How to bid on COTA trash collection services in Columbus

What COTA is buying

The Central Ohio Transit Authority is seeking a contractor to collect and dispose of trash from 634 bus-stop shelter containers across its service area. The estimated workload is about 1,327 service stops per week, including extra visits to high-traffic locations, Saturday downtown High Street collections, and supplemental Sunday collections.

The contractor must provide labor, vehicles, equipment, and supervision. Work also includes cleaning spills and scattered debris, replacing COTA-provided liners and lids as needed, reporting damaged or missing containers, keeping a 24/7 emergency contact, and providing weekly reports and real-time collection tracking.

Key date and deadline

The RFP was published October 28, 2026. Responses are due November 30, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET.

Submit your response through OpenGov before the deadline. Do not wait until the final minutes: allow time to complete the portal steps and check that your response has been submitted.

Who this opportunity may suit

This opportunity may fit a waste collection or facilities-services firm able to handle recurring routes across COTA’s service area. Vendors should be prepared to cover roughly 1,327 weekly service stops and the additional scheduled collections.

Consider whether your team can supply the vehicles, equipment, labor, supervision, cleanup, reporting, emergency contact coverage, and real-time tracking described in the solicitation.

How to access and respond

Click “View the original posting” to open the opportunity on OpenGov Procurement. The portal may show a brief security check the first time; let it finish so the project page loads.

Sign in or create a free vendor account to download plans, ask questions, join the planholders list, and submit your response. OpenGov also sends addenda notices, so check the portal for updates as you prepare.

Prepare a practical, complete response

Build your response around the stated service pattern. Explain how you would organize regular collections, high-traffic extra service, Saturday downtown High Street service, and supplemental Sunday collections. Make clear how your staffing, vehicles, equipment, and supervision support the estimated weekly workload.

Address the operational details as well as collection: spill and debris cleanup, liner and lid replacement, damaged- or missing-container reports, the 24/7 emergency contact, weekly reports, and real-time tracking. Use a clear schedule and show how completed stops can be documented for accurate invoicing.

Review the solicitation documents and any addenda before submitting. Check that your response follows the instructions in the project materials and that all required information is included.