide shopping cart retrieval
and return services for abandoned shopping carts taken from stores within the City.
2. Description of the City
Incorporated in 1903, the City of Alhambra is situated on the western edge of the San Gabriel Valley region of Los
Angeles County. Known as “The Gateway to the San Gabriel Valley,” the City provides a small-town feel in a
central urban setting. The City encompasses approximately 7.6 square miles and shares boundaries with South
Pasadena and San Marino to the north, San Gabriel to the east, Monterey Park to the south, and the El Sereno
and University Hills neighborhoods of Los Angeles to the west. The City is readily accessible from Interstate 710
and Interstate 10.
The City of Alhambra is a full-service charter city operating under a council-manager form of government with five
(5) elected City Council members. The City has a population of approximately 80,279 residents and is a built-out
community with approximately 21,000 parcels and very little vacant land.
3. Background
The City of Alhambra currently contracts for shopping cart retrieval services to collect abandoned carts found
within the public right-of-way, including streets, sidewalks, alleys, and other publicly accessible areas throughout
the City. Additionally, shopping cart return services are provided.
Section 9.77.100 and 9.77110 of the Alhambra Municipal Code require every business that owns or provides carts
for the use of its customers within the City to install a physical shopping cart containment system. Compliance
levels and business locations vary throughout the City, which affects the volume and distribution of retrieval
activity. Currently, 16 businesses within the City have installed containment systems, and one has not.
Additionally, there is one business located outside of the northern border of the City that does not have a
containment system that we frequently have to service when carts are abandoned in Alhambra. To assist
respondents in understanding the service area, the City has included Attachment 3, Citywide Shopping Cart
Containment Map, identifying business locations and containment information for those businesses required to
have containment systems. Based on City records, approximately 100 carts are retrieved/returned per month.
4. Purpose and Overview
The City of Alhambra is seeking proposals from qualified vendors to provide efficient, reliable, and citywide
shopping cart retrieval and return services. The selected vendor will support the City’s efforts to keep public areas
free of abandoned shopping carts, provide timely responses to service requests, and maintain clear reporting
regarding identified and unidentified cart activity. Services are expected to include regularly scheduled citywide
sweeps and complaint-based and on-demand pickups. Respondents should use the information provided in this
RFP to develop a work plan that addresses both identifiable and unidentifiable shopping carts.
5. Scope of Services
Proposals shall demonstrate the respondent’s qualifications, including key personnel, relevant experience
performing similar services within the past five (5) years, and a work plan that, at a minimum, addresses the
following:
• Remove all shopping carts located on City streets, sidewalks, alleys, and other public right-of-way areas.
• Collect, transport, and ensure proper handling and disposition of all retrieved shopping carts, including those
that are unidentified or not attributed to a specific business, in accordance with applicable laws and
regulations. Proposals shall describe how unidentified carts will be handled or disposed of.
• Retrieve all shopping carts throughout the City and return identifiable carts to the appropriate retail location.
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RFP No. RFP2M26-5 – Citywide Shopping Cart Retrieval Services
• Operate services up to eight (8) hours per day, seven (7) days per week, 365 days per year, as needed to
meet the requirements of this RFP.
• Respond to service requests for cart pickup within twenty-four (24) hours of notification.
• Maintain a local or toll-free phone number and a website and/or mobile application for City staff and the
public to report abandoned shopping carts.
• Maintain and submit accurate monthly logs to the City, including date retrieved, location found, number of
identified and unidentified carts collected, and the retail store to which identifiable carts were returned.
• Conduct citywide sweeps once per week consisting of one (1) eight (8) hour workday covering all public
streets and alleys to ensure removal of abandoned shopping carts.
6. Contract Term
The contract resulting from this RFP will be for a term of three (3) years.
7. Anticipated Schedule
The anticipated timeline for evaluating and selecting proposals is identified below. The City reserves the right to
modify the schedule at its sole discretion, as needed.
Activity
Release of Request for Proposals (RFP)
Deadline to submit questions
Responses to questions posted on the City’s website
Deadline to submit proposals
Review of proposals by City staff
Optional vendor interviews, if needed
City Council award of contract
Dates
Monday, April 27, 2026
Monday, May 11, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. (PDT)
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Tuesday, May 26, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. (PDT)
Week of June 1, 2026
Monday, June 8, 2026
Monday, June 22, 2026
8. Questions and Answers Period
The City has attempted to provide all information available in this RFP, and no formal pre-proposal conference
will be held. It is the responsibility of each respondent to review this RFP and request any necessary clarification
during the Questions and Answers period before submitting a proposal.
• Questions regarding this RFP must be submitted by email to Fernando Perez-Garcia, Code Enforcement
Supervisor, at fpgarcia@alhambraca.gov.
• The subject line of the email must state: RFP No. RFP2M26-5: Citywide Shopping Cart Retrieval
Services.
• All questions and requests for clarification must be received by the City no later than 5:00 p.m. (PDT) on
Monday, May 11, 2026. Questions received after that time will not be answered.
Responses to timely submitted questions will be compiled and posted on the City of Alhambra’s website
https://www.alhambraca.gov/438/Bids-Notices-RFPs and will constitute the City’s official response to inquiries.
Respondents shall not contact any City personnel, outside of the protocol established herein, with any questions
or clarifications concerning this RFP from the release date until a selection is announced by the City. The City
reserves the right to reject any proposal for violation of this provision.
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RFP No. RFP2M26-5 – Citywide Shopping Cart Retrieval Services
9. Proposal Contents
The response to this Request for Proposals (RFP) shall be bound and organized into the following sections, each
clearly tabbed and labeled. The proposal should be concise and avoid unnecessary duplication of marketing
materials.
A. Cover Letter
• The name of the submitting company/entity and its legal status (for example, nonprofit, partnership, LLC, or
corporation).
• The name, title, address, telephone number, and email address of the primary contact for the submitting
company/entity.
• The signature of an individual authorized to represent and legally bind the firm.
B. Scope of Services and Approach
• A clear statement demonstrating the respondent’s understanding of the requested services and describing
the proposed methodology, work plan, and approach. Refer to Section 5, Scope of Services.
C. Consultant Experience and Qualifications
• A list of shopping cart retrieval projects completed within the past five (5) years that demonstrate the firm’s
expertise and capabilities, with emphasis on work for public agencies or municipalities.
• A brief profile of the firm outlining its mission, core competencies, and relevant experience in shopping cart
retrieval services.
D. Team Members
• An organizational chart identifying key team members and their titles and responsibilities.
• The names and contact information of key representatives assigned to this contract.
• The primary point of contact who will serve as the main liaison with City staff and oversee the work.
E. References
• A minimum of three (3) public agency references for current or recently completed contracts involving
similar services within the past five (5) years.
• For each reference, include the name of the agency, a brief description of the contract scope and services
performed, contract dates, and the name and phone number of a person who may be contacted as a
reference.
F. Proposed Fee
• A comprehensive cost proposal valid for one hundred eighty (180) days from the proposal due date.
• A yearly not-to-exceed amount and a breakdown of costs by task, including any subcontractor costs, hourly
rates, and anticipated hours of work, if applicable.
G. Service Questionnaire
• A fully completed Attachment 2, Service Questionnaire – Shopping Cart Retrieval Services.
10. Proposal Submission
To receive consideration, proposals must be received by the City of Alhambra Community Development
Department no later than 5:00 p.m. (PDT) on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Proposals shall be submitted in a sealed
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This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.
