Waste Disposal and Recycling Services. Q&A. Appendix B.

Location:	Mississippi
Posted:	Aug 28, 2026
Due:	Sep 16, 2026
Agency:	Mississippi State University
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	S - Utilities and Training Services
Solicitation No:	MSU2026098 RFP
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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Mississippi State University

Request for Proposals (RFP) MSU2026098

Waste Disposal and Recycling Services

ISSUE DATE: August 14, 2026

ISSUING AGENCY:

Office of Procurement Services

Mississippi State University

405 Garrard Road East

Starkville, MS 39762

Sealed Proposals, subject to the conditions made a part hereof, will be received September 9,

2026, at 2:00 PM in the MSU Office of Procurement Services, same address above, for

furnishing services and potentially, optional services as described herein.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are physically mailing your response, indicate firm name, and

RFP number on the front of each and every sealed proposal envelope or package.

All inquiries concerning this RFP should be sent via the instructions in Section 4.

Any addendum associated with this RFP will be posted at

http://www.procurement.msstate.edu/procurement/bids/index.php located under the RFP

number. It is the respondent’s responsibility to assure that all addenda have been reviewed and

if applicable, signed and returned.

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1. UNIVERSITY OVERVIEW

Mississippi State University (MSU) is a comprehensive land grant university. The main campus

is located adjacent to the community of Starkville in northeast Mississippi, with a remote

campus located in Meridian. Additionally, the university operates several remote agricultural

experiment stations and has an Extension office located in each of the eighty-two Mississippi

counties.

Additional information about MSU can be found on our website www.msstate.edu.

2. INVITATION TO SUBMIT PROPOSAL ON RFP

MSU intends to contract with a reputable and responsible firm capable of efficiently and

effectively providing waste disposal and recycling services to its main campus as well as

offering extended pricing options to its remote campus and experiment stations. The University

seeks a comprehensive proposal that includes all labor, vehicles, equipment, containers,

supplies, transportation, training, reporting, programming, and related services necessary to

serve campus facilities.

The University intends to maintain a single contract capable of providing both waste disposal

and recycling services; however, MSU may elect to award one or both service components

based on the outcome of the evaluation.

3. SCOPE OF SERVICES REQUIRED

A. General Service Requirements

i. The Contractor shall furnish all manpower, vehicles, containers, compactors,

roll-offs, carts, equipment, and facilities necessary to collect and transport

garbage, rubbish, cardboard, and recyclable materials generated on campus.

ii. Materials shall be transported to a landfill, transfer station, material recovery

facility, or recycling center that is properly permitted and approved by the

University.

iii. The Contractor shall propose service methods, schedules, and costs that meet

or exceed the requirements in this scope.

iv. The estimated inventory includes approximately 125 municipal solid waste

front-end-load dumpsters and 35 recycling dumpsters. Quantities, sizes,

locations, and lift frequencies may change during the contract term. The

applicable RFP appendices shall control final bid quantities.

v. MSU anticipates paying a per-lift fee for each unit unless an alternate pricing

structure is approved. Disposal charges, landfill costs, and all other cost

components shall be clearly identified.

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vi. Normal collections shall occur early enough for collection vehicles to be off

campus by 7:00 a.m., unless the University authorizes another service

window.

vii. The Contractor shall maintain sanitary conditions in the immediate vicinity

of containers and remove waste placed in or immediately adjacent to

containers when providing service.

viii. The Contractor shall provide a collection schedule at least 30 days before

service begins, identifying container locations, sizes, service days, and

approximate collection times.

B. Containers, Equipment, and Ownership

i. Contractor-Owned Equipment

1. All dumpsters, compactors, roll-offs, recycling containers, carts,

sensors, and other collection equipment shall remain the property of

the Contractor unless otherwise approved in writing by the

University. The Contractor is responsible for delivery, installation,

maintenance, repair, replacement, and removal of its equipment.

ii. Container Design and Accessibility

1. Where practicable, provide containers that can be accessed from the

side rather than requiring users to lift bags over the top.

2. Provide cardboard and other appropriate collection containers at

Perry Cafeteria, Colvard Student Union, Fresh Foods Dining Facility,

Barnes & Noble Bookstore, and other locations identified by MSU.

3. Provide additional front-load, roll-off, temporary, or specialty

containers upon request.

4. Maintain all containers in a structurally sound, leak-free, and sanitary

condition with functional lids, doors, drain plugs, and safety

components.

iii. Appearance Standards

1. All front-load dumpsters shall be painted Hunter Green and present a

uniform appearance campus-wide, unless the University approves

another color or finish in writing.

2. Containers shall be free of faded or peeling paint, significant rust,

graffiti, dents that affect appearance or operation, bent doors, broken

lids, leaks, and other visible defects.

3. The Contractor shall pressure wash containers as needed, promptly

remove graffiti, repaint containers when appearance deteriorates, and

replace containers that cannot be restored.

4. Paint defects shall be corrected within 10 business days after notice

unless MSU approves a different corrective schedule.

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C. Collection Operations

i. Routine Service

1. Provide collection at a frequency that minimizes cost while

preventing overflow, odors, unsanitary conditions, and disruption to

campus operations.

2. Residential collections are anticipated once per week unless

otherwise specified. Designated high-volume locations may require

daily or multiple weekly pickups.

3. MSU may modify the normal schedule by notifying the Contractor

by 3:00 p.m. on the business day before the requested modification

when practicable.

4. The Contractor shall identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary

pickups during university holidays, semester breaks, and summer

periods while maintaining required service levels.

ii. Special Event Services

1. The Contractor shall provide enhanced collection and container

service for major University events, including football games,

baseball weekends and post-season events, basketball games when

needed, commencement, move-in and move-out, Bulldog Bash,

orientation, and other events designated by MSU.

2. Pull and replacement of roll-off containers and pull-and-return

service for front-load dumpsters.

3. Multiple pulls during the same day or weekend when event volume

requires additional service.

4. A designated event coordinator with authority to deploy personnel

and equipment.

5. Sufficient backup personnel, vehicles, and containers to meet event

schedules and prevent overflow.

6. Gameday and post-game service coordinated with the University's

event and traffic requirements.

iii. Continuity and Emergency Operations

1. Submit a university-approved continuity plan describing how service

will be maintained during labor shortages, equipment failures,

weather events, or other disruptions.

2. Only emergency service, equipment, and transportation made

necessary by labor or equipment problems may be subcontracted,

unless otherwise approved in writing by MSU.

3. If recycling collection is postponed because of severe weather, notify

the University's designated contact by telephone or email and

complete collection on the next business day.

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D. Recycling and Sustainability

i. Recycling Program

1. MSU currently uses a single-stream collection approach for

recyclable materials that includes Plastics #1 and #2, cardboard,

aluminum, and paper. The Contractor shall identify all accepted

materials in its proposed recycling stream and describe opportunities

to expand diversion.

2. If proposing an alternative to single-stream collection, provide

detailed justification, implementation plan, training approach,

transition schedule, and price.

3. Sell or otherwise market appropriate recyclable materials and

disclose the receiving facilities and commodity disposition. The cost

proposal shall clearly identify any recycling credit or revenue-sharing

methodology applied to university invoices.

4. Work with MSU to identify contamination sources and implement

education, signage, operational changes, or other strategies to reduce

contamination.

5. Assist the University with waste reduction and diversion initiatives

throughout the contract term.

ii. Greek Life Alternate

1. Provide a technical solution and separate lump-sum price for a

reduced-scale container system in the Greek Life area. The objective

is to reduce the number of large roll-off and front-load dumpsters by

using smaller containers serviced more frequently. The Contractor

shall provide, maintain, and service all equipment included in this

alternate.

E. Performance Standards

The following minimum service levels apply unless a more stringent

requirement is stated elsewhere in the RFP or agreed to in writing:

Requirement

Missed pickup

Overflow complaint

Emergency service

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Minimum Standard

Correct within 4 hours after notice.

Acknowledge within 2 hours and provide corrective service the following

business day.

On-site response or service action within 4 hours after authorization.

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