A Resolution of the City of Sunrise, Florida, to award Bid No. 25-62-05-HR for Lime Sludge Removal Services to Austin Tupler Trucking, Inc.; and providing an effective date. City Manager Mark Lubelski. Rodrigo de Castro, Director of Utilities.

$565,450.00 - Estimated annual expenditure.

Contract Valid November 12, 2025 - November 11, 2027

Not to exceed budgeted funds for FY2025/2026.
Subsequent years' expenditures subject to budget approval.

Lime sludge excavation, hauling, and disposal is an ongoing requirement at the City's water treatment plants. The City requires the periodic services of a Contractor to dig, stockpile, haul, and dispose of lime sludge produced by the Southwest and Springtree Water Treatment Plants. In order to complete the aforementioned tasks, the Utilities Department requires the service of a qualified contractor.

The City issued Bid No. 25-62-05-HR and electronically posted it on Demandstar, which broadcasted it to the 504 vendors registered under the corresponding commodity codes. The bid opened on July 25, 2025 and four (4) bids were received. This bid contains four line items for pricing: digging, stockpiling, hauling (Springtree WTP), and hauling (Southwest WTP). When compared to the current pricing, the hourly rate for digging and stockpiling is higher, while the unit cost for hauling is lower. The proposed pricing for all the tasks combined is approximately 6% less than the current pricing. Staff was able to compare the proposed pricing for hauling to recent City of Hollywood and City of North Lauderdale bids and deemed pricing to be fair and reasonable.

Following the evaluation by the Purchasing Office and Utilities Department, it is recommended to award the contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, Austin Tupler Trucking, Inc. Austin Tupler Trucking, Inc. has been a vendor with the City since 1999 for other services and their performance has been satisfactory.

References were also favorable for the vendor’s performance on similar contracts with other entities, including City of Pembroke Pines, City of Lauderhill and the Coral Springs - North Springs Improvement District.

The initial contract period would be from November 12, 2025 - November 11, 2027, with the option to renew the contract for two (2) additional one-year periods. Pricing for all services under this contract shall remain firm for the first year. For subsequent years and renewal periods, the contract allows a price increase in accordance with the Consumer Price Index as promulgated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, not to exceed 5%.

The City did not receive any responses from a City of Sunrise vendor that could provide this service.