1._REQUEST_FOR_BID_-_INSTRUCTIONS_TO_RESPONDERS._2000017968.pdf

Rev. 07.01.2025

State of Minnesota Direct Care and Treatment

REQUEST FOR BID

DCT Cambridge Facilities Mowing

SWIFT Event # 2000017968

Date Posted: February 18, 2026

• Responses must be received not later than 2:00 PM, Central Time, March 3, 2026

• Late responses will not be considered

• As of July 1, 2025, certain terms are unenforceable in state contracts. See Session Laws, 2025 Regular Session, Chapter 39, Article 2, Sec. 45.

Minnesota’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion The State of Minnesota is committed to diversity and inclusion in its public procurement process. The goal is to ensure that those providing goods and services to the State are representative of our Minnesota communities and include businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, and those with substantial physical disabilities.

Creating broader opportunities for historically under-represented groups provides for additional options and greater competition in the marketplace, creates stronger relationships and engagement within our communities, and fosters economic development and equality.

To further this commitment, the Department of Administration operates a program for Minnesota-based small businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, and those with substantial physical disabilities. For additional information on this program, or to determine eligibility, please call 651.201.2402 or go to the Office of Equity in Procurement home page, at https://mn.gov/admin/business/vendor-info/oep/.

SPECIAL NOTICE: This is a request for bid. It does not obligate the State of Minnesota to award a contract or complete the proposed program, and the State reserves the right to cancel this solicitation if it is considered in its best interest.

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2025/0/Session+Law/Chapter/39/ https://mn.gov/admin/business/vendor-info/oep/

This Solicitation requires proposals to be submitted through the SWIFT Supplier Portal. Please note the security changes below that may impact responders from submitting a timely response.

SWIFT SUPPLIER PORTAL SECURITY CHANGES

There are new security measures that the Minnesota Management and Budget implemented on October 16, 2022. It is a new multi-factor authentication (MFA) to enhance the security of the State of Minnesota Supplier Portal. MFA is an authentication method that requires bidders and suppliers provide two verification factors to log into the SWIFT Supplier Portal. The goal of MFA is to create a layered defense that makes it more difficult for unauthorized system access to occur.

For information about these changes, please refer to the SWIFT Supplier Portal Multi-Factor Authentication FAQ document.

If you have not done so already, please make sure to log into the SWIFT Supplier Portal as soon as possible to get this authentication set up early so there are no issues when submitting a response to an RFP.

You are strongly encouraged to set your MFA during business hours of 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., Central Time, Monday through Friday. You may experience delay setting your MFA after hours.

https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjEwMjAuNjU0MDU5NTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2d1ZXN0LnN1cHBsaWVyLnN5c3RlbXMuc3RhdGUubW4udXMvcHNjL2Ztc3N1cGFwL1NVUFBMSUVSL0VSUC9jL05VSV9GUkFNRVdPUksuUFRfTEFORElOR1BBR0UuR0JMPyYifQ.i-HI1goSFhyukO6-tDKJ950RA0248ccp4eK29Xzz01Y/s/349718272/br/146252762755-l http://mn.gov/mmb-stat/documents/swift/training/trainingguides/swift-sup-portal-mfa.pdf http://mn.gov/mmb-stat/documents/swift/training/trainingguides/swift-sup-portal-mfa.pdf

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Solicitation Content

SECTION 1 – INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPONDERS

SECTION 2 – SUMMARY OF SCOPE

SECTION 3 – RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

SECTION 4 – RESPONSE CONTENT

SECTION 5 – UNENFORCEABLE TERMS AND SOLICITATION TERMS

Solicitation Attachments

• Attachment A: Responder Declarations

• Attachment B: Pricing

• Attachment C: Additional Information

Sample Contract

• Exhibit A: Contract Terms

• Exhibit B: Insurance Requirements

• Exhibit C: Specifications, Duties, and Scope of Work

• Exhibit D: Pricing

• Exhibit E: Google Map View of Locations

SECTION 1 – INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPONDERS

Steps for Completing Your Response

Follow the steps below to complete your response to this Solicitation:

Step 1: Read the solicitation documents and ask questions, if any Step 2: Write your response Step 3: Submit your response

Incomplete Submittals

A response must be submitted along with any required additional documents. Incomplete responses that materially deviate from the required format and content may be rejected.

STEP 1 – READ THE SOLICITATION DOCUMENT & ASK QUESTIONS, IF ANY

How to Ask Questions

Pre-Bid Meeting

The contact person for questions is:

Sara Mock, Buyer 2 Direct Care and Treatment sara.mock@state.mn.us

Questions should be emailed to the contact by February 25, 2026; 2:00 PM Central Time.

Other personnel are not authorized to answer questions regarding this Solicitation.

A pre-bid meeting / site visit will take place on February 23, 2026; 1:00 PM Central Time at The Cambridge State Hospital located at 1425 E Rum River South; Cambridge MN. Attendance is recommended.

STEP 2 – WRITE YOUR RESPONSE

The Response Content section is in this link to Section 4. Prepare a written response and supply all requested content. Responses should address the requested information and documents detailed in Section 4. DO NOT INCLUDE Non-Public/Trade Secret data (as defined in this link to Minn. Stat. § 13.37).

Review, sign, and include the Responder Declarations with your response.

STEP 3 –SUBMIT YOUR RESPONSE

Where to Send Your Response

All responses to this solicitation (termed an “Event” within SWIFT) must be submitted through SWIFT using the Supplier portal (https://mn.gov/supplier). Training and documentation on how to submit your response is available through the Supplier portal link above. Fax, e-mail, and printed responses will not be accepted or considered. All costs incurred in responding to this solicitation will be borne by the responder.

Late responses will not be considered. Responses received after End Date above will not be considered, even if errors or delays were caused by issues outside of responders’ control. If you need assistance please contact the SWIFT Vendor Assistance Helpline at 651-201-8100, Option 1, and then Option 1.

By submitting a response, your company is making a binding legal offer for the period of time set forth below in Section 5, Conditions of Offer.

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/13.37 https://mn.gov/supplier

SECTION 2 – SUMMARY OF SCOPE

Procurement Overview and Goals.

Direct Care and Treatment is in need of mowing and trimming services at the Cambridge State Hospital located at 1425 E Rum River South; Cambridge MN (Approx 20 acres) and the Garden of Remembrance Cemetery located at 2101 Scidmore Parkway; Cambridge MN (Approx 3 acres).

Mowing / Trimming is only to be done biweekly April 13, 2026 through October 12, 2026. No mowing after October 12th.

This would be a total of 14 times the service is needed for the year.

Sample Tasks and Deliverables.

Review Exhibit C to the Sample Contract for Specifications, Duties, and Scope of Work.

SECTION 3 – BID INSTRUCTIONS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Anticipated Contract Term.

The term of this contract is anticipated to be from April 2026 to October 2026, with the option to extend up to an additional 2 years in increments determined by the State.

Estimated Amount.

The estimated total dollar value of the contract for one year is $14,000 to $28,000. However, this shall not be construed as either the minimum or maximum amount. It shall also be understood and accepted by the responder that any quantities shown in this solicitation are estimated quantities only and impose no obligation upon the State either minimum or maximum.

Pre-Bid Meeting.

A pre-bid meeting will take place at the date and location listed. Responders may attend the pre-bid meeting prior to submitting their response.

PRE-BID MEETING

LOCATION DATE AND TIME

The Cambridge State Hospital located at 1425 E Rum River South; Cambridge MN. February 23, 2026; 1:00 PM

The pre-bid meeting format will adhere to social distancing and other guidance provided by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19 (https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/index.html). Attendees are responsible to bring their own face coverings. Prospective attendees exhibiting any cold or flu-like symptoms will not be admitted. These requirements may change; Responders are responsible for sending attendees who meet the requirements in effect at the time of the pre-bid meeting.

Question and Answer Instructions.

All questions should be submitted no later than the date and time listed in Section 1, Instructions to Responders. The State is not obligated to answer questions submitted after the question due date and time.

Only personnel listed above are authorized to discuss this solicitation with responders. Contact regarding this solicitation with any personnel not listed above could result in disqualification. This provision is not intended to prevent responders from seeking guidance from state procurement assistance programs regarding general procurement questions.

If a Responder discovers any significant ambiguity, error, conflict, discrepancy, omission, or other deficiency in the solicitation, please immediately notify the contact person detailed above in writing of such error and request modification or clarification of the document.

Dispute Resolution Procedures.

Any issue a responder has with the RFB document, which includes, but is not limited to, the terms, conditions, and specifications, must be submitted in writing to the contact person for this solicitation prior to the solicitation opening due date and time. Any issue a responder has with the Contract award must be submitted in writing to the contact person for this solicitation within five business days from the time the intent to award or the Contract award date is made public. This public notice may be made by any of the following methods: notification by letter or email, posted on the OSP website, https://mn.gov/admin/osp/ , or electronic notification by our electronic procurement system, SWIFT. The State will respond to any protest received that follows the above procedure. For those protests that meet the above submission requirements, the appeal process is, in sequence: the contact person for this solicitation, the Office of State Procurement (OSP) Acquisitions Manager, and the OSP Director.

https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/index.html https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/index.html

SECTION 4 – RESPONSE CONTENT

Please submit the following information:

1. Cost Detail. A price schedule document will not be used for this solicitation. Responders must enter their bid price(s) in SWIFT at the unit line level.

Submit all requested documentation, including, but not limited to, the following documents:

1. Attachment A: Responder Declarations

DO NOT INCLUDE Non-Public/Trade Secret data (as defined by Minn. Stat. § 13.37).

SECTION 5 – UNENFORCEABLE TERMS AND SOLICITATION TERMS

Unenforceable Terms

As of July 1, 2025, certain terms are unenforceable in state contracts. See Session Laws, 2025 Regular Session, Chapter 39, Article 2, Section 45.

Unenforceable terms

(a) A contract entered into by the state shall not contain a term that:

(1) requires the state to defend, indemnify, or hold harmless another person or entity, unless specifically authorized by statute;

(2) binds a party by terms and conditions that may be unilaterally changed by the other party;

(3) requires mandatory arbitration;

(4) attempts to extend arbitration obligations to disputes unrelated to the original contract;

(5) construes the contract in accordance with the laws of a state other than Minnesota;

(6) obligates state funds in subsequent fiscal years in the form of automatic renewal as defined in section

325G.56; or

(7) is inconsistent with chapter 13, the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.

(b) If a contract is entered into that contains a term prohibited in paragraph (a), that term shall be void and the contract is enforceable as if it did not contain that term.

Solicitation Terms

Competition in Responding The State desires open and fair competition. Questions from responders regarding any of the requirements of the Solicitation must be submitted in writing to the Solicitation Administrator listed in the Solicitation before the due date and time. If changes are made the State will issue an addendum.

Any evidence of collusion among responders in any form designed to defeat competitive responses will be reported to the Minnesota Attorney General for investigation and appropriate action.

Addenda to the Solicitation Changes to the Solicitation will be made by addendum with notification and posted in the same manner as the original Solicitation. Any addenda issued will become part of the Solicitation.

Joint Ventures The State allows joint ventures among groups of responders when responding to the solicitation. However, one responder must submit a response on behalf of all the others in the group. The responder that submits the response will be considered legally responsible for the response (and the contract, if awarded).

Withdrawing Response A responder may withdraw its response prior to the due date and time of the Solicitation. For solicitations in the SWIFT Supplier Portal, a responder may withdraw its response from the SWIFT Supplier Portal. For solicitations done any other way, a responder may withdraw its response by notifying the Solicitation Administrator in writing of the desire to withdraw.

After the due date and time of this Solicitation, a responder may withdraw a response only upon showing that an obvious error exists in the response. The showing and request for withdrawal must be made in writing to Solicitation Administrator within a reasonable time and prior to the State’s detrimental reliance on the response.

Rights Reserved The State reserves the right to:

• Reject any and all responses received;

• Waive or modify any informalities, irregularities, or inconsistencies in the responses received;

• Require responders to conduct presentations, demonstrations, or submit samples;

• Award by location or item, including category, by groups of items, or all items (therefore, the responder is encouraged to offer a response for all locations or items); and

• Interview key personnel or references.

Samples and Demonstrations Upon request, responders are to provide samples to the State at no charge. Except for those destroyed or mutilated in testing, the State will return samples if requested and at the Responder’s expense. All costs to conduct and associated with a demonstration will be the sole responsibility of the Responder.

Responses are Nonpublic during Evaluation Process All materials submitted in response to this Solicitation will become property of the State. During the selection process, with the exception of information that becomes public after bids are due, all information concerning the responses submitted will remain private or nonpublic and will not be disclosed to anyone whose official duties do not require such knowledge. Responses are private or nonpublic data until the completion of the selection process as defined by Minn.

Stat. § 13.591. The completion of the selection process is defined as the State having completed its evaluation and has ranked the responses. The State will notify all responders in writing of the selection results.

Trade Secret Information

8.1 Responders must not submit as part of their response trade secret material, as defined by Minn. Stat. § 13.37.

8.2 In the event trade secret data are submitted, Responder must defend any action seeking release of data it believes to be trade secret, and indemnify and hold harmless the State, its agents and employees, from any judgments awarded against the State in favor of the party requesting the data, and any and all costs connected with that defense.

8.3 The State does not consider cost or prices to be trade secret material, as defined by Minn. Stat. § 13.37.

8.4 A responder may present and discuss trade secret information during an interview or demonstration with the State, if applicable.

Conditions of Offer Unless otherwise approved in writing by the State, Responder’s response pertaining to the sale of goods or general services will remain firm for 180 days, until it is accepted or rejected by the State.

Award Any award that may result from this solicitation will be based upon the established selection process. The State reserves the right to award this solicitation to a single responder, or to multiple responders, whichever is in the best interest of the State, providing each responder is in compliance with all terms and conditions of the solicitation. The State reserves the right to accept all or part of an offer, to reject all offers, to cancel the solicitation, or to re-issue the solicitation, whichever is in the best interest of the State.

Requirements Prior to Contract Execution Prior to contract execution, a responder receiving a contract award must comply with any submittal requests. A submittal request may include, but is not limited to, a Certificate of Insurance.

Targeted Group, Economically Disadvantaged Business, Veteran-Owned and Individual Preference Unless a greater preference is applicable and allowed by law, in accordance with Minn. Stat. § 16C.16, businesses that are eligible and certified by the State as targeted group (TG) businesses, economically disadvantaged (ED) businesses, and veteran-owned (VO) businesses will receive points equal to 12% percent of the total points available as preference.

For TG/ED/VO certification and eligibility information visit the Office of Equity in Procurement website at https://mn.gov/admin/business/vendor-info/oep/ or call the Division’s Helpline at 651.201.2402.

Reciprocity State shall comply with Minn. Stat. § 16C.06, subd. 7, as that applies to a non-resident vendor. This paragraph does not apply for any project in which federal funds are expended.

DEED and DHS Preference In accordance with Minn. Stat. § 16C.155, eligible DEED/DHS providers will receive points equal to 6% percent of the total points available.

Prohibited Substances.

Contractor shall not provide any goods containing triclosan, coal tar, or polybrominated diphenyl ether to the State.

Amara's Law (Minn. Stat. § 116.943) will take effect in Minnesota January 1, 2025, and applies all products sold or distributed under the contract. The law prohibits the sale or distribution of some products with intentionally added PFAS within Minnesota.

Prompt Payment Discounts Offered If a responder offers a discount for a payment made in less than 30 days, this discount will not be considered in the evaluation of the response. A prompt payment discount will be calculated from the date of acceptance of an undisputed invoice or upon the date a disputed invoice is resolved.

Building Construction Contractor Registration.

Per Minn. Stat. § 326B.701, unless exempt, any person, as defined by Minn. Stat. § 181.723, subd. 1(a), who performs public or private construction services must register with the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI). Registration is required prior to receiving a contract award.

17.1 Building construction contractors, including independent contractors, subcontractors, and business entities providing public or private sector commercial or residential building construction or improvement services must be registered with DLI.

17.2 The registration requirement does not apply to workers and businesses that are already licensed, registered, or certified with the Department of Labor and Industry, nor does it apply to employees.

17.3 General or Prime Contractors will be able to verify that subcontractors are registered on the searchable Department of Labor and Industry Contractor Look-up website.

17.4 The law provides for penalties for failure to register, hiring unregistered contractors, misclassifying employees, and coercing others to form a business entity.

For additional information and to register go to www.dli.mn.gov/register or contact the Department of Labor and Industry at 651.284.5074 or email: dli.register@state.mn.us.

Non-Minnesota Contractors.

Minn. Stat. § 290.9705 requires public entities to deduct and withhold eight (8) percent of cumulative calendar year payments to Non-Minnesota Contractors which exceed $50,000. The statute allows for an exemption of this https://mn.gov/admin/business/vendor-info/oep/ https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/116.943#stat.116.943 http://www.dli.mn.gov/register mailto:dli.register@state.mn.us requirement under specific circumstances that are listed in the “Reason for Exemption” section of the Exemption from Surety Deposits for Non-Minnesota Contractors Form (see link below). The Contractor must file a separate application for exemption for each contract.

In order to formalize this exemption you must, prior to being sent a Contract, complete this Form available at https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/2022-03/sde_21.pdf, and submit to Minnesota Revenue. If approved, provide the ordering entity with a copy executed by Minnesota Revenue. The address to send the form for execution is:

Minnesota Revenue Mail Section 5410 St. Paul, MN 55146-5410 https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/2022-03/sde_21.pdf

18. Non-Minnesota Contractors.