01 - RFP Request for Proposal~1.pdf

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Issued: October 9, 2025

Qualified organizations are invited to submit an electronic copy of the proposal that meets the requirements described herein no later than November 7, 2025, by 3:00 p.m. PST to the following email address:

Purchasing@nwascopud.org

OR

Hardcopy documents can also be submitted to:

FIBER OPTIC CONSTRUCTION SERVICES

ATTN: PURCHASING DEPARTMENT

NORTHERN WASCO COUNTY PEOPLE’S UTILITY DISTRICT

2345 RIVER ROAD

THE DALLES, OR 97058

This Request for Proposals (RFP) does not commit Northern Wasco County People’s Utility District, “The District” to award a contract or pay any costs incurred in the preparation of a proposal responsive to this request. The District reserves the right to accept all or part of any proposal or to cancel in part or in its entirety this Request for Proposals. The District further reserves the right to accept the proposal that it considers to be in the best interest of The District.

Summary

Northern Wasco County People's Utility District (hereinafter called "District") issues this Request for

Proposals soliciting FIBER OPTIC CONSTRUCTION SERVICES.

This proposal includes:

Request for Proposal Issue Date:

Exhibit A. OSP Construction Standards

Exhibit B. QLife Fiber Map

Exhibit C. Work Order Bid Sheet

Exhibit D. Work Order Unit Definitions

Exhibit E. Terms and Conditions for PO

Timeline The following table outlines the expected solicitation and selection timeline:

Milestone Date

RFP / ITB Release Oct 9, 2025

Non-mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting Oct 23, 2025 3:00 PM PST

Respondents Questions Due Oct 24, 2025 3:00 PM PST

Answers to Respondents Questions on or before Oct 28, 2025

Proposals / Bids due Nov 7, 2025 3:00 PM PST

Recommendation of award reviewed by Board Dec 2, 2025

Contract Executed Dec 12, 2025

Pre-Bid Meeting:

Oct 23, 2025, 3:00 PM

Northern Wasco PUD

2345 River Road, The Dalles, OR

For Remote Call-In Instructions: email

Purchasing@nwascopud.org

Project Description and Scope of Work

THE DISTRICT is seeking qualified Contractor(s) with experience with aerial/underground mainline/middle mile/last mile fiber construction. The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to offer prospective Contractors the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities to help fulfill our fiber optic construction requirements. These include but are not limited to line extensions, regular and routine maintenance, and emergency restorations.

THE DISTRICT is maintaining and deploying Fiber to the Premises (FTTP) broadband services in areas of

Wasco County and adjacent areas in support of Quality Life Networks (QLife). QLife offers fiber-based services to residents and businesses in communities of Wasco County through a mixture of underground and aerial fiber optics. Qlife serves its customers through a combination of lit and dark fiber services, some with Service Level Agreements, and some without.

All contractor personnel will be required to adhere to the highest quality standards and workmanship.

The Contractor shall be responsible for maintaining satisfactory standards of employees' competency, conduct, courtesy, appearance, honesty, and integrity, and shall be responsible for taking such disciplinary action with respect to any employee, as may be necessary.

USE OF SUBCONTRACTOR(S)

Subcontractor(s) are permitted for this work. The Contractor must clearly define their intention to subcontract any portion of this work. Please keep in mind that THE DISTRICT will contract solely with the

Contractor(s), therefore subcontractor(s) remain the sole responsibility of the Contractor(s).

The Scope of Work may include but is not limited to:

This Scope of Work outlines the responsibilities, expectations, and deliverables required of the

Contractor engaged to support construction, maintenance, and restoration of fiber optic utility infrastructure. The Contractor shall provide labor, supervision, tools, equipment, transportation, and materials (unless otherwise specified) necessary to perform the following services:

1. Construction Line Extensions – Includes the installation of new overhead and/or underground utility lines to extend services to new deployments, customers, or service areas, in accordance with applicable codes, standards, and engineering designs

2. Regular and Routine Maintenance – Encompasses scheduled inspections, preventive maintenance, make ready, and repairs of existing infrastructure to ensure safety, reliability, and compliance with operations standards and regulatory requirements.

3. Emergency Restoration Services – Involves rapid response to unplanned outages, damages, or failures resulting from storms, accidents, or other unforeseen events. The Contractor must be available on a 24/7 basis to assist in restoring service promptly and safely.

This document serves as the general framework for the services provided and may be supplemented by specific work orders, task orders, job packages, or project-specific requirements. All must be performed in accordance with THE DISTRICT standards, safety protocols, applicable local, state, and federal regulations, and industry best practices.

GENERAL CONTRACTOR DUTIES

1. No work shall commence until THE DISTRICT has issued Contractor a specific Work Order detailing the work to be performed and any special instructions or in accordance with emergency restoration plans.

2. No work shall commence until Contractor has provided THE DISTRICT with certification of insurance compliance with the project insurance requirements and such certificates are reviewed and approved by THE DISTRICT legal counsel. Contractor shall provide certification of compliance for all subcontractors per the project insurance requirements and submit such certification to THE DISTRICT prior to the subcontract or contractor beginning work.

3. Contractor shall designate a dedicated Project Manager possessing excellent written and oral communication skills who can respond to all THE DISTRICT requests and assist in resolving all construction related issues.

4. Contractor shall not begin any extra work without the written authorization from THE DISTRICT.

5. Contractor shall supply all supervision, labor, construction equipment, transportation, licenses, taxes, safety and consumable supplies and all other incidental costs required for the completion of work as specified in the Contract Documents.

6. Contractor shall be responsible for and shall pay all applicable taxes relating to unemployment, social security and worker's compensation, franchise taxes (including taxes assessed on Contractor's net income), levies, duties, work-in-progress, and assessments of every nature due in connection with any

Work under this Contract and shall make all payroll deductions required by law. Contractor shall indemnify and hold harmless THE DISTRICT from any liability because of all such taxes, levies, duties, assessments, and deductions.

7. Contractor shall be responsible for any fines, tolls, tickets, or additional costs associated with the work either directly or indirectly. The Contractor is aware of all existing and potential restrictions to construction that have been or may be placed by the jurisdiction authorities, including, but not limited to, traffic control, fuel and/or oil leakage and noise pollution.

8. Contractor responsible for protecting all installed fiber infrastructure including locates until final acceptance by THE DISTRICT.

9. Contractor and/or Project Manager shall attend progress meetings as requested by

NWACSCOPUD.

10. Contractor and/or Project Manager will respond to THE DISTRICT designated representatives(s)

24 hours a day, 7 days a week basis.

CONSTRUCTION

1. Contractor shall install conduit and cable in a method deemed most suitable, economical, and/or efficient as specified in a work order issued by THE DISTRICT, except where a specific construction method is specified by Engineering drawings, by a permit, or by another authority having jurisdiction.

2. Contractor shall direct plow, trench, excavate, erect, bore, rock saw, attach, or utilize other methods approved by THE DISTRICT to install conduit, cable, messenger wire, vaults, hand holes, fiber warning tape, route markers and other appurtenances as indicated on the work order and as specified in the Contract Documents. Contractor shall install fiber optic cable and complete acceptance testing as specified in the work order.

3. During installation, Contractor shall protect the right-of-way to minimize damage from construction activities including but not limited to utilizing good soil erosion control practices and taking special precautions in environmentally sensitive and cultural resource sites.

4. Contractor shall provide all maintenance and traffic control to the satisfaction of THE DISTRICT and agencies having jurisdictional authority of the area of work.

5. The Contractor shall backfill, replace, resurface, and restore all affected areas of construction including but not limited to, sidewalks, asphalt, grass, pavement, highway and railway right-of-way and wetland areas to original or better condition in accordance with the Contract Documents, and to the satisfaction of THE DISTRICT, and any agencies having jurisdictional authority of the area of work.

6. Contractor shall ensure that the work sites are accessible for work including but not limited to preventing vehicles from parking on site, removing snow, pumping manholes, and scheduling work to avoid delays by road construction, repair, or other outside party projects.

7. The Contractor shall perform all fiber optic installation work in the communications space in full compliance with the most current edition of the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC). This includes, but is not limited to, adherence to all safety standards, grounding, and construction standards applicable to communications installations. The contractor is responsible for ensuring that all personnel are trained in and follow NESC requirements at all times during the execution of work.

8. All materials and equipment shall be applied, installed, connected, erected, utilized, cleaned, and conditioned in accordance with the instructions of the applicable manufacturer, fabricator, or processor, except as otherwise provided in the Contract Documents. All conduits and cable shall be plugged or capped during the construction process and upon completion to prevent any intrusion of silt, water, or foreign substances into the Network. All work shall follow THE DISTRICT construction specifications and drawings.

UTILITY LOCATIONS AND SUBSURFACE OBSTRUCTIONS

1. Contractor shall recognize that utilities shown on Contract drawings are for informational purposes only. THE DISTRICT assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the utilities shown.

2. Contractor shall contact the appropriate state's One Call agency at least seventy-two (72) hours in advance of construction for location of buried utilities. Contractor is responsible for locating and avoid all subsurface obstructions. It is the Contractor's responsibility to verify the locations of subsurface obstructions shown on the drawings and any additional obstructions not identified on them. Contractor is responsible for contacting and confirming the location of utilities or other entities not taking part in

One Call.

3. Contractor shall be responsible to verify the exact location of every pipeline, utility, drainage facility, or other buried facility by hand digging (pot holing) prior to working in the area. Contractor is responsible for receiving jurisdictional authority approval prior to excavation where applicable.

Contractor shall then make any adjustments, in the field or otherwise, to install the conduit or duct where it shall not interfere with other conduits or utility systems. THE DISTRICT must approve any adjustments to the running line prior to implementation by Contractor.

4. Contractor shall be solely responsible for all direct and indirect costs and consequences arising from damage to utilities.

5. During performance of the Work, if Contractor or any of its Contractors hits a gas line or has reason to believe it has hit a gas line, Contractor shall immediately call 9-1-1 and make the appropriate notification.

6. Contractor shall keep a Utility Location Log of all telephone contacts to notify existing utilities of pending excavation. Such a log shall include date, time of day, name of individual contacted, name of agency or company contacted, telephone number, and confirmation number. The Utility Location Log shall be made available to THE DISTRICT for review prior to construction and submitted on a weekly basis.

PROJECT MANAGER DAILY REPORTING

1. For project requiring extensive time, the contractor shall provide, in writing, to the THE DISTRICT

Broadband Manager or their designee, progress made in measures of feet of conduit and fiber installed, number of hand holes placed, and any issues or problems encountered.

PRODUCTS AND MATERIALS

1. THE DISTRICT and the selected contractor will each be supplying certain equipment and materials for this contract. For materials that are provided by THE DISTRICT, THE DISTRICT will inventory those items and make them available for pick-up at a designated location, The Contractor will be responsible for all materials once they are received from NWASCPUD.

2. Contractor shall furnish their own material and equipment storage facilities, loading personnel and equipment, and offloading personnel and equipment.

3. Contractor shall be solely responsible for all materials during storage and after installation until acceptance of the work by THE DISTRICT.

4. Contractor shall dispose of all empty reels in an approved and timely manner.

5. The Contractor shall provide all other items including but not limited to restoration materials, select fill, concrete, asphalt, consumables, equipment, tools, grass seed, vegetation, straw, gravel, aggregates, rip rap, erosion control materials, foam, duct sealant, and all other materials and incidentals necessary for complete installation. Materials provided by Contractor shall comply with specifications and requirements provided by THE DISTRICT or other agencies having jurisdiction of the area. THE

DISTRICT will not reimburse Contractor for such materials used. Any restoration because of Contractor's activities is considered part of the work operation.

6. Contractor shall supply only materials specifically approved for this Contract, or that have been listed as an "approved" item as presently shown in Exhibit C. Contractor may elect to submit to THE

DISTRICT for approval of materials supplied by other vendors. Contractor will not be allowed to extend any extensions of time for delays necessary for approval of materials.

7. All units include labor, equipment, and materials not provided by owner or as listed as

Contractor provided materials in the Work Order. Contractor may seek reimbursement for materials not commonly associated with units, with written approval, which will be paid cost plus 15%. Contractor must supply an invoice which will be paid at cost plus 15%. Contractor shall not seek reimbursement for materials not specifically associated with work order, unless written approval is provided by The District.

8. THE DISTRICT will work with the Contractor to supply common materials necessary to adequately restore services during an emergency outage and restoration. The Contractor agrees to warehouse and inventory those items on a recurring basis as agreed upon with THE DISTRICT.

Replacement of items will be reimbursed or supplied by THE DISTRICT.

TRAFFIC CONTROL

l. Contractor shall always exercise reasonable and due care under the circumstances in managing and controlling the flow of traffic through work zones. Contractor shall indemnify parties in accordance with Paragraph 12 of the General Conditions for any failures by Contractor to exercise such care.

2. Contractor shall conform to all traffic controls as required by the jurisdictional authority, the permits, and THE DISTRICT. Contractor shall coordinate with the appropriate jurisdictional authority and incur all costs of law enforcement or other jurisdictional personnel.

3. Contractor shall coordinate and pay for all necessary police protection for traffic control according to and as requested by the jurisdictional authority or as instructed by THE DISTRICT's field representative.

4. Contractor shall be responsible for the safety of the public and shall always give right of way to all other vehicular traffic on the Roadway. Contractor shall not detour traffic, close a lane, or impede traffic flow without approval from the jurisdictional authority or local police.

5. Contractor shall furnish all signs, barricades, barriers, cones, drums, warning lights, flag persons or other devices that are required and obtain all necessary approvals from the appropriate jurisdictional authorities. Contractor shall maintain a log and provide THE DISTRICT with a copy of the log containing such approvals obtained on a weekly basis. Contractor will not be reimbursed for obtaining any necessary traffic control devices or personnel required for traffic control and/or safety requirements.

Proper traffic control and safety are considered part of the work operation.

6. Contractor shall be solely responsible to conform to all traffic control requirements contained in the Contract Documents, and in accordance with all federal, state, and local requirements, as applicable.

THE DISTRICT may declare Contractor to be in default if Contractor commits an act of gross traffic control negligence, or fails to comply with the traffic control requirements, or does not immediately correct traffic control deficiencies as directed by THE DISTRICT.

7. In the event of ongoing failure of the Contractor to conform to all applicable traffic control requirements, THE DISTRICT may issue a stop work notice. This stop work notice will continue until such requirements have been achieved. Contractor shall not be entitled to compensation intime or money for time lost during this stop work order. If Contractor further continues to violate traffic control requirements, THE DISTRICT reserves the right to terminate this Contract.

8. All work operations including paving, rolling, grading, supplying of material and the travel of supervisory personnel shall always be in the direction of normal traffic.

PROTECTION OF RIGHT OF WAY

l. Right-of-way lines provided on the construction drawings are for informational purposes only.

Contractor shall be responsible for the repair of any damage to the right-of-way, sidewalks, roadways, utilities, or any other public or private property damaged by Contractor's forces.

2. Contractor shall be responsible for the safety and protection of the public and of public and private property on and around the construction sites during the Contract operational period.

Contractor shall notify THE DISTRICT representative immediately of any damage to any public or private properties on or around construction sites. All protection measures are considered part of the work operation.

3. Contractor shall protect all Contractor installed materials until THE DISTRICT's acceptance.

4. Contractor shall repair all damage caused by his negligence. In the event damage is irreparable, Contractor shall remove and replace such items at no additional cost to THE DISTRICT.

DAILY PROJECT CLEAN UP REQUIREMENTS

l. Contractor shall maintain a clean and hazard free work area including, but not limited to, daily removal of all spoils and sweeping of all affected roadway and sidewalk areas. All such operations are considered part of the work operation.

2. Contractor shall remove from the site and dispose of all spoil, waste, and other unused excavated materials in accordance with all Federal, State, Local, OSHA, EPA and VDOT standards and regulations.

3. Where excavation is required in asphalt areas, restoration shall be completed immediately and before removal of traffic control. Contractor shall not leave any sections of the trench open during non-work hours. Contractor shall backfill all segments of the trench in adherence with the trench standards.

4. As necessary, Contractor shall cover the excavation with steel plating. Steel plates shall be a minimum one inch (1") thick, spiked down in the corners, shimmed to prevent rocking, and cold patched around the edges. Plate installation shall be subject to final approval by OSHA, VDOT, THE DISTRICT, and the jurisdictional authority.

5. Contractor shall store all equipment, tools, material in a manner so as not to inhibit traffic flow or parking during working or non-working hours. All staging areas must receive final approval from THE

DISTRICT and other jurisdictional authorities. THE DISTRICT shall assume no responsibility for

Contractor's equipment or materials. Security for the job areas is the responsibility of the Contractor.

Contractor shall comply with the security requirements of the right-of-way owner, or other jurisdictional authorities.

6. No material, equipment, or refuse shall be stored in any recovery zones of all roadways. A recovery zone shall be defined as an area where vehicular traffic may leave the roadway without protection. Contractor shall verify the location of recovery zones with THE DISTRICT and the jurisdictional authority. All restoration in recovery zones shall be performed immediately following installation. All unused materials and empty reels shall be removed from jurisdictional right-of-way daily.

PERMITS

l. THE DISTRICT shall secure the required permits for federal, state and local rights-of-way. Delays in the progression of work caused by THE DISTRICT's acquisition of permits shall be excusable but not compensable. THE DISTRICT will obtain the necessary permits for placing its facilities in any wetlands or other federally mandated areas.

2. Prior to the start of work, Contractor shall obtain and pay for all permits required for

Contractor's construction operations including but not limited to contractor's licenses, construction bonds, transportation, traffic control, equipment, labor and or other general permits.

3. Contractor's employees shall limit their activities to the construction site and rights- of-way covered by permits. Trespassing in other areas shall not be permitted.

INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

l. All work shall be subject to the inspection and approval of THE DISTRICT, and other governing agencies having jurisdiction. Contractor shall schedule the work and provide adequate notifications to comply with all requirements for inspection.

2. THE DISTRICT's representatives shall inspect workmanship and progress of work being performed. Where workmanship or installation deficiencies are observed, THE DISTRICT's representative shall prepare a written list of these deficiencies and discuss them immediately with the Contractor's

Supervisors/Project Manager. Contractor shall then take measures to immediately and expeditiously correct any written deficiencies to the satisfaction of THE DISTRICT's representative without impacting the installation schedule at no additional cost to THE DISTRICT.

3. At THE DISTRICT discretion, and upon notification to THE DISTRICT by Contractor of completion of the work, a THE DISTRICT representative, the Contractor's representative and a representative of the jurisdictional authorities shall jointly perform a "walk through" inspection of the work. The THE DISTRICT

Representative shall, during this inspection, prepare a punch list of observed deficiencies. Contractor shall then correct all deficiencies in a timely manner. Acceptance shall be granted when all deficiencies have been corrected to the satisfaction of THE DISTRICT and all jurisdictional authorities.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

l. Contractors shall install any required erosion control prior to construction activities. Contractor shall be responsible for the costs of all erosion and sediment controls.

2. All erosion control features shall be inspected after precipitation events and repaired or replaced accordingly. Accumulated sediment shall be removed as required to maintain functionality of the fencing.

3. Contractor shall adhere to Soil Conservation District Permit requirements for all seeding and restoration requirements.

WARRANTY

l. Contractor shall provide a warranty on all Contractor supplied materials conforming to warranty requirements of Contract. Any warranties that extend for greater periods than contractually obligated shall be passed along to THE DISTRICT.

2. The Contractor warrants the materials delivered and work completed under the Contract to be free from defects in design, material or workmanship, and against damage caused prior to final inspection. Unless otherwise specified, this warranty extends for one (1) year from the date of

Substantial Completion.

3. The Contractor shall promptly repair or replace all defective or damaged items delivered under the Contract.

PROJECT CLOSEOUT

1. As construction related to a Work Order enters the final stages of completion, the Contractor shall, in concert with accomplishing the requirements set forth in the Contract Documents, complete the following items as they apply:

2. Required testing of project components.

3. Correcting or replacing defective work, including completion of items previously overlooked or work that remains incomplete, all as evidenced by THE DISTRICT's "Punch" Lists.

4. Satisfactorily address any other items brought to the Contractor's attention by THE DISTRICT.

CLEARING OF RIGHT-OF-WAY (ROW)

l. All trees and/or brush shall be cut so that stumps protrude from the ground at a height no greater than two inches (2"). Clearing by Contractor shall be complete with the removal of the cleared material and is considered part of the work operation. All trimming and pruning shall be done by cutting only. No stripping, peeling, or breaking of limbs shall be allowed. When trimming shrubs and trees, Contractor shall use sharp, disease-free tools. All cuts shall be clean, and no stubs greater than one-quarter inch (1/4") shall be allowed. Exposed bark or limbs shall not be painted or treated in any way.

Clearing and trimming shall be complete with the removal of cleared material and is considered part of the work operation.

2. Contractor shall remove existing fences on the right-of-way only upon written approval.

Contractor shall remove temporary fencing erected by Contractor as soon as practicable.

3. Contractor shall abide by any and all applicable rules and regulations concerning clearing the right-of-way. Any penalties and/or fines for violations incurred during the clearing of the right-of-way shall be the sole responsibility of Contractor.

4. Contractor shall verify all restoration or replacement requirements in connection with clearing activities with the ROW owner. Contractor shall solely be responsible for abiding by the requirements set forth by ROW owner.

SAFETY SPECIFICATIONS

1. Safety is the foremost concern in any contract operation. Any Contractor performing an unsafe act or operation shall be notified to stop work until the unsafe act or operation is corrected. If unsafe acts or operations continue, it shall result in the termination of the Contract. This project encompasses areas that may include both public and private right-of-way. Therefore, in addition to the workers, consideration must also be made for the public and for private property.

2. Guidelines for health, safety and traffic control standards have been established by various agencies. Contractor shall comply with all Health, Safety and Traffic Control standards and procedures as required by the jurisdictional agencies and regulations as applicable.

3. Manhole safety procedures, including testing and monitoring of manhole atmosphere and installing proper manhole barricading, shall be required when accessing utility manholes to perform work under this Contract. This includes purging each manhole a minimum of ten (10) minutes prior to entry unless testing of gaseous content proves entering the manhole to be unsafe.

4. Any personal injury to Contractor's employees or agents engaged in work under this Contract, which requires the services of a physician or hospitalization, shall be reported at once to a THE DISTRICT field representative. Contractor shall also report immediately to THE DISTRICT any injury to other person(s).

5. All personnel in construction areas shall always wear hard hats and reflective vests. NO

EXCEPTIONS. Appropriate clothing and footwear shall always be worn. Clothing with offensive or objectionable printing shall not be permitted.

6. Traffic cones, barricades, police details, flaggers, warning signs shall be inspected each day at each site. All open excavations in paved areas shall be covered with a suitable steel plate or patched at the end of the working day, subject to approval by THE DISTRICT and the authorities having jurisdiction over this work. All excavations in other areas shall be fenced with safety fencing or otherwise protected as directed by THE DISTRICT or the governing authority.

7. All excavations five feet (S') or greater in depth shall be protected with either shoring or a trench box, per OSHA regulations. In areas where the Contractor is required to place shoring per OSHA specifications, the Contractor shall incur all costs associated with protection of the site.

8. Under no circumstances shall pedestrian traffic be routed or rerouted onto the Roadway or in an area where vehicular traffic is present.

Deliverables

The successful contractor will be expected to:

1. Adhere to the requirements of the Scope of Work

2. Provide as-builts in a timely manner upon completion of a work order or emergency restoration, no invoices will be approved without an approved as-built.

3. Adhere to the construction standards included as Exhibit A.

4. Provide a schedule of construction for the work orders supplied by THE DISTRICT.

5. Maintain an adequate inventory of materials to resolve network outages and repairs.

6. Work with THE DISTRICT to supply approved materials for owner and contractor supplied materials.

Proposal Contents Summary

In summary, each proposal must meet all of the following to be considered for acceptance by THE

DISTRICT:

• Provide a copy of the Contractor’s cost and fee schedule, Contractor to use Exhibit C for the cost submittal. Contractor is required to provide a unit / labor price for all units shown in Column G in the Network Build tab and the Network Repair tab. Contractor shall fully understand the definitions of each provided unit and further described in Exhibit D. Contractor shall not modify or change any of the information in the Exhibit C including but not limited to the formulas, the

Cost Items, Code, or Definitions. All units include labor, equipment, consumables, and materials not provided by owner or Contractor as shown from the Materials Tab in Exhibit C. Contractor may seek reimbursement for all materials shown in the Materials when THE DISTRICT doesn’t supply. Contractor may also seek reimbursement for materials not commonly associated with units, only with written approval. All supplied materials that meet these stipulations will be paid at cost plus 15%. This includes conditions when suitable soil or native soil is not allowed or readily available. Contractor must supply an itemized copy of the invoice.

• Provide a summary of Contractor’s understanding of the project scope, to include any relevant licenses.

• Provide a detailed process of the steps Contractor will take to complete this scope of work.

• Outline the Contractor’s relevant experience in the last two years, related to all three requirements of the bid, Construction Line Extensions, Regular and Routine Maintenance, and

Emergency Restoration.

• Provide a list of previous clients that may be used as references.

• Maintenance and Restoration Plan, to include restoration response approach, description of on-call procedures, coverage and response times availability for aerial, underground, and splicing availability

• Include the name, address, and telephone number of the primary person from the Contractor who will coordinate the construction services with The District.

• Provide the name and email address of the primary contact on this submission.

• See Evaluation Criteria below and include necessary items to determine scoring and evaluation of Contractor.

Evaluation Criteria

Experience and Qualifications

Demonstration of proposed project team members:

• Qualifications to perform work in applicable discipline(s).

• Knowledge of technical criteria and administrative requirements for projects of similar scope.

• Current and projected workload of each proposed project personnel and proportion of time available for this contract.

Contractor Experience

Demonstration of Contractor’s:

• Qualifications to perform work in applicable disciplines.

• Past performance in completing projects of similar size and scope.

• Demonstration of past experience in providing construction services to governmental agencies in the broadband industry by both the Contractor and the project team.

Availability and Commitment of Resources

• Proposed Timeline

• Proposed Staff for project

• Resource Availability

Demonstration of the Contractor’s ability to commit to the resources required to complete the project within the established time frames, including responsiveness to specific project technical requirements.

Evaluation Process

District staff will evaluate all the proposals based on the criteria listed above and on cost competitiveness. THE DISTRICT’s staff may also request clarifications or additional information, if needed. A selection may be based on the cost alone or any combination of the Evaluation Criteria, references and interviews. The District’s Contract Review Board will review staff’s selection and make the determination whether to authorize staff to execute the contract with the selected bidder.

THE DISTRICT right to reject any or all bids and to waive any informality or technicality in any bid in the interest of The District. All submissions become public records unless labeled ‘confidential’ or a Trade

Secret exemption under Oregon’s Public Records Laws, ORS 192.345(2) or ORS 192.355(4).

Disqualification

Factors, such as, but not limited to, any of the following, may disqualify bids without further consideration:

• Evidence of collusion, directly or indirectly, among contractors in regard to the amount, terms or conditions of this invitation to bid;

• Any attempt to improperly influence any member of the evaluation team;

• Existence of any lawsuit, unresolved contractual claim or dispute between contractor and the

District;

• Evidence of incorrect information submitted as part of the bid;

• Evidence of the contractor’s inability to successfully complete the responsibilities and obligations described in the invitation to bid; and

• Contractor’s default under any previous agreement with The District.

Submission

Submit questions via email to:

purchasing@nwascopud.org

NWCPUD will host a non-mandatory pre-bid meeting.

The District may reject any or all submissions if The District deems doing so would be in the public’s interest.

Once a submittal is selected, The District will determine if they desire to enter into negotiations for a final Contract with the most competitive and qualified bidder. Final project related matters will be negotiated during this period to the satisfaction of The District. Contractor shall provide certificates of insurance listing NWCPUD as additionally insured on liability coverages, except professional liability if included, with respect to activities performed under the contract.

Any entity responding to this solicitation shall do so at its sole expense.

This solicitation is being conducted pursuant to procedures set forth in The District’s Procurement

Policies; the Oregon Revised Statutes, Chapter 279B Public Contracting - Public Procurements; and OAR

137-047. Bidders must be active and in good standing with Oregon CCB to be considered.

Public Records Disclosure

All materials submitted in response to this Request for Proposals (RFP) become the property of The

District and are subject to disclosure in accordance with applicable public records laws, including Oregon

Public Records Law, ORS 192 and ORS 279C.

1. Public Record Status o Proposals, communications, and supporting materials submitted in response to this RFP may be subject to public disclosure upon request.

o The District will not be responsible for determining the applicability of any disclosure exemptions but may rely on the Offeror’s written designation of exempt materials.

2. Confidential or Proprietary Information o If an Offeror believes that any portion of its proposal contains trade secrets, proprietary, or otherwise exempt information under state law, the Offeror must:

Clearly mark each page containing such information as “CONFIDENTIAL.”

Provide a written explanation of the legal basis for the exemption.

o Blanket designations, such as marking an entire proposal as “Confidential” or

“Proprietary,” will not be honored.

3. Handling of Public Records Requests o If The District receives a public records request for any portion of a proposal that has been marked as confidential, The District will:

Notify the Offeror of the request and provide a reasonable time for the Offeror to seek legal protection.

Not be obligated to withhold disclosure if The District determines the records are not exempt under applicable law.

Not be liable for any damages resulting from the release of materials deemed non-exempt.

4. Responsibility of Offeror o Offerors are advised to seek legal counsel regarding the protection of confidential materials before submission.

o The District reserves the right to disclose pricing and contract terms, as these are generally not considered confidential under public records laws.

By submitting a proposal, Offerors waive any claim against The District for the disclosure of any materials not properly marked or supported with a legal basis for exemption.