26-60 Fiber Splicing Advertisement.pdf

Invitation for Bid/Proposal

RFP 26-60

The Purchasing Agent, City of Norwich, on behalf of Norwich Public Utilities, will receive bids/proposals for Fiber Installation, Splicing, and Repair Service until 2:00 P.M. prevailing time on May 11 , 2026, at which time they will be opened on the Procurement website and be available to view. All bids are to be submitted via the City of Norwich Procurement Portal at the following website:

City of Norwich Procurement Portal

The bid documents may be downloaded from the following website:

City of Norwich Procurement Portal

Addenda, if any, will be posted on the website listed above. All bidders, prior to submitting their bids, should check the websites to ensure they have received all issued addenda.

Norwich Public Utilities reserves the right to reject and all bids, in whole or in part, to waive minor irregularities in the bidding and to award the bid to other than the low bidder if deemed in the best interest of the City of Norwich.

No Bidder may withdraw its bid within sixty (60) days of the bid opening date. Should there be reason why the contract cannot be awarded within the specified time, the time may be extended by mutual agreement between Norwich Public Utilities and the designated, qualified low bidder.

All final awards of the bid shall follow the City of Norwich Code of Ordinances §7-46 – Delinquent Tax Setoff Against Money Due Bidder or Contractor.

By submitting a bid to this RFP, the vendor certifies they are not on a state or federal debarment or suspended list and are not prohibited from performing any state or federal work.

All bidders must submit bids/proposals through the City Procurement Portal.

Responding bidders must ensure that employees and applicant for employment are not discriminated against because of their race, color, religious creed, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, intellectual disability, mental disability or physical disability, including, but not limited to blindness, unless it is shown by such bidder that such disability prevents performance of the work involved.

Robert R. Castronova Purchasing Agent

City of Norwich Department of Finance – Purchasing Agent Phone: (860)823-3706 100 Broadway, Room No. 105 Fax: (860)823-3812 Norwich, CT 06360 E-mail: rcastronova@cityofnorwich.org https://norwichct.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities

INSTRUCTIONS TO VENDORS/CONTRACTORS

CITY OF NORWICH, CT 06360

Norwich Public Utilities RFP Number: 26-60

Fiber Splicing Services

The following instructions and specifications shall be observed by all Vendors:

1. Time and Place of Opening Proposals will be received on May 11, 2026, at 2:00 P.M. online at:

https://norwichct.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities No RFPs will be allowed after the time and date of RFP opening.

2. Availability of Documents Vendors are advised that all documents related to this project are only available online at the following web address:

https://norwichct.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities

3. Addenda

If additional information becomes available or changes are made to the documents, an addendum will be issued not later than 3 days prior to the opening date. All addenda shall become part of the Contract Documents.

Notice of any addendum will be posted on the following website:

4. Instructions

Proposals must be submitted to the City of Norwich Procurement portal at:

Proposals will not be accepted by mail, in person or by email.

All forms and associated documents must be uploaded through the procurement portal.

Required documents: Non-Collusion, See Submission of requirements

5. Sales and Use Tax Vendors are reminded that the Connecticut State Sales and Use Tax and associated Federal taxes are not applicable under this contract, and therefore these taxes are not to be included in the RFP price(s).

Under the terms of Connecticut Agencies Regulations §12-426-18, Contractors and Subcontractors, the contractor may purchase materials and supplies as are to be installed or placed in projects being performed under these contracts and will remain in such projects after completion, including tangible personal property that remains tangible personal property after its installation or placement, without payment of the tax and shall not charge any such exempt organization or agency any sales or use tax thereon.

6. Intent

The intent of these specifications is to obtain a Contractor that will furnish all labor, supervision, tools, materials and equipment necessary to perform the work of this RFP.

7. Contractor Qualifications Vendors, if requested, must be able to present satisfactory evidence that they are capable and fully prepared with necessary capital, personnel, materials and equipment to do the work to be contracted under this proposal. It is required that Vendors provide references for similar work performed.

8. Certificate in Good Standing

Any corporation whose proposal is being considered for acceptance by Norwich Public Utilities (NPU) may be required, if requested, to provide a “Certificate of Good Standing” from the Office of the Secretary of State for Connecticut.

9. Acceptance/Rejection of RFPs NPU reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal if it is deemed in its best interest to do so.

Determination of the best interest of the City/NPU shall include consideration of active or pending civil litigation between the City/NPU and any firm (or its subcontractors or suppliers) submitting a proposal.

NPU reserves the right to make multiple awards for fiber installation, splicing, and repair services.

10. Award/Contract Execution

The firm whose proposal has been accepted by NPU will be required to furnish all insurance certificates in the specified amounts within 5 days from the date of the notice of award.

Upon receipt of the certificate, the firm whose proposal has been accepted will be required to execute a contract, in substantially the form included in the RFP documents. Services by the contractor/firm shall be undertaken only upon written authorization of NPU and agreement of the Contractor. The terms and conditions contained in the Contract shall be incorporated into each Purchase Order unless otherwise modified in such Purchase Order. The Contract will also govern verbal requests for emergency services if the request is given by an authorized agent of Norwich Public Utilities.

The term of the agreement will be three years with an option to renew for two additional years at NPU’s discretion; total term will not exceed five years. NPU reserves the right to issue further detailed Requests for Proposals or Qualifications for any specific project when NPU determines that such solicitation is in its best interest.

11. Contractor’s and Subcontractors’ Insurance See section 8, page 3 of the “Contract for Services”.

12. Safety All work done and all equipment used shall comply with all pertinent OSHA, Federal, State and local regulations, laws and ordinances affecting those employed and any affecting the conduct of the work.

Vendors are required to verify they have read NPU’s safety guidelines.

13. Personnel Requirements All work under this contract hall be performed by competent and proficient tradesmen employed by the contractor and under its supervision. Apprentices and helpers may be used, but only under the direct supervision of the job foreman.

14. Subcontractors

The Contractor shall not sublet any portion of the work without written permission from NPU.

There is no contractual relationship between any subcontractor and NPU. The City/NPU deals only with the Contractor; subcontractors are recognized as employees of the Contractor.

15. Freedom of Information

All proposals will be made available for public inspection in accordance with the provisions of Connecticut General Statutes § 1-210, Freedom of Information. Copies of any information resulting from any RFP opening are generally not available until a contract has been formally awarded.

16. Non-Collusion

The individual signing this proposal hereby declares that no person or persons other than members of its organization are interested in this RFP or in the contract proposed to be taken;

that it is made without any connection to any other person or persons submitting a RFP for the same work and is in all respects fair and without collusion or fraud; that no person acting on behalf of or employed by the City of Norwich is directly or indirectly interested in the supplies or work to which they relate or will receive any part of the profit or any commission therefrom in any manner which is unethical or contrary to the best interests of the City or NPU.