Clawson: Service agency, bidders on different page

The Jefferson County Service Agency will again send out a call for bids on operation of the recycling center.

During a meeting Wednesday, the agency dismissed a bid from Waste Management Inc. because it did not meet the specifications.

?Even if we were willing to accept the language ? we cannot accept that bid. It?s not legal because a [request for proposals] was sent out, and other potential bidders bid on that RFP, not on this language,? said Jefferson County Supervisor Lee Dimmitt. For the bid to be accepted, Dimmitt said other potential contractors need the opportunity to bid on the same language.

Fairfield City Administrator Jeff Clawson asked if there is any action the agency could take to prevent starting the process over once again if no bids are received or if they are again non-responsive to the specifications. He questioned the ability to then judge a bid on its merits.

?I just see this being endless if you don?t do something to try and stop it because obviously this group is on a different page than the people who are bidding,? Clawson said.

?You?re going to have a problem with that as far as your equal treatment of a bidder. What you could say is that we will consider an alternative bid on a particular issue, if you want to pick one,? Fairfield City Attorney John Morrissey answered.

Upon review of the alterations submitted by Waste Management, the service agency found all but those pertaining to the length of the contract acceptable.

The new RFP will contain Waste Management?s proposal that the contractor accept recyclables from commercial and residential units located within Jefferson County, but reserves the right to decline or charge a fee for recyclables collected by another recycling company.

Language for the contract and bids

? The Jefferson County Service Agency voted to strike the following language from the recycling center contract at its Nov. 10 meeting: ?The CONTRACTOR reserves the right to accept/decline collected recyclables from other recycling collectors/companies or to charge a fee for materials received from other recycling collector/companies.? The revised contract was rejected by Waste Management Nov. 10, spurring the bid process.

? The service agency established the following language for inclusion in bid specifications at its Dec. 8 meeting: ?The CONTRACTOR reserves the right to accept/decline collected recyclables from other recycling collectors/companies or to charge a fee for materials received from other recycling collector/companies outside of the Jefferson County Service Agency Area [defined as Fairfield and the unincorporated areas of Jefferson County].?

? The service agency altered the bid specifications with the following language Wednesday: ?The CONTRACTOR will accept recyclables from COMMERICAL and RESIDENTIAL UNITS as defined in the definitions section of this contract; however, the contractor reserves the right to accept/decline collected recyclables from other recycling collectors/companies or to charge a fee for materials received from other recycling collector/companies.?

For the complete article, see the Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011, printed edition of The Fairfield Ledger.