09321 Competitive Solicitation.docx

MASTER CONTRACT COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION – NO. 09321-02

EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

INTRODUCTION

The Washington State Department of Enterprise Services (Enterprise Services) is issuing this Competitive Solicitation pursuant to RCW 39.26. Pursuant to this Competitive Solicitation, Enterprise Services intends to conduct a competitive procurement to establish and award multiple Contracts for eligible purchasers to purchase specified emergency response services from qualified, professional emergency response firms, to respond, on an emergency basis, to a hazardous materials release (e.g., oil and other pollutants) or threatened release. The categories on this contract include responding to release of hazardous material on land and in/under the water, including containment and cleanup of such release or threatened release consistent with applicable law.

Washington state agencies and eligible purchasers periodically need to purchase Emergency Response Services. Accordingly, this Competitive Solicitation is designed to result in multiple Master Contracts, by category, to enable Washington state agencies and eligible purchasers to purchase Emergency Response Services pursuant to agreed terms and conditions in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The resulting Master Contracts are limited to emergency responses. Accordingly, this Competitive Solicitation and the resulting Master Contracts are for time critical Emergency Response Services in which response delays may result in increased adverse human health and/or environmental impacts, economic disruptions, or clean-up costs.

Pursuant to the resulting Master Contracts, awarded Contractors will provide the necessary personnel, equipment, materials, and supplies to perform the Emergency Response Services.

Enterprise Services intends to award up to six (6) Master Contracts for each of the following six categories of Emergency Response Services:

COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION NO. 09321 – EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO HAZARDOUS MATERIALS PAGE 1

· Emergency Management Services

· Land Based Work

· Water Based Work

· Diving and Salvage Related Operations

· Disposal, Incineration, or Recycling

· Wildlife Management Services.

Each of the six categories of Emergency Response Services are described below. Bidders may bid on one, multiple, or all categories.

Category 1 – Emergency Management Services. Emergency Management Services prepares plans and procedures for responding to emergency containment and cleanup of hazardous materials. This category includes, but is not limited to, the following services:

· Spill Management Team support

· Respond and provide support to Unified Command or Incident Command System (ICS) support

· Provide equipment and personnel to lead and support key ICS positions

· Lead ICS meetings to support incidents

· Provide ICS documentation and develop an Incident Action Plan

· Support a Joint Information Center and outreach in Liaison positions

· Support public affairs, equipment procurement, cost monitoring, waste tracking and disposal

· Provide invoice preparation, reporting, and coordinating, training, and managing a volunteer workforce

· Lead incident debriefs and document lessons learned

· Support overall incident safety, community air monitoring and worker safety monitoring during hazardous materials incidents

Category 2 – Land Based Work. This category is for emergency response, site-cleanup, and disposal of known/unknown hazardous materials found on land. This category includes, but is not limited to, the following services:

· Assessment and Analysis

· hazard assessment, air monitoring and site security

· sampling and analysis

· initial containment activities

· documentation and reports

· data, documentation, and reports retention

· Containment and Clean-up

· mitigation and remediation of contaminated soil

· rail and highway corridor incidents

· hazardous materials, clandestine drug labs and pressurized containers

· mold remediation

· lead remediation

· asbestos remediation

· incident management support

· documentation and reports

· data, documentation, and reports retention

· Transportation and Storage

· hazardous materials transportation and removal

· temporary hazardous materials storage

· documentation and reports

· data, documentation, and reports retention

Category 3 – Water Based Work. This category is for emergency response, site-cleanup, and disposal of known/unknown hazardous materials found on inland and coastal waters. This category includes, but is not limited to, the following services:

· Assessment and Analysis

· hazard assessment, air monitoring and site security

· sampling and analysis

· initial containment activities

· documentation and reports

· data, documentation, and reports retention

· Containment and Clean-up

· on-water containment and recovery

· shoreline assessment and cleanup

· temporary waste storage and disposal plan development

· emergency response plan deployment

· protection, deflection and collection booming

· advanced skimming operations

· applied response technologies

· segregate oil recovered from water and other waste systems

· determine recovered oil volume by squeezing or weighing sorbent material

· incident management support

· documentation and reports

· data, documentation, and reports retention

· Transportation and Storage

· vessel salvage and disposal plan development

· vessel towing or removal

· temporary vessel storage

· documentation and reports

· data, documentation, and reports retention

Category 4 – Diving and Salvage Related Operations. This category is for emergency response, site-cleanup, and disposal of known/unknown hazardous materials found on and underwater. This category includes, but is not limited to, the following services:

· Diving and Salvaging

· plugging, patching or lightering of sunken or beached vessels

· segregate oil recovered from water and other waste systems

· defueling

· emergencies related to abandoned or derelict vessels

· documentation and reports

· data, documentation, and reports retention

· Vessel deconstruction and recycling

· incident management support

· determine recovered oil volume by squeezing or weighing sorbent material

· documentation and reports

· data, documentation, and reports retention

· Transportation and Storage

· vessel salvage and disposal plan development

· vessel towing or removal

· temporary vessel storage

· documentation and reports

· data, documentation, and reports retention

Category 5 – Disposal, Incineration, or Recycling. This category is for emergency pickup and disposal of known/unknown hazardous materials. This category includes, but is not limited to, the following services:

· hazardous waste profiling

· transportation from storage site

· waste collection centers

· recycling/reclamation

· energy recovery

· incineration

· treatment

· stabilization

· landfill

· documentation and reports

· data, documentation, and reports retention

Category 6 – Wildlife Management Services. This category is for emergency wildlife management and deterrence of wildlife, especially birds, from areas contaminated by oil or a hazardous substance. This category includes, but is not limited to, the following services:

· Wildlife Branch management of all aspects of a wildlife response

· Oversee the entire Wildlife Branch

· Wildlife Response reconnaissance

· Wildlife deterrence, recovery, field collection, triage, stabilization, and transport activities, and all aspects of the treatment and release of impacted wildlife

· Response Planning and Consultation - to include assisting resource trustees plan for impacted wildlife, and supporting personnel, facilities, and equipment

· Wildlife Response Training that provides practical training classes in the various aspects of wildlife response to staff and volunteers supporting wildlife rescue and rehabilitation

This Competitive Solicitation is divided into six (6) sections:

· Section 1 provides a summary table of relevant deadlines for responding to the Competitive Solicitation and identifies contact information for Enterprise Services’ Procurement Coordinator.

· Section 2 provides important information about the procurement that is designed to help interested bidders evaluate the potential opportunity, including the purpose of the procurement and Master Contracts, the form of the resulting Master Contract, and potential contract sales.

· Section 3 identifies how Enterprise Services will evaluate the bids.

· Section 4 identifies how to prepare and submit a bid for this Competitive Solicitation, including detailed instructions regarding what to submit and how to submit your bid.

· Section 5 details the applicable requirements to file a complaint, request a debrief conference, or file a protest regarding this Competitive Solicitation.

· Section 6 provides information pertaining to doing business with the State of Washington.

In addition, this Competitive Solicitation includes the following Exhibits:

· Exhibit A – Required Bidder Information: These exhibits identify information that bidders must provide to Enterprise Services to constitute a responsive bid. See Section 4, below.

· Exhibit A-1 – Bidder’s Certification

· Exhibit A-2 – Bidder’s Profile

· Exhibit B – Response Times: This exhibit provides the response table that bidders will complete as part of their bid and the non-cost evaluation tool that Enterprise Services will use to evaluate and compare bids.

· Exhibit C – Bid Price: These exhibits provides the pricing information that bidders will complete as part of their bid and the price evaluation tool that Enterprise Services will use to evaluate and compare bids.

· Exhibit C-1 – Bid Price Sheet

· Exhibit C-2 – Category Scenarios

· Exhibit D – Master Contract: This exhibit is a draft of the Master Contract that any successful bidder will execute with Enterprise Services.

· Exhibit E – Diverse Business Inclusion Plan: This exhibit outlines the bidder’s subcontractor requirements and identifies the subcontractors who may assist bidder in fulfilling bidder’s contractual obligations, if bidder is awarded a Master Contract pursuant to this Competitive Solicitation.

Section 1 – Deadlines, Questions, Procurement Coordinator, and Modification

This section identifies important deadlines for this Competitive Solicitation, where to direct questions regarding the Competitive Solicitation, and the process for potential amendments or modifications to the Competitive Solicitation.

1.1. COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION DEADLINES. The following table identifies important dates for this Competitive Solicitation:

COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION DEADLINES

(Pacific Time) Virtual Pre-Bid Conference Attend via Insert Platform Weblink: Click here to open meeting Password: 787 Telephone Pre-Bid Conference Attend via Conference Call Dial-In Number: (877) 853-5247 Meeting ID: 989 5768 6422 Passcode: 787

1.2. COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION QUESTIONS. Questions or concerns regarding this Competitive Solicitation must be directed to the following Procurement Coordinator:

Procurement Coordinator

Questions raised at the pre-bid conference and during the Q&A period will be answered and responses posted to Washington’s Electronic Business Solution (WEBS).

1.3. COMPLAINTS, DEBRIEFS, & PROTESTS. The Competitive Solicitation (and award of any Master Contract) is subject to complaints, debriefs, and protests as explained in Section 5, which may impact the dates set forth above.

1.4. COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION – AMENDMENT & MODIFICATION. Enterprise Services reserves the right to amend and modify this Competitive Solicitation. Only bidders who have properly registered and downloaded the original Competitive Solicitation directly via the Washington Electronic Business Solution (WEBS) will receive notifications of amendments and other correspondence pertinent to this Competitive Solicitation. Bidders must be registered in WEBS to be awarded a Master Contract. Visit WEBS to register.

Section 2 – Information About the Procurement

This section describes the purpose of the Competitive Solicitation and provides information about this procurement, including the potential scope of the opportunity.

2.1. PURPOSE OF THE PROCUREMENT – AWARD MASTER CONTRACTS. The purpose of this Competitive Solicitation is to receive competitive bids to evaluate and, as appropriate, award up to six (6) statewide Master Contracts, by category, for Emergency Response Services to the highest scored responsive and responsible bidders.

a. MASTER CONTRACTS. Enterprise Services has statewide responsibility to develop ‘master contracts’ for goods and services. A Master Contract is a contract for specific goods and/or services that is competitively solicited and established by Enterprise Services, on behalf of the State of Washington, for use by statutorily specified eligible purchasers (see below). Typically, such purchasers use our Master Contracts through a purchase order, work order, or similar document. The Master Contract is designed to function as a ‘procurement bridge’ between innovative vendors who have bid and won a competitive solicitation to supply services and eligible purchasers who wish to purchase such services pursuant to pre-determined, clear, consistent, easy to use, value-added Master Contracts. In short, the Master Contract will establish precisely what services may be purchased, the relevant performance requirements for such services as well as the vendor’s contractual performance, and the applicable price for such services. Purchaser-specific purchase orders will specify, for example, the particular volume of services, the Purchaser’s delivery location, etc.

b. MASTER CONTRACT USERS – ELIGIBLE PURCHASERS. Any resulting Master Contract from this Competitive Solicitation will be available for use by the following entities, each of whom is an eligible purchaser (“Purchasers”):

· WASHINGTON STATE AGENCIES. All Washington State agencies, departments, offices, divisions, boards, and commissions.

· WASHINGTON STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION (COLLEGES). Any of the following specific institutions of higher education in Washington:

· State universities – i.e., University of Washington & Washington State University;

· Regional universities – i.e., Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, & Western Washington University

· Evergreen State College;

· Community colleges; and

· Technical colleges.

· MCUA PARTIES. Any resulting Master Contract also may be utilized by any of the following types of entities that have executed a Master Contract Usage Agreement (MCUA) with Enterprise Services:

· Political subdivisions (e.g., counties, cities, school districts, public utility districts, ports) in the State of Washington;

· Federal governmental agencies or entities;

· Public-benefit nonprofit corporations (i.e., § 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporations that receive federal, state, or local funding); and

· Federally-recognized Indian Tribes located in the State of Washington.

Enterprise Services maintains a list of eligible MCUA parties on the MCUA Listing website.

While Master Contract usage is optional for Purchasers other than Washington State agencies, these entities can increase Master Contract use significantly. All Purchasers are subject to the same contract terms, conditions, and pricing as Washington State agencies.

2.2. MASTER CONTRACT. The form of the Master Contract that will be awarded as a result of this Competitive Solicitation is attached as Exhibit D – Master Contract.

2.3. CONTRACT TERM. As set forth in the attached Master Contract for this Competitive Solicitation, the contract term is six (6) years. Bidders are to specify prices for the contract term. The Master Contract is subject to earlier termination.

2.4. ESTIMATED SALES. Historically, for prior master contracts, annual total sales were approximately $3 million for the services among all eligible Purchasers. Total potential or estimated contract sales for this Competitive Solicitation are not known. As stated in this Competitive Solicitation, however, the resulting Master Contract will be available for use by all eligible Purchasers. Such Purchasers will decide whether the Master Contract meets their needs and whether they use the Master Contract. Although Enterprise Services does not represent or guarantee any minimum purchase from the Master Contract, prior purchases under a similar contract are set forth in the following chart:

Location of reported water based spill incidences since July 2015

2.5. WASHINGTON STATE PROCUREMENT PRIORITIES & PREFERENCES. Enterprise Services will apply the following Washington State procurement priorities and preferences to this Competitive Solicitation which, as set forth in Section 3.5, will impact the evaluation of bids for this Competitive Solicitation:

· Executive Order 18-03: 50 points

· Washington Small Business: 50 points

· Certified Veteran-Owned Business: 50 points

Section 3 – Bid Evaluation

This section identifies how Enterprise Service will evaluate bids for this Competitive Solicitation.

3.1. OVERVIEW. Enterprise Services will evaluate bids for this Competitive Solicitation as described below.

· Bidder responsiveness, performance requirements, price factors, and responsibility, will be evaluated based on the process described herein.

· Any bidder whose bid is determined to be non-responsive will be rejected and will be notified of the reason(s) for this rejection.

· Enterprise Services reserves the right to: (1) Request clarification regarding any bid; (2) Waive any informality; (3) Reject any or all bids, or portions thereof; (4) Accept any portion of the bid unless the bidder stipulates all or nothing in their bid; (5) Cancel the Competitive Solicitation and, if desired, re-solicit bids; and/or (6) Negotiate with the lowest responsive and responsible bidder(s) to determine if such bid can be improved.

· Enterprise Services will use the following process and evaluation criteria to determine eligibility for an award of a Master Contract:

Bid Responsiveness

Bid Evaluation

Exhibit B: Response times 740 points

Cost Factors Exhibit C–2: Scenarios (each Category) 260 points

State Procurement Priorities

Responsible Bidder

Contract Negotiations

3.2. BID RESPONSIVENESS (STEP 1). Enterprise Services will review bids – on a pass/fail basis – to determine whether the bid is ‘responsive’ to this Competitive Solicitation. This means that Enterprise Services will review each bid to determine whether the bid is complete – i.e., does the bid include each of the required bid submittals, are the submittals complete, signed, legible. Enterprise Services reserves the right – in its sole discretion – to determine whether a bid is responsive – i.e., to determine a bidder’s compliance with the requirements specified in this Competitive Solicitation and to waive informalities in a bid. An informality is an immaterial variation from the exact requirements of the Competitive Solicitation, having no effect or merely a minor or negligible effect on quality, quantity, or delivery of the goods or the quality, capability, or performance of the services being procured, and the correction or waiver of which would not affect the relative standing of, or be otherwise prejudicial, to bidders. Responsive bids will be evaluated as set forth herein.

Enterprise Services will evaluate each bid to ensure that each bidder’s goods and/or services meet the specifications and/or performance requirements set forth in Exhibit A-1 – Bidder’s Certification. Enterprise Services reserves the right to request additional information or perform tests and measurements before selecting the Apparent Successful Bidder. A bidder’s failure to provide requested information to Enterprise Services within ten (10) business days may result in disqualification.

3.3. BID EVALUATION (STEP 2).

(a) NON-COST FACTORS. Enterprise Services will evaluate bid pricing by reviewing the submitted response times of bidders to a specific location or region as provided in Exhibit B – Response Times. The bidder will receive more points for a lower the response times to each location. The total points available for response times is 740 points. The maximum points will be award to the lowest write-in response time. All other response time scores will be a ratio comparing the bidder’s response time to the lowest response times using the formula:

lowest response time/Bidder’s response time X points available = Bidder’s score

(b) COST FACTORS PRICE WORKSHEET SCORE. Enterprise Services will evaluate bids by reviewing and comparing the submitted bid prices provided in Exhibit C–2. There are 260 points available for the Labor and Other items cost score for each category. The firm’s proposal total is weighted against the lowest proposal cost for that similar category. Bidders’ scores will be determined by the following formula:

lowest proposal cost/Bidder’s proposal cost X points available = Bidder’s score

3.4. WASHINGTON STATE PROCUREMENT PRIORITIES & PREFERENCES (STEP 3). Enterprise Services will apply the following Washington State procurement priorities and preferences, as set forth below, to this Competitive Solicitation:

· PROCUREMENT PREFERENCE FOR EXECUTIVE ORDER 18-03 (Firms without Mandatory Individual Arbitration for Employees). Pursuant to RCW 39.26.160(3) (best value criteria) and consistent with Executive Order 18-03 – Supporting Workers’ Rights to Effectively Address Workplace Violations (dated June 12, 2018), Enterprise Services will evaluate bids for best value and will provide a bid preference in the amount of 50 points to any bidder who certifies, pursuant to Exhibit A-1 – Bidder’s Certification, that their firm does NOT require its employees, as a condition of employment, to sign or agree to mandatory individual arbitration clauses or class or collective action waivers.

· WASHINGTON SMALL BUSINESSES. In furtherance of Washington’s business inclusion goals Enterprise Services will evaluate bids for best value and will provide a bid preference in the amount of 50 points to any bidder who certifies, pursuant to Exhibit A-1 – Bidder’s Certification, that Bidder qualifies as a ‘Washington Small Business’ as set forth in Exhibit A-1 – Bidder’s Certification.

· CERTIFIED VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESSES. In furtherance of Washington’s business inclusion goals, Enterprise Services will evaluate bids for best value and will provide a bid preference in the amount of 50 points to any bidder who certifies, pursuant to Exhibit A-1 – Bidder’s Certification, that Bidder qualifies as a Washington Department of Veterans’ Affairs Certified Veteran-Owned Business.

3.5. BIDDER RESPONSIBILITY ANALYSIS (STEP 4). For responsive bids, Enterprise Services must determine whether the bidder is a ‘responsible bidder.’ Accordingly, Enterprise Services will make reasonable inquiry to determine bidder responsibility on a pass/fail basis. In determining bidder responsibility, Enterprise Services will consider the following statutory elements:

· Bidder’s ability, capacity, and skill to perform the contract or provide the service required;

· Bidder’s character, integrity, reputation, judgment, experience, and efficiency;

· Bidder’s ability to perform the contract within the time specified;

· Bidder’s performance quality pertaining to previous contracts or services;

· Bidder’s compliance with laws relating to the contract or services;

· Whether, within the three-year period immediately preceding the date of the Competitive Solicitation, bidder has been determined by a final and binding citation and notice of assessment issued by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries or through a civil judgment entered by a court of limited or general jurisdiction to have willfully violated, as defined in RCW 49.48.082, any provision of chapter 49.46, 49.48, or 49.52 RCW; and

· Such other information as may be secured having a bearing on the decision to award the Master Contract.

See RCW 39.26.160(2)(a)-(g). In addition, Enterprise Services may consider the following:

· Financial Information: Enterprise Services may request financial statements, credit ratings, references, record of past performance, clarification of bidder’s bid, on-site inspection of bidder's or subcontractor's facilities, or other information as necessary to determine bidder’s capacity to perform and the enforceability of bidder’s contractual commitments. Failure to respond to these requests may result in a bid being rejected as non-responsive.

· References: Enterprise Services reserves the right to use references to confirm satisfactory customer service, performance, satisfaction with service/product, knowledge of products/service/industry and timeliness. Any negative or unsatisfactory reference can be reason for rejecting a bidder as non-responsible.

3.6. CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS (STEP 5). Enterprise Services may negotiate with the highest scored responsive, responsible bidder(s) (Top Bidder) to finalize the Master Contract and to determine if the bid may be improved. If, after a reasonable period of time, Enterprise Services, in its sole judgement, cannot reach agreement on acceptable Master Contract terms with the Top Bidder, Enterprise Services may suspend negotiations and undertake negotiations with the next highest scored responsive, responsible bidder as determined by the evaluations.

3.7. ANNOUNCEMENT OF APPARENT SUCCESSFUL BIDDER. Enterprise Services will determine the Apparent Successful Bidder (“ASB”). The ASB will be the responsive and responsible bidder(s) that best meet(s) the Competitive Solicitation requirements and presents the best total value, including price, as calculated consistent with the instructions set forth in Exhibit C-2, and other factors as set forth in this Competitive Solicitation including any applicable state procurement priority or preference.

· Designation as an ASB does not imply that Enterprise Services will issue an award for a Master Contract. Rather, this designation allows Enterprise Services to perform further analysis and ask for additional documentation. Bidders must not construe ASB designation as an award, impending award, attempt to negotiate, etc. If a bidder acts or fails to act as a result of such notification or designation, it does so at its own risk and expense.

· Upon ASB announcement, bidders may request a debrief conference as specified in Section 5.

3.8. AWARD OF MASTER CONTRACT. Subject to protests, if any, Enterprise Services and the ASB will enter into a Master Contract as set forth in Exhibit D – Master Contract. An award, in part or full, is made and a contract formed by signature of Enterprise Services and awarded bidder on the Master Contract. Enterprise Services reserves the right to award on an all-or-nothing consolidated basis. Following the award of the Master Contract, all bidders registered in WEBS will receive a Notice of Award delivered to the bidder’s email address provided in the bidder’s profile in WEBS.

3.9. BID INFORMATION AVAILABILITY. Upon Enterprise Services’ announcement of ASB, all bid submissions and all bid evaluations are subject to public disclosure pursuant to Washington’s Public Records Act. See RCW 39.26.030(2). Upon Enterprise Services’ announcement of ASB, Enterprise Services will post all bid evaluations to Enterprise Services’ website. In addition, Enterprise Services intends to post all winning bid submissions to its contract portal webpage after the Master Contract is awarded.

3.10. ADDITIONAL AWARDS. Enterprise Services reserves the right, during the resulting Master Contract term, to make additional Master Contract awards to responsive, responsible bidders who provided a bid but who were not awarded a Master Contract. Such awards would be on the same or substantially similar terms and conditions and would be designed to address an awarded Contractor vacancy (e.g., an awarded contractor is terminated or goes out of business), respond to Purchaser needs, or be in the best interest of the State of Washington.

Section 4 – How to Prepare and Submit a Bid for this Competitive Solicitation

This section identifies how to prepare and submit your bid to Enterprise Services for this Competitive Solicitation. In addition, bidders will need to review and follow the Competitive Solicitation requirements including those set forth in the exhibits, which identifies the information that bidders must provide to Enterprise Services to constitute a responsive bid. By responding to this Competitive Solicitation and submitting a bid, bidders acknowledge having read and understood the entire Competitive Solicitation and accept all information contained within this Competitive Solicitation.

4.1. PRE-BID CONFERENCE. Enterprise Services will host a Competitive Solicitation pre-bid conference at the time set forth in Section 1.1 of this Competitive Solicitation. Attendance is not mandatory. Bidders, however, are encouraged to attend and participate. The purpose of the pre-bid conference is to clarify the Competitive Solicitation as needed and raise any issues or concerns that bidders may have. If changes to the Competitive Solicitation are required as a result of the pre-bid conference, the Procurement Coordinator will post an amendment to this Competitive Solicitation to WEBS. Assistance for disabled, blind, or hearing-impaired persons who wish to attend the pre-bid conference is available with prior arrangement by contacting the Procurement Coordinator.

4.2. BIDDER COMMUNICATIONS REGARDING THIS COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION. During the Competitive Solicitation process, all bidder communications regarding this Competitive Solicitation must be directed to the Procurement Coordinator specified in Section 1.2 of this Competitive Solicitation. Bidders should rely only on this Competitive Solicitation and written amendments to this Competitive Solicitation issued by the Procurement Coordinator. In no event will oral communications regarding this Competitive Solicitation be binding.

· Bidders are encouraged to make any inquiry regarding the Competitive Solicitation as early in the process as possible to allow Enterprise Services to consider and, if warranted, respond to the inquiry. If a bidder does not notify Enterprise Services of an issue, exception, addition, or omission, Enterprise Services may consider the matter waived by the bidder for protest purposes.

· If bidder inquiries result in changes to the Competitive Solicitation, written amendments will be issued and posted on WEBS.

· Unauthorized contact regarding this Competitive Solicitation with other state employees involved with the Competitive Solicitation may result in bidder disqualification.

4.3. PRICING. Bid prices must include all cost components needed for the delivery of the goods and/or services as described in this Competitive Solicitation. See Exhibit C – Bid Price. A bidder’s failure to identify all costs in a manner consistent with the instructions in this Competitive Solicitation is sufficient grounds for disqualification.

· Inclusive Pricing: Bidders must identify and include all cost elements in their pricing. In the event that bidder is awarded a Master Contract, the total price for the goods and/or services shall be bidder’s price as submitted. Except as provided in the Master Contract, there shall be no additional costs of any kind.

· Credit Cards (P-Cards): In the event that bidder is awarded a Master Contract, the total price for the goods and/or services shall be the same regardless of whether Purchasers make payment by cash, credit card, or electronic payment. Bidder shall bear, in full, any processing or surcharge fees associated with the use of credit cards or electronic payment.

· Vendor Management Fee: The resulting Master Contract from this Competitive Solicitation will include a Vendor Management Fee as specified in the Master Contract attached as Exhibit D – Master Contract.

4.4. BID SUBMITTAL CHECKLIST – REQUIRED BID SUBMITTALS. This section identifies the bid submittals that must be provided to Enterprise Services to constitute a responsive bid. The submittals must be delivered as set forth below. Bids that do not include the submittals identified below may be rejected as nonresponsive. In addition, a bidder’s failure to complete any submittal as instructed may result in the bid being rejected. Bidders may not provide unsolicited materials. For any supplemental materials expressly required by Enterprise Services in writing, bidders must identify such supplemental materials with the bidder’s name.

· EXHIBIT A-1 – BIDDER’S CERTIFICATION

This document is the Bidder’s Certification.

Complete the certification, along with any exceptions or required explanations, and submit it with the bid to Enterprise Services.

Note: the Certification must be complete. Where there are choices, bidder must check a box. The certification must be signed and submitted by a duly authorized representative for the bidder.

· EXHIBIT A-2 – BIDDER’S PROFILE

This document is required bidder information for Enterprise Services’ contract administration purposes.

Complete as instructed and submit it with the bid to Enterprise Services.

· EXHIBIT B – RESPONSE TIMES

Bidder will need to complete the response time document as instructed in Exhibit B – Response Times and submit it with the bid to Enterprise Services.

· EXHIBIT C – BID PRICE

Bidder will need to complete the price worksheet tool as instructed in Exhibit C-1 and Exhibit C–2 and submit it with the bid to Enterprise Services.

· EXHIBIT E – BIDDER’S DIVERSE BUSINESS INCLUSION PLAN – SUBCONTRACTORS

This document is a required bid submittal IF bidder intends to utilize subcontractors if awarded a Master Contract. If so, bidder must complete Exhibit E – Bidder’s Diverse Business Inclusion Plan – Subcontractors as instructed therein and submit it with the bid to Enterprise Services.

4.5. BID FORMAT. Bids must be complete, legible, signed, and follow all instructions stated in the Competitive Solicitation (including the exhibits). Unless otherwise specified in writing by Enterprise Services, documents included with an electronic bid must be prepared in MS Word, MS Excel, or Adobe PDF. Where required to do so, bidders may sign using either a physical or electronic signature.

4.6. SUBMITTING BIDS. Bidder’s electronic bid must be emailed to descontractsteamapple@des.wa.gov Enterprise Services’ email only can accept emails (including attachments) that total less than 30MB in size. Bidders are cautioned to keep email sizes to less than 25MB to ease delivery. Zipped files cannot be accepted.

Section 5 – Complaint, Debrief, & Protest Requirements

This section details the applicable requirements for complaints, debriefs, and protests.

5.1. COMPLAINTS. This Competitive Solicitation offers a complaint period for bidders wishing to voice objections to this Competitive Solicitation. The complaint period ends five (5) business days before the bid due date. The complaint period is an opportunity to voice objections, raise concerns, or suggest changes that were not addressed during the Question & Answer Period or, if applicable, at the Pre-Bid Conference. Failure by the bidder to raise a complaint at this stage may waive its right for later consideration. Enterprise Services will consider all complaints, but is not required to adopt a complaint, in part or in full. If bidder complaints result in changes to the Competitive Solicitation, written amendments will be issued and posted on WEBS.

a. CRITERIA FOR COMPLAINT. A complaint may be based only on one or more of the following grounds: (a) The Competitive Solicitation unnecessarily restricts competition; (b) The Competitive Solicitation evaluation or scoring process is unfair or flawed; or (c) The Competitive Solicitation requirements are inadequate or insufficient to prepare a response.

b. INITIATING A COMPLAINT. A complaint must: (a) Be submitted to and received by the Procurement Coordinator no less than five (5) business days prior to the deadline for bid submittal; and (b) Be in writing (see Form and Substance, and Other below). A complaint should clearly articulate the basis of the complaint and include a proposed remedy.

c. RESPONSE. When a complaint is received, the Procurement Coordinator (or designee) will consider all the facts available and respond in writing prior to the deadline for bid submittals, unless more time is needed. Enterprise Services is required to promptly post the response to a complaint on WEBS.

d. RESPONSE IS FINAL. The Procurement Coordinator’s response to the complaint is final and not subject to administrative appeal. Issues raised in a complaint may not be raised again during the protest period. Furthermore, any issue, exception, addition, or omission not brought to the attention of the Procurement Coordinator prior to bid submittal may be deemed to be waived for protest purposes.

5.2. DEBRIEF CONFERENCES. A Debrief Conference is an opportunity for a bidder and Enterprise Services, through its Procurement Coordinator, to meet and discuss the bidder’s bid (and, as further explained below, is a necessary prerequisite to filing a protest). Following bid evaluation, Enterprise Services will issue an ASB announcement. The ASB announcement may be made by any means, but Enterprise Services likely will use email to the bidder’s email address provided in the Bidder’s Profile. Bidders will have three (3) business days to request a Debrief Conference, if desired. If a Debrief Conference is timely requested, Enterprise Services will offer the requesting bidder one meeting opportunity and notify the bidder of the Debrief Conference place, date, and time. Please note, because the debrief process must occur before making an award, Enterprise Services likely will schedule the Debrief Conference shortly after the ASB announcement and the bidder’s request for a Debrief Conference. Enterprise Services will not allow the debrief process to delay the Master Contract award. Accordingly, bidders should plan for contingencies and alternate representatives. Bidders who wish to protest must first participate in a Debrief Conference. Bidders who are unwilling or unable to attend the Debrief Conference will lose the opportunity to protest. A Debrief Conference is a required prerequisite for a bidder to file a protest.

a. TIMING. A Debrief Conference may be requested by a bidder following the Apparent Successful Bidder (ASB) announcement.

b. PURPOSE OF DEBRIEF CONFERENCE. Any bidder who has submitted a timely bid may request a Debrief Conference (see also Section 5.4, below). A Debrief Conference provides an opportunity for the bidder to meet with Enterprise Services to discuss bidder’s bid and evaluation. It does not provide an opportunity to discuss other bids and evaluations.

c. REQUESTING A DEBRIEF CONFERENCE. The request for a Debrief Conference must be made in writing via email to the Procurement Coordinator and received within three (3) business days after ASB announcement. Debrief conferences may be conducted either in person at the Enterprise Services offices in Olympia, Washington, or virtually (e.g., by telephone or web-based virtual meeting such as Zoom, Skype, MS Teams), as determined by Enterprise Services, and may be limited by Enterprise Services to a specified period of time. A bidder’s failure to request a Debrief Conference within the specified time and attend the Debrief Conference constitutes a waiver of the right to submit a protest. Any issue, exception, addition, or omission not brought to the attention of the Procurement Coordinator before or during the Debrief Conference may be deemed waived for protest purposes.

5.3. PROTESTS. Following a Debrief Conference, a bidder may protest the award of a Master Contract.

a. CRITERIA FOR A PROTEST. A protest may be based only on one or more of the following: (a) Bias, discrimination, or conflict of interest on the part of an evaluator; (b) Error in computing evaluation scores; or (c) Non-compliance with any procedures described in the Competitive Solicitation.

b. INITIATING A PROTEST. Any bidder may protest an award to the ASB. A protest must: (a) Be submitted to and received by the Protest Officer specified below, within five (5) business days after the protesting bidder’s Debrief Conference (see also Section 5.4, below); (b) Be in writing; (c) Include a specific and complete statement of facts forming the basis of the protest; and (d) Include a description of the relief or corrective action requested.

c. PROTEST RESPONSE. After reviewing the protest and available facts, Enterprise Services’ Protest Officer will issue a written response within ten (10) business days from receipt of the protest, unless additional time is needed.

d. DECISION IS FINAL. The protest decision is final and not subject to administrative appeal. If the protesting bidder does not accept Enterprise Services’ protest response, the bidder may seek relief in Thurston County Superior Court.

5.4. COMMUNICATION DURING COMPLAINTS, DEBRIEFS, AND PROTESTS. With the exception of protests, all communications about this Competitive Solicitation, including complaints and debriefs, must be addressed to the Procurement Coordinator unless otherwise directed. Protests must be addressed to the Protest Officer.

a. FORM, SUBSTANCE, & OTHER. All complaints, debrief conference requests, and protests must:

i. Be in writing;

ii. Be signed by the complaining, requesting, or protesting bidder or an authorized agent;

iii. Be delivered within the time frame(s) outlined herein;

iv. Identify the Competitive Solicitation number;

v. Conspicuously state “Complaint,” “Debrief,” or “Protest” in any subject line of any correspondence or email; and

vi. Be sent to the address identified below.

b. COMPLAINTS & PROTESTS. All complaints and protests must (a) State all facts and arguments on which the complaining or protesting bidder is relying as the basis for its action; and (b) Include any relevant documentation or other supporting evidence.

5.5. HOW TO CONTACT ENTERPRISE SERVICES.

a. TO SUBMIT A COMPLAINT. Send an email message to the Procurement Coordinator listed in this Competitive Solicitation (see Section 1.2, above). The email message must include “Complaint” in the subject line of the email message. Alternatively, mail the complaint to the Procurement Coordinator listed in this Competitive Solicitation at the following address:

Attn: Procurement Coordinator – Complaint Contracts & Procurement Division Washington State Department of Enterprise Services P.O. Box 41411 Olympia, WA 98504-1411

b. TO REQUEST A DEBRIEF CONFERENCE. Send an email message to the Procurement Coordinator listed in this Competitive Solicitation (see Section 1.2, above). The email message must include “Debrief” in the subject line of the email message.

c. TO SUBMIT A PROTEST. Send an email message to the Protest Officer at the following email address: DESDLProcurementProtest@des.wa.gov. The email message must include “Protest” in the subject line of the email message. Alternatively, mail the protest to the Protest Officer at the following address:

Attn: Protest Officer Contracts & Procurement Division Washington State Department of Enterprise Services P.O. Box 41411 Olympia, WA 98504-1411

Section 6 – Doing Business with the State of Washington

This section provides additional information regarding Washington’s Public Records Act and doing business with the State of Washington, including Enterprise Services’ efforts to enable Washington’s small, diverse, and veteran-owned businesses to compete for and participate in state procurements for services.

6.1. WASHINGTON’S PUBLIC RECORDS ACT – PUBLIC RECORDS DISCLOSURE REQUESTS.

· All documents (written and electronic) submitted to Enterprise Services as part of this procurement are public records. Unless statutorily exempt from disclosure, such records are subject to disclosure if requested. See RCW 42.56, Public Records Act. Enterprise Services strongly discourages bidders from unnecessarily submitting sensitive information (e.g., information that you might categorize as ‘confidential,’ ‘proprietary,’ ‘sensitive,’ ‘trade secret,’ etc.).

· If, in bidder’s judgment, Washington’s Public Records Act provides an applicable statutory exemption from disclosure for certain portions of bidder’s bid, please mark the precise portion(s) of the relevant page(s) of the bid that bidder believes are statutorily exempt from disclosure and identify the precise statutory basis for exemption from disclosure.

· In addition, if, in bidder’s judgment, certain portions of bidder’s bid are not statutorily exempt from disclosure but are sensitive because these particular portions of bidder’s bid (NOT including pricing) include highly confidential, proprietary, or trade secret information (or the equivalent) that bidder protects through the regular use of confidentiality or similar agreements and routine enforcements through court enforcement actions, please mark the precise portion(s) of the relevant page(s) of bidder’s bid that include such sensitive information.

· In the event that Enterprise Services receives a public records disclosure request pertaining to information that bidder has submitted and marked either as (a) statutorily exempt from disclosure; or (b) sensitive, Enterprise Services, prior to disclosure, will do the following:

· Enterprise Services’ Public Records Officer will review any records marked by bidder as statutorily exempt from disclosure. In those situations, where the designation comports with the stated statutory exemption from disclosure, Enterprise Services will redact or withhold the document(s) as appropriate.

· For documents marked ‘sensitive’ or for documents where Enterprise Services either determines that no statutory exemption to disclosure applies or is unable to determine whether the stated statutory exemption to disclosure properly applies, Enterprise Services will notify the bidder, at the address provided in the bid submittal, of the public records disclosure request and identify the date that Enterprise Services intends to release the document(s) (including documents marked ‘sensitive’ or exempt from disclosure) to the requester unless the bidder, at bidder’s sole expense, timely obtains a court order enjoining Enterprise Services from such disclosure. In the event bidder fails to timely file a motion for a court order enjoining such disclosure, Enterprise Services will release the requested document(s) on the date specified. Bidder’s failure properly to identify exempted or sensitive information or timely respond after notice of request for public disclosure has been given shall be deemed a waiver by bidder of any claim that such materials are exempt or protected from disclosure.

6.2. SMALL & DIVERSE BUSINESSES. Enterprise Services, in accordance with Washington law, encourages small and diverse businesses to compete for and participate in state procurements as contractors and as subcontractors to awarded bidders. See, e.g., RCW 39.19 (OMWBE certified businesses); RCW 43.60A.200 (WDVA Certified Veteran-Owned Businesses); and RCW 39.26.005 (Washington Small Businesses). In support of the state’s economic goals and to support a diverse supplier pool, Enterprise Services has established the following voluntary numerical goals for Enterprise Services’ Competitive Solicitations:

· Ten percent (10%) Minority-Owned Businesses certified by the Washington State Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE);

· Six percent (6%) Women-Owned Businesses certified by the Washington State Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE);

· Five percent (5%) Veteran-Owned Businesses certified by the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA); and

· Twenty-five percent (25%) Washington Small Businesses, five percent (5%) of which are microbusinesses or minibusinesses as defined in RCW 39.26.010(16) and (17).

Achievement of these goals is encouraged whether directly or through subcontractors.

· OMWBE CERTIFICATION. Bidders may contact the Washington State Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE) regarding information on Minority-Owned and Women-Owned certified firms, state and federal certification programs, or to become certified. OMWBE can be reached by telephone, 866-208-1064, or through their website at OMWBE. OMWBE-Certified firms may provide their certification information to Enterprise Serviced through Exhibit A-2 – Bidder’s Profile.

· WDVA CERTIFICATION. Bidders may contact the Washington State Department of Veterans’ Affairs (WDVA) for information regarding Certified Veteran-Owned Businesses or to become a Certified Veteran-Owned Business. The WDVA can be reached by telephone, (360) 725-2169, or through their website at WDVA. The qualification requirements to be a Certified Veteran-Owned Business are set forth in Exhibit A-1 – Bidder’s Certification.

· WASHINGTON SMALL BUSINESSES. Bidders may contact Enterprise Services about small and diverse business inclusion and qualification as a Washington Small Business. If bidder qualifies as a Washington Small Business, identify bidder as such in WEBS. Call WEBS Customer Service at 360-902-7400. The qualification requirements to self-certify as a Washington Small Business are set forth in Exhibit A-1 – Bidder’s Certification.

6.3. WEBS REGISTRATION. Individuals and firms interested in state contracting opportunities with Enterprise Services or any Washington state agency should register for competitive solicitation notices at the Washington Electronic Business…