SR 06-14-2016 3A
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: June 14, 2016
Agenda Item: 3.A
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Martin Pastucha, Director, Public Works, Resource Recovery & Recycling
Subject: Award Bid for Purchase of Big Belly/Smart Belly Dual Compactor Stations
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Award Bid #4245 to Waxie Sanitary Supply, a California-based company, for the
purchase of Big Belly/Smart Belly dual compactor stations;
2. Authorize the Purchasing Services Manager to issue a purchase order with
Waxie Sanitary Supply for the purchase of Big Belly/Smart Belly dual compactor
stations in an amount not to exceed $145,000 for one year, with four-additional
one-year renewal options, with an up to two percent annual increase on the
same terms and conditions for a total amount not to exceed $754,586 over a five-
year period, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
Executive Summary
Across Santa Monica, there are over 400 refuse containers in the pedestrian right-of-
way to handle high foot traffic areas near business districts and bus stops. The majority
of the existing open top refuse containers are gradually being replaced by solar
powered Big Belly/Smart Belly dual compactor stations to increase efficiency and
recycling. In March 2016, the City solicited bids for the continuous purchase of Big
Belly/Smart Belly dual compactor stations. After reviewing the only bid received, staff
recommends Waxie Sanitary Supply to provide the dual compactor stations for a total
not to exceed amount of $754,586 over a five-year period.
Background
Prior to 2002 there were various sizes and styles of litter containers throughout the City.
Most of them were more than 10 years old and in poor condition. As part of the Transit
Mall project, a design was developed for a more durable litter container that could be
used in the Transit Mall and throughout the City. These are the concrete open top
single-stream trash containers currently in use today.
In FY2012-13, staff implemented a pilot program that replaced 13 concrete containers
on Main Street with the new Big Belly/Smart Belly dual compactor stations. These fully
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enclosed dual compactor stations were being considered as an alternative to the open
top container as a means to eliminate trash overflow, control pests and reduce litter.
Staff was also looking for a system that would increase operational efficiencies. The
Big Belly dual compactor station was the only system on the market that provided point
of disposal compaction, which allowed for five times more trash to be collected.
After completion of the pilot program, staff evaluated the service levels at these
locations and found that the collection frequencies had dropped significantly. Collection
service dropped from daily service to three times a week, complaints concerning
overflowing litter from the businesses along Main Street decreased, and a recycling
component . As a result, staff
recommended that the program be expanded to other business districts and high
frequency bus stops.
On December 17, 2013 Council awarded Bid #4103 to Waxie Sanitary Supply, for the
purchase of the Big Belly/Smart Belly dual compactor stations to begin the replacement
of the existing concrete containers (Attachment B). The purchase order was amended
twice during the three-year period; on May 27, 2014 to purchase seven dual compactor
stations for Big Blue Bus (Attachment D) and on April 12, 2016 to purchase seven
grant-funded dual compactor stations (Attachment E)
.
To date 69 of these new dual compactor stations have been installed throughout the
,
City including Main Street, Montana Avenue, Santa Monica Pier, Ocean Avenue and
various other locations city-wide (Attachment C).
Discussion
There are over 400 refuse containers in the pedestrian right-of-way to handle high foot
traffic areas near business districts and bus stops. The majority of the open top refuse
containers are gradually being replaced by the new solar powered dual compactor
stations. It is estimated that the city would purchase 20 containers per year for a total of
100 over the five year term. At the end of this five-year term the replacement project will
be 70% complete. The first year replacements would be along Santa Monica Blvd.,
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Business District.
The overall objectives for transitioning to the fully enclosed dual compactor stations was
to increase service levels while reducing staff time to collect trash, reduce carbon
emissions by reducing the number of trips per week, reduce the number of containers
on the streets, reduce overflow and wind-blown trash, and increase recycling. As of
2015, 34 percent of the waste has been diverted from the landfills.
Each Big Belly station includes a CLEAN management dashboard, a proprietary
software program developed by Big Belly Solar, which captures real-time data on bin
capacity, operational status and waste diversion. This provides staff with the
management tools needed for efficient route scheduling and collection. By employing
this program, service frequencies at the Big Belly dual compactor stations have
decreased from daily collection to 3 times per week, which means less servicing by the
crews. In turn, this frees up staff to perform other needed tasks.
The Big Belly Solar system is the only product of its type in the North American market.
There is however a similar product currently emerging out of Asian and European
markets. The product has yet to be introduced in North America. No data is available
to compare the effectiveness of the new product to the Big Belly product as this time.
Vendor Selection
In March 2016, the City published a Notice Inviting Bids to furnish and deliver Big
Belly/Smart Belly dual compactor stations in accordance with City specifications. The
bid was posted on the City's on-line bidding site, and notices were advertised in the
Santa Monica Daily Press in accordance with City Charter and Municipal Code
provisions. 24 vendors downloaded the bid. One bid was received and publicly opened
on April 7, 2016, per Attachment A. The bid was evaluated based on the criteria in
SMMC 2.24.072, including price, previous experience, ability to deliver, quality of
product, and compliance with City specifications and scope of work. Procurement
conducted additional outreach to vendors who downloaded the bid to see why they did
not submit a bid; one vendor responded. The vendor indicated that they were not an
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authorized distributor of the Big Belly/Smart Belly dual compactor stations.
Staff contacted Big Belly Solar, Inc. the manufacturer of the Big Belly solar powered
dual compactor stations, who confirmed that these systems can only be procured
directly from an authorized distributor. The only distributor authorized to provide Big
Belly products, services and technology to the City of Santa Monica is Waxie Sanitary
Supply. Since these dual compactor stations can only be purchased from this vendor,
staff evaluated the vendor on its pricing and responsiveness, Prices have only
increased by 3% since 2013 and they have been
Based on these criteria, Waxie Sanitary Supply is recommended as the best bidder.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
The purchase order to be awarded to Waxie Sanitary Supply is for an amount not to
exceed $754,586. Funds of $145,000 are included in the FY 2016-17 Budget Plan in the
Public Works Department. The contract will be charged to the following accounts:
Account Number Description Amount
C270227.589000 Refuse Container Purchases$108,500
$ 36500
27441.566640 State Recycling Program,
TOTAL $145,000
Future year funding is contingent on Council budget approval.
Prepared By:
Annette Morales, Principal Public Works Analyst
Approved Forwarded to Council
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Attachments:
A. Bid #4245 Summary
B. December 17, 2013 Staff Report
C. Big Belly Locations
D. May 27, 2014 Staff Report
E. April 12, 2016 Staff Report
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