NEW ORLEANS — Sanitation service company IV Waste has won a one-year emergency garbage collection contract for the French Quarter and Downtown Development District as a legal battle over the bidding process is set to begin.
According to our partners at The Times-Picayune report, Sidney Torres, owner of IV Waste, said his company submitted the lowest bid of $5.9 million among four bidders and is preparing to begin operations Dec. 23.
The contract selection ends weeks of uncertainty over garbage collection, street cleaning, litter pickup, and related services in New Orleans’ busiest areas.
The emergency bidding process was initiated after Mayor LaToya Cantrell's administration failed to secure City Council approval for a long-term contract with Henry Consulting. The proposed eight-year, $73 million agreement with Henry Consulting was the highest-scoring submission in a professional services solicitation to the city.
Legal Challenges Ahead
Henry Consulting is now seeking a Civil District Court ruling to compel the council to approve its contract, arguing that the city council lacks authority over professional services agreements.
A Civil District Court judge will hear the arguments on Monday.
Meanwhile, another sanitation service bidder, Ramelli Waste, contested the bidding process, claiming it was improperly structured.
According to Nola.com, Ramelli alleges that the solicitation incorrectly classified sanitation services as professional services, which they say are not subject to low-bid requirements, and that post-award negotiations with Henry Consulting improperly expanded the contract's reach.
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