Las Animas County Seeks Bids for Routine Waste Disposal Contract

Las Animas County has issued an invitation for bids for a countywide contract titled "Routine Waste Disposal 2026," a procurement that could shape who hauls and disposes municipal waste next year and affect service continuity and costs for local governments and residents. The only published text provided in The Chronicle-News reads, "LAS ANIMAS COUNTY INVITATION FOR BIDS, Las Animas County hereby extends an invitation for bids for the following contract service for the calendar year 2026. Routine Waste Disposal 2026. Bids will be accepted up to the hour of 10:00" and the line is truncated.

The truncated notice does not include a complete bid closing date or AM/PM designation, submission instructions, a procurement reference number, a contact person, or the contract scope and bonding requirements. That absence leaves prospective bidders and residents unable to verify deadlines, review specifications, or assess whether local haulers and disadvantaged business enterprises can compete. The county's prior procurement activity suggests an active contracting calendar: recent Bidnetdirect entries include projects such as 25-A002 Airfield Pavement Maintenance - Perry Stokes Airport (CalendarPublished 07/16/2025, ClockClosed Bid 08/06/2025), 25-C007 Tree Removal and Planting (CalendarPublished 10/21/2025, ClockClosed Bid 10/30/2025), and 25-0100 Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CalendarPublished 06/30/2025, ClockClosed Bid 08/04/2025). GovWin IQ listings also show county solicitations including IFB# 25-074 HOT MIX ASPHALT and Courthouse Grounds Xeriscaping Services.

State transportation activity in the county continues in parallel. The Colorado Department of Transportation lists a Region 2 project, IM 025A-056 (25466R), describing work to realign the southbound off ramp on I25A at Exit 14 and includes a local contact: "Please contact Patrick Vigil at 719-251-6978 for all project related questions." CDOT also posts a Title VI nondiscrimination notice to bidders: "Notice to all contractors bidding CDOT projects: The Colorado Department of Transportation, in accordance with the Provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ... hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full and fair opportunity to submit bids ..." Prospective contractors working in Las Animas County should be aware of CDOT procurement channels and civil rights obligations where projects intersect.

City-level public business remains active too. The City Clerk & Treasurer posted meeting notices including an August 29, 2025 public hearing for the Las Animas Liquor Licensing Authority on Carmen’s Restaurant, an August 29, 2025 work session to consider elected officials’ pay scales, an October 14, 2025 Light and Power Board meeting at 5:30 pm, and a November 6, 2025 City Council work session on budget and Police Department matters at 5 pm. Those items underscore overlapping municipal priorities while county procurement moves forward.

What this means for readers: potential bidders should confirm the full IFB text, exact bid-closing date and time, submission address or portal, and evaluation criteria directly with Las Animas County purchasing or by retrieving the full public notice copy from the newspaper. Residents and council members interested in fiscal oversight should request the complete contract scope and estimated annual cost so that elected officials and the public can evaluate procurement decisions that affect service levels and rates. Reporters will seek the county procurement packet and post any confirmed deadlines and contact information when available.