Central Ohio Transit Authority - Trash Collection Services for COTA's Transit Location - RFP 2026-OPS-342 (2026)
Central Ohio Transit AuthorityPublic Authority · Columbus, OH- Due
- Nov 30, 2026
- 27 days left
- Posted
- Oct 28, 2026
- Contract term
- 5 years
- Primary contact
- Beth Cremeens
- (614) 448-8923
The 30-second brief
Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) is seeking a qualified contractor to provide trash collection and disposal services for 634 bus-stop shelter waste containers throughout its service area in Columbus, Ohio. The contract includes regularly scheduled waste collection, transportation, and disposal, spill cleanup, replacing COTA-provided plastic liners and lids, weekly reporting of damaged or missing containers, and maintaining a 24/7 emergency contact. The estimated workload is approximately 1,327 service stops per week across routine collections, additional weekly collections at high-traffic locations, Saturday service for downtown High Street containers, and supplemental Sunday collections. The contractor must implement a real-time tracking system to document completed collections, stop IDs, and photos to support accurate invoicing. The submission deadline is November 30, 2026, with a question deadline of November 11, 2026. The contract term is five years, operating on a firm fixed unit price monthly basis.
Qualifications, experience, and roles of key personnel assigned to COTA’s project (10%), Past experience with government organizations, transit agencies, and applicable programs (5%), Design, development, and implementation of service (15%), Overall strategic approach and methodology of service (15%), Understanding of COTA’s business plan and vision (15%), Project management approach for resourcing, risk management, scheduling, progress tracking, issue resolution, and quality control (10%), Cybersecurity and data protection approach (10%), Cost (20%), Phase 2 - Presentations or interviews (10%)
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Summary
Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) is seeking a qualified contractor to provide trash collection and disposal services for 634 bus-stop shelter waste containers throughout its service area in Columbus, Ohio.
The contract includes regularly scheduled waste collection, transportation, and disposal, spill cleanup, replacing COTA-provided plastic liners and lids, weekly reporting of damaged or missing containers, and maintaining a 24/7 emergency contact. The estimated workload is approximately 1,327 service stops per week across routine collections, additional weekly collections at high-traffic locations, Saturday service for downtown High Street containers, and supplemental Sunday collections. The contractor must implement a real-time tracking system to document completed collections, stop IDs, and photos to support accurate invoicing. The submission deadline is November 30, 2026, with a question deadline of November 11, 2026. The contract term is five years, operating on a firm fixed unit price monthly basis.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS
10- Subcontractor Disclosure
- TECHNICAL Response
- COST Proposal
- Form W-9
- Affidavit Regarding Delinquent Taxes
- Affidavit Regarding Government-Wide Debarment and Suspension
- Affidavit Regarding Non-Collusion
- Affidavit Regarding Restrictions on Lobbying
- COTA Vendor Cybersecurity Questionnaire
- Redlined version of Contract Terms and Conditions
- Submit to
- https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/cota/projects/319263/document?projectId=2026-RFP-072
- Scope location
- Columbus, OH
Questions about this RFP
How do I respond to this RFP from Central Ohio Transit Authority?
Review the full solicitation document for submission requirements, evaluation criteria, and deadlines. The submission deadline is November 30, 2026. Be sure to include all required attachments as outlined in the solicitation. Submissions should be delivered to: https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/cota/projects/319263/document?projectId=2026-RFP-072. For questions, contact Beth Cremeens.
Can small businesses or minority-owned firms bid on this RFP?
Most government agencies, including Central Ohio Transit Authority in OH, encourage participation from small businesses, minority-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprises (MBE/WBE/DBE). Check the full solicitation for any small business participation goals.
What happens after the RFP submission deadline?
After the deadline, the issuing agency reviews all submissions against the stated evaluation criteria. This typically includes a compliance check, technical evaluation, cost analysis, and may involve oral presentations with shortlisted vendors.
Can I ask questions about this solicitation before submitting?
Yes, most solicitations allow vendors to submit questions during a designated period. The primary contact is Beth Cremeens at (614) 448-8923. Questions and answers are typically shared with all prospective bidders.
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What are the evaluation criteria for this solicitation?
This solicitation includes specific evaluation criteria that will be used to score proposals. The criteria include: "Qualifications, experience, and roles of key personnel assigned to COTA’s project (10%), Past experience with government organizations, transit agencies, and applicable programs (5%), Design, developm..." Vendors should carefully align their proposals with each criterion to maximize their score.
Where can I find more RFPs from Central Ohio Transit Authority?
All active and historical solicitations from Central Ohio Transit Authority are tracked and searchable. As a public authority agency, Central Ohio Transit Authority regularly publishes solicitations. Visit the agency profile to see current open bids, past contracts, vendor relationships, and decision-maker contacts.
What is the contract term for this solicitation?
The anticipated contract term is 5 years. Contract terms may include renewal options.
Is this solicitation still open for submissions?
Based on the posted deadline of November 30, 2026, this solicitation appears to still be accepting submissions. Deadlines may change through amendments or addenda, so always verify the current status directly with the issuing agency before preparing your response.
What documents are required to bid on this RFP?
Requirements vary by solicitation, but common documents include a technical proposal, cost/price proposal, proof of insurance, relevant certifications, past performance references, and any forms specified in the solicitation. This solicitation specifically requires the following attachments: Subcontractor Disclosure, TECHNICAL Response, COST Proposal, Form W-9, Affidavit Regarding Delinquent Taxes, Affidavit Regarding Government-Wide Debarment and Suspension, Affidavit Regarding Non-Collu. Review the full document from Central Ohio Transit Authority for the complete list.
What is the scope of this project?
This solicitation defines a specific project scope. The scope covers the following locations: Columbus, OH. Review the full solicitation for detailed scope requirements.