Chattanooga seeks bids for litter-capture devices before Aug. 5 deadline

Chattanooga’s Stormwater Division is seeking bids for litter-capture devices and related services in the city’s stormwater system and local creeks, with sealed bids due at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5.

The city announced the procurement July 21 under Solicitation 200975, titled “Litter Capture Devices and Maintenance for City Waterways and Stormwater Infrastructure.” The solicitation seeks qualified vendors for equipment and services intended to intercept floating litter before it reaches Chattanooga’s creeks and, ultimately, the Tennessee River.

What the city is seeking

The solicitation may include litter-capture devices for waterways and stormwater infrastructure, site evaluation and siting services, device maintenance, educational signage, mobilization, permitting when needed, and tactical litter cleanup.

Vendors may submit bids for individual components of the project or for the complete scope of work, according to the city announcement. The notice does not identify a selected contractor, final device count, installation locations, project cost or installation schedule.

Why stormwater infrastructure matters

Municipal stormwater systems can carry runoff, litter and other pollutants through drains, pipes, ditches and related infrastructure into local waterways. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says polluted runoff is commonly transported through municipal separate storm sewer systems and often discharged untreated into local water bodies.

That makes litter-capture equipment one potential control point for floating debris moving through Chattanooga’s stormwater network and creeks. The city has not said that the proposed equipment would eliminate litter or guaranteed measurable improvements in water quality.

What happens next

Questions from prospective vendors were accepted through noon Thursday, July 23. The next immediate milestone is the sealed-bid deadline at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026.

The announcement describes a solicitation, not an awarded contract or completed cleanup program. Later procurement records should establish which bids were received, how the city evaluates them, whether a contractor is selected, the final equipment and locations, the cost, the installation schedule and ongoing maintenance responsibilities.

For Chattanooga residents, the practical takeaway is that the city remains at an early procurement stage in a proposed effort to capture litter before it moves farther into the local watershed. Any environmental benefit will depend on the equipment, placement, operation and maintenance documented after the bidding process.

Sources

• City of Chattanooga litter-capture solicitation announcement
• EPA: Stormwater Discharges from Municipal Sources