Biosolids Transport for Planning and Public Works

The purpose of this RFP is to secure the services of a qualified transportation contractor to deliver Pierce County’s biosolids on a planned basis, from the Chambers Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant to Boulder Park, Incorporated or other location to be determined.

Biosolids transported under this contract will be primarily 15-22% solid cake meeting U.S. EPA’s Class B biosolids standards. The contractor will be assured 20-70% of Pierce County’s current production which is currently 12,500 wet tons annually.

The result of this RFP will be the award and negotiation of a Services Agreement (SA).

The contractor and any subcontractor shall be bound by the provisions of Chapter 39.12 RCW, as amended, relating to prevailing wages and usual fringe benefits. No workman, laborer, or mechanic employed in the performance of any part of this Contract shall be paid less than the “prevailing rate of wage” as determined by the Industrial Statistician of the Department of Labor and Industries. Filing fee is required for each Statement of Intent to Pay Prevailing Wages and Affidavit of Wages Paid.

Pierce County Planning & Public Works Sewer Division (“County”) provides municipal sewer service to approximately 67,500 residential, commercial and industrial customers throughout portions of incorporated and unincorporated Pierce County, Washington. The County currently owns, operates and maintains two wastewater treatment plants with centralized solids processing and disposal taking place at the Chambers Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), located in University Place, WA.

Biosolids are the organic solid materials resulting from the wastewater treatment process that meet all applicable requirements under the Federal Clean Water Act (40 CFR Part 503), Washington State Water Pollution Control Act (Chapter 90.48 RCW), Model Toxics Control Act (Chapter 70.105D RCW), and the biosolids management and associated regulations outlined in RCW 70.95J and WAC 173-308. Pierce County’s biosolids management program is fully compliant with the rules set forth in Washington State’s General Permit for Biosolids Management.

Pierce County produces approximately 2,700 dry tons of biosolids per year at the Chambers Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant. Currently, the County manages its biosolids through a process involving anaerobic digestion, dewatering, and drying. To accommodate increased demand on solids processing capacity and to accommodate planned maintenance periods, the County must maintain a viable alternative plan for managing biosolids through off-site biosolids transport and beneficial use, such as through land application in addition to other solids processing methods.