Uniform Terms and Conditions Request for Proposal Solicitation No. BPM007070 Underground Storage Tanks (UST) Operator Training and Training Course License Arizona Department of Environmental Quality 1110 W. Washington Suite #160 Phoenix, AZ 85007

Solicitation Number:

BPM007070

Description:

Underground Storage Tanks (UST) Operator Training and Training Course License

Solicitation Due Date and Time:

As indicated in APP

Pre-Offer Conference:

Pre-Offer Conference will not be conducted

Proposals will only be accepted online in the “State’s eProcurement System”, Arizona Procurement Portal (APP), at https://app.az.gov until the “Bid/Offer Due Date” indicated in the “State’s eProcurement System” for the Solicitation No. shown at the top of this page. Proposals must be in the State Procurement Office’s possession online no later than that deadline.

Submit technical inquiries about navigating and/or submitting proposals in the State’s eProcurement System to the State’s eProcurement System Help Desk by phone at (602) 542-7600, option 2; or by email to app@azdoa.gov.

LATE PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. No extension or grace period will be given for delays or incomplete proposals caused by internet connectivity problems, file uploading difficulties, or misunderstanding of the requirements or procedures for online submission in the “State’s eProcurement System”.

It is the responsibility of the Prospective Offeror to routinely check the APP website for Solicitation Amendments. Additional instructions for preparing an Offer are included in this solicitation.

Request for Proposal under A.R.S. § 41-2534 Notice Page Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

Request for Proposal

Solicitation No. BPM00XXXX

Title Arizona Department of Administration State Procurement Office 100 N 15th Avenue

Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation, such as a sign language interpreter, by contacting the Solicitation contact person. Requests shall be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange for the accommodation.

Solicitation Requirements | Revision No. 8 | Revised 03-24 | Page 1 of 1

Solicitation Summary Page 2 of 48

Notice Page Table of Contents

Table of Contents Request for Proposal under A.R.S. § 41-2534 Solicitation No. BPM007070 Underground Storage Tanks (UST) Operator Training and Training Course License Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

Solicitation Requirements | Revision No. 9 | Revised 09-24 | Page 2 of 2 Click here to return to the Table of Contents Solicitation Summary

1. What is the State Soliciting?

The Arizona Department of Administration, State Procurement Office (the State), as authorized under A.R.S. § 41-2501 et seq. is seeking to establish one single-agency contract on behalf of Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, and for their sole use, to provide operator training and training course license for underground storage tanks (UST).

The State anticipates awarding contract(s) with the intent to secure service coverage statewide. Whether or not it actually enters into any contracts, how many contracts it enters into, and how the work is awarded between those contracts are all at the State’s discretion. Furthermore, the State will use any awarded contracts on an as-needed basis, with no guarantee as to its actual spending under them.

The State reserves the right to accept any item or combination of items specified in the Solicitation, unless the Offeror expressly restricts an item or combination of items in its Offer, and conditions its response on receiving all items for which it provided a proposal. In the event of such restriction, the State will evaluate if an award on such a basis will result in the best value and is in the best interest for the State. The State may otherwise determine, at its sole discretion, that such restriction is non-responsive and deem the Offeror ineligible for further evaluation.

2. What is in the Solicitation?

2.1. At the time of publication, the following documents are included in the Solicitation:

2.1.1. Attachment: BPM007070 Solicitation Requirements

2.1.1.1. Notice / Cover Page

2.1.1.2. Table of Contents

2.1.1.3. Solicitation Summary

2.1.1.4. Scope of Work

2.1.1.5. Special Terms and Conditions

2.1.1.6. Addendum A to the Special Terms and Conditions

2.1.1.7. Addendum B to the Special Terms and Conditions

2.1.1.8. Uniform Terms and Conditions

2.1.1.9. Exhibits

2.1.2. Attachment: BPM007070 Solicitation Instructions

2.1.2.1. Special Instructions to Offerors

2.1.2.2. Standard Instructions to Offerors (RFP)

2.1.3. Solicitation Attachments

2.1.3.1. Offer and Acceptance

2.1.3.2. Pricing Sheet

2.1.3.3. Confidential Information Designation

· Confidential Information Designation (for reference only)

2.1.3.4. Experience and Capacity Response

2.1.3.5. Key Personnel

2.1.3.6. Organizational Profile

2.1.3.7. References

2.1.3.8. Conformance Statements and Exceptions

2.1.3.9. Letter of Insurability

2.1.3.10. Proposed Subcontractors

2.1.3.11. Method of Approach

2.1.3.12. Offer Checklist

Solicitation Summary

Solicitation No. BPM007070 Underground Storage Tanks (UST) Operator Training and Training Course License Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

2.2. The State may issue a Solicitation Amendment at any time after Solicitation publication and before the Offer due date. It is the responsibility of the Prospective Offeror to routinely check the APP website for any Solicitation Amendments and revised documents.

Scope of Work Scope of Work

1. Purpose and Background

1.1 Purpose

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is seeking to establish a “single agency” firm fixed price contract for Agency sponsored UST operator training. This RFP will serve as a vehicle to solicit proposals from qualified training providers who have the capacity to develop and implement underground storage tank (UST) operator training to be conducted on an online platform and classroom setting at various locations throughout the state of Arizona.

The offeror(s) must demonstrate their ability and methods for creating, compiling and maintaining information pertaining to training, registration, attendance, testing and pass rates, certificate issuance, feedback, and issues identified as a result of training session.

Training will be conducted primarily by contractor, and as needed, if needed by ADEQ staff, utilizing contractor provided training course curriculum.

1.2 Background

On August 8, 2005, President Bush signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Title XV, Subtitle B of this act (titled the Underground Storage Tank Compliance Act) contains amendments to Subtitle I of the Solid Waste Disposal Act--the original legislation that created the underground storage tank program. This new law significantly affected Federal and State underground storage tank programs by requiring major changes that are aimed at reducing underground storage tank releases to the environment.

The underground storage tank provisions of the Energy Policy Act focus on preventing releases. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is currently in the process of developing an agency-sponsored operator training program to ensure that operators are trained appropriately. ADEQ does not have the resources to undertake the entire scope of UST operator training; therefore, the agency is looking to partner with one or more third-parties to conduct the training with agency oversight to ensure that they meet minimum content requirements in federal and state regulations and are conducted by reliable and knowledgeable providers.

ADEQ’s Underground Storage Tanks and Leaking Underground Storage Tanks (UST-LUST) section regulates over two thousand (2000) facilities; open and temporary closed across different counties within the state of Arizona, as seen in Exhibit A and attached Geographical Information System (GIS) Maps.

In the past operator training classes have been offered to facility owners and/or operators both online and in the following six (6) cities; Phoenix, Tucson, flagstaff, Kingman, Show low and Yuma.

2. Acronyms A.A.C. - Arizona Administrative Code ADEQ - Arizona Department of Environmental Quality A.R.S. - Arizona Revised Statutes CPR - Contractor Performance Report UST – Underground Storage Tanks

3. Scope of Summary The objective is to contract with a supplier who will deliver the following:

3.1. Develop curriculum and course materials for UST operator online and classroom training and retraining that can be utilized by UST system owners and operators, ADEQ contractors and staff;

3.2. Conduct offsite classroom (face-to face) and online training in multiple cities in Arizona:

3.2.1. Class A - General Knowledge of the UST regulations;

3.2.2. Class B - In-depth understanding of operation and maintenance aspects of UST systems; and

3.2.3. Class C - First line of response to any event which results in an emergency condition.

3.3 Provide methodology for class registration, attendance, and associated record-keeping;

3.4 Provide methodology for examination/participant testing, certificate issuance, and associated record- keeping;

3.5 Establish minimum and maximum class group sizes to optimize the learning success of the participants;

3.6 Provide class participants with course material; and

3.7 Provide ADEQ with course licenses for printing and distribution to course participants as needed.

4. Scope of Work

4.1. Course Curriculum and Materials

4.1.1. Course curriculum and materials will be developed in collaboration with and approved by the ADEQ UST program. Upon final approval, the course content will be the property of ADEQ and may be used in training sessions hosted and trained by ADEQ contractors and staff. Course materials may include, but not limited to, course outline, presentations, handout materials, tests, and evaluation forms.

4.1.2. Cover reproduction and any other costs associated with the distribution and printing of the study guides and handouts;

4.1.3. Order and maintain supplies for the training classes, including handouts and forms;

4.1.4. Courses and examinations which demonstrate knowledge of relevant Code of Federal Regulations and Arizona Administrative Codes for the class of operator being trained, as well as relevant information on current compliance trends within Arizona;

4.1.5. Training and curriculum courseware shall be included in the price of the class/course;

4.1.6. ADEQ provided materials- If contractor is required to use materials provided by ADEQ, the Contractor will receive said materials at least seven (7) working days from start of scheduled course/class;

4.1.7. Refine and update the training material, based on ADEQ or customer feedback; and

4.1.8. Set examination standard and passing score at a minimum of 75% to reflect minimum level of competency to meet Arizona UST regulations.

5. Exhibits

5.1. Facilities and GIS Maps

5.2. Key Performance Indicators

Scope of Work

Solicitation No. BPM007070 Underground Storage Tanks (UST) Operator Training and Training Course License Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

5.3. Contractor Performance Report

Special Terms and Conditions

The Special Terms and Conditions modify the Uniform Terms and Conditions. It can modify them by replacing, deleting, appending to, or revising the text of an existing provision or by inserting a new paragraph into an existing article. No other document modifies or adds to the Uniform Terms and Conditions, except as may subsequently be otherwise and expressly agreed and incorporated by Contract Amendment.

1. Definition of Terms: As used in the Contract, the terms listed below are defined as follows:

1.1. Acceptance: The document titled “Offer and Acceptance Form” bearing the state contract number once Procurement Officer has signed it to signify (1) State’s formal acceptance of the Accepted Offer and (2) the formation of the Contract. For clarity of intent, the foregoing is not to be confused with the term “acceptance” used throughout the Contract in the context of delivery, inspection, etc., with respect to Materials or Services.

1.2. Accepted Offer:

1.2.1. If State did not request a Revised Offer, then “Accepted Offer” means the Initial Offer.

1.2.2. If State requested a Revised Offer but not a Best and Final Offer, then “Accepted Offer” means the latest Revised Offer.

1.2.3. If State requested a Best and Final Offer, then “Accepted Offer” means the Best and Final Offer.

1.3. Arizona Procurement Code: The Arizona Procurement Code consists of Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) §§ 41-2501 et seq. and Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-7-101 et seq. There is additional information in the Solicitation Instructions regarding how to access these state statutes and rules.

1.4. Arizona Risk and Authorization Management Program (AZRAMP): is used by the Arizona Department of Homeland Security to evaluate Cloud services and Contractors that will transfer, process, or store state data outside of state-managed or controlled networks, and has three levels of control review:

1.4.1. AZRAMP Level 1 Prerequisite: 35 Controls

1.4.2. AZRAMP Level 2 Low Impact: Public Data Classification

1.4.3. AZRAMP Level 3 Moderate Impact: Confidential Data Classification

1.5. Attachment. Any item that:

1.5.1. The Solicitation required Offeror to submit as part of the Offer (e.g., Initial Offer, Revised Offer, or Best and Final Offer);

1.5.2. Was attached to an Offer when submitted; and

1.5.3. Was included in the Accepted Offer.

1.6. Cloud Services: Cloud or Cloud Services means any Software as a Service (SaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), or Platform as a Service (Paas) involving the transfer, processing, or storage of state Data outside the control of state-managed and controlled networks.

1.7. Contract Terms and Conditions: The Special Terms and Conditions and the Uniform Terms and Conditions taken collectively.

1.8. Contractor: The Person identified on the Accepted Offer who has entered into the Contract with the State.

1.9. Contractor Indemnitor: Contractor or any of its owners, officers, directors, agents, employees, or Subcontractors.

1.10. Co-Op Buyer: A member of the State Purchasing Cooperative that has entered into a “Cooperative Purchasing Agreement” with the Arizona Department of Administration State Procurement Office under A.R.S. § 41-2632. Unless there is an applicable Cooperative Purchasing Agreement in effect at the time, a State Purchasing Cooperative member cannot be a Co-Op Buyer. For reference, “Co-Op Buyer” is to be construed as encompassing an “eligible procurement unit” under A.A.C. R2-7-101(23).

NOTE: Membership in the State Purchasing Cooperative is open to all Arizona political subdivisions, including cities, counties, school districts, and special districts. Membership is also available to non-profit organizations, other state governments, the federal government and tribal nations. For reference, “non-profit organizations” are defined in A.R.S. § 41-2631(4) as any nonprofit corporation as designated by the I.R.S. under Section 501(c)(3) through 501(c)(6) of the tax code.

1.11. Data Breach: Data Breach is used herein as defined as stated in A.R.S. Title 18, chapter 5, article 4 (Data Security Breaches), or in any relevant state or federal standard, to indicate an unauthorized acquisition of and unauthorized access that materially compromises the security or confidentiality of unencrypted and unredacted computerized personal information maintained as part of a database of personal information regarding multiple individuals.

1.12. Eligible Agency:

1.12.1. If the Special Terms and Conditions indicate that the Contract is a “single-agency” contract, then “Eligible Agency” means the particular State of Arizona agency, university, commission, or board identified therein.

1.12.2. If the Special Terms and Conditions indicate that the Contract is a mandatory statewide contract, then “Eligible Agency” means any State of Arizona department, agency, university, commission, or board.

1.12.3. If the Special Terms and Conditions indicate that the Contract is a “cooperative” contract available for use by Co-Op Buyers, then “Eligible Agency” means any State of Arizona department, agency, university, commission, board, or any Co-Op Buyer.

1.13. Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP): A federal government program that provides a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring specifically for Cloud products and services relied upon by federal entities that store, process and transmit federal information.

1.14. Instructions to Offerors: The Solicitation Instructions document of the Solicitation.

1.15. Order: The instrument by which the Eligible Agency or Co-Op Buyer authorizes a Contractor to perform some or all of the Work. Whether the Contract will have one Order or many Orders depends on the scope of the Contract and how the State will use it. The Special Terms and Conditions provide that information. Any of the following are construed as an “Order”: “Purchase order,” “task order,” “service order,” or “job order”.

1.16. State’s eProcurement System: The State’s official electronic procurement system, established pursuant to A.A.C. R2-7-201 as set forth in the Arizona Department of Administration State Procurement Office policy document Technical Bulletin No. 020, The State’s eProcurement System–The Official State eProcurement System. Technical Bulletin No. 020 is available online at:

https://spo.az.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/TB_020_APP_20181024.pdf

1.17. State: With respect to the Contract generally, “State” means the State of Arizona and its department, agency, university, commission, or board that has executed the Contract. With respect to administration or rights, remedies, obligations and duties under the Contract for a given Order, “State” means each Eligible Agency or Co-Op Buyer who has issued the Order.

1.18. State Indemnitees: Collectively, the State of Arizona, its departments, agencies, universities, commissions, and boards and, and their respective officers, agents, and employees.

1.19. StateRAMP: A non-profit organization that provides a uniform approach to verifying that the cybersecurity of Cloud service providers (CSPs) meets the standards and regulations needed to do business with state and local governments.

1.20. Work: The totality of the Materials and the Services and all the acts of administration, creation, production, and performance necessary to fulfill and incidental to fulfilling all of Contractor's obligations and duties under the Contract in conformance with the Contract and applicable laws.

2. Contract Interpretations

2.1. Usage. Where the Contract:

2.1.1. assigns obligations to Contractor, any reference to “Contractor” is to be construed to be a reference to the Contractor and all Subcontractors, whether they are first-tier Subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, suppliers, sub-suppliers, consultants, or sub-consultants, as well as all of Contractor’s and the Subcontractor’s respective agents, representatives, and employees in every instance unless the context plainly requires that it is a reference only to Contractor as apart from Subcontractors.

2.1.2. uses the permissive “may” with respect to a party’s actions, determinations, etc., the terms are to be interpreted as in A.A.C. R2-7-101(32) [Definitions]. For clarity of intent, any right given to State using “State may” or a like construction denotes discretion and freedom to act so far as any regulatory or operative constraints permit in the relevant circumstances, provided that: (a) where written “may, at its discretion,” the discretion extends to whatever is most advantageous to State; and (b) where written only as “may,” the discretion is constrained by what is fair, reasonable, and as accommodating of the respective best interests of both parties as practicable under the circumstances;

2.1.3. uses the imperative “shall” with respect to a party’s actions, duties, etc., the term is to be interpreted as in A.A.C. R2-7-101(44) [Definitions]. Conversely, the phrase “shall not” is to be interpreted as an imperative prohibition.

2.1.4. uses the term “must” with respect to a requirement, criterion, etc., the term is to be interpreted as conveying compulsion or strict necessity;

2.1.5. uses the term “might” with respect to an event, outcome, action, etc., the term is to be interpreted as conveying contingency or non-discretionary conditionality; and

2.1.6. uses the term “will” or the phrases “is to be” or “are to be” with respect to an event, outcome, action, etc., the term or phrase is to be interpreted as conveying such certainty or imperativeness that “shall” is either unnecessary or irrelevant in that instance.

2.2. Contract Order of Precedence

2.2.1. Complementary Documents. All of the documents forming the Contract are complementary. If certain work, requirements, obligations, or duties are set out only in one but not in another, Contractor shall carry out the Work as though the relevant Work, requirements, obligations, or duties had been fully described in all, consistent with the other documents forming the Contract and as is reasonably inferable from them as being necessary to produce complete results.

2.2.2. Conflicts. In case of any inconsistency, conflict, or ambiguity among the documents forming the Contract and their provisions, they are to prevail in the following order, descending from most dominate to most subordinate, provided that, among categories of documents or provisions having the same rank, the document or provision with the latest date prevails. Information being identified in one document, but not in another, is not to be considered a conflict or inconsistency.

2.2.2.1. Contract Amendments;

2.2.2.2. The final Solicitation Documents, in the following order:

(1) Special Terms and Conditions;

(2) Exhibits to the Special Terms and Conditions;

(3) Uniform Terms and Conditions;

(4) Scope of Work;

(5) Exhibits to the Scope of Work;

(6) Specifications; and

(7) Any other documents referenced or included in the Solicitation;

2.2.2.3. Orders, in reverse chronological order; and

2.2.2.4. Accepted Offer.

2.2.3. Attachments and Exhibits. For clarity of intent, if an item was an Attachment in the Solicitation Documents or an Offer (either Initial, Revised, Best and Final, or Accepted) and was subsequently made into an Exhibit, or its content was incorporated into one of the other Contract documents, then that Attachment no longer exists contractually as an “Attachment” since it has at that point been made into some other Contract document. In every other case, an Attachment and the Offeror Data therein remain part of the Accepted Offer for purposes of precedence and contractual effect.

3. Contract Administration and Operation

3.1. Term of Contract. The term of the Contract will commence on the date indicated on the Acceptance and continue for twelve (12) months unless canceled, terminated, or permissibly extended.

3.2. Contract Extensions. State may at its discretion extend the initial Contract term in increments of one (1) or more years, or one or more months, and do so one or more times, provided that the maximum aggregate term of the Contract including extensions cannot exceed the maximum aggregate term of five (5) years.

3.3. Notices and Correspondence

3.3.1. To Contractor. State shall address all Contract correspondence other than formal notices to the email address indicated as “Default for Type” for “General Mailing Address” in Contractor’s corresponding State’s eProcurement System Vendor Profile; and address any required notices to Contractor to the “Contact Name and Title” at the “Mailing Address” indicated on the Accepted Offer, as that address might have been amended during the term of the Contract.

3.3.2. To State. Contractor shall address all Contract correspondence other than formal notices to the email address indicated in “Contact Instructions” in the State’s eProcurement System Summary for State; and address any required notices to State via email to the Procurement Officer identified as “Purchaser” in the State’s eProcurement System and via mail to the following mailing address:

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality 1110 W. Washington Phoenix, AZ 85007

3.3.3. Changes. State may change the designated Procurement Officer, update contact information, or change the applicable mailing address.

3.4. Signing of Contract Amendments. Contractor’s counter-signature (or “approval” in the State’s eProcurement System, in the case of an amendment) is not required to give effect if the Contract Amendment only covers either:

3.4.1. extension of the term of the Contract within the maximum aggregate term; or

3.4.2. modifications of a clerical nature that have no effect on terms, conditions, price, scope, or other material aspect of the Contract.

In every case other than those listed in 3.4.1 and 3.4.2 above, both parties’ signatures (or “approval” in the State’s eProcurement System in the case of an Amendment) are required to give it effect.

3.5. Click-through Terms and Conditions. If either party uses a web-based ordering system, an electronic purchase order system, an electronic order acknowledgement, a form of an electronic acceptance, or any software based ordering system with respect to the Contract (each an “Electronic Ordering System”), the parties acknowledge and agree that an Electronic Ordering System is for ease of administration only, and Contractor is hereby given notice that the persons using Electronic Ordering Systems on behalf of State do not have any actual or apparent authority to create legally binding obligations that vary from the terms and conditions of the Contract. Accordingly, where an authorized State user is required to “click through” or otherwise accept or be made subject to any terms and conditions in using an Electronic Ordering System, any such terms and conditions are deemed void upon presentation. Additionally, where an authorized State user is required to accept or be made subject to any terms and conditions in accessing or employing any Materials or Services, those terms and conditions will also be void.

3.6. Books and Records

3.6.1. Retain Records. In addition to the audit rights detailed in the Uniform Terms and Conditions, State also requires that, pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-2548(B), Contractor shall retain and shall contractually require each Subcontractor to retain books and records relating to any cost and pricing Data submitted in satisfaction of § 41-2543 for the period specified in the statute.

3.6.2. Usage Information. Additionally, any and all information (including, but not limited to, documentation or Data) related to Eligible Agency and Co-Op Buyer usage retained solely within the Contractor’s system (for example, related to punch-out or Contractor catalog sales) shall be considered public information or information that can be shared with and distributed by the State freely and for any purpose under the State’s government purpose rights detailed in Section 3 of the Uniform Terms and Conditions [Ownership of Intellectual Property]. Any modifications to this Contract notwithstanding, the State shall have free use of any and all information related to Eligible Agency or Co-Op Buyer purchasing. Upon request by the State, Contractor shall promptly provide the State with any usage information requested and shall not attempt to limit the State's use in any way.

3.6.3. Right to Audit. The retained books and records are subject to audit by State during that period. Pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-2548(B), Contractor shall retain and shall contractually require each Subcontractor to retain books and records relating to performance under the Contract for the period specified in the statute and those retained books and records are subject to audit by State during that period.

3.6.4. Auditing. Contractor or Subcontractor shall either make all such books and records under subparagraphs 3.6.1 and 3.6.2 available to State at all reasonable times or produce the records at a designated State office on State’s demand, the choice of which being at State’s discretion. For the purpose of this paragraph, “reasonable times” are during normal business hours and in such a manner so as to not unreasonably interfere with normal business activities.

3.7. Subcontract

3.7.1. Initial list. At the time of Contract execution, Contractor’s candidate Subcontractors were identified in Attachment Proposed Subcontractors to the Accepted Offer [Proposed Subcontractors]. Agreeing to them being included in the Accepted Offer signified Procurement Officer’s advance consent for Contractor to enter into a Subcontract with each candidate, which Contractor shall do as promptly as necessary to ensure its ability to carry out the Work in a timely manner.

3.7.2. Additional names. Contractor shall not enter into a Subcontract to perform Work under the Contract, without first obtaining Procurement Officer’s written consent with any prospective Subcontractor that (a) was not listed on the Attachment Proposed Subcontractors at time of Contract execution or (b) is for any Materials or Services categories other than the ones for which they were previously consented. For either case (a) or (b), Contractor shall submit a written request sufficiently in advance of the need date for those materials or services so that performance under the Contract is not impaired. Procurement Officer may request any additional information he or she determines is necessary to assess the submittal, and may withhold consent pending it. Approval of additional subcontractors shall be added to the Contract by a bilateral Contract Amendment.

3.7.3. Flow-down. Contractor shall incorporate the provisions, terms, and conditions of the Contract into every Subcontract by inclusion or by reference, as appropriate. When making any post-execution consent requests, Contractor shall include its warrant that it will do the same for the pending Subcontracts covered by the request. Entering into Subcontracts will not relieve Contractor of any of its obligations or duties under the Contract, including, among other things, the duty to supervise and coordinate the work of Subcontractors. Nothing contained in any Subcontract will create or is to be construed as creating any contractual relationship between State and the Subcontractor.

3.8. Orders

3.8.1. Order Sufficiency. The Contract was awarded in accordance with the Arizona Procurement Code; the transactions and procedures required by the Arizona Procurement Code for competitive source selection have been met. An Order issued that cites the correct State contract number will suffice to authorize the Contractor to provide the Materials and perform the Services covered by that Order.

3.8.2. Order Terms. All Orders are subject to the Contract Terms and Conditions; an Order cannot modify the Contract Terms and Conditions. Any Contractor terms added to quotes or otherwise unilaterally added to Eligible Agency or Co-Op Buyer Orders are null and void.

3.8.3. Orders are Obligatory. Until the expiration or earlier termination of the Contract, State may issue and Contractor shall accept Orders that make proper reference to the Contract and are permissible hereunder, provided that, Contractor is not obliged to accept any Order that is not consistent with the then-current pricing, lead times, specifications, or payment provisions of the Contract. Contractor shall fulfill and complete any Orders that are begun but not yet completed as of expiration or earlier termination of the Contract unless State instructs otherwise at the time.

3.8.4. No Minimums or Commitments. (a) Contractor shall not impose any minimum dollar amount, item count, services volume, or services duration on Orders; (b) State makes no commitment of any kind concerning the quantity or monetary value of activity actually initiated or completed during the term of the Contract; (c) Contractor shall only deliver or perform as authorized by Orders; and (d) State is not limited as to the number of Orders it may issue for the Contract. For clarity of intent, the foregoing applies equally whether an Eligible Agency issues the Order or, if applicable, a Co-Op Buyer issues it.

3.8.5. Non-contracted Materials or Services. Any attempt to knowingly represent for sales, marketing, or related purposes that Materials or Services not specifically awarded are under a State contract is a violation of the Contract and law.

3.9. Order Cancellations. State may cancel Orders within a reasonable period after issuance and at its discretion. The same method used for ordering will be used for cancellation.

3.9.1. If State cancels an Order, then State shall:

3.9.1.1. pay Contractor for any portion of the Materials and Services from that Order that have been properly delivered or performed as of the cancellation effective date; and

3.9.1.2. reimburse Contractor for actual, documented costs incurred in fulfilling the Order up to the cancellation effective date and the cost of any obligations incurred in fulfilling the Order up to the cancellation effective date that demonstrably cannot be canceled or that have pre-established cancellation penalties specified in the relevant Subcontracts, to the extent the penalties are reasonable and customary for the work in question.

3.9.2. Contractor shall not charge or be entitled to charge State for any new costs it incurs after receiving the cancellation notice; State is not liable for any Materials that were produced, shipped, or delivered, or Services that were performed before Contractor had acknowledged the corresponding Order.

3.9.3. State shall also be able to cancel Orders freely and without any further obligation at any time prior to Contractor’s formal acknowledgement of the Order.

3.10. This contract is a single agency for the sole use of Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

3.10.1. Contractor shall acknowledge each Order from Eligible Agencies within one (1) business day after receipt by either: (a) “approving” the Order electronically in the State’s eProcurement System, which will indicate Contractor’s unqualified acceptance of the Order as‑issued; or (b) “rejecting” the Order electronically in the State’s eProcurement System, with a concurrent explanation by email to relevant originator as to the reason for rejecting it. By way of reminder, the only grounds on which the Contractor may reject or refuse an Order are those set out in subparagraph 3.8.3 [Orders are Obligatory]. Unless and until Contractor has approved the Order in the State’s eProcurement System, it will have no effect under the Contract and will not oblige either State or Contractor. If the relevant Eligible Agency explicitly instructs at the time that a verbal acceptance is sufficient because of urgency or other unusual circumstances and Contractor duly gives its verbal acceptance, then Contractor will be deemed to have accepted the Order immediately upon commencing performance, provided that, Contractor must follow-up its verbal acceptance by accepting the Purchase Order electronically in the State’s eProcurement System within three (3) business days. Contractor shall thereafter be barred from subsequently rejecting the Order in the State’s eProcurement System and if it does so the rejection will be void.

3.11. Multiple-Use Provisions. Eligible Agencies may issue Orders for Services in several forms, all of which become final and effective by a Purchase Order in the State’s eProcurement System.

3.11.1. By choosing some or all of the Materials or Services items covered by the Contract for which a price is established in the Contract, then preparing an Order using those prices (e.g. filling out an order form), and sending it to the Contractor;

3.11.2. By instructing Contractor to provide a comprehensive proposal of item quantities, combinations, etc., or services hours, personnel, etc., for a defined scope using those established prices as a basis, then validating and negotiating the proposal with Contractor and issuing an Order if and when reaching agreement;

3.11.3. As described in 3.11.2 above but requesting the proposal from both Contractor and other vendors who are contracted within the applicable scope categories and locations, either sequentially or concurrently, then selecting the proposal or proposals combination that is most advantageous to State; or

3.11.4. As described in 3.11.3 above but introducing ad-hoc commercial competition by making the selection and ordering conditional on obtaining more favorable prices than the contractually-established ones.

3.12. Work on State Premises

3.12.1. Compliance with Rules. Contractor is responsible for ensuring that its personnel comply with State’s rules, regulations, policies, documented practices, and documented operating procedures while delivering or installing Materials or performing Services on State’s grounds or in its facilities. For clarity of intent, the foregoing means that if Contractor is required to comply with certain security requirements in order to deliver, install, or perform at that particular location, then it shall do so nonetheless and without entitlement to any additional compensation or additional time for performance if those particular requirements are not expressly stated in the Contract. Contractor is reminded that violation of the prohibition under A.R.S. § 13-1502 against possession of weapons on State’s property by anyone for whom Contractor is responsible is a material breach of contract and grounds for termination for default.

3.12.2. Protection of Grounds and Facilities. Contractor shall deliver or install the Materials and perform the Services without damaging any State grounds or facilities. Contractor shall repair or replace any damage it does cause promptly and at its own expense, subject to whatever instructions and restrictions State needs to make to prevent inconvenience or disruption of operations. If Contractor fails to make the necessary repairs or replacements in a timely manner, State will be entitled to exercise its remedies under paragraph 8.5 of the Uniform Terms and Conditions [Right of Offset].

3.13. Transitions

3.13.1. During commencement, Contractor shall attend transition meetings with any outgoing suppliers to coordinate and ease the transition so that the impact on State’s operations is kept to a minimum. State may elect to have outgoing suppliers complete some or all of their Work or Orders in progress, even if that Work could be covered under the incoming supplier’s Contract. Conversely, the State may have a continued need for the same Materials and Services upon expiration or earlier termination of the Contract. Accordingly, Contractor shall work closely with any incoming supplier and State to ensure as smooth and complete a transition transfer as is practicable.

3.13.2. Eligible Agency representative will coordinate all transition activities and facilitate joint development of a comprehensive transition plan by both Contractor and the incoming supplier. As with the incoming transition, State may permit Contractor, when Contractor is outgoing, to complete work or orders in progress to ease the transition as is safest and most efficient in each instance.

3.13.3. Contractor shall transfer all required data to Eligible Agency representatives.

4. Costs and Payments

4.1. Type of Pricing. Offeror shall include only firm, fixed pricing in the Offer.

4.2. Contractor’s Best Pricing. Contractor warrants that, for the term of the Contract, the prices and discounts set out in the Attachments titled Pricing, including any subsequent agreed amendment to it (the “Contract Pricing”), shall be equal to or better than the lowest prices and largest discounts, both separately and in combination, at which Contractor sells equivalent services, items of equipment, and materials.

4.2.1. That price-plus-discount equivalence (“Contractor’s Best Pricing”) is intended to be irrespective of whether or not those other sales have special purchase terms, conditions, rebates, or allowances.

4.2.2. If Contractor’s Best Pricing for equivalent services, items of equipment, and materials is better than the Contract Pricing, then Contractor agrees to adjust the Contract Pricing to match the Contractor’s Best Pricing for all sales related to the Contractor made after the date when the Contractor’s Best Pricing was first better than the Contract Pricing.

4.2.3. For clarification of intent, that date is intended to be the date when the difference first occurred, which might have been before the difference was first identified. If the difference occurred before it was identified, then Supplier agrees to charge less than the Contract Pricing until the extended difference that would have been realized (i.e. if the Contractor’s Best Pricing had been applied when it should have been) has been settled.

4.3. Pricing is all-inclusive, including any ancillary fees and costs required to accomplish the Scope of Work and all aspects of Contractor’s offer as accepted by State.

4.3.1. Details of service not explicitly stated in the Scope of Work or in Contractor’s Offer, but necessarily a part of, are deemed to be understood by Contractor and included herein. All administrative, reporting, or other requirements, all overhead costs and profit and any other costs toward the accomplishment of the requirements in the Contract are included in the pricing provided.

4.3.2. Additional Charges. Any charges or fees not delineated in the Contract shall not be added, billed, or invoiced under the Contract.

4.4. Price Increase. The State may review a fully documented request for a price increase. The requested increase shall be in writing and be based upon a cost increase to the Contractor that was clearly unpredictable at the time of the offer and is directly correlated to the price of the product concerned. Contractor must provide conclusive evidence of a need for any price increases.

4.4.1. Initial Contract prices shall be honored for one year after award of Contract.

4.4.2. The State needs sufficient time to make a fair and equitable determination in response to any Contractor requests for price adjustments. As a result, the State requests that the Contractor provide ninety (90) days advance notice prior to any price adjustment whenever possible, and at a minimum, sixty (60) days advance notice. Requests sent to the State with less than sixty (60) days’ notice will be denied, unless the Contractor provides proper documentation demonstrating the urgency of the request. The State shall determine whether the price increase is in the best interest of the State.

4.4.3. All price adjustments will be implemented by a formal Contract Amendment. State shall determine whether the requested price increase or an alternate option is in the best interest of the State.

4.4.4. State expects Contractors to use Lean Six Sigma principles to reduce costs in their supply chain, and not simply pass new costs on to the State. If a price increase is requested, State will ask for evidence that Lean Six Sigma principles and tools have been used by Contractor to attempt to reduce costs in advance of any request for a price increase under the Contract.

4.5. Price Reductions. Price reductions shall be immediately passed along to State and may be submitted in writing to State for consideration at any time during the Contract period. The contractor shall offer State a price reduction on the Contract product(s) concurrent with a published price reduction made to other customers. The State at its own discretion may accept a price reduction. The price reduction request shall be in writing and include documentation showing the actual reduction of cost. Sales promotions requests shall include differences in pricing, begin, and end date of promotion along with the products covered.

4.6. Travel. Contractor shall request and receive written approval prior to any travel under the Contract in which reimbursement of expenses will be requested. Contractor will be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in accordance with the current rates specified in the State's Travel Policy. Contractor shall itemize all per diem and lodging charges. State Travel Policy, including State rates, may be located at https://gao.az.gov/travel/travel-information. Eligible Agency or State shall reject any claim for travel reimbursement for which Contractor did not receive prior written approval.

4.7. Funding

No particular funding considerations apart from Uniform Terms and Conditions Sections 4.5 [Availability of Funds for the Next State Fiscal Year] and 4.6 [Availability of Funds for the Current State Fiscal Year] have been identified as of the Solicitation publication date.

4.8. Invoicing

4.8.1. Invoices Go to Ordering Entity. Contractor shall submit all billing notices or invoices to the ordering Eligible Agency or Co-Op Buyer at the address indicated on the applicable Order document or by utilizing the Ordering Entity’s purchasing tool/process.

4.8.2. Minimum Invoice Requirements. Every invoice shall include the following information:

4.8.2.1. Bill-to name and address;

4.8.2.2. Contractor name and contact information;

4.8.2.3. Remit-to address;

4.8.2.4. Invoice number and date;

4.8.2.5. State contract number;

4.8.2.6. Order number (APP PO number);

4.8.2.7. Material or Service description (itemized);

4.8.2.8. Date(s) Services were performed or Materials were delivered;

4.8.2.9. Applicable payment terms;

4.8.2.10. Quantity delivered or performed;

4.8.2.11. Line item unit of measure;

4.8.2.12. Item price;

4.8.2.13. Extended pricing;

4.8.2.14. Receipt for pass-through expenses (if applicable);

4.8.2.15. Taxes (as a separate invoice line item), including the percentage used to calculate taxes;

4.8.2.16. Mailing fees (if applicable); and

4.8.2.17. Total invoice amount due.

4.8.3. No Invoice Without Authorization. Contractor shall not seek payment for any:

4.8.3.1. Materials or Services that have not been authorized on an acknowledged Order;

4.8.3.2. Expediting, overtime, premiums, or upcharges absent State’s express prior approval; or

4.8.3.3. Materials or Services that are the subject of a Contract Amendment that has not been fully signed by the Procurement Officer.

4.8.4. Submitting Invoices. Contractor shall submit an invoice to the ordering Eligible Agency or Co‑Op Buyer using the form and/or process required by the ordering Eligible Agency or Co-Op Buyer. Every invoice must be signed by Contractor’s authorized representative and accompanied by all supporting information and documentation required by the Contract and applicable laws.

4.8.5. Defective Invoices. Without prejudice to its other rights under the Contract or further obligation to Contractor, the ordering Eligible Agency or Co-Op Buyer may, at its discretion, reject any materially defective invoice.

4.8.5.1. The ordering Eligible Agency or Co-Op Buyer shall notify the Contractor within five (5) business days after receipt if it determines an invoice to be materially defective.

4.8.5.2. Invoices will be deemed automatically rejected upon delivery if they: are sent to an incorrect address, do not reference the correct State contract and Purchase Order number, or are payable to any Person other than the Contractor.

4.8.5.3. The ordering Eligible Agency or Co-Op Buyer shall have no obligation to pay against a defective invoice unless and until Contractor has re-submitted it free of defects.

4.9. Payments

4.9.1. Payment Deadline. State shall make payments in compliance with Arizona Revised Statutes Titles 35 and 41. Unless and then only to the extent expressly stated otherwise in the Pricing Section of the Special Terms and Conditions above, State shall make payment in full for Materials that have been delivered and accepted and Services that have been performed and accepted within the time specified in A.R.S. § 35-342, after both of the following occur: (a) all of the Materials being invoiced have been delivered or installed (as applicable) and accepted and all of the Services being invoiced have been performed and accepted; and (b) Contractor has provided a complete and accurate invoice in the form and manner called for in the Contract, provided that, State will not make or be liable for any payments to Contractor until Contractor has registered properly in the State’s eProcurement System and provided a current I.R.S. Form W-9 to State unless excused by law from providing one.

4.9.2. Payments Only to Contractor. Unless an assignment and assumption agreement has been reached between the Contractor and State pursuant to Section 5.1 of the Special Terms and Conditions [Assignment and Delegation] or the State has been otherwise compelled by operation of law or order of a court of competent jurisdiction, State will only make payment to Contractor under the federal tax identifier the Contract was awarded to within the eProcurement System.

4.9.3. Payment. The applicable Eligible Agency or Co-Op Buyer shall pay undisputed amounts due to Contractor within the time period specified in Section 4 Costs and Payments of the Uniform Terms and Conditions.

4.9.4. Joint Checks or Direct Pay. Applicable Eligible Agency or Co-Op Buyer may, but is under no obligation to, pay by joint check or to pay directly to any Subcontractor or other creditor to whom any portion of Contractor’s requested payment is owed.

4.9.5. Recovery of Overpayment. If applicable, Eligible Agency or Co-Op Buyer determines that an overpayment has been made to Contractor on any prior invoice, it shall inform Contractor of the amount and date of the overpayment and may deduct the overpaid amount from amounts then or thereafter due to Contractor.

4.9.6. Purchasing Card. Applicable Eligible Agency or Co-Op Buyer may pay invoices for some or all Orders using a purchasing card.