Solid Waste Rate Study

Location:	California
Posted:	Nov 17, 2025
Due:	Dec 8, 2025
Agency:	Costa Mesa Sanitary District
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	S - Utilities and Training Services
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

RFP Issued: November 10, 2025

Proposals Due: 10:00 A.M. on December 8, 2025

Costa Mesa Sanitary District

290 Paularino Avenue

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 ANNOUNCEMENT .......................................................................................................................... 3

1.1 PROPOSAL DUE DATES AND SELECTION TIMELINE ................................................................. 3

2 BACKGROUND................................................................................................................................ 3

3 PURPOSE ........................................................................................................................................ 4

4 SCOPE OF SERVICE ........................................................................................................................ 4

4.1 OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................................................ 4

4.2 SCOPE OF WORK .................................................................................................................... 5

5 INSTRUCTIONS TO CONSULTANTS............................................................................................... 8

5.1 EXAMINATION OF PROPOSED DOCUMENTS .......................................................................... 8

5.2 ADDENDA/CLARIFICATION..................................................................................................... 8

5.3 WITHDRAWAL OF PROPOSAL................................................................................................. 8

5.4 RIGHTS OF THE DISTRICT ........................................................................................................ 8

5.5 SUBMITTAL OF PROPOSALS ................................................................................................... 8

6 PROJECT SCHEDULE REQUIREMENTS.......................................................................................... 9

7 PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS.......................................................................................................... 9

7.1 GENERAL INFORMATION........................................................................................................ 9

7.2 TECHNICAL PROPOSAL ......................................................................................................... 10

7.3 COST PROPOSAL................................................................................................................... 11

8 SELECTION CRITERIA.................................................................................................................. 11

8.1 REVIEW OF PROPOSALS ....................................................................................................... 11

8.2 EVALUATION CRITERIA......................................................................................................... 11

9 DISTRICT AGREEMENT ............................................................................................................... 12

APPENDIX 1 – PROPOSAL COVER SHEET

APPENDIX 2 – EXAMPLE AGREEMENT FOR CONSULTANT SERVICES

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1 ANNOUNCEMENT

The Costa Mesa Sanitary District invites proposals from qualified consulting firms to prepare a

comprehensive Solid Waste Rate Study. This Request for Proposal (RFP) describes the scope of

work, requirements, and selection process.

1.1 PROPOSAL DUE DATES AND SELECTION TIMELINE

Proposals must be submitted via email no later than 10:00 A.M. on December 8, 2025, to:

Noelani Middenway, District Clerk/Public Information Officer

nmiddenway@cmsdca.gov

The RFP timeline and selection schedule are included below. Dates are subject to change.

DATE

November 10, 2025

November 19, 2025

November 24, 2025

December 8, 2025

December 9, 2025 –

December 17, 2025

January 5, 2026

TASK

RFP issuance

RFP questions/requests for clarification due by 2:00 PM

RFP questions and answers distributed (no later than)

Proposals due by 10:00 AM

Proposal evaluation

Execution of agreement (tentative)

2 BACKGROUND

The Costa Mesa Sanitary District (District) is an independent special district, governed by an

elected five-member Board of Directors, formed in 1944 under the Sanitary District Act of 1923.

District boundaries encompass the City of Costa Mesa and small portions of Newport Beach and

unincorporated Orange County, serving a population of approximately 120,000 and close to

4,000 businesses.

As a sanitary district, the District is responsible for residential solid waste (trash) collection and

wastewater (sewer) collection throughout its service area. The District accomplishes these core

responsibilities through a combination of public and private services, which include an in-house

administrative and wastewater staff and privately contracted trash hauler, attorney, treasurer,

and IT technicians.

The District provides wastewater collection and transmission (sewer system) to Orange County

Sanitation District facilities for treatment and disposal. The District’s sewer system consists of

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approximately 225 miles of sewer mains, approximately 5,000 manholes, and twenty pump

stations. Visit www.cmsdca.gov for more information about the District.

The District currently contracts with CR&R Environmental Services to provide weekly solid

waste collection to approximately 23,200 residential homes. The term of the District’s

agreement with CR&R extends through June 30, 2028, with the option to extend for two

additional five-year options.

The District currently funds residential solid waste collection services through a flat rate charge

collected on customers’ annual property tax bills. Standard service includes one (1) landfill cart,

one (1) recycling cart, and two (2) organics carts. Customers may select 35-gallon, 65-gallon, or

95-gallon carts, or any combination of these sizes, for the same flat rate.

3 PURPOSE

Landfill disposal (tipping) fees in Orange County are projected to increase by approximately

53–67% on July 1, 2026. This significant increase in disposal costs will substantially impact the

District’s solid waste program expenses. In anticipation, the District is conducting a

comprehensive Solid Waste Rate Study to ensure that future rates are financially sustainable,

equitable, and reflective of the true cost of providing service.

In addition to addressing the projected increase in landfill disposal costs, the District seeks to

evaluate potential modifications to its rate structure and billing method. Specifically, the

District is interested in exploring a tiered rate structure under which customers are billed

according to the size of their landfill cart, rather than a flat rate.

The District is also considering transitioning solid waste collection services billing from the

property tax roll to its franchise waste hauler (CR&R), while continuing to recover District-

related administrative, salary, benefit, and operations and maintenance costs via property tax.

4 SCOPE OF SERVICE

4.1 OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the study are to:

4.1.1 Evaluate Financial Impacts of Disposal Cost Increase

• Quantify the projected increase in Orange County landfill tipping fees and its impact on the

District’s current and future solid waste program costs.

• Assess the long-term financial sustainability of existing rates and reserve funding levels.

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4.1.2 Develop and Evaluate Rate Structure Alternatives

• Explore and model options for a tiered rate structure that charges customers based on

landfill cart size (35-, 65-, and 95-gallon).

• Ensure rate alternatives align with cost-of-service principles, promote fairness, and maintain

program revenue sufficiency.

4.1.3 Assess Billing Transition Feasibility

• Evaluate the administrative, operational, and customer impacts of transferring solid waste

billing for collection services from the property tax roll to the District’s franchise hauler,

CR&R.

• Provide findings and recommendations to support District decision-making on potential

implementation.

4.1.4 Provide Actionable Recommendations

• Develop clear, data-supported rate recommendations and implementation strategies that

account for projected disposal cost increases, tiered rates, and potential billing transitions.

• Support the District’s communication of study findings and policy options to stakeholders

and the Board of Directors.

4.1.5 Study Completion Requirements

• Timely completion of the Solid Waste Rate Study is essential. The District requires that the

study be completed, and proposed rates developed and presented to the Board of Directors

in early 2026 to allow sufficient time for consideration and initiation of the Proposition 218

process. The target adoption date for the new solid waste rates is July 1, 2026.

4.2 SCOPE OF WORK

Proposals must present a scope of work that achieves the objectives above, incorporating the

following tasks:

4.2.1 Project Management and Coordination

• Conduct a project kickoff meeting with District staff to introduce the project team, confirm

study objectives, schedule, data availability, and communication protocols.

• Maintain ongoing coordination with District staff throughout the project, including periodic

progress meetings and updates.

• Prepare and submit a detailed work plan and schedule for District review and approval.

4.2.2 Data Collection and Review

• Provide a list of District data required for the study.

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

Notice Inviting Bids/Request For Proposal	Bid Status	Bid Tabulation	Awardee
Solid Waste Rate Study Request for Proposals - Released 11/10/25 RFP Addendum No. 1 - Released 11/17/25	Status: Open Due: December 8, 2025 by 10:00 a.m.

Solid Waste Rate Study

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