Trash Contract Candidates Observations

Observations on Trash Contract Candidates
by Joe Holtzman

Following is a summary of the process involving Mission Viejo’s waste collection candidates (proposers).

The proposer evaluation process has been done without transparency to the Mission Viejo public. Thanks to Frank Ury.

  • The foundation of the evaluation done for the city is based upon a proprietary and secret financial pro forma tool that is being withheld from the public’s view.
  • Only one of four proposers has requested corporate relief via exceptions and deletions to the Mission Viejo Waste Collection Franchise Agreement. I have more information on this issue.
  • Only one firm was unequivocally qualified by the city’s consultant and is the lowest cost.
  • Only one firm was unequivocally qualified by the city’s consultant and is the highest cost.
  • The lowest-cost firm removes the rubbish from most of Mission Viejo’s neighboring cities.
  • The highest-cost firm removes rubbish from two of Mission Viejo’s neighboring cities.
  • The lowest-cost firm has transitioned two large Orange County sister cities in the last few years.
  • The highest-cost firm has lost Orange County franchises in recent years.
  • The lowest-cost firm has developed a service plan with the smallest carbon footprint.
  • The lowest-cost firm has a plan for service that removes trucks from our interchanges.
  • The lowest-cost firm proposes to supply the city with free mulch.
  • The lowest-cost firm is headquartered in Orange County.
  • The highest-cost firm is headquartered outside of California.

And, ladies and gentlemen….(drum roll please)....the firm recommended [by the consultant] to the Council for selection is: The most costly to the residents, based out-of-state corporation, requesting the most corporate relief, which also affects the larger carbon footprint on Mission Viejo. Ta-da!

What part of this am I missing, Members of the Council?

Select the lowest-cost, qualified bidder for the benefit of the residents, and lock in the savings with contractual safeguards that set a new standard for municipal procurement.