COLUMBIA COUNTY, GEORGIA

RFP# 2026005-RFP1313

DISASTER DEBRIS MONITORING SERVICES

Proposals are due on Thursday, April 9, 2026 no later than 12:00:00 PM ET at https://columbiacountyga.bonfirehub.com

A MANDATORY Pre-Proposal Conference will be held on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 10:00 AM ET at the Emergency Operations Center Conference Room located at 650 Ronald Reagan Drive, Evans, GA 30809. All interested providers MUST attend.

Deadline for Questions will be Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 5:00:00 PM ET

Please email any questions to Chris Landers:

clanders@columbiacountyga.gov

*PLEASE NOTE THE VENDOR IS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR VERIFYING

THEY HAVE RECEIVED ANY/ALL ADDENDA PRIOR TO THE PROPOSAL

OPENING*

https://columbiacountyga.bonfirehub.com/ mailto:clanders@columbiacountyga.gov

RFP# 2026005-RFP1313

DISASTER DEBRIS MONITORING SERVICES

Table of Contents

CONTENTS PAGE

GENERAL INFORMATION 3

BACKGROUND & PURPOSE 4

SCOPE OF WORK 4

PAYMENT TERMS & CONDITIONS 7

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS 8

COST INFORMATION 8

SELECTION PROCESS 8

FINAL SELECTION 8

PROPOSAL EVALUATION CRITERIA 9

PROCEDURES FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS 9

TERMS AND CONDITIONS 10

DRAFT CONTRACT …………………………………………………………………….ATTACHED

DISASTER DEBRIS MONITORING SERVICES

General Information

• Specifications / Requirements / Documentation can be obtained by registering on the Columbia County E-Procurement website: https://columbiacountyga.bonfirehub.com

• Any inquiries should be directed to:

Chris Landers, CPPB, Procurement Supervisor Columbia County Board of Commissioners Procurement Department 500 Faircloth Drive, Building E Evans, GA 30809 E-mail: clanders@columbiacountyga.gov

• Proposals will be received at:

https://columbiacountyga.bonfirehub.com

• Proposals are due Thursday, April 9, 2026 no later than 12:00:00 PM ET. Proposals received after this time will be marked “LATE” and will not be considered.

• A MANDATORY Pre-Proposal Conference will be held on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 10:00 AM ET in the Emergency Operations Center Conference Room located at 650 Ronald Reagan Drive, Evans, GA 30809. All interested providers MUST attend.

• No faxed or e-mailed proposals will be accepted.

• If a vendor becomes aware of alternate solutions or objections that do not meet the attached specifications, it is to the vendor’s advantage to notify the Procurement Department no later than 5 working days before the proposal opening date. Procurement, along with the requesting department, will determine if an addendum revising the specifications will be issued or postponement of the proposal opening is necessary.

• All requested information should be provided in order for a proposal to be considered responsive.

However, any vendor which submits in its proposal to the County any information which is determined to be substantially inaccurate, misleading, exaggerated, or incorrect, shall be disqualified from consideration.

• Addenda will be posted on the Columbia County E-Procurement web site (https:// columbiacountyga.bonfirehub.com).

• Email Chris Landers at clanders@columbiacountyga.gov should any questions arise.

Glenn O’Steen, MBA, CPPO Procurement Manager mailto:clanders@columbiacountyga.gov mailto:bbell@columbiacountyga.gov

RFP# 2026005-RFP1313

DISASTER DEBRIS MONITORING SERVICES

Background & Purpose

The Columbia County Board of Commissioners has issued this Request for Proposal for the sole purpose of obtaining responsive proposals from qualified Vendors to provide disaster management, recovery, and consulting services to support the oversight and management of debris recovery contractors. As such, the Vendor should be capable of providing a range of related services including damage assessment, monitoring, training, emergency planning, infrastructure restoration, and other services as needed and ordered by the County. Other services may include, but not be limited to, facilitating communication with FEMA, GEMA, and the State of Georgia and other state and federal agencies, coordination with state insurance representatives, pre-event planning, and post-event reconstruction, grant funding, and reimbursement services.

Columbia County intends to award two separate pre-event contracts; one for Disaster Debris Management Services and another for Disaster Debris Monitoring Services. Any and all pre-event contracts must be agreeable to both the County and the Vendor.

The awarded vendor(s) should be prepared to render the same services and costs outlined in their response to this Request for Proposal (RFP) to both the incorporated and unincorporated areas of Columbia County.

It is the intent of this RFP to allow the two municipalities, the Cities of Grovetown and Harlem, located within the incorporated areas of Columbia County, to independently enter into pre-event contracts with the awarded vendor for the same services at the same costs.

This contract will be overseen primarily by Columbia County Emergency Management. It is the intent of Columbia County to enter into a contract for an initial one-year term, beginning July 1, 2026, and terminating on June 30, 2027. Unless the County, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall elect in writing to not renew the Agreement prior to the end of the original term, the County, in its sole and absolute discretion, may elect to renew this agreement for up to four (4) additional one-year terms, each ending on June 30 of the relevant year, as described below:

• Initial Term July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027

• Renewal 1 July 1, 2027 – June 30, 2028

• Renewal 2 July 1, 2028 – June 30, 2029

• Renewal 3 July 1, 2029 – June 30, 2030

• Renewal 4 July 1, 2030 – June 30, 2031

Scope of Work

The selected vendor will be expected to provide disaster debris monitoring services to include debris generated from the public rights-of-way, private property, drainage areas, waterways, and other public, eligible, or designated areas.

Specific services may include but are not limited to the following:

I. DISASTER DEBRIS MONITORING SERVICES

• Coordinating daily briefings, work progress, staffing, and other key items with the County.

RFP# 2026005-RFP1313

DISASTER DEBRIS MONITORING SERVICES

• Selection and permitting of temporary debris staging and reduction sites (TDSRS) locations and any other permitting/regulatory issues as necessary.

• Scheduling work for all team members and contractors on a daily basis.

• Hiring, scheduling, and managing field staff.

• Monitoring recovery contractor operations and making/implementing recommendations to improve efficiency and speed up recovery work.

• Assisting the County with responding to public concerns and comments.

• Certifying contractor vehicles for debris removal using methodology and documentation practices appropriate for contract monitoring.

• Entering load tickets into a database application.

• Digitization of source documentation (such as load tickets).

• Developing daily operational reports to keep the county informed of work progress.

• Development of maps, GIS applications, etc. as necessary.

• Comprehensive review, reconciliation, and validation of debris removal contractor(s) invoices prior to submission to the County for processing.

• Project Worksheet and other pertinent report preparation required for reimbursement by FEMA, GEMA, and any other applicable agency for disaster recovery efforts by County staff and designated debris removal contractors.

• Final report and appeal preparation and assistance.

• Final FEMA audit assistance.

II. ASSISTANCE WITH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANNING AND TRAINING

Contractor shall provide, at a minimum, the following:

• Coordination of debris management plan updates – including identification of an adequate number of TDSRS locations. Staff training as necessary.

• Procurement assistance for debris removal contractors and other services as requested.

• Project management to include the formulation and management of permanent work projects, task force management, and County Commission, Boards, and Panels.

• Technical support and assistance in development public information.

• Other training and assistance as requested by the County.

• Other reports and data as required by the County.

• Other emergency management and consulting services identified and required by the County.

III. PUBLIC ASSISTANCE CONSULTING SERVICES

Contractor shall provide, at a minimum, the following:

• Identification of eligible emergency and permanent work (Category A-G).

• Damage Assessment.

• Assistance in attaining Immediate Needs Funding.

• Prioritization of recovery workload.

• Loss measurement and categorization.

• Insurance evaluation, documentation adjusting and settlement services.

• Project Worksheet generation and review.

• FEMA, FHWA, and NRCS reimbursement support.

• Staff augmentation with experienced Public Assurance Coordinators and Project Officers.

• Interim inspections, final inspections, supplemental Project Worksheet generation and final review.

RFP# 2026005-RFP1313

DISASTER DEBRIS MONITORING SERVICES

• Appeal services and negotiations.

• Reconstruction and long-term infrastructure planning.

• Final review of all emergency and permanent work performed.

IV. ASSISTANCE WITH HIRING, SCHEDULING, DISPATCHING & LOGISTICAL OPERATIONS

Contractor shall provide, at a minimum, the following:

• Recruiting, hiring, training, deploying, and supervising properly equipped monitors.

• Establishing daily schedules for monitors.

• Monitoring and recording the volumetric measurement (cubic yards or gross empty weight) of each truck that is added into service.

• Maintaining records of contract hauler’s trucks, to include cubic yardage or loaded weight, time in and time out, number of loads per day, and other data as requested by designated County staff or as required by State, Federal, or other involved agencies.

• Determining truck assignments and providing the necessary vehicle decals or placards for ease of identification and tracking.

• Coordinating with County personnel to respond to problems in the field to include residential and commercial property damage claims in the process of debris removal.

• Investigating and documenting damage or other claims.

• Surveying the affected areas for special situation or emergent needs to include, but not be limited to, identifying tree stumps and the management of root balls and associated cavities, hazardous trees (including leaners and hangers), construction and demolition debris, or other potentially hazardous situations.

• Maintaining a list of potentially hazardous locations and situations, coordinating and tracking the appropriate dispatch of staff and equipment to remediate the hazard and making frequent reports to the County regarding the hazard, remedial action, and post-event status.

• Recording on a map the streets where debris has been collected.

• Performing other duties as directed by designated by County personnel.

V. ADDITIONAL SERVICES

Contractor shall provide, at a minimum, the following:

• Collect baseline environmental data according to local, State, and Federal agency requirements from the designated emergency debris management sites prior to the opening of these sites.

• Assist the County in obtaining necessary local, State, and Federal permits for the designated emergency debris management sites.

• Conduct ongoing environmental data collection per local, State, and Federal requirements for the designated emergency debris management sites.

• Provide technical, clerical, and information technology consultation assistance to the County in completing any and all forms necessary for reimbursement of fees and costs from local, State, or Federal agencies including the Federal Emergency Management Agency of the Department of Homeland Security (FEMA), the State of Georgia, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or private insurance carriers relating to eligible costs arising out of the disaster recovery effort. This may include, but is not limited to, the timely and accurate completion and submittal of reimbursement requests; preparation and submittal of

RFP# 2026005-RFP1313

DISASTER DEBRIS MONITORING SERVICES

any and all necessary cost documentation and substantiations; preparing replies to any and all agency requests, inquiries, or potential denials; and preparing potential decision appeals.

VI. DELIVERABLES

At a minimum, the following deliverables must be provided to the County at the completion of the event response effort. However, deliverables shall be in no way limited to the following list. At its sole discretion, the County may add and/or delete deliverables to meet the needs of the County.

• Original load tickets shall be boxed, bound by date, and sorted by ticket number.

• Ticket logs including all information from ticket.

• Daily tower logs.

• List of all personnel with signatures and initials.

• Binder(s) with damage reports, completed repairs, and releases (if applicable).

• Binders with issues and final resolution.

• Map books boxed by pass with daily logs.

• List of tickets issued by monitors, and list of lost/voided tickets.

• Each debris removal pass may, at the discretion of the County, have a door hanger placed at each residence or street sign hanger placed at key intersections to indicate pickup has occurred. A report describing the location of hangers shall be provided to the County.

• Each pile of ineligible debris will be tagged and a list compiled and submitted to the County. The County must approve format of the ineligible debris tag.

• Daily Report – Vendor shall prepare and submit daily operational reports throughout the duration of the recovery operations. Daily reports shall document the debris contractors’ activities and progress from the previous day and shall be submitted by 10:30 a.m. to the County’s designee.

Each daily report shall contain the following minimum requirements:

o Correctly and accurately completed load tickets consistent with all reporting documents;

o The times of operation of all debris loading trucks;

o Reports, maps, and graphs to delineate production rates of crews and their equipment, progress by area, and estimations of total quantities remaining, time to completion, and daily cumulative cubic yards of debris removed, processed, and hauled.

• Final Report – A final report will be prepared by the Vendor and submitted to the County within thirty (30) days of completion of recovery operations. Recovery Operations include closure and remediation of TDMS and conclusions of all related operations. At a minimum, this report will include: a discussion of disaster response requirements and results and recommendations for future disaster response.

• All deliverables will be submitted both electronically in a format specified by the County and on paper.

Payment Terms and Conditions

1. All labor rates are to be fully burdened to include all taxes, benefits, handling charges, equipment, mileage, rentals, per diem, housing, reproductions, overhead, profits, and any other expenses necessary to the execution of a contract as a result of this RFP.

2. Billable time shall include hours when debris-hauling trucks are in operation as well as reasonable start-up and close of day actions. Billable time shall be supported with daily timesheets or other documentation processes as approved, in writing, by the County.

RFP# 2026005-RFP1313

DISASTER DEBRIS MONITORING SERVICES

3. All load tickets, forms, reports, and other deliverables shall be accurately and correctly submitted in the initial instance of submittal. The Vendor shall not bill and shall not be paid for time spent by any personnel to correct a load ticket, form, report, or other deliverable.

4. No overtime rates will be paid.

5. Invoices will be processed for payment only after approval by the County. The Vendor shall be responsible for reviewing the debris hauler’s deliverables and invoices and certifying their consistency with the Vendor’s deliverables and invoices and for resolving any discrepancies that may exist. Approval for payment shall not be granted until appropriate deliverables are received and determined to be correct, accurate, and consistent by the user agency’s Program Manager.

Mandatory Requirements The Bonfire questionnaire titled “Mandatory Requirements” should be completed in its entirety, and directly within the questionnaire spreadsheet provided in Bonfire. The Mandatory Requirements questionnaire along with your firm’s responses to the Approach will be used to compare each firm side by side. Please be sure to include the answers to all questions within the appropriate cells for each. “See page… or See exhibit...” is NOT recommended. At a minimum, a summary of your complete answer is to be included on the spreadsheet.

Columbia County requires proposals to be easy to understand and all reasonable care should be taken to limit responses to pertinent information. Do not include unnecessary or extraneous information. Any additional company/marketing information is welcome and should be presented as attachments within the ‘Additional Information’ area in Bonfire.

Cost Information

All cost information SHOULD be submitted in the COST PROPOSAL Questionnaire provided in Bonfire. Note that the hours listed in the provided cost scenario represents an estimated number of hours in a typical work month and are NOT actual contract amounts. The cost scenario will be utilized in the Evaluation Process.

Any additional information/attachments related to Costs are welcome and should be presented as attachments in the ‘Additional Cost Information’ area in Bonfire. **Cost information SHOULD NOT be included in ANY other section of your RFP submittal.**

Selection Process

The Evaluation Committee, which is comprised of representatives from various departments within Columbia County, will evaluate all qualifying proposals. All requirements in this RFP should be satisfied to ensure that the proposal will qualify for consideration. Columbia County desires to receive proposals only from companies who can demonstrate the specified qualifications described within this RFP.

Current and previous clients of each firm that submits a proposal may be approached with specific questions regarding performance. Responses to these questions will be used as part of the evaluation process.

Final Selection

The Evaluation Committee will present their recommendation to the appropriate oversight committee for review and recommendation. The Columbia County Board of Commissioners will make the final decision.

RFP# 2026005-RFP1313

DISASTER DEBRIS MONITORING SERVICES

Proposal Evaluation Criteria

The following criteria will be used to evaluate all proposals. Please note the proposal must meet all mandatory requirements in order to be evaluated.

CRITERIA POINTS

A. Qualifications & Experience 350

- Executive Summary/Corporate Profile

- Litigation/Bankruptcy/Termination

- Staffing/Resumes

- References

B. Methodology and Approach 350

- Approach

- Time Frame

- Additional Information

C. Cost 300

TOTAL POINTS 1000

Procedures for Submitting Proposals

Each vendor must carefully follow all instructions included within the formal solicitation documents regarding the proper submission of a response. Failure to comply with conditions set forth in the solicitation may result in disqualification.

Each Proposer should complete and submit all requested items and information within the Bonfire portal at https://columbiacountyga.bonfirehub.com.

Questions about the responses to the request for proposals should be made in writing via the Bonfire portal.

Questions may also be submitted via mail or email to:

Attn: Chris Landers, Procurement Supervisor (clanders@columbiacountyga.gov) Mailing Address: Columbia County Board of Commissioners

Procurement Department 500 Faircloth Drive, Building E Evans, GA 30809

• Proposals must be received no later than Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 12:00:00 PM ET to be considered.

Responses received after this time will be unopened and marked LATE.

• Deadline for questions will be Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET.

• Responses will be retained as property of Columbia County.

• Proposals should generally be less than 50 pages total not including any attachments required by the County and shall outline the tasks mentioned. This is not a strict limitation on the number of pages.

However, Columbia County does not wish to receive irrelevant extraneous information. Please only include pertinent information in your package.

mailto:clanders@columbiacountyga.gov

Terms and Conditions

1. Columbia County, GA (the County) reserves the right to reject any or all proposals.

2. The County reserves the right to accept proposals deemed advantageous to the Board of Commissioners.

3. The County is NOT liable for any costs incurred by proposers prior to the issuance of a Notice to Proceed.

The County shall not be liable for any expense incurred in connection with preparation of a response to this document. Vendors should prepare a straightforward and concise description of their ability to meet the requirements of this document.

4. It is the intent of the County to award a contract for these products and/or services based on an evaluation of all proposals for a period of one (1) year with an option to renew for four (4) additional one year terms.

5. Any objections to the specifications, scope of work, or requirements should be filed in writing prior to the proposal deadline. Procurement, along with the requesting department, will determine if an addendum revising the solicitation documents will be issued or postponement of the proposal opening is necessary.

The County is interested in any and all details of other innovative and original ideas above and beyond those discussed in this Request for Proposal.

6. The County will evaluate all qualifying proposals that are submitted. All requirements in this RFP should be satisfied to ensure that the proposal would qualify for consideration. The County desires to receive proposals only from Vendors who can demonstrate the specified qualifications mentioned in this RFP.

7. All requested information should be provided in order for a proposal to be considered responsive. However, any vendor which submits in its proposal to the County any information which is determined to be substantially inaccurate, misleading, exaggerated, or incorrect, shall be disqualified from consideration.

8. The contracted company will correct any and all errors and omissions that they make at their own expense.

9. Responses will be retained as property of Columbia County, GA.

10. Columbia County does not guarantee quantities.

11. County staff MAY elect to hold presentations and/or interviews. All firms responding to this Request for Proposal should be available, if deemed necessary by the County, within two (2) weeks following the proposal's due date.

12. The selected company shall be required, before awarding of contract, to demonstrate to the complete satisfaction of the County that they have the necessary resources to execute the work in a satisfactory manner and within the time specified; they have had experience of a same or similar nature; they have a past history and references which will assure the company’s qualifications for executing the work.

13. The successful company shall not discriminate against any person in accordance with Federal Laws or Regulations.

Terms and Conditions (Cont.)

14. Columbia County reserves the right to use any and all concepts presented in any proposal to obtain the most beneficial and effective path to achieving its desired goals for the products and services requested. Selection or rejection of proposal(s) will not affect this right. All proposals will be evaluated, and at Columbia County’s discretion, an award will be made to the Proposer who demonstrates the best ability to satisfy the scope of work in the most timely and cost-effective manner possible.

15. Unless otherwise specified, all rates are guaranteed through the initial one-year term of the contract.

16. The term of the contract(s) issued as a result of this request for proposal shall be for not less than one year, subject to earlier termination as provided by law and by the terms of the contract. In addition, unless otherwise specified in the proposal, the award of this contract shall include the right at the option of the County, contingent upon the agreement by both parties to any change in rates/costs or services, to renew and extend this contract on a year-to-year basis as may be permitted by applicable law and County Policy, for up to four (4) additional one-year terms.

17. Columbia County reserves the right, if deemed necessary, to conduct discussions with any or all Proposers for the purpose of clarification of proposals.

18. Columbia County reserves the right to make such investigation and solicit additional information or submittals as it deems necessary to determine the ability of any proposer to perform the Scope of Work stated in this Request for Proposal.

19. This RFP does not constitute an offer or a contract with the Proposer. A contract or agreement is not implied until a contract is approved and executed by the Columbia County Board of Commissioners.

20. Columbia County reserves the right to cancel the contract with a 30-day notice if it is determined by the Board of Commissioners that service or product(s) are unsatisfactory.

21. All proposals are to remain confidential until award is made or RFP is canceled. Any proposer distributing, publishing, or posting their proposal prior to this time may be subject to disqualification.

22. Companies must have a willingness to commit to specified levels of performance for service and quality.

23. Any interpretation of the RFP will be made only via an addendum. Addenda will be prepared as quickly as possible for dissemination to all registered vendors for the specific commodity(ies).

24. Anyone making a proposal may withdraw their proposal up to the time specified as the closing time and date for acceptance of proposals. No proposer may withdraw, cancel, or modify their proposal except as requested by Columbia County, after being notified that the proposal has been accepted.

25. To inspect and/or receive records on previous solicitations, please visit http://www.columbiacountyga.gov/community/information-/county-information/open-records-request to submit your request through the Open Records Request Portal. By using this portal, you will have the ability to track and monitor your public records request. All Communication will be sent directly to your email account.

26. Compliance with Applicable Law Contractor agrees to comply with all federal, state, county and local laws ordinances and regulations applicable to the work to be done under this Contract. Contractor specifically agrees to comply with all applicable requirements of federal and state civil rights and rehabilitation

Terms and Conditions (Cont.)

statutes, rules and regulations. Contractor also shall comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-336) and all regulations and administrative rules established pursuant to those laws.

27. Independent Contractor Status The service(s) to be rendered under this Contract are those of an independent contractor. Contractor is not to be considered an agent or employee of Columbia County for any purpose, and neither Contractor nor any of Contractor’s agents or employees is entitled to any of the benefits that Columbia County provides for its employees.

28. Severability If any term or provision of this Contract is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal or in conflict with any law, the validity of the remaining terms and provisions shall not be affected, and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced as if the Contract did not contain the particular term or provision held to be invalid.

29. All companies and their agents who intend to, or have submitted Proposals to this solicitation are hereby placed on formal notice that lobbying of Columbia County Government employees or members of the Evaluation Panel with the intent to manipulate the Procurement process may result in the immediate disqualification of such company by the County from further consideration for this project.

30. Indemnity and Insurance: To the extent permitted by law, the Contractor shall indemnify and save Columbia County, its officers, agents, employees from and against all loss, cost, damages, expense and liability caused by an accident or other occurrence resulting in bodily injury, including death, sickness and disease to any person(s); or damage or destruction to property, real or personal, arising directly or indirectly from the work performed by the consultant, its subcontractors or employees.

31. This joint resolution jurisdiction authorized under Georgia Code of Laws 36-69A-4 and in accordance with 2 C.F.R. Title 200 provides for any public agency, including, but not limited to, political subdivision of this state other than a county school board or independent school district, volunteer fire department, volunteer rescue squad, any agency of the state government or of the United States and any political subdivision of another state to utilize and purchase from this Contract in the manner defined herein following any natural disaster.

32. Compliance with Federal Rules, Regulations and Guidelines Contractor is responsible for understanding and complying with the following federal rules, regulations and guidelines:

1. Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Public Law 93-288)

2. FEMA 325 Debris Management Guide

3. FEMA 9500 Series Policy Publications concerning debris removal

4. FHWA Emergency Relief Program

5. FHWA 1273

6. Executive Orders 11246, 11375 and 11738

7. Copeland “Anti-Kickback” Act

8. Section 306 of the Clean Air Act (CAA)

9. Section 508 of the Clean Water Act (CWA)

10. Section 103 and 107 of the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act

11. Coastal Barriers Resources Act (CBRA)

12. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

13. Endangered Species Act (ESA)

14. National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)

15. Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA)

16. Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act (FWCA)

17. Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (WSRA)

R E C I T A L S:

The County desires to engage the Vendor to provide «ContractPurpose» to Columbia County, and the Vendor desires to accept such engagement, upon and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein, the County and the Vendor hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

ENGAGEMENT AND SCOPE

1.1 The County hereby engages the Vendor to provide «ContractPurpose» to Columbia County (the “Work”) in accordance with the Contract Documents (defined in Section 4.1 hereof), including the Vendor's Scope of Work, dated «DateofVendorsProposal», (the "Proposal"), which is Exhibit “A” attached hereto and made a part hereof. The Vendor hereby accepts such engagement, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

1.2 The Vendor shall provide, furnish and perform all necessary labor and services (including equipment and supplies) and provide and furnish all necessary supplies, materials and equipment required to complete the Work in accordance with the Contract Documents. The type and quantity of service will correspond to the specifications in the Vendor’s Proposal, which is Exhibit “A” (The “Proposal”) and the Cost Sheets, which is Exhibit “B”, and attached hereto and made a part hereof. The Vendor hereby accepts such engagement, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

1.3 The Vendor shall provide, furnish and perform all necessary labor and services (including equipment and supplies) and provide and furnish all necessary supplies, materials and equipment required to complete the Work in accordance with the Contract Documents. The type and quantity of service will correspond to the specifications in the Vendor’s Proposal, which is Exhibit “A” (The “Proposal”), and attached hereto and made a part hereof. The Vendor hereby accepts such engagement, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

1.4 The Vendor shall provide, furnish and perform all necessary labor and services (including equipment and supplies) and provide and furnish all necessary supplies, materials and equipment required to complete the Work in accordance with the Contract Documents. The type and quantity of service will correspond to the specifications in the County’s Solicitation, «SolicitationNumber», which is Exhibit “B” (the Solicitation), and the Cost Sheets, which is Exhibit “C”, and attached hereto and made a part hereof. In the event of conflicting specifications for the Work, Exhibit “B” (the Solicitation) shall govern. The Vendor hereby accepts such engagement, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

1.5 The Vendor shall provide, furnish and perform all necessary labor and services (including equipment and supplies) and provide and furnish all necessary supplies, materials and equipment required to complete the Work in accordance with the Contract Documents. The type and quantity of service will correspond to the specifications in the County’s Solicitation, «SolicitationNumber», which is Exhibit “B” (the Solicitation), and attached hereto and made a part hereof. In the event of conflicting specifications for the Work, Exhibit “B” (the Solicitation) shall govern. The Vendor hereby accepts such engagement, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

DRAFT

EXHIBIT A

«CONTRACT_PURPOSE» AGREEMENT

THIS AGREEMENT is made as of «EffectiveDate» by and between Columbia County, Georgia, a political subdivision of the State of Georgia (the "County"), with an office at 630 Ronald Reagan Drive, Evans, Georgia, 30809, and «CompanyName», a «CompanyState» «CompanyType», qualified to conduct business within the State of Georgia, with an office at «CompanyAddress1», «CompanyCity», «CompanyState» «CompanyZip» (the "Vendor").

1.6 The Vendor shall provide, furnish and perform all necessary labor and services (including equipment and supplies) and provide and furnish all necessary supplies, materials and equipment required to complete the Work in accordance with the Contract Documents. The type and quantity of service will correspond to the specifications in the County’s Solicitation, «SolicitationNumber», which is Exhibit “B” (the Solicitation), and attached hereto and made a part hereof. In the event of conflicting specifications for the Work, Exhibit “B” (the Solicitation) shall govern. The Vendor hereby accepts such engagement, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

1.7 If the Vendor is of the opinion that any service requested of it hereunder is beyond the Scope of the Work as provided in the Contract Documents, the Vendor shall promptly notify the County in writing of such opinion and the reasons for the same, with specific references to the Contract Documents. The County shall be the sole judge as to whether or not such service is in fact beyond the Scope of the Work.

1.8 No additional services beyond the Scope of the Work as provided in the Contract Documents shall be performed by the Vendor unless the County shall, in writing, have specifically directed such services to be performed, and a Change Order (hereafter defined) shall have been signed by the County and the Vendor.

In the event of noncompliance with the foregoing, the Vendor shall neither have nor make any claim for additional compensation by reason of a claim for additional services.

1.9 The term “Change Order” as used herein is a written order to the Vendor, issued and signed by the County after execution of this Agreement, authorizing a change in the Work or an adjustment in the Contract Price (hereafter defined) or the Term (hereafter defined). Unless the Vendor requests a modification in such Change Order, the Vendor shall sign the Change Order and return a copy thereof to the County within ten

(10) business days after it has received the same. The Vendor shall have ten (10) business days from its receipt of a Change Order within which to request a modification thereto. Failure of Vendor to respond to a Change Order within such ten (10) day period shall be deemed to signify Vendor's acceptance of such Change Order as if Vendor had signed the same without modification. If Vendor requests a modification of a Change Order, County shall have ten (10) business days from receipt of such request to accept such modification in writing. If not so accepted, such request is deemed to be rejected.

ARTICLE 2

TERM AND FORCE MAJEURE

2.1 If the Vendor is delayed at any time in the progress of the Work by labor disputes, fire, adverse weather conditions not reasonably anticipated, unavoidable casualties, or any other causes beyond the Vendor's control and without the fault or negligence of Vendor, the Vendor shall prepare and submit to County within five (5) calendar days of the occurrence a written report of its assessment of the occurrence and any proposed amendment to the Term. The Vendor shall proceed with due diligence to alleviate any such delay and shall continue in the performance of its obligations hereunder. The County may determine, in its sole discretion, after the receipt of such notice of delay from the Vendor, whether to terminate this Agreement in accordance with Article 12 hereof or extend the Term by Change Order for such time as the County may determine.

2.2 The term of this Agreement shall commence on «EffectiveDate» and terminate on «ExpirationDate» subject to Owner’s right to terminate this Agreement, if for any reason the Owner is dissatisfied with the Vendor’s performance. Termination rights shall be governed by Section 12 of this Agreement. The County is granted the options to renew this agreement for a term of one year, beginning at the end of the initial term, for a second term of one year, beginning at the end of the first renewal term, for a third term of one year, beginning at the end of the second renewal term, and for a fourth term, beginning at the end of the third renewal term. These renewals may be canceled by the County at any time prior to the beginning of the renewal term to which each applies.

ARTICLE 3

COMPENSATION AND METHOD OF PAYMENT

DRAFT

EXHIBIT A

3.1 County shall pay Vendor a fee for completion of the Work determined in accordance with Section 3.2. The fee payable to the Vendor hereunder, as stated on the Proposal (Exhibit “A”) shall correspond to the invoices of completed work, and will not exceed the amount quoted on Exhibit “A”, unless Vendor requests and County authorizes in writing an increased amount.

3.2 County shall pay Vendor a fee for completion of the Work determined in accordance with Section 3.2. The fee payable to the Vendor hereunder, as stated on Cost Sheets (Exhibit “C”) shall correspond to the invoices of completed work, and will not exceed the amount quoted on Exhibit “C”, unless Vendor requests and County authorizes in writing an increased amount.

3.3 County shall pay Vendor a fee for completion of the Work determined in accordance with Section 3.2. The fee payable to the Vendor hereunder, as stated on Cost Sheets (Exhibit “B”) shall correspond to the invoices of completed work, and will not exceed the amount quoted on Exhibit “B”, unless Vendor requests and County authorizes in writing an increased amount.

3.4 Vendor shall submit an invoice based on the satisfactory completion of each phase of the Work outlined in the Vendor’s Proposal provided. The review and acceptance of or notice of defects in the work performed will not exceed 30 days from receipt of said work. The invoice shall list the charges for each task or portion of the Work performed.

a. Each such invoice shall also contain Vendor's certification in the form of Executed Release of Claims, which is Exhibit “C” attached hereto and made a part of, certifying that the task or portion of the Work described in the invoice has been completed in accordance with the Contract Documents, that the amount of all items due to third parties has been paid, and that the amount of such invoice is due to the Vendor.

Such invoice shall not contain any surcharge for amounts paid to third parties by Vendor.

b. Each such invoice shall also contain Vendor's certification in the form of Executed Release of Claims, which is Exhibit “B” attached hereto and made a part of, certifying that the task or portion of the Work described in the invoice has been completed in accordance with the Contract Documents, that the amount of all items due to third parties has been paid, and that the amount of such invoice is due to the Vendor.

Such invoice shall not contain any surcharge for amounts paid to third parties by Vendor.

c. Each such invoice shall also contain Vendor's certification in the form of Executed Release of Claims, which is Exhibit “D” attached hereto and made a part of, certifying that the task or portion of the Work described in the invoice has been completed in accordance with the Contract Documents, that the amount of all items due to third parties has been paid, and that the amount of such invoice is due to the Vendor.

Such invoice shall not contain any surcharge for amounts paid to third parties by Vendor.

3.5 County shall pay the full amount of an invoice in accordance with the Georgia Prompt Pay Act after receipt of the invoice and accompanying financial report, prepared as described herein. If, however, County objects to all or any portion of any invoice, County shall so notify Vendor of the same, stating the reasons for the objection. County shall be entitled to withhold payment of any amounts in dispute, but shall make payments on amounts not in dispute. The parties shall immediately make every effort to settle any disputed portion of the invoice. If Vendor does not make an effort to correct deficiencies, the amount deducted from the invoice will correspond to the amount as explained in the Performance Measure section of the County’s Solicitation, Exhibit “B”.

3.6 County shall pay the full amount of an invoice in accordance with the Georgia Prompt Pay Act after receipt of the invoice and accompanying financial report, prepared as described herein. If, however, County objects to all or any portion of any invoice, County shall so notify Vendor of the same, stating the reasons for the objection. County shall be entitled to withhold payment of any amounts in dispute, but shall make payments on amounts not in dispute. The parties shall immediately make every effort to settle any disputed portion of the invoice. If Vendor does not make an effort to correct deficiencies, the amount deducted from the invoice will correspond to the amount as explained in the Performance Measure section of the Vendors Proposal, Exhibit “A”.

ARTICLE 4

CONTRACT DOCUMENTS

4.1 The Contract Documents consist of this Agreement, the specifications stated in the Vendors Proposal, the attached Exhibit(s), all Amendments, and all accepted Change Orders. The intent of the Contract Documents is to include all items necessary for the proper execution and completion of the Work. The Contract Documents are complementary, and what is required by any one shall be deemed to be required by all; provided however, if there is any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and any of the other Contract Documents, the terms of this Agreement shall control.

4.2 The Contract Documents consist of this Agreement, the specifications stated in the original Solicitation by Columbia County, the attached Exhibit(s), all Amendments and all accepted Change Orders. The intent of the Contract Documents is to include all items necessary for the proper execution and completion of the Work. The Contract Documents are complementary, and what is required by any one shall be deemed to be required by all; provided however, if there is any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and any of the other Contract Documents, the terms of this Agreement shall control.

ARTICLE 5

COUNTY'S RESPONSIBILITIES

5.1 The County shall direct its officers, agents and employees to render all reasonable assistance and provide available data to the Vendor in connection with its performance of the Work under this Agreement. The Vendor shall have the duty to make independent inquiry as to the correctness of such data. The County agrees to furnish to the Vendor copies of any previous reports, data and drawings, which may be available and are pertinent to the Work. All such data provided shall remain the property of the County and shall be returned to the County upon termination of this Agreement.

ARTICLE 6

VENDOR'S REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

6.1 The Vendor represents and warrants to the County that it has the authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform the Work, and that it is licensed and authorized to conduct business in the State of Georgia. The Vendor further represents and warrants that all Work performed by it hereunder (a) will be in conformance with the terms of the Contract Documents; (b) will be performed in a skillful and workmanlike manner; (c) will be performed by the proper number of experienced, skilled personnel, qualified by education or experience to perform their assigned tasks; and (d) will conform to the standard of care, skill and diligence according to the standards of the industry.

6.2 The Vendor shall at all times enforce strict discipline and good order among its employees and any subcontractors and shall not employ for the Work (i) any person, firm or corporation not skilled and licensed, if required, in the task assigned to him, or (ii) anyone who might endanger himself, others or the project. The Vendor shall be responsible to the County for the acts and omissions of its employees, agents, subcontractors and other persons performing any of the Work for the Vendor. The County reserves the absolute right to require the immediate removal of any such unskilled, untrained, or unfit person, firm, or corporation from participation in the Work.

6.3 Indemnity. Indemnification/Duty to Defend. During and after the term hereof, Vendor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the County for all personal injuries, deaths, property loss or damage, or any other damages to any and all third parties, from any and all causes of action, claims, loss or damages, including reasonable attorney’s fees incurred in connection therewith, resulting to the County from any acts of the Vendor, its directors, officers, agents, or independent contractors in the performance of this Agreement.

Upon written request by County, Vendor shall defend and provide legal representation for any claims arising out of this Agreement due to the actions or inactions of the Vendor or its employees or agents, by attorneys and other professionals approved by County. Notwithstanding the foregoing, County may, in its sole discretion, engage its own attorneys and other professionals to defend or assist them with respect to such matters, and, at the option of County, its attorneys shall control the resolution of such matters. Upon demand, Vendor shall pay or, in the sole and absolute discretion of the County, reimburse the County for the payment of reasonable fees and disbursements of attorneys and other professionals in connection therewith. This indemnity obligation does not include liabilities caused by or resulting from the sole negligence of County.

6.4 The Vendor shall guarantee all work performed under this contract against defective workmanship or materials, and shall replace all such defective work, materials, or equipment furnished by the Vendor, for a period of two years from the date of final acceptance of the work, unless a longer period is otherwise provided for within the contract documents.

ARTICLE 7

SUBCONTRACTS

7.1 A subcontractor is a person or entity who provides services or performs Work for the Vendor or for a subcontractor of Vendor. The Vendor shall not employ any subcontractor without the prior written consent of the County and shall obtain a written agreement with each subcontractor. As between the County and the Vendor, the Vendor shall be responsible for the acts and omissions of its subcontractors and any portion of the Work performed by a subcontractor. The County may make reasonable requests for information and data concerning any and all subcontractors under this Agreement, and any other matter deemed by the County to be pertinent hereto, and the Vendor hereby agrees to submit such information and data promptly upon request.

ARTICLE 8

PROTECTION OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY

8.1 Vendor agrees to advise fully all of its employees, subcontractors and others working for the Vendor concerning environmental, safety and health procedures required by applicable state or federal law, regulation or order or required by the County; and to take the steps necessary to assure that such procedures are complied with.

ARTICLE 9

INSURANCE

9.1 The Vendor agrees at all times during the Term of this Agreement to maintain in full force and effect the following insurance coverages in at least the limits set forth in Section 9.2: Worker's Compensation (including occupational disease in accordance with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements);

Employer's liability insurance (including coverage on all of Vendor's employees engaged in the performance of the Work); and Comprehensive General Liability insurance (including protective liability covering death or bodily injury and contractual liability). Before commencement of any of the Work hereunder, the Vendor agrees to furnish to the County, on an annual renewal basis, certificates of insurance or other evidence satisfactory to the County to the effect that such insurance has been procured and is in force. The certificates shall accurately reflect the required insurance coverages, including any and all limitations, exclusions and restrictions, and provide that in the event of cancellation or material change in a policy affecting the certificate holder, thirty (30) days prior written notice shall be given to the County.

9.2 For the purpose of this Agreement, Vendor shall…