Power Rodding, Sewer, Vacuum Truck Cleaning Services and Repair

Request for Proposals
#2026-41-M
POWER RODDING, SEWER, VACUUM TRUCK
CLEANING SERVICES AND REPAIR
METROPOLITAN PIER AND EXPOSITION
AUTHORITY (MPEA)
Wednesday, September 30, 2026

TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTIONS:
I. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
II. BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND OBJECTIVES
III. SCOPE OF SERVICES
IV. RFP PROCESS AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
V. EVALUATION CRITERIA
VI. CONDITIONS, DISCLAIMERS, DISCLOSURES
VII. REQUIRED FORMS
EXHIBITS:
1. RFP TIMELINE
2. FORM OF AGREEMENT - WORD DOCUMENT (posted as separate WORD document)
ATTACHMENTS:
REQUIRED FORM I - SPECIAL CONDITIONS REGARDING MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS
ENTERPRISES (posted as separate PDF document)

SECTION I. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS
DEFINITIONS
The following terms in this Solicitation shall be defined as follows:
"Agreement" or "Contract" means the Agreement that is to be entered into between the
Authority and the selected Proposer pursuant to this RFP.
"Authority" means the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority.
"Contractor" refers to the Proposer that is selected to provide the Services and will enter into
the Agreement or Contract with the Authority
"Include" Whenever the term "include" (in any of its forms) is used, it means "include, without
limitation."
"Laws" means City, State and Federal statutes, ordinances, codes, rules and regulations.
"MBE" means Minority Owned Business Enterprise.
"MPEA" means Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority.
"Proposal" means all materials submitted in response to this RFP.
"Proposer" or "Provider" or "Respondent" means the firm(s), individual(s), corporation(s),
partnership(s) and joint venture(s) that submit Proposals pursuant to this RFP.
"Responsive" Responsiveness is determined by the Authority and relates to compliance with
the provisions of the solicitation, including specifications, and contractual terms and conditions.
Conformity in material respects or substantial compliance suffices, although absolute or precise
conformity is not required. The Authority reserves the right to reject any Proposal that it deems
materially non-responsive.
"Responsible" Responsibility is determined by the Authority and relates primarily to the ability
of a Proposer/Bidder to successfully carry out a proposed contract, and whether the
Proposer/Bidder has the character, reputation, and integrity to receive an award. The Authority
may determine in its sole discretion that a Proposer/Bidder, otherwise able to perform, who has
been convicted of a felony, or violation of the public procurement requirements of any federal or
state governmental entity, is not responsible and therefore disqualified from the RFP process.
Other considerations bearing on a determination of responsibility can include experience, past
performance, business and financial capabilities, skills, technical organization and reliability. Some
of the mechanisms available to measure a Proposer's/Bidder's responsibility are the utilization of
reference checks, vendor performance on previous contracts and availability of financial credit
information.

"RFP" means this Request for Proposals, including all Exhibits and addenda.
"Selected Proposer" or "Successful Proposer" or "Successful Contractor" means the
Proposer selected for award of an Agreement.
"Trade Reference" means a reference concerning the creditworthiness of the Proposer given
by another business that extends credit to the Proposer, such as a supplier.
"WBE" means Women Owned Business Enterprise.
INTERPRETATIONS
A. Any headings in this RFP are for convenience of reference only and do not define, limit,
control or affect the meaning of the RFP provisions. In this RFP, unless the context otherwise
requires, the terms "hereby," "herein," "hereof," "hereto," "hereunder" and any similar terms
used in this RFP refer to this RFP. All section references, unless otherwise expressly
indicated, are to sections of this RFP. Words of any gender shall be deemed and construed
to include correlative words of the other genders. Words indicating the singular number
shall include the plural number and vice versa, unless the context shall otherwise indicate.
All references to any exhibit or document shall be deemed to include all supplements and/or
amendments to any such exhibits or documents entered into in accordance with the terms
and conditions of this RFP and such documents. All references to any person or entity shall
be deemed to include any person or entity succeeding to the rights, duties, and obligations
of such persons or entities in accordance with the terms and conditions of this RFP.
B. Unless a contrary meaning is specifically noted elsewhere, the words "as required," "as
directed," "as permitted" and similar words used in the RFP mean that requirements,
directions of and permission of MPEA are intended; similarly, the words "approved,"
"acceptable," "satisfactory" or words of like import mean "approved by," "acceptable to" or
"satisfactory to" MPEA. Words "necessary," "proper" or words of like import as used with
respect to extent, conduct or character of Services specified shall mean that the Services as
outlined in Section III must be conducted in a manner or be of character which is "necessary"
or "proper" in the option of MPEA.
C. Unless a contrary meaning is specifically noted elsewhere, the words "approved,"
"reasonable," "suitable," "acceptable," "properly," "satisfactory" or words of like effect and
import used in the RFP mean reasonable, suitable, acceptable, proper or satisfactory in the
judgment of MPEA.

SECTION II. - BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND OBJECTIVES
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, hereinafter referred to as the "Authority" or
"MPEA", is a municipal corporation existing under the laws of the State of Illinois pursuant to
the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Act, as amended, 70 ILCS 210/1 et seq. (the
"MPEA Act").
The Authority is governed by a nine-member Board appointed by the Governor of Illinois and
the Mayor of Chicago. Current Board Members are listed on the Authority's website at
http://www.mpea.com/mpea_board/board.html. The Chairman of the Board is selected by
fellow Board members and a Chief Executive Officer, who is responsible for the day-to-day
management of the Authority, is appointed by the Board.
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The Authority owns McCormick Place , an exhibition and convention center located at 23
Street and Martin Luther King Drive in the City of Chicago. The McCormick Place convention
center includes four buildings, the South, West, North and the Lakeside Center. These buildings
have a combined total of more than 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space, and over 600,000
square feet of meeting rooms, making it the nation's largest convention center. McCormick
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Place hosts approximately 125-150 events and attracts more than 2.5 million trade and public
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show visitors annually. McCormick Place features the Arie Crown(R) Theater, a renovated
proscenium arch theatre which seats approximately 4,200. Two separate buildings, the Energy
Center and the Corporate Center, are also part of the MPC.
The Authority also owns the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, a recently renovated and
expanded 1,258-room hotel and conference center located adjacent to McCormick Place. The
Hyatt Corporation is responsible for the operation and management of this Hotel under a
management agreement with the Authority.
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Two additional facilities opened at McCormick Place in 2017: a 1,206-room Marriott Marquis
Chicago Hotel and the 10,000 seat Wintrust Arena, a multi-purpose facility that serves as a first-
class NCAA basketball arena and general assembly hall for large business meetings and other
major special events. The facility hosts DePaul NCAA men's and women's home basketball
games, tournaments, and other DePaul events and the WNBA's Chicago Sky.

OBJECTIVES
The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority("MPEA") invites the submittal of bids from
experienced companies for Power Rodding, Sewer, Vacuum Truck Cleaning Services
and Repair campus wide.
In accordance with the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Act (70 ILCS 210/23.1(b)),
the Authority has adopted and maintains a minority and women owned business enterprise
procurement program for any and all work undertaken by the Authority. The Authority's goals
for MBE and WBE participation in the performance of the Services are 25% and 5%
respectively.
The Authority also encourages the participation by Business Enterprises owned by People with
Disabilities (BEPD) and accepts the certification issued by the City of Chicago, Cook County, and
the State of Illinois.

SECTION III. -SCOPE OF SERVICES
The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority("MPEA") invites the submittal of bids from experienced
companies for Power Rodding, Sewer, Vacuum Truck Cleaning Services and Repair campus wide.
The contractor will provide all delivery equipment, fuel, labor, materials, transportation, trucks, vehicles,
recordings, and any/all other services necessary to provide vacuum truck, power rodding, sewer/drain
cleaning and repair services throughout the MPEA in accordance with the terms and conditions of this
specification. Additionally, the contractor will provide vacuum truck, power rodding, sewer cleaning and
repair services of the highest and best quality that are competitively priced and delivered in a timely
manner. The successful bidder must have experience and an established, credible reputation for servicing
large volume, multiple location customers on a just-in-time basis.
Power Rodding, Sewer, Vacuum Truck Cleaning Services and Repair
MPEA maintains multiple premises, and several thousand feet of waste and storm lines which have heavy
use and require constant upkeep and maintenance. These drain/ waste and storm lines are in constant
need of cleaning, rodding and repair, and services will be needed at any time, on a non-emergency and
emergency basis. When services are needed the MPEA will notify the contractor, and the MPEA may
require the contractor's services for multiple locations in a single day.
Sewer/ drain cleaning will consist of the removal and proper disposal of all dirt, grease, rags, rocks, roots,
sags, sand, sludge, solids, and other debris within any sewer segment, including manholes. The
designated sanitary sewer / drain lines shall be cleaned using mechanically powered hydraulically
propelled or high velocity sewer/drain cleaning equipment, as specified by the MPEA.
The work may also include the cleaning and internal inspection and television monitoring (including
drained watering and associated work) of the sanitary sewers and drain lines. As well as any repairs and
or replacement necessary to any sanitary, storm or drain line piping or equipment.
The contractor shall utilize the following methods for inspection and sewer/drain cleaning, as needed:
bucketing or scraping; high pressure jetting water with necessary root cutters to clean the sewers/drain
lines; television scan for 4" - 12" diameter pipe; television scan for 4" - 12" diameter pipe flushing; mini-
cam and/or crawler camera and jetting/vacuuming/hi-pressure combination, plus disposal.
The work performed under this contract may vary in length from as little as 20 feet to more than 500
feet at any given location. The MPEA will designate sewer and drain segments to be cleaned,
inspected, and repaired prior to the contractor performing work.
The MPEA will have staff at the work site to accompany the contractor. The contractor shall also
provide necessary ground coverings for service vehicles safe passage to work sites based on weather
and environment.
TRUCKS
At all times, the contractor and any subcontractors called for services shall be prepared with at least a
combination truck (accompanied by both large and small hoses), a vacuum/rodder, at least 200 feet of
flex hose, and both 6" and 8" tree root cutters, and hi-pressure jetting water.
TELEVISION EQUIPMENT
The contractor must be capable of providing TV, Mini-Cam and Crawler Camera recording. The television
equipment used for inspections shall be specifically designed and constructed for sanitary and storm
drain inspections. Lighting for the camera shall be suitable to allow a clear picture for the entire periphery

of the pipe. The camera shall be able to operate in 100% humidity conditions and shall be capable of
showing the entire inside periphery of the pipe. The camera shall produce and transmit a clear and sharp
picture on video bandwidths only.
HYDRAULIC CLEANING EQUIPMENT
The equipment for power rodding and cleaning will be self-contained with a minimum 13 horsepower
unit capable of rodding, cleaning, and bucketing sewer/drain lines of the sizes listed in the specification.
Rodding of sewers/drains will be cleaned by a power driven continuous flexible rod having a minimum
diameter #4 gauge without joints, couplings, fittings or connectors. Rodding of sewers shall be done in
such a manner as to leave all solid material, roots and other debris loose within the sewer. The power
rodding equipment shall have the capability of spinning the rod either clockwise or counterclockwise.
Further, the power rodding equipment shall also be capable of pushing or pulling the rod without rotating
the machine.
Root cutters to be intact, well maintained, and lubricated prior to arrival on site.
HYDRO-CLEANING EQUIPMENT
The contractor must have and be capable of using high velocity hydro-cleaning equipment to perform
the services in this contract. This equipment shall have a selection of two or more velocity nozzles. The
nozzles will be capable of producing a scouring action from 15 degrees to 45 degrees in all size lines
designated to be cleaned. The equipment shall also include a high velocity gun for washing and scouring
manhole walls and floor. The gun shall also be capable of producing flows from a fine spray to a long-
distance solid stream. The equipment shall carry its own water tank, auxiliary engines, pumps, and
hydraulically driven hose reel which will be located so the equipment can be operated above the ground.
ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT
In addition to the hydraulic and hydro-cleaning equipment requirements above, the contractor
must be able to provide the following on an as needed basis:
1. 200' of flex, 6" and 8" root cutters.
2. Long, ridged hose connection that can be pushed into solids in the catch basin to expedite
the breakup of the solids.
3. Fine hose/attachments for jetting to break up solids.
4. Length of 6" ridged PVC pipe connected to the 6" flex, for efficient mobility in deep basins.
5. Short length of 4" flex and ridged to vacuum smaller basement or roof drains.
6. 6' shinny ladder for access of manholes/catch basins.
7. Supply of water, when needed, and having magnet to access locked hydrants when
necessary.
SERVICE HOURS AND RESPONSE TIME
Service hours are categorized, and shall be invoiced as such according to the following:
Regular working hours Overtime hours Sunday hours
Holiday hours
Monday thru Friday 7:00 am to 3:30 pm
Monday thru Friday, 3:31 pm to 6:59 am, and Saturday all day. All day Sunday.
All day legal holidays.
The contractor must be capable of providing services on a 24-hour, seven (7) days per week, 365 days
a year basis. The contractor shall respond to all non-emergency calls within 24 hours of receipt of the

call from the MPEA and respond to an emergency call from the MPEA within 2 - 4 hours of receipt of the
call.
WASTE REMOVAL/DISPOSAL
Contractor shall keep the premises free from accumulations of waste materials or rubbish caused by its
employee or work at all times and shall remove all rubbish at the completion of performing the Services.
The contractor will not charge the MPEA separately for the proper disposal and collection of materials.
TRAVEL
The contractor will not charge the MPEA separately for travel to and from job locations. The hourly rates
bid will include all travel to and from all job locations, regardless of how many job locations there may
be per day.
PERMITS
The contractor is responsible for any and all City and State permits necessary to perform the work in this
contract. Also, the contractor will pay all fees and costs associated with the permits.
PREVAILING WAGE/FEES
The Contractor shall be paid for the Services performed as follows:
Hourly Labor Rate. The Contractor's hourly labor rate shall include the prevailing wage rate, fringe
benefits (health and welfare, pension, and/or others) as well as all employer expenses for FICA,
workman's compensation, liability insurance, unemployment insurance and any other
municipality, state, or federal requirements regarding employees. The hourly labor rate shall also
include all costs and expenses for trucks and/or vehicles, tools, equipment associated with the
trade, travel, pick-up, and delivery of materials, estimating, call-back supervision, administrative
overhead, and profit.
CONTRACT TERM
The Power Rodding, Sewer Cleaning, Vacuum Truck Cleaning and Repair begins on the Effective Date
and shall remain in effect for two (2) years. MPEA shall have the option to renew this Agreement under
the same terms and conditions for an additional period(s) not to exceed two (2), one (1) year extensions
total.
INVOICING
Invoicing shall include the name and phone number of the MPEA employee requesting the service,
location(s) where service(s) has been requested, description of the required service(s), time of arrival
and departure from each location. All work completed at each site must be signed off by an MPEA
employee. A copy of this sign-off shall accompany each invoice.
Hours billed for each service/location will begin at the time of arrival at the site. If multiple sites are
requested for same-day services, billing will begin at the time of arrival at the initial site.
Contractor must address all invoices references the Contract and Purchase Order (PO) number to the
following:
MPEA - Accounts Payable Department
301 East Cermak Road
Chicago, Illinois 60616
Attention: Building Operations
All electronic invoices must be submitted via e-mail to buildingops@mccormickplace.com

SECTION IV. RFP PROCESS AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
RFP PROCESS
The Proposer's written response, which details the experience and expertise of the Proposer to provide
Power Rodding, Sewer, Vacuum Truck Cleaning Services and Repair & Repair, is due no later
than Monday, October 26, 2026.
Requirements and procedures for providing submittals in response to this RFP are described herein. RFP
documents will be available for downloading at the MPEA website at www.mpea.com under the link
"Doing Business" beginning on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. The Authority requests that all
Proposers that choose to download and print the document from the MPEA website contact the MPEA,
DEPARTMENT OF PROCUREMENT by email, referencing RFP #2026-41-M Power Rodding, Sewer,
Vacuum Truck Cleaning Services and Repair to mpeaprocurement@mpea.com to register
Proposer's company as a document holder.
If it becomes necessary to revise or amend any part of this RFP, including the due dates, the Authority
will publish a revision by written addendum on its website and notify all prospective Proposers who have
registered as a document holder and provided the Authority with valid contact information. It will be the
responsibility of the Proposer to obtain all such addenda and to acknowledge receipt of any addenda that
have been issued. (If none are issued, indicate "NONE" on REQUIRED FORM A, Form of Transmittal
Letter.)
Proposers are to contact only the MPEA Procurement Department at mpeaprocurement@mpea.com
concerning this RFP and should not rely on representations, statements, or explanations other than those
made in this RFP or in any written addendum to this RFP.
The Authority will accept questions, in writing via e-mail, until 12:00 Noon Central Time, on Friday,
October 9, 2026. Questions should be submitted in writing to mpeaprocurement@mpea.com. A
summary of questions received, noted without source, and answers will be issued as an addendum on
the MPEA procurement website by Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
RFP submittals are due no later than 12:00 PM Central Time, on Monday, October 26, 2026.
Interested parties must submit an electronic version (PDF and/or Word) of its proposal via email to
mpeaprocurement@mpea.com, or via a secure file sharing platform such as Dropbox or similar, before
the deadline. The email must reference the RFP #2026-41-M. The electronic copy must include Required
Form F, PROPOSED PRICING FORM and Required Form I, Special Conditions Regarding Minority and
Women Owned Business Enterprises as separate PDF files.
Hardcopies are not required at this time.
Based on the responses submitted, the Authority may select a short list of Proposers for further
consideration and may elect to conduct interviews with short-listed Proposers.
A timeline showing the key dates for the RFP process is provided as Exhibit 1.
The responsibility for submitting a response to this RFP on or before the stated time and date will be
solely and strictly that of the Proposer. The Authority will in no way be responsible for delays caused by
any other entity or by any occurrence. Proposals received after 12:00 PM Central Time, on Monday,
October 26, 2026, may be deemed non-responsive and ineligible for consideration.