Invitation for Bid

UTAH DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Division of Procurement 4501 South 2700 West

PO Box 148260 Salt Lake City, UT 84114

I. General Overview and Instructions

This solicitation is issued in accordance with the Utah Procurement Code and applicable rules of the Utah Administrative Code and may be canceled at any time without resulting in award if such action is determined in writing to be in the best interest of the Department.

NOTICE: In this solicitation, if an item is defined through use of a trade name, brand name, or a manufacturer and/or model number, it is intended that the words, “or equivalent” apply; and invites the submission of equivalent products by the Bidders.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

All questions must be submitted through the online bidding system during the Question-and-Answer period. Questions submitted through any other channel will not be answered.

Questions may include notifying the State of any ambiguity, inconsistency, scope exception, excessively restrictive requirement, or other errors in this solicitation. A question may also include a request to modify the Standard Terms and Conditions, including the insurance requirements for this solicitation. Questions are encouraged.

Answers will be posted in the online bidding system. Answers disseminated through the online bidding system may modify the specification or requirements of this solicitation and will constitute an addendum to this solicitation.

Bidders should periodically check the bidding system for answered questions and addenda before the closing date. It is the responsibility of the bidders to submit their bids as required by this solicitation, including any requirements contained in an answered question and/or addenda.

NOTE: Exceptions taken to the scope/content of the solicitation that have not been previously addressed during the Question-and-Answer period of the solicitation will result in the bidder being disqualified.tc \l 1 "SUBMITTING YOUR PROPOSAL"

ADDENDA

Prior to the closing date, the State may, at its sole discretion, issue addenda. Addenda may modify any minimum requirement or specification of this solicitation. It is the responsibility of the bidders to submit their bids as required by this solicitation, including any requirements contained in addenda issued by the State.

RESTRICTIONS ON COMMUNICATIONS

From the issue date of this solicitation until an award is published, Bidders are prohibited from communications regarding this solicitation with staff, evaluation committee members, or other associated individuals EXCEPT the UDOT procurement officer overseeing this solicitation. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in disqualification.

BID SUBMISSION

Notice: By submitting a bid in response to this solicitation, the Bidder is indicating agreement to perform all tasks as required in the outlined in the solicitation. Furthermore, the Bidder acknowledges and agrees that the specifications/requirements, scope of work, and the evaluation process outlined in this solicitation are understood, fair, equitable, and are not unduly restrictive.

All materials submitted become the property of the State and may be returned only at the State's option. Materials may be evaluated by anyone designated by the state as part of the proposal evaluation committee.

Bids must be received by the date and time specified in the system (the “closing date”). Bids received after the closing date will be late and ineligible for consideration.

Electronic submission instructions: When submitting a bid electronically through the online bidding system, please allow sufficient time to complete the online forms and upload documents. This solicitation will close at the closing time. If you are in the middle of uploading your bid at closing time, the system will stop the upload process and your bid will not be received by the bidding system and your bid will not be reviewed by the State.

Electronic bids may require uploading of electronic attachments. The bidding system will accept a wide variety of document types as attachments. Documents containing embedded encryptions cannot be processed by the bidding system.

Sample submission instructions: Bidders may be required to submit product samples to demonstrate whether a procurement item meets the specifications and other requirements set forth in the solicitation. Samples must be received prior to the solicitation due date and time and must be furnished free of charge unless otherwise stated in the solicitation. Submitted samples will not be subject to return. Samples must be labeled or otherwise identified as specified in the solicitation.

All costs incurred in the preparation and submission of bids and any related activities are the sole responsibility of the bidder and will not be reimbursed. The State of Utah assumes no liability for any costs incurred by bidders throughout the selection process.

PROTECTED INFORMATION

The Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA), Utah Code Ann., Subsection 63G-2-305, provides in part that …”the following records are protected if properly classified by a government entity:”

(1) trade secrets as defined in Section 13-24-2 if the person submitting the trade secret has provided the governmental entity with the information specified in Section 63G-2-309 (Business Confidentiality Claims);

(2) commercial information or non-individual financial information obtained from a person if:

(a) disclosure of the information could reasonably be expected to result in unfair competitive injury to the person submitting the information or would impair the ability of the governmental entity to obtain necessary information in the future;

(b) the person submitting the information has a greater interest in prohibiting access than the public in obtaining access; and

(c) the person submitting the information has provided the governmental entity with the information specified in Section 63G-2-309;

(6) records the disclosure of which would impair governmental procurement proceedings or give an unfair advantage to any person proposing to enter into a contract or agreement with a governmental entity, except that this Subsection (6) does not restrict the right of a person to see bids submitted to or by a governmental entity after bidding has closed;

Pricing may not be classified as confidential or protected and will be considered public information.

Any Bidder requesting that a record be protected MUST include with the bid a completed Claim of Business Confidentiality with the following information:

1. Provide a written Claim of Business Confidentiality at the time the information (bid) is provided to the state, and

2. Include a concise statement of reasons supporting the claim of business confidentiality (Subsection 63G-2-309(1)).

3. Submit an electronic “redacted” (excluding protected information) copy of the bid. Copy must clearly be marked “Redacted Version.”

Redacted Copy: Bidder must submit two separate proposals: one redacted version for public release, with all protected business confidential information either blacked-out or removed, clearly marked as "Redacted Version"; and one non-redacted version for evaluation purposes clearly marked as "Protected Business Confidential."

An entire bid cannot be identified as “PROTECTED”, “CONFIDENTIAL” or “PROPRIETARY” and shall be considered non-responsive unless the Bidder removes the designation.

BID EVALUATION AND AWARD

Bids received in response to this solicitation shall be evaluated pursuant to the requirements and process as outlined within the Utah Procurement Code. Any bid that does not comply with the requirements and instructions contained in the solicitation documents will be deemed non-responsive and disqualified from further evaluation.

Multiple or alternate bids will not be accepted, unless otherwise specifically required or allowed in the solicitation. If a bidder submits multiple or alternate bids that are not requested, the Department will only accept the bidder's primary bid and will not accept any other bids constituting multiple or alternate bids.

Each bid received shall initially be evaluated for responsiveness in the following manner:

Any bid that does not pass these administrative criteria and the mandatory minimum requirements will be deemed non-responsive and will be rejected from this solicitation.

Bids that pass the administrative and mandatory minimum requirements will then be evaluated for compliance with the technical specifications or scope of work. Any bid that does not meet or exceed the technical specification or scope of work will be deemed non-responsive and disqualified from further consideration.

All bids that meet or exceed the technical specifications or scope of work shall then be evaluated on cost as outlined within this solicitation.

PROTEST PROCESS

Bidders are directed to Utah Code Part 16 and Utah Administrative Code Rule R16 for available appeal processes.

CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS, EXCEPTIONS, AND NEGOTIATIONS

The Purchase Order/Contract that results from this solicitation will include, but not be limited to the following:

· Scope of Work Specifications and Instructions

· Any addendums to the solicitation as issued through the bidding system.

· Attachment A: State of Utah Standard Terms and Conditions.

It is the responsibility of the bidders to review the Standard Terms and Conditions prior to bid submission. A bidder may request an exception and/or addition to the Standard Terms and Conditions during the Question-and-Answer period if allowable under the posted requirements of the solicitation.

It is the responsibility of prospective bidders to review these documents, and any other documents that may be included within this solicitation, prior to submitting bid.

The State will not allow a bidder’s terms and conditions to become part of the Purchase Order/contract that results from this solicitation. If a bidder’s terms and conditions are attached, referenced, or embedded into a bid, whether intentionally or inadvertently, then the bidder’s terms and conditions shall be null and void and will not become part of a contract that results from this solicitation. If a bidder is awarded a contract and the bidder requests that its terms and conditions become part of the contract, then the bidder’s bid will immediately be disqualified, and the bidder will not be awarded a contract.

II. Solicitation Specifics

The reference number for this Solicitation is #UDOT270054JB. This number must be referred to on all bids, correspondence, and documentation submitted in relation to this solicitation.

PURPOSE OF SOLICITATION

The purpose of this solicitation is to enter into a single-award contract for (5) Five-years to provide UDOT Operations with Snowplow Cover Blades.

BASIS OF AWARD

It is anticipated that this solicitation will result in Single or Multiple Award. The methodology that will be used to determine contract award is: Low-cost bid among those bidders determined to be responsive and responsible will be awarded a purchase order.

FUTURE PROCUREMENTS

UDOT reserves the right to reopen this solicitation or create a new solicitation if it determines there may be more competition or need for the procurement item than when the original solicitation was posted.

III. Submission Requirements

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC TO THIS SOLICITATION

A. Bidders must provide information/documentation as requested to demonstrate compliance with any listed Mandatory Contractor Requirements/Qualifications:

1. See the Specifications Document for detailed information.

B. Bidders must provide information/documentation as requested to demonstrate their ability to meet or exceed the Scope of Work and Technical Specifications:

1. See the Specifications Document for detailed information.

C. Submission of Samples

1. None required for this solicitation.

D. Bidders must submit Cost/Pricing according to the instructions provided. Bidders shall not change the format of the cost schedule and must submit pricing in the exact format requested for a fair comparison of pricing among all bidders. Bids received in an alternate format may be disqualified.

1. See solicitation Item section.

E. Bidders must submit a filled-out Supplier Information Form.

1. See Supplier Information Form.

General Bid Information