Official bid specifications are available only at www.mitn.info.

INVITATION TO BID

ITB-SH26-041

The City of Sterling Heights, Michigan is accepting sealed bids for BRUSH CHIPPING until TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2026 AT 2:30 P.M. Please refer to the attached instructions, specifications, and bid submission procedures

Erik Skurda Purchasing Manager

Office of Purchasing 586-446-2740 http://www.mitn.info/

Official bid specifications are available only at www.mitn.info. Page 1 of 23

INVITATION TO BID

BRUSH CHIPPING

CITY OF STERLING HEIGHTS

40555 UTICA ROAD

Sterling Heights, MI 48313

CONTACT PERSON: ERIK SKURDA, PURCHASING MANAGER

PHONE: 586-446-2741, FAX: 586-276-4062, E-MAIL: shpurchasing@sterlingheights.gov

INDEX

I. GENERAL CONDITIONS

II. CHECK LIST FOR BIDDERS

III. BID SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

IV. INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

V. BOND REQUIREMENTS

VI. SPECIFICATIONS

VII. BID FORM

VIII. QUALIFICATION QUESTIONNAIRE

IX. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT

X. HOLD HARMLESS AND INDEMNITY

XI. NON-IRAN LINKED BUSINESS CERTIFICATION

XII. EQUIPMENT LISTING

XIII. REFERENCES

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I. GENERAL CONDITIONS

All information requested of the vendor shall be entered in the appropriate space on the form. Failure to do so may result in your bid being deemed non-responsive.

All information shall be entered in ink or typewritten. Mistakes may be crossed out and corrections inserted before submission of your bid. Corrections shall be initialed in ink by the person signing the bid. Corrections and/or modifications received after the closing time specified will not be accepted.

Time of delivery/installation shall be stated as the number of calendar days following receipt of the purchase order by the vendor to receipt of the goods or services by the City. Time of delivery/installation may be a consideration in the award.

Prices shall be stated in units of quantity specified in the bid document. In case of a discrepancy in computing the amount of the bid, the unit price shall govern. All quantities stated, unless indicated otherwise, are estimates and the City reserves the right to increase or decrease the quantity at the unit price bid as best fits its needs.

All prices will be bid F.O.B. Destination and remain in effect for at least 90 days to allow for approval by City Council. The successful bidder's prices will remain firm through the length of the contract as designated within these bid specifications.

Bids shall include all charges for delivery, packing, crating, etc. unless otherwise stated in the bid document. General delivery hours are 7:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Monday – Friday. The City is not to be held responsible for, and will not pay, any fuel surcharges during the term of the contract. Unit prices bid shall include delivery.

Prices will be considered net if no cash discount is shown.

All bids shall be signed by an authorized officer or employee of the bidder.

Bid Submission Options: Please refer to Section III Bid Submission Instructions for directions on submitting a bid electronically. Hard paper copy, email or fax submission of bids / proposals is not an option.

To be considered, your bid must be submitted to the City as instructed prior to the Date and Time specified. No late bids will be accepted. Bids may be withdrawn by a bidder, or authorized representative, provided their identity is made known and an email, phone call or fax is made to the City and the City can verify via return email or phone call the identity of the bidder and the intention to withdraw the bid, and if withdrawal is made prior to the stated bid deadline. On the mitn.info portal, electronic bids may be withdrawn by placing the bid into “storage” through the Edit option prior to the stated bid deadline.

The City of Sterling Heights reserves the right to postpone the bid opening for its own convenience.

Municipalities are exempt from Michigan State Sales and Federal Excise taxes. Do not include such taxes in your bid price. The City will furnish the successful contractor with tax

Official bid specifications are available only at www.mitn.info. Page 3 of 23 exemption certificates when requested. The following exception shall apply to installation projects. When sales tax is charged to the successful contractor for materials to be installed during the project, that cost shall be included in the bid cost and not charged as a separate item. The City is not tax exempt in this case and cannot issue an exemption certificate. If you are unfamiliar with your sales and use tax obligations, please contact the Michigan Department of Treasury for directions, including any applicable Revenue Administrative Bulletins (i.e. 1999-2 and any subsequent replacements / updates).

The City's normal payment terms are 30 days in connection with any cash discounts specified on this bid. Time will be computed from the date of complete delivery of supplies or equipment as specified, or from the date correct invoices are received in the City's Finance Department, if the latter date is later than the date of delivery.

The City reserves the right: (1) To award bids received on the basis of individual items, or groups of items, or on the entire list of items, (2) To reject any or all bids, or any part thereof,

(3) To waive any irregularity in the bids, (4) To accept the bid that is in the best interest of the City, (5) To accept an alternate to the product or service being bid out if deemed equivalent in the sole discretion of the city, except where alternates are prohibited by the terms of the invitation to bid (6) To reduce or eliminate this purchase without prior notice,

(7) To split the award to realize the greatest cost savings, (8) To issue Post-Bid Addendums to clarify or request additional information, including pricing, (9) To require one or more selected bidders to perform the requested service on a trial basis, at the unit prices bid, as evidence of a bidders ability to satisfactorily perform the requested service, prior to a formal recommendation and approval by City Administration / City Council.

This invitation to bid and the acceptance of a bid by the City is not a contract for the purchase of services or products. The City will issue a Purchase Order, which will define, make reference to, and incorporate the bid specifications and the pricing bid as accepted by the City. Winning bidder is not to commence with any service or product order without receiving a Purchase Order signed by the Purchasing Manager. Unless otherwise stated, all contracts for services are subject to additions, reductions and/or termination at the sole discretion of the City and without prior notice by the City. Please forward any questions you may have regarding this solicitation to the Purchasing Manager via email at shpurchasing@sterlingheights.gov.

Bid prices submitted by the successful bidder should remain firm for the length of the contract from date of award by City Council.

ALL BIDS MUST INCLUDE MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS FOR MATERIALS AS

REQUIRED BY M.I.O.S.H.A.

The City of Sterling Heights is now part of an organization called the Michigan Inter-governmental Trade Network (MITN), a group of agencies that joined forces to create a Regional Bid Notification System to notify companies of new bid opportunities. All bids, quotations and proposals are now being posted online. All vendors are encouraged to visit http://www.mitn.info in order to register their company and gain access to new bids and proposals. If you do not have internet access, please call 1-800-835-4603 to speak to a representative at BidNet®, the technical support group that handles the MITN system.

mailto:shpurchasing@sterlingheights.gov

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II. CHECK LIST FOR BIDDERS

All information required by the terms of the bid documents must be furnished.

MISTAKES OR OMISSIONS CAN RESULT IN THE REJECTION OF YOUR BID.

Important items for you to check are included in, but not limited to, those listed below. This checklist is furnished only to assist you in submitting a proper bid.

_____ Is your bid properly signed? (refer to bid documents)

_____ If required, have you entered a unit price or lump sum for each bid item?

_____ Are any bid bonds or bid deposits, if required, included in your bid package?

Include a copy of any bid bond or a copy of a certified check to show compliance with this requirement

_____ Did you complete and include the Qualification Questionnaire, Cooperative Agreement, Hold Harmless, Non-Iran Linked Business Certification, Equipment Listing and References forms as well as include Exhibits A & B?

_____ Bid Submission – Bids are to be submitted via the mitn.info bid submittal system. Bids submitted by email, fax, hard copy drop off, US Mail and delivery service are not options at this time. Include in your bid submittal package all required forms / documents, but please do not include the specifications and instructions. Return only the forms requiring completion.

_____ Will your bid arrive on time? Late bids will not be considered. Bids must be received by the City via mitn.info no later than 2:30 p.m. by the date specified.

_____ Did you submit your original bid form (no additional copies are required)?

PLEASE DO NOT RETURN COPIES OF OUR

SPECIFICATIONS/INSTRUCTIONS. RETURN ONLY THE FORMS

REQUIRING YOUR COMPLETION (Pages 16-23) AS WELL AS EXHIBITS A (Insurance Requirements) and B (Bond Requirements).

Failure to include all pages may result in your bid being deemed non-responsive.

_____ Did you check the MITN website (or email the Purchasing Department) for any addendums which may have been posted? Addendums may be posted at any time to the MITN website.

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III. BID SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Please read these instructions carefully. Your bid / proposal may be deemed non-responsive if it is not submitted as detailed below. Bids / proposals are considered received when downloaded into the mitn.info system before the submission deadline date and time, late bids / proposals will not be considered.

Bid / Proposal Submission Deadline: Tuesday, NOVEMBER 17, 2026, before 2:30 P.M.

Electronic Bid Submission via the MITN system as described below is the only bid submittal option.

Call the Purchasing Office at 586-446-2740 if you have any questions and we will assist.

Electronic Bid Submission Only The vendor / Contractor will need to complete, scan and upload your entire bid package through the MITN system. All electronic bids / proposals will be submitted directly into a secured MITN “vault” that cannot be opened until the bid / proposal submission deadline date and time.

Vendor / Contractor Submittal Procedure:

Login to the MITN website using your previously registered credentials at http://www.mitn.info.

Locate and enter the Sterling Heights Solicitation you have prepared a bid for.

Click on the “Place Bid” button on the upper right side of the page.

In the “Place a Bid” window, select “Place a new Bid” or “Place a No Bid”

(Depending on your response). Select the “Continue” button .

On the next page, in the “Documents” tab, select “Add File” or “Import

Zip file” (Depending on your file type). Complete all required actions and click the “Next” button.

This will bring you to the “Pricing” tab. There you will see a reminder to “Don’t forget to attach your pricing in the ‘Documents’ section”. Select the “Next” button.

On the following screen, in the “Exceptions” section, select “No” or “Yes” (depending on your response). In the “Bidder Compliance & Authentication” section, you will enter your full name and password where prompted. Click the

“Submit Bid” button.

In the “Bid Submission Confirmation” window, select “No” or “Yes” (depending on your response).

Finally, the next screen will confirm your bid submission. Here you will receive a confirmation number and will be able to download a PDF version of the confirmation for your records.

Important: The mitn.info system locks at 2:30 pm (Sterling Heights, Michigan Time) on the due date, and no bids / proposals can be downloaded after that time. No exceptions.

Bids / proposals must be downloaded and accepted by the mitn.info downloading portal

Official bid specifications are available only at www.mitn.info. Page 6 of 23 before 2:30 pm. Do not wait until the last minute to submit your bid / proposal, internet connections, computer systems failures on the submitter’s part could cause a bid / proposal to be denied from downloading into mitn.info system. The system locks at 2:30

pm. Late bids / proposals will not be considered.

If you have questions with the electronic bid submission procedures, please contact the MITN Vendor Support Department at (800) 835-4603, option #2 or email:

e-procurementsupport@bidnet.com

The City of Sterling Heights officially distributes bid and RFP documents through the Michigan Inter-governmental Trade Network (MITN). Copies of bid and RFP documents obtained from any other source are not considered official copies. Bids or notification of bids issued by members of MITN are to be posted, in whole or in part, ONLY on the MITN system. Any other use is prohibited. Only those vendors who obtain bid documents from the MITN system are guaranteed access to receive addendum information, if such information is issued. The City of Sterling Heights cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information not obtained from the MITN website and is not responsible for any errors contained by information received from alternate sources.

The City reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to allow a bidder to resubmit a copy of a bid that was otherwise submitted via the mitn.info system before the bid due date and time, when the bid document submitted via the mitn.info system is corrupt or otherwise not readable / downloadable by the City, and when in the opinion of the City, the fault was not that of the bidder.

If you received this document from a source other than the sources indicated, please notify us. It is recommended that all vendors register on the MITN website at www.mitn.info to obtain an official copy. All future bids, proposals, quotes and any addenda and tabulations will be posted on the MITN website.

BID BOND SUBMITTAL: Please refer to the specifications and forms for bid bond requirements and additional information. When bid bonds are required, all bidders must submit a photocopy of the Bid Bond (surety, cashier check, certified check) as part of the electronic bid submission. The photocopy must be of sufficient resolution to show a valid stamp, seal, signatures, names, dates, etc. The original Bid Bond must be provided upon request of the City. Failure to submit the original Bid Bond, upon request by the City, may result in the bid being deemed unresponsive and the bid rejected without further evaluation.

PUBLIC BID OPENING: A public bid opening will be accessible 30 minutes after the posted due date and time via three simultaneous formats:

1. Microsoft Teams live stream - Join the meeting here

2. Conference call, participants must call 586-446-2663, (enter Conference ID

Code 4462740 when prompted).

3. In person at the City of Sterling Heights City Council Chambers located at:

40555 Utica Road, Sterling Heights MI, 48313.

A Purchasing Department representative will read the bids / name of firms submitting proposals as they are downloaded and made available.

http://www.mitn.info/ mailto:e-procurementsupport@bidnet.com https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ODVkMDYwZjAtZjIyOS00MDE3LTk3OTYtZWVjOGJkNjU5ZjI1%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22b4d6f201-96e3-4465-b7a5-0a89b7d16abb%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22c409637a-761b-428b-b134-24fd1a9caff3%22%7d

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IV. INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor, and any and all of their subcontractors, shall not commence work under this contract until required insurance within this contract has been obtained and shall keep such insurance in force during the entire life of this contract. All insurance coverages shall be with insurance carriers licensed and admitted to do business in the State of Michigan and acceptable to the City of Sterling Heights. The requirements below should not be interpreted to limit the liability of the Contractor. If any insurance is written with a deductible or self-insured retention, the Contractor shall be solely responsible for said deductible or self-insured retention. The purchase of insurance and the furnishing of a certificate of insurance shall not be a satisfaction of the Contractor's indemnification to the City of Sterling Heights.

The Contractor is responsible to meet all MIOSHA requirements for on-the-job safety.

The Contractor shall procure and maintain during the life of this contract the following coverages:

Workers Compensation Insurance including Employers Liability Coverage, in accordance with all applicable Statutes of the State of Michigan.

Commercial General Liability Insurance on an “Occurrence Basis” with limits of liability not less than $1,000,000.00 per occurrence and aggregate, Personal Injury, Bodily Injury and Property Damage. Coverage shall include the following extensions:

(1) Contractual Liability Coverage

(2) Products and Completed Operations Coverage.

(3) Independent Contractors Coverage.

(4) Broad Form General Liability Extensions.

(5) Explosion, Collapse, and Underground, if applicable.

Automobile Liability including Michigan No-Fault Coverages, with limits of liability of not less than $1,000,000.00 per occurrence combined single limit Bodily Injury and Property Damage. Coverage shall include all owned vehicles, all non-owned vehicles and all hired vehicles.

Commercial General Liability and Automobile Liability limits may be obtained by using an Excess/Umbrella Liability policy in addition to the primary liability policy(ies). If coverage limits are satisfied by an Excess and/or Umbrella policy, coverage must follow form of the primary liability policy(ies), including but not limited to additional insured and primary/non-contributory coverage.

Additional Insured: Following the official award of bid by City Council, the Commercial General Liability Insurance as described above shall include an Additional Insured endorsement as follows:

"The City of Sterling Heights, including all elected and appointed officials, all employees and volunteers, all boards, commissions and/or authorities and board members, including employees and volunteers thereof. It is understood and agreed by naming the City of

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Sterling Heights as additional insured, coverage afforded is considered to be primary and any other insurance the City of Sterling Heights may have in effect shall be considered secondary and/or excess."

Cancellation Notice: Policies as described above shall include an endorsement stating the following: It is understood and agreed thirty (30) days, ten (10) days for non-payment of premium, Advance Written Notice of Cancellation or Non-Renewal shall be sent to the Certificate Holder:

City of Sterling Heights Reference: Bid ITB-SH26-041 Purchasing Manager 40555 Utica Road Sterling Heights, MI 48313

Proof of Insurance Coverage: The contractor shall provide the City of Sterling Heights at the time the contracts are returned by him/her for execution a Certificate of Insurance as well as the required endorsements. In lieu of required endorsements, if applicable, a copy of the policy sections where coverage is provided for additional insured and cancellation notice would be acceptable. Copies or certified copies of all policies mentioned above shall be furnished, if so requested.

If any of the above coverages expire during the term of this Contract, the Contractor shall deliver renewal certificates, endorsements and/or policies to the City of Sterling Heights at least ten (10) days prior to the expiration date.

If the required insurance (with the exception of the Additional Insured endorsement) is already in place, please include a copy of the Certificate of Liability Insurance with your bid.

However, if required insurance is not already in place when submitting bid, contractors shall include a letter from their insurance agent indicating that they will be able to secure a Certificate of Liability Insurance upon award of the contract.

Please label that letter Exhibit A

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V. BOND REQUIREMENTS

Bid Bond

Bids must be accompanied by a surety Bid Bond, Bank Issued Money Order, or Cashier's Check payable to the City of Sterling Heights in the amount of $1,000, which will be returned to the unsuccessful bidders after the award of the bid. The Bid Bond submitted by the successful bidder will be returned upon receipt of the required Performance Bond.

No bid shall be considered unless it is accompanied by the required guaranty. Corporate checks will not be accepted as bid security.

Performance Bond (Surety or Cash Performance Bond)

The Contractor whose bid is accepted shall furnish a performance bond at their own expense with a company acceptable to the City in the amount of one thousand dollars - $1,000. The Performance Bond shall serve as security for the faithful performance of this Contract including any maintenance or warranty provisions and for the payment of all persons performing labor or furnishing materials in connection with this Contract. Premiums for the Performance Bond shall be paid by the Contractor. If at any time the City shall be dissatisfied with any surety or surety bond or Performance Bond, or if for any other reason such bond shall cease to be adequate security for the City, the Contractor shall within ten

(10) days after notice from the City to do so, substitute an acceptable bond in performance and sum and signed by other sureties which are acceptable to the City. The premiums on such substitute bond shall be paid by the Contractor. The Performance Bond shall remain in full force and effect during the life of the Contract and during the term of any warranty or maintenance required by the specifications.

Cash Performance Bond - Contractor shall be allowed to provide a cash performance bond in lieu of the surety performance bond listed above.

The Contractor may not commence work and bid bonds or checks will not be returned until the performance bond has been received and approved by the City.

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VI. SPECIFICATIONS

INTRODUCTION:

The City of Sterling Heights is requesting sealed bids from contractors with the experience, qualified personnel and equipment to provide brush/branch chipping services for residents on an as needed basis. This service is offered by the City throughout the year with the majority of the work being conducted between May 1st and October 15th.

Under this program, any chipping service desired by residents will be referred to the contractor selected through this bid process. Upon referral of a request to the selected contractor, the contractor shall make their own arrangements to provide service for the resident and collect the fee for service rendered, based upon the unit pricing bid and awarded. The City will not have any involvement, in any facet of the financial transaction between the contractor and the resident. The City will advertise the availability of this service to the residents on its web site, however residents shall retain the option to hire any contractor of their choosing at their discretion.

Bidders shall provide evidence in their bid packet that they are experienced and qualified to perform brush / branch chipping services and are capable of providing all labor, supervision, equipment, materials, supplies, insurance and all other items necessary to perform the services as stated herein, including customer service.

Contractor will be responsible for all transport and disposal of chip material to an acceptable dumpsite. The City will not provide a location for the dumpsite.

TERM OF PROGRAM:

The term of the initial bid award / contract is from the date of the Sterling Heights City Council bid award through November 30, 2028. Thereafter, upon mutual consent of the City and the contractor, the bid award / contract is eligible for two additional 2-year extensions each, under the same terms and conditions, for a total of six (6) years.

Should there be any questions regarding the program specifications or requirements, the bidder shall contact the City to clarify prior to submitting a bid.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

The City of Sterling Heights is seeking to offer brush/branch chipping for residents based on the following general requirements:

Branch dimensions Diameter - maximum 6 inches Length – minimum of 4 feet

Residents are instructed to have branches neatly stacked and confined to right-of-way, with cut ends facing street and shrubs without root ball.

If the contractor wishes to provide the City with a requirement exceeding minimum requirements we will review and if approved include in information and web site provided to residents.

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PRICING:

Please complete the attached Bid Form. Pricing is requested for a set fee for each 30 minutes of chipping service conducted at the residents address, including clean up.

Contractors may charge the resident a no-show fee if the contractor arrives at the residents address and it is determined the material to be chipped does not meet the requirements. In this instance, the contractor shall leave a door hanger indicating the reason for not chipping.

The contractor shall generate a door hanger and provide a copy to the City for review prior to use.

The City will select the lowest qualified contractor meeting the City requirements specified herein.

The quantity and frequency of requests for this service is variable. Contractors should take note in the past the City received and passed along to the contractor approximately 20 requests for chipping service per year. This is not a guarantee of work but is for informational purposes only.

CITY NOTICE TO RESIDENTS OFFERING BRUSH / BRANCH CHIPPING SERVICES:

Below is a summary of the current notice on the City’s DPW web page offering resident contracted brush / branch chipping services. Be advised that this is the current notice however, any notice or advertisement by the City is subject to change and removal, at the sole discretion of the City.

About the Program

The Department of Public Works (DPW) offers a residential program year-round that provides Branch Chipping services performed by a qualified contractor at a competitive rate of $_____ per half hour of service.

Placement Guidelines

Chipping will be done from 1 to 14 business days from the date of request. Limbs must be over 4 feet in length with the cut ends facing the street.

Only tree branches longer than four feet and less than 6 inches in diameter will be chipped.

There must not be any debris or roots mixed with the branches.

Tree branches for chipping should be in a neat, uniform pile between the sidewalk and curb or close to the road where there are no sidewalks. All branches must be stacked with the butt ends of the branches facing the street. Due to the hazardous condition involved in the operation of the chipper, residents will be advised to re-stack branches if not stacked properly and chipping service will be rescheduled for a later date.

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Branches placed at the curbside for this program shall at no time obstruct any city sidewalk, or view of traffic.

Tree branches placed in the right-of-way without payment of fee will be removed by City personnel after a 5-day notice. The property owner will be automatically invoiced $_____ per half hour for Tree Branch Chipping services.

Payment & Scheduling

The minimum branch chipping fee is $______ per half hour paid directly to (Contractor Name).

Request for service can be obtained through the online Branch Chipping form.

Once this form is completed, a representative from (Contractor Name) will contact you for payment and scheduling details.

PROGRAM CONDITIONS:

A. Mechanically acceptable, fully operational brush chippers with licensed crews shall provide chipping when requested by residents during daylight hours Monday through Saturday.

B. The successful bidder must have his own equipment and a list of equipment must be provided to the City.

C. Contractor shall chip all requests within five working days of notice. Exceptions may be made for unusually high volumes. Note in chipping service work log.

D. Contractor is responsible for leaving the pickup location in “broom/blower clean” condition, free of any remaining brush.

E. Contractor shall not be permitted to assign or transfer this program to another party, company, partnership, corporation, or sublet any part of the work embraced by it without specific consent and approval in writing from the Council of the City of Sterling Heights.

F. The contractor shall guarantee unit prices for a period from date of City Council award through November 30, 2028, with the option upon mutual agreement, for the City and the contractor to extend the award for up to two additional two (2) year periods under the same terms and conditions.

G. Workmanship: All work shall be performed in accordance with the best modern practice and workmanship of highest quality. Failure to conform to standards specified by the City shall be considered a breach of the contractor requirements and may result in termination of program agreement with the contractor and loss of performance bond.

H. The contractor shall designate a supervisor who shall be available at all times to accommodate the City. The supervisor shall have the power to initiate immediate action to resolve disputes and/or complaints. The City may request a schedule of chipping service locations and may show up unannounced to evaluate performance.

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REPORTING:

The contractor shall report on its performance to the City to enable the City to assess contractor's compliance with Contract as follows:

Records: Records shall be kept by contractor on a daily, weekly, cumulative monthly and cumulative annual basis, and shall be available to the City upon request.

Reporting: Contractor shall maintain and submit to the City accurate reports, which detail certain activity related to services pursuant to this program in a format approved by the City. These reports shall include data for all materials handled from its services for the City. Annual reports shall report all the above data, following the same format as the monthly report.

Timing: Contractor shall file reports with the City in a timely manner, but on no less than a monthly basis, specifying all complaints, accidents or incidents while performing City chipping services.

Unusual Incidents: Reports shall detail the nature and reasons for unusual incidents (e.g. accidents, regulatory non-compliance notices, overweight tickets, etc.) as well as all results, findings and actions taken to resolve such incidents. Contractor shall also notify the City immediately of any fines or penalties levied and any actions that could have an adverse impact on the contractor or the service to the City, or both.

LABOR AND EQUIPMENT:

The contractor shall provide and maintain in full operation at all times during the performance. A visit to inspect the bidder's equipment may be made by the City prior to awarding of bids. Failure to pass City inspection of equipment may be cause for disqualification from further consideration.

WORKMANSHIP:

All work shall be performed in accordance with the best modern practice and workmanship of highest quality. Contractor shall follow all OSHA/MIOSHA safety guidelines, industry guidelines, and shall train their work crews accordingly to their own safety guidelines. Risks presented at each site should be considered and an arrow board used when appropriate. However, at a minimum, safety cones should be used to warn and direct traffic. Failure to conform to standards specified by the City shall be considered a breach of the Contract.

SUPERVISION:

The Contractor shall designate a supervisor who shall be available at all times to accommodate the City. The supervisor shall have the power to initiate immediate action to resolve disputes and/or complaints. The supervisor must be able to fluently communicate in English in order to address questions and concerns from city residents as well as City inspectors and supervisors.

SAFETY / TRAFFIC CONTROL

All work shall be performed in a professional, courteous, workman like manner using quality equipment and materials, all of which must be maintained and operated with the highest standard as well as meeting all OSHA and MIOSHA safety standards.

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The contractor shall operate all equipment in accordance with MIOSHA standards. The contractor will be working in and around subdivisions and every effort shall be made to protect property from damage and any injury from occurring.

The contractor shall place at a minimum construction cones in front of and behind the equipment to flag passersby of work being done, Traffic control devices and placement must conform to the Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

DRESS CODE:

Contractor's employees shall maintain a neat and clean appearance at all times.

Employees must and shall wear safety shoes, safety glasses, long pants and a shirt at all times (single color shirts, not tank tops). Shirt or jackets cannot have any other writing or slogan other than company name. High visibility safety vests must be worn at all times while working on designated roadways. Vests must be approved by the MIOSHA safety standards.

PENALTY CLAUSE:

If the City determines that the contractor has not performed the required services in a manner or time frame acceptable to the City, a City representative will notify the contractor giving them an opportunity to correct their performance. Remedies will be completed based on the following guidelines:

A. Within 24 hours (from delivery of notification) to contact the City and discuss problem(s).

B. Within 48 hours (from delivery of notification) to correct the situation, unless otherwise agreed to by the City.

Should the contractor fail to make correction to City’s satisfaction and/or in the required time frame, City crews or another contractor will correct the situation, and continue corrections until contractor resumes his responsibilities or the relationship is terminated.

Contractor’s performance bond will be charged at the rate of:

If completed by City Crews Cost for labor, equipment (based on MDOT schedule C), and a 50% administration charge. The City will not charge any less than the price set forth in the unit price provided by the contractor.

If completed by another Contractor Invoiced amount plus 50%

Should there be insufficient performance bond funds to cover penalties, contractor will be billed. The contractor shall replenish the bond account to its original value if it drops below $1,000.00.

Each deficiency will be reviewed for possible termination of relationship. The City of

Sterling Heights reserves the right to terminate the relationship upon 30 days written notice due to poor performance or for any reason deemed in its best interest.

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STORM ASSISTANCE

The City may request chipping services after a large storm or heavy wind event. In the event the contractor is called in to assist after a storm, the City is requesting an hourly price for emergency call in services. Billable time starts once the contractor arrives on the scene and is performing work at an assigned location. All specifications herein, as applicable, shall apply to storm assistance services requested by the City. However, invoicing for storm assistance services shall be directed to the Department of Public Works.

Please submit your hourly rate on the attached Bid Form for a two man crew, truck and chipper capable of minimally chipping brush and branches 6 inches in diameter.

Official bid specifications are available only at www.mitn.info. Page 16 of 23

VII. BID FORM

The undersigned hereby declares that the instructions and specifications have been carefully examined and that Brush Chipping will be furnished for the prices set forth in this bid. It is understood and agreed that all bids are F.O.B. DESTINATION, that all bid prices shall remain in effect for at least ninety (90) days from the date of the bid opening to allow for the award of the bid and that, . If chosen the vendor, the prices bid will remain firm through November 30, 2028, with option to extend the bid award / contract two additional 2-year terms, upon the mutual consent of the City and the contractor, and upon the same terms and conditions.

All quantities indicated are estimated amounts for one (1) year and may vary during the course of the contract. The estimated quantities are used for assisting in the determination of the lowest responsible bidder. The City reserves the right to reduce or eliminate this service / purchase without prior notice. The City reserves the right to split and/or reject all bids to realize the greatest cost savings.

Brush Chipping Charges

Est.

Qty

Unit Unit Price Total

Brush Chipping

.50 Hour (30 min.)

Emergency Call-In of two-man crew to assist after storm event

Hours

Bid Grand Total $

I hereby state that I have read, understand and agree to be bound by all the terms of this bid document. The undersigned certifies that he has downloaded all documents/addendums associated with this bid from the MITN website.

Company

Address

City/State/Zip

Representative/Title

Telephone/Fax

Terms

E-Mail Address/Website

Signature/Date

This form must be completed and returned with your bid.

Official bid specifications are available only at www.mitn.info. Page 17 of 23

VIII. QUALIFICATION QUESTIONNAIRE

All bidders must complete the following Questionnaire. This information may be presented on another page if desired.

1. Name of Company submitting a bid:

2. Authorized Representative Name/Title:

3. Office Address:

4. Local Telephone/Fax Numbers:

24-Hour/7-Day Emergency Telephone Number:

E-mail address:

Website:

5. State the legal status of the company submitting the bid. A corporation shall provide the state of incorporation, a partnership shall provide the names of all partners:

6. Name of Owner, President, Managing Partner or CEO:

7. Does your business qualify as any of the below designations: Please circle if appropriate.

a. Black Owned

b. Women Owned

c. Veteran Owned

d. People of Color Owned

e. LGBTQ Owned

f. Native/Indigenous Owned

8. Are any of the employees unionized? Please specify which employees are if applicable.

9. Give a brief summary of the history of the business:

10. How many full-time employees? Part time?

11. How long have you been in business of a similar nature for the services contemplated within this bid?

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12. List any licenses / professional certifications of the company or employees assigned to this contract that would be applicable to services contemplated within this bid.

13. How many years’ experience do you have in providing for the services contemplated within this bid? Please list the municipalities, when applicable:

14. How many clients does your company currently serve with the type of work described?

15. Has your company had a similar contract for services terminated for cause within the last three years? If yes, please explain.

16. Please provide information on your hiring practices, employee training and employee safety programs:

17. Do you have any current contracts for similar services in Sterling Heights? If yes, please list location(s):

Questionnaire completed by:

Company Name:

Print Name

Title

Signature

Date:

Official bid specifications are available only at www.mitn.info. Page 19 of 23

IX. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT

EXTENSION OF AWARD TO MITN PURCHASING COOPERATIVE

The City of Sterling Heights is a member of the MITN Purchasing Cooperative consisting of many cities, townships, counties and other governmental agencies throughout Michigan. If your company is awarded item(s) referenced in the bid, the cooperative governmental entities may wish to use this contract and will use a purchase order for the item(s) awarded in this bid following minimum order requirements set forth in the bid document. Each entity will provide their own purchase order and delivery location(s) and must be invoiced separately to the address indicated on the purchase order. Please check appropriate box and complete information as required.

If an award is made to _____________________________, it is agreed that (Company) the contract will be extended to the MITN Purchasing Cooperative under the same prices, terms, and conditions.

Signature of Company Representative ______________________________________

Our company is NOT interested in extending the contract.

Company

Address

City/State/Zip

Representative/Title

Telephone/Fax

E-Mail Address/Website

Signature

Official bid specifications are available only at www.mitn.info. Page 20 of 23

X. HOLD HARMLESS AND INDEMNITY

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the contractor expressly agrees to indemnify and hold the City of Sterling Heights (City), its elected and appointed officials, employees and volunteer and others working on behalf of the City, harmless from and against all loss, cost, expense, damage, liability or claims, whether groundless or not, arising out of the bodily injury, sickness or disease (including death resulting at any time therefrom) which may be sustained or claimed by any person or persons, or the damage or destruction of any property, including the loss of use thereof, based on any act or omission, negligent or otherwise, of contractor or anyone acting in its behalf in connection with or incident to this contract or the work to be performed hereunder, except that the contractor shall not be responsible to the City on indemnity for damages caused by or resulting from the City's sole negligence; and the Contractor shall, at its own cost and expense, defend any such claim and any suit, action, or proceeding which may be commenced hereunder, and the Contractor shall pay any and all judgments which may be recovered in any such suit, action or proceeding, and any and all expense, including, but not limited to, costs, attorneys' fees and settlement expenses which may be incurred therein.

PLEASE PRINT:

Company Name

Authorized Representative

Official bid specifications are available only at www.mitn.info. Page 21 of 23

XI. NON-IRAN LINKED BUSINESS CERTIFICATION

Pursuant to Michigan law before accepting any bid or proposal or entering into any contract for goods and services with any prospective Vendor, the Vendor must certify that it is not an "Iran Linked Business".

By signing below, I certify and agree on behalf of myself and the company submitting this proposal the following: (1) that I am duly authorized to legally bind the company submitting this proposal; and (2) that the company submitting this proposal is not an "Iran Linked Business," as that term is defined in Section 2(e) of the Iran Economic Sanctions Act, being Michigan Public Act No. 517 of 2012; and (3) That I and the company submitting this proposal will immediately comply with any further certifications or information submissions requested by the City in this regard."

PLEASE PRINT:

Company Name

Authorized Representative

Official bid specifications are available only at www.mitn.info. Page 22 of 23

XII. EQUIPMENT LISTING

List equipment (type, condition, year, owned, leased, borrowed, etc.) to be used in performance of the contract if so awarded. If insufficient space below, list separately and attach to your bid.

Official bid specifications are available only at www.mitn.info. Page 23 of 23

XIII. REFERENCES

List at least three references with whom you have had similar contracts during the past three years. Include letters of reference when available.

1. Company or City

Contact Name

Telephone Number

E-mail

2. Company or City

3. Company or City

Bidder’s Signature Date

Company