Dry+Cell+Batteries+Contract+Signed+1-12-2024.pdf

STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA

INVITATION FOR BID (IFB)

(August 2023)

PROCUREMENT OFFICER

The Procurement Officer is the point of contact for this IFB. Bidders shall direct all communications regarding this IFB to the Procurement Officer. Please do not add the Procurement Officer to any marketing distribution lists.

PURCHASING AGENCY (STATE): Office of Management & Budget, State Procurement Office PROCUREMENT OFFICER: Gabriel Hoggarth EMAIL: gjhoggarth@nd.gov

PHONE: 701-328-2740

TTY Users call: 7-1-1

Engaging in unauthorized communication or seeking to obtain information about an open solicitation with any state employee or official other than the responsible Procurement Officer or designee is sufficient grounds for suspension or debarment. [N.D.A.C. § 4-12-05-04(7)]

BID QUESTION DEADLINE

Bidders should carefully review the IFB including all attachments. Bidders may ask questions to obtain clarification and request additional information, or object to material in the IFB. Questions and objections must be submitted to the Procurement Officer in writing by the deadline identified in the IFB. If no deadline is specified, questions or objections must be received at least seven days prior to the Bid Response deadline. The Procurement Officer may elect to respond to questions received after the deadline.

Email is the preferred method of submission with the IFB number and title cited in the email subject line. Responses to questions will be distributed as a solicitation amendment unless the question can be answered by referring the bidder to a specific section of the IFB.

A person or firm interested in submitting a proposal should ensure all communications related to the procurement are only with the designated point of contact. This section does not restrict communication with state officials or any member of the legislative assembly unless the state official or member of the legislative assembly is involved directly with the procurement for which the person is interested or has submitted a bid or proposal (N.D.C.C. § 54-44.4-01.1).

STATE PROCUREMENT WEBSITE (SPO ONLINE)

This IFB and any related amendments and notices will be posted on the North Dakota OMB website using the State Procurement Online system (SPO Online). Bidders are responsible for checking this website to obtain all information and documents related to this IFB: https://apps.nd.gov/csd/spo/services/bidder/main.htm

Select Recent Solicitations and find this solicitation. Recent solicitations are listed by close date.

Bidders not having completed the Bidders List registration may request to receive notices related to this IFB by contacting the Procurement Officer in writing with the following information: IFB title, business name, contact person, mailing address, telephone number, and email address.

DATE ISSUED 12/20/2023 BID NUMBER 110.7-23-119

BID TITLE Dry Cell Batteries COMMODITY

CODE(S) 450-06

BID QUESTION

DEADLINE 12/27/2023 by 12:00 PM CT CONTRACT NUMBER State Contract 011

BID RESPONSE

DEADLINE 1/3/2024 by 12:00 PM CT CONTRACT PERIOD 1/15/2024 – 12/31/2025 http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-05.pdf?20130319105642 https://apps.nd.gov/csd/spo/services/bidder/main.htm

SECTION 1

BIDDERS INSTRUCTIONS

1. Bidder Checklist. Have you remembered to?

• Ensure your Bid Response complies with all instructions, terms and conditions, delivery requirements, and specifications.

• Prepare your price in the specified unit of measure, FOB: Destination to the shipping location.

• Sign your bid, and initial any changes or corrections

• Ensure your Bid Response is received by the Procurement Officer by the Bid Response deadline. Called to confirm receipt.

• If using a delivery service, check tracking to ensure the Bid Response will be delivered on time. Contact the

Procurement Officer as soon as possible in the event of delays due to weather, etc.

• Submit any required samples or documents.

2. Definitions.

• Bidder: any person or firm submitting a competitive bid in response to a solicitation.

• Bid Response: the executed document submitted by a Bidder in response to a solicitation.

• Commodities: all property, including equipment, supplies, materials, printing, insurance, and the lease of equipment.

• Contractor: any person or firm having a contract with a governmental body.

• Procurement Officer: an individual duly authorized to enter into and administer purchasing contracts and make written determinations with respect thereto; also includes an authorized representative acting with the limits of designated purchasing authority.

• Purchasing Agency (STATE): the entity on which the purchase is being made on behalf of.

• Services: the furnishing of labor, time, or effort by a Contractor, not involving the delivery of a specific end product other than reports that are merely incidental to the required performance.

• Solicitation: a document to notify prospective Bidders of a bidding opportunity.

• N.D.A.C.: North Dakota Administrative Code; rules with the force and effect of law.

• N.D.C.C.: North Dakota Century Code; state laws.

• OMB: Office of Management and Budget (OMB); a North Dakota state agency.

• SPO: State Procurement Office, a division of the Office of Management and Budget.

• SPO Online: a procurement information website maintained by the State Procurement Office pursuant to

N.D.C.C. § 54-44.4-14.

3. Secretary of State Registration Requirements. The North Dakota Secretary of State has registration requirements for individuals and businesses transacting business in North Dakota. If the successful Offeror is determined to have a registration requirement with the North Dakota Secretary of State, they must be registered before the contract award and registration must remain active for the duration of the contract period (N.D.C.C. § 54- 44.4-09.1)

See the OMB Guidelines to Vendor Registry for more information.

Visit the Secretary of State's Vendor Registration webpage for information on registration requirements and fees. Visit FirstStop, the Secretary of State's business and licensing software, for online form options.

• Check the Business Records database to see if a business is registered.

• Contact Secretary of State's office by email or call 701-328-2900 (choose menu item 2, then option 1).

• If you need to register, fees apply.

• Vendors may need to obtain businesses licenses. See the list of licenses required of businesses in the

State of North Dakota. The link includes information on who to contact, application fees, renewal dates, and the legal reference.

4. Bidders List. Individuals or business entities desiring to be notified of bidding opportunities may apply to be placed on the Bidders List (N.D.C.C. § 54-44.4-09) Bidders Lists are used to notify vendors when solicitations are issued on the State Procurement Office Online system (SPO Online). Placement on the Bidders List does not guarantee a vendor will receive notice of every solicitation (N.D.A.C. § 4-12-05-01). There are no fees to register as a bidder.

The online application form requests contact information for the receipt of solicitation notices. The Bidders List application and SPO Online system use commodity codes to identify categories of goods, services, and information technology.

http://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t54c44-4.pdf https://www.ndlegis.gov/cencode/t54c44-4.pdf https://www.ndlegis.gov/cencode/t54c44-4.pdf https://www.omb.nd.gov/sites/www/files/documents/doing-business-with-the-state/procurement/vendor-reg-guidelines.pdf https://sos.nd.gov/business/vendors.html https://sos.nd.gov/firststop.html https://firststop.sos.nd.gov/search/business mailto:sos@nd.gov https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/extension-topics/leadership-and-civic-engagement/business-leadership-and-resources-2 https://www.ndlegis.gov/cencode/t54c44-4.pdf https://www.ndlegis.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-05.pdf

The commodity codes used for this solicitation are: 450-06 commodity codes.

Visit the OMB website for instructions and the online Bidders List Application:

Bidders List Registration Website

For assistance with Bidders List Registration, contact State Procurement Help Desk at 701-328-1728 or infospo@nd.gov.

5. Submission Instructions. Please follow these instructions to submit your Bid Response. Bid Responses must be received by the Procurement Officer by the Bid Response deadline. Bidders assume the risk of the delivery method selected. Late Bid Responses will be rejected.

Upload Response Through the State Procurement Online System (SPO Online):

Bidders must electronically submit Bid Responses through the State Procurement Office Online system (SPO Online) by the Bid Response deadline.

DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE “LAST MINUTE” TO SUBMIT A RESPONSE. Recommend uploading response 24 hours prior to the Bid Response deadline.

Bidder must begin the electronic submission process well in advance of the Bid Response deadline to allow for transmission and resolution of any technical difficulties. Be advised that the STATE is not responsible for a Bidder’s failure to timely submit a Bid Response due to any technical difficulties. If you experience any technical difficulties contact the Procurement Officer or the State Procurement Office at infospo@nd.gov or 701.328.2740.

If documents are in the process of being uploaded when the Bid Response deadline occurs, the upload process will stop. The attempted submission will not be uploaded successfully and is ineligible for consideration. The STATE takes no responsibility for electronic submissions that are captured, blocked, filtered, quarantined, or otherwise prevented from uploading by any anti-virus or other security software.

1. This solicitation is posted on SPO Online at: https://apps.nd.gov/csd/spo/services/bidder/main.htm

2. Select “Recent Solicitations” and find this solicitation. Solicitations are listed by close date.

3. Use “Upload Response” to upload a maximum of five (5), clearly labeled documents before the Bid Response deadline.

4. Offerors must upload their Bid Response as requested in the Bid Response section of this IFB.

5. The maximum file size allowed is 50 MB per file.

6. There is a 50 character file name limitation for the document being uploaded.

7. There is 75 character limit in the TITLE field within SPO Online.

8. All SPO Online field entries must be alphanumeric. Dashes and underscores are allowed; however, the system does not accept other special characters such as apostrophe, & symbol, quotation marks, etc.

9. DO NOT submit documents that are embedded (zip files), movies, wmp, encrypted, or mp3 files.

10.Bidder will receive an email confirmation from infospo@nd.gov that the upload response was received including the

“File Description” for the uploaded files. Review this email to ensure all files were successfully uploaded. If Bidder do not receive an email confirmation, the upload was not successful, and you will need to upload the files again. If Bidder does not receive an email confirmation after the reattempt, contact the Procurement Officer or the State Procurement Office at infospo@nd.gov or 701.328.2740.

Visit https://www.omb.nd.gov/sites/www/files/documents/doing-business-with-the-state/procurement/spo-electronic-response-external-job-aid.pdf for the SPO Electronic Response Job Aid which describes how to submit an electronic response.

https://apps.nd.gov/csd/spo/services/bidder/searchCommodity.htm https://www.omb.nd.gov/doing-business-state/procurement/suspended-and-debarred-bidders mailto:infospo@nd.gov mailto:infospo@nd.gov https://apps.nd.gov/csd/spo/services/bidder/main.htm mailto:infospo@nd.gov mailto:infospo@nd.gov https://www.omb.nd.gov/sites/www/files/documents/doing-business-with-the-state/procurement/spo-electronic-response-external-job-aid.pdf https://www.omb.nd.gov/sites/www/files/documents/doing-business-with-the-state/procurement/spo-electronic-response-external-job-aid.pdf

6. Additional Terms and Conditions. Additional terms and conditions submitted with a Bid Response are of no effect unless accepted in writing by the Procurement Officer. Bid Responses with additional terms and conditions may be rejected as non-responsive. (N.D.A.C. § 4-12-11-06).

7. Assistance to Bidders with a Disability. Bidders with a disability that need an accommodation must contact the

Procurement Officer prior to Bid Response deadline so reasonable accommodation can be made.

8. Bid Response Held Firm. Bid Responses are not awarded at the bid opening. Bidders must hold their Bid

Responses firm for 30 days, unless otherwise specified by the Procurement Officer in writing.

9. Bid Response Opening. A public Bid Response opening will be held. The Procurement Officer will hold the Bid

Response opening will be held:

Webinar or Conference Call Participation Instructions:

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10. Bid Response Results. Interested parties may contact the Procurement Officer to obtain a summary of all Bid Responses received and the award. Bid Response results may be posted on SPO Online:

11. Bidders List - Suspension and Debarment. Placement on the Bidders List does not guarantee a vendor will receive notice of every solicitation. A vendor may be removed from the Bidders List if a solicitation notice is undeliverable. Vendors may be suspended or debarred from the Bidders List for cause. (N.D.A.C. ch. 4-12-05)

12. Changes/Corrections. Bidders must initial any changes or corrections to the Bid Response, such as erasures and crossed out/rewritten prices. The Procurement Officer may confirm the Bid Response when changes are not initialed.

13. Multiple Bid Responses. Bidders may submit more than one Bid Response in response to this solicitation. Each

Bid Response submitted must be prepared in accordance with the Bid Response instructions and meet the stated requirements.

14. Open Records Requests. Bid Responses are exempt records until the date and time of the Bid Response opening. After the Bid Response opening, all Bid Responses are subject to North Dakota open records laws.

Interested parties may contact the Procurement Officer to request information related to this solicitation.

15. Packaging. All packaging must be strong and secure in accordance with accepted commercial practices.

http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-11.pdf https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_NjQyNjU2ZjAtYTU0Ni00NjBjLWJlNGEtMGIwZjIyMDQ1MmZk%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%222dea0464-da51-4a88-bae2-b3db94bc0c54%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2232c0b6e2-b0af-43bc-a1ea-284b89500d93%22%7d https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/download-app https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-teams/join-a-meeting https://itdpexipconfnd1.join.nd.gov/teams/?conf=1114842313&ivr=teams&d=join.nd.gov&w tel:+17013280950,,657949942#%20 https://dialin.teams.microsoft.com/b55e1684-2d28-41f4-ba9d-69c288a879dd?id=657949942 https://dialin.teams.microsoft.com/usp/pstnconferencing https://aka.ms/JoinTeamsMeeting https://www.nd.gov/itd/support https://teams.microsoft.com/meetingOptions/?organizerId=32c0b6e2-b0af-43bc-a1ea-284b89500d93&tenantId=2dea0464-da51-4a88-bae2-b3db94bc0c54&threadId=19_meeting_NjQyNjU2ZjAtYTU0Ni00NjBjLWJlNGEtMGIwZjIyMDQ1MmZk@thread.v2&messageId=0&language=en-US http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-05.pdf

16. Protests. Protests of the solicitation must be received by the Procurement Officer within seven days before the Bid

Response deadline. Protests of the award or Notice of Intent to Award must be received by the Procurement Officer within seven days after receiving notice of award. Seven calendar days after award or issuance of the Notice of Intent to Award it will be assumed that all interested parties knew or should have known all the facts surrounding the award. Protests must be made in writing to the Procurement Officer and include the basis for the protest. (N.D.C.C.

§ 54-44.4-12; N.D.A.C. ch. 4-12-14.)

17. Signature. The Bidder’s authorized representative must provide their printed name, title, and sign the Bid

Response. The lack of a signature may be waived as a minor informality, provided a signed Bid Response is submitted by the deadline established by the Procurement Officer. (N.D.A.C. ch. 4-12-10)

18. Specifications, Compliance. All Bid Responses must comply with the stated specifications, and the successful

Bidder will be held responsible. Bidders who desire to submit commodities or services that deviate from these specifications or have any objections to the stated specifications must contact the Procurement Officer by the deadline for questions or at least seven days before the Bid Response deadline, so the Procurement Officer can determine whether the specifications need to be amended.

19. Specifications Prepared by Non-State Personnel. When a purchasing agency has specifications prepared by someone other than a state employee or official on behalf of the state, that person or business entity must be excluded from submitting bids or proposals in accordance with N.D.A.C. § 4-12-06-06.

20. Supplier Registration (Payee). The successful Bidder will be required to complete Supplier Registration, if not already registered as a Supplier. Any individual or business who will be receiving payment from a state agency or higher education institution must complete a registration process to collect important financial and taxpayer information. Payments are generally made by check or automatic clearing house (ACH), and taxpayer information must be collected in compliance with IRS requirements. The State and North Dakota University System (NDUS) have separate financial systems and vendor registration processes.

21. Withdrawal or changes to a Bid Response prior to the Bid Response deadline. Before the Bid Response deadline, the Bidder’s authorized representative may withdraw or change a Bid Response by making a written request to the Procurement Officer.

22. Withdrawals or changes to a Bid Response after the Bid Response deadline. After the Bid Response deadline, no changes may be made to Bid Response, except as provided in N.D.A.C. ch. 4-12-10. The Bidder’s authorized representative may make a written request to withdraw the Bid Response.

http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-14.pdf http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-10.pdf https://www.ndlegis.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-06.pdf?20140130144222 http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-10.pdf

SECTION 2

EVALUATION AND AWARD

1. Award. Award will be made to the responsible Bidder with the lowest priced Bid Response that is responsive to the specifications and all other requirements stated herein. Award will be made as follows:

• All or none.

2. Award – Preference Laws. The reciprocal preference law, N.D.C.C.§ 44-08-01, was repealed effective August 1, 2023.

3. Award – Tie Bid Response Preference. If a tie occurs between two or more Bidders with equal Bid Response prices or offerors with identical evaluation scores:

a. Preference must be given to a resident North Dakota bidder, seller, vendor, offeror, or contractor as defined in

N.D.C.C. § 44-08-02. (N.D.C.C. 54-44.4-05.1)

b. If a tie still remains, award shall be made in accordance with N.D.A.C. § 4-12-11-05.

4. Late Bid Responses. Bid Response responses must be received by the Procurement Officer by the Bid Response deadline. Late Bid Responses will be rejected, regardless of the degree of lateness, unless the delay is due to the error of the Procurement Officer and discovered before the selection of the successful Bidder. (N.D.A.C. § 4-12-08- 13)

5. Responsiveness of the Bid Response. Any Bid Response that does not meet the requirements of the solicitation, other than mistakes determined to be minor informalities, will be rejected. (N.D.A.C. § 4-12-11-03)

6. Minor Informalities. The STATE reserves the right to waive minor informalities in Bid Responses. Minor informalities are insignificant omissions or nonjudgmental mistakes that are matters of form rather than substance, evident from the Bid Response document, with a negligible effect on price, quantity, quality, delivery, or contractual conditions that can be waived or corrected without prejudice to other Bidders. (N.D.A.C. ch. 4-12-10)

7. Mistakes. The Procurement Officer may confirm the Bid Response in the event of apparent errors, such as an unreasonably priced Bid Response. Mistakes will be handled in accordance with N.D.A.C. ch. 4-12-10.

8. Responsibility of the Bidder. The Procurement Officer, at any time, may make a supplementary investigation as to the responsibility of any Bidder, even though the Bidder may be on the Bidders List. If a Bidder is determined to be not responsible, that Bid Response will be rejected even if it is the lowest Bid Response, and the Bidder may be debarred or suspended from the Bidders List. (N.D.A.C. § 4-12-11-04)

9. Rejection. The STATE reserves the right to reject any and all Bid Responses in whole or in part. The Procurement

Officer will send a rejection notice, including the reason for rejection. Bid Responses will be rejected if:

a. the Bid Response is determined to be not responsive to the instructions, specifications, and other requirements of the solicitation, other than mistakes or omissions determined to be minor informalities;

b. the Bid Response is determined to be late;

c. the Bidder fails to comply with Bidders List Application requirements by the stated deadline;

d. the Bidder is determined to be not responsible, in accordance with N.D.A.C. § 4-12-11-04;

e. the Bid Response is not legible.

If all Bid Responses are rejected, the Procurement Officer will send written notice to Bidders, including the reason all Bid Responses were rejected. (N.D.A.C. § 4-12-11-09) https://www.ndlegis.gov/cencode/t44c08.pdf#nameddest=44-08-02 https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t54c44-4.pdf http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-11.pdf http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-08.pdf http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-08.pdf http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-11.pdf http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-10.pdf http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-10.pdf http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-11.pdf

SECTION 3

SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. State Contract. The contract resulting from this solicitation will be a State Contract made available to North Dakota state agencies and institutions.

2. Cooperative Purchasing. This contract is a cooperative purchasing contract established pursuant to N.D.C.C § 54-44.4-13. This contract is made available to state entities, institutions under the jurisdiction of the State Board of Higher Education, other government entities (including counties, cities, townships, public primary and secondary educational entities, governmental boards and commissions), nonprofit entities established on behalf of public entities, tribal agencies, transportation providers under N.D.C.C § 39-04.2, and the International Peace Garden (hereafter known as “Ordering Agencies”). Participation in this open-ended contract is not mandated; therefore, the estimated volume of this contract is not known. Contractor may contact the Procurement Officer for assistance in determining whether an entity is eligible to purchase under this contract.

3. Term of the Contract. The term of the contract issued as a result of this solicitation will be as follows:

a. Contract Period. This Contract term (Term) begins on 1/15/2024 or its Effective Date, and ends on

12/31/2025.

b. No Automatic Renewal. This Contract will not automatically renew.

c. Extension Option. STATE reserves the right to extend this Contract for an additional period of time, not to exceed 12 months, beyond the current termination date of this contract.

d. Renewal Option. STATE may renew this Contract upon satisfactory completion of the initial Contract Term.

STATE reserves the right to execute up to 3 options to renew this Contract under the same terms and conditions for a period of 24 months each.

4. Billing Address. After delivery of commodities or services under contract, the CONTRACTOR must submit a correct invoice. Payment will be made after inspection and acceptance.

• Invoices must be addressed to the Ordering Agency that places an order under this contract. All invoice and payment inquiries must be directed to the Ordering Agency. Any problems related to late payment may be escalated to the Procurement Officer.

5. Contract Amendment – Unanticipated Amendment. After a binding contract has been entered into, no changes may be made, unless prior written approval has been obtained from the Purchasing Agency through execution of a contract amendment. The Contractor may request changes, such as substitutions of a product, by submitting a written request to the Procurement Officer. Unanticipated amendments must be within the scope of the original contract, authorized by the terms of the contract and due to legitimate, unforeseen circumstances. (N.D.A.C. ch. 4- 12-13)

6. Contract Estimated Volume. The volume of this contract is estimated. Estimates are not to be considered as either a minimum or maximum, but rather an estimate based upon past and anticipated usage. The CONTRACTOR or CONTRACTORs will be required to furnish actual requirements upon receipt of an order. This contract will not include items of a similar nature, which must be bought for emergency use.

7. Contract Sales Reports. The CONTRACTOR must maintain records of sales under the contract and furnish volume of sales information to the Procurement Officer. The CONTRACTOR must furnish reports listing all purchases made by all government entities using this contract. The report must be furnished within 7 days after the request by the Procurement Officer.

The report format will be determined by mutual agreement of the CONTRACTOR and the Procurement Officer.

8. Ordering Catalogs and Literatures. CONTRACTOR will be required to furnish copies of catalogs and price lists to ordering agencies, upon request at no additional cost to the STATE.

9. Ordering Website. CONTRACTOR will be required to establish a secure website for online ordering under this contract.

http://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t54c44-4.pdf http://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t54c44-4.pdf http://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t39c04-2.pdf http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-13.pdf http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-13.pdf

10. Order Confirmation. The CONTRACTOR must confirm the receipt of orders by communicating with the Ordering

Agency within 3 working days of the order placement.

11. Delivery Time Required. The CONTRACTOR must meet the specified delivery requirements. If delivery cannot be made within the specified time, the CONTRACTOR must notify the Ordering Agency in writing of the delay and the approximate date delivery may be expected.

• Delivery must be made within 14 days after the CONTRACTOR receives an order from the Ordering Agency by issuance of a contract or purchase order or use of a purchasing card.

12. Delivery Location - F.O.B. Point and Freight. Delivery, freight, and passage of title shall under this contract shall be as follows:

• Orders that meet the minimum order amount of $40.00 will be F.O.B. Destination, Freight Prepaid to any North

Dakota destination with all freight and handling included in the item price. Title will pass to Ordering Agency upon delivery to the specified destination. The CONTRACTOR will file any claims.

• Orders that do not meet the minimum order amount will be F.O.B. Destination, Freight Prepaid and Added.

CONTRACTOR will prepay all freight and handling and add to the Ordering Agency invoice. Title will pass to the Ordering Agency upon delivery to the specified destination. The CONTRACTOR will file any claims.

13. New Equipment and Materials. Unless otherwise indicated in the detailed specifications of this solicitation, all equipment and materials shall be new and under current production for use in the United States.

14. Inspection and Acceptance or Rejection. The STATE reserves the right to conduct inspections and investigations related to the Bidder and the offered commodities or services, including but not limited to the firm, personnel, qualifications, and the commodities and services offered to make determinations regarding compliance with the Bid Response requirements and responsibility of the Bidder. All material and workmanship are subject to inspection and testing by the STATE at the point of manufacturer, place of storage, or upon receipt. The STATE reserves the right to reject any commodities or services and terminate the contract if the CONTRACTOR fails to comply with the specifications, terms and conditions, or the seller’s express or implied warranties. Rejected commodities will be removed at the CONTRACTOR’s expense. Failure to satisfactorily perform may result in suspension or debarment from the Bidders List.

If commodities or services are rejected as being not compliant with the requirements of this solicitation, the STATE will inform the CONTRACTOR in writing. The Purchasing Agency may provide the CONTRACTOR with a reasonable opportunity to cure, whenever practicable, as set forth in writing by the Purchasing Agency.

15. Invoicing.

Orders will be placed by state agencies and institutions.

16. Pricing – Tax Exempt. All prices must be in United States currency. Bid Response prices must include all discounts and deductions, and to be less federal and state taxes. Bidders may contact the Procurement Officer to obtain the Purchasing Agency’s tax exemption number and tax-exempt certificate.

17. Price Adjustment. Pricing during the term of the contract will be as follows:

• Pricing, Firm-Fixed with Adjustment upon Renewal. Pricing shall be firm for the first year of the Contract. If a

Renewal Option is being considered, the CONTRACTOR may request a price adjustment. After the firm-fixed period, the CONTRACTOR may submit a request for a price increase to the Procurement Officer. Requests for a price increase must include a copy of the manufacturer's official notice or other evidence that the increase or decrease is applicable to all customers. The STATE reserves the right to accept or reject, within 30 days, or cancel the contract. The CONTRACTOR shall immediately inform the STATE of any price decreases. Price changes will become effective upon execution of a contract amendment. All orders placed are to be billed at prices in effect at the time of the order, not the date the shipment is made.

18. Pricing, Unit of Measure. The unit prices is to be according to the unit of measurement specified in the solicitation. In the event of mathematical differences between the unit price and extended total, the unit price will prevail. (N.D.A.C. § 4-12-10-02)

19. Specifications, Brand Name or Equivalent. Unless otherwise indicated in the solicitation specifications, the use of a specific brand name or make/model is for illustrative purposes only, and the STATE will consider equivalent products. If an alternate brand offered by a Bidder is rejected as not being equivalent, the Procurement Officer send a rejection notice, including the reason for rejection.

20. Delivery and Orders. The CONTRACTOR must deliver commodities and services ordered under this contract by the required time. If after receiving the order, the Bidder learns that the delivery requirements cannot be met, the Bidder must immediately notify the Purchasing Agency by telephone, email or mail and indicate the delay and an approximate delivery date. Repeated delivery delays may be considered as failure to deliver.

http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-10.pdf

SECTION 4

RISK MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS

Bidders are instructed to review the following provisions. Objections to these provisions must be made in writing to the Procurement Officer by the deadline for questions.

1. Indemnification. None required.

2. Insurance. None required.

SECTION 5

BID RESPONSE FORM

Bidder Instructions:

• Only bid ONE brand.

• You can bid multiple brand names, but each brand name needs to be a separate bid.

• Unit Price is a per battery, quantity 1, price quote

• Total Price calculation is Unit Price times Estimated Quantity

• Winning Bid will be determined by lowest total price of Alkaline Manganese Dioxide Batteries.

• Catalog Percent Discount of all other Battery Sizes and Accessories will not be used to determine winning bid.

If vendor chooses not to bid this category, it will not affect their award chances.

• Modification of this form without expressed approval, will result in the bid being deemed non-responsive.

Specifications:

• Acceptable Brands are Industrial Strength or Heavy Duty Duracell, Energizer or Rayovac.

• Alternate products may be submitted for approval with clearly identified test and specification documentation.

The required documents must be submitted with the bid and clearly reference the item number being submitted for approval. The State reserves the right to reject submitted product based on product specifications and testing by users. Adequate seals to prevent leaking are required.

• No additional heavy metal, such as Mercury or Cadmium, can be contained in the dry cell batteries

Battery Industry Definitions:

• ANSI - American National Standards Institute sponsored by NEMA, National Electric Manufacturers Association and cover cell sizes, terminals and testing procedures. If a standard for alkaline, zinc manganese dioxide nickel-metal hydride batteries has not been established, the State will note that as N/A on the Bid Response Form.

• IEC - International Electro Chemical Commission. A worldwide organization for standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. If a standard for nickel-metal hydride batteries has not been established, the State will note that as N/A on the Bid Response Form.

• Alkaline Manganese - battery that uses an alkaline water solution as its electrolyte.

Alkaline Manganese Dioxide Batteries

Item Est.

Quantity Unit Size Volt ANSI # IEC # Brand Item or SKU # Unit Price Total

Price

1. 26088 Each AA 1.5 15A LR6 Eveready EVEEN91 $0.3425 $8,935.14

2. 17256 Each AAA 1.5 24A LR03 Eveready EVEEN92 $0.3425 $5,910.18

3. 10 Each AAAA 1.5 25A LR8 Eveready EVEE96BP2 $1.3150 $13.15

4. 2424 Each C 1.5 14A LR14 Eveready EVEEN93 $0.7100 $1,721.04

5. 3384 Each D 1.5 13A LR20 Eveready EVEEN95 $0.9975 $3,375.54

6. 2304 Each 9V 9 1604A 6LR61 Eveready EVEEN22 $1.2050 $2,776.32 Total Price of Alkaline

Manganese Batteries $22,731.37

Catalog Percent Discount of all other Battery Sizes and Accessories (optional)

Item Brand Percent Discount

1. Eveready 20%

Bidders proposed delivery time: 1-14 days After Receipt of Order (ARO)

Service Provider: The CONTRACTOR must provide a dedicated service provider to support for this contract. During the contract term, the CONTRACTOR shall notify the Procurement Officer if CONTRACTOR’s service provider changes.

Sales Representative: The CONTRACTOR must provide a dedicated sales representative to provide support for this contract. The sales representative will be required periodically visit ordering agencies to provide information regarding products available under the contract and assistance with order placement. During the contract term, the CONTRACTOR shall notify the Procurement Officer if the CONTRACTOR’s sales representative changes.

Service Provider/ Sales Representative Name:

Innovative Office Solutions/John Townsend, Executive, Sales & Diversity

Address:

151 East Cliff Rd

City & State & ZIP

Burnsville, Minnesota 55337

Phone Number:

952-808-9900

Cell Phone Number:

612-201-4714

Toll Free Number:

866-574-5389

E-Mail Address:

jtownsend@innovativeos.com

Fax Number:

952-894-7153

BIDDER INFORMATION AND SIGNATURE

By submitting a Bid Response, the Bidder agrees to sell, furnish, and deliver to the STATE all commodities and services contained in this Invitation for Bid for which a contract is awarded by the STATE. The Bidder shall fully perform the contract in accordance with all the specifications, requirements, terms, and conditions, and shall comply with all applicable provisions of the North Dakota Century Code, including chapters 54-44.4, 46-02, and 44-08, and North Dakota Administrative Code Chapter 4-12, made part of the Invitation for Bid and resultant contract by reference.

Written acceptance of the Bid Response by the STATE constitutes a binding contract made and entered into by and between the State of North Dakota, acting through the Purchasing Agency, and the Bidder named below. Written acceptance may be made by execution of a contract, purchase order, or order using a state purchasing card.

NOTICE. All notices or other communications required under this Contract must be given by registered or certified mail and are complete on the date postmarked when addressed to the parties identified herein. Notice provided under this provision does not meet the notice requirements for monetary claims against the STATE found at N.D.C.C. § 32-12.2-04.

Bidder/Contractor Name: Innovative Office Solutions

Contractor Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) 36-4550688

Bidder Street Address/ P.O. Box: 151 East Cliff Rd

City, State ZIP: Burnsville, MN 55337

Contact Name: John Townsend

Contact Title: Executive, Sales & Diversity

Telephone Number: 612-201-4714

Email: jtownsend@innovativeos.com

Authorized Representative Signature:

Date: December 27, 2023

STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA

BID ACCEPTANCE AND CONTRACT AWARD

The parties to this contract (Contract) are the state of North Dakota, acting through the Purchasing Agency (STATE), and the above-named Bidder (CONTRACTOR). This Contract is not effective until fully executed by both parties. If no start date is specified in the Term of Contract, the most recent date of signatures of the parties shall be deemed the Effective Date.

NOTICE. All notices or other communications required under this Contract must be given by registered or certified mail and are complete on the date postmarked when addressed to the parties identified herein. Notice provided under this provision does not meet the notice requirements for monetary claims against the STATE found at N.D.C.C. § 32-12.2-04.

Acting through its Purchasing Agency:

BY: (Signature)

Printed Name:

Title:

Date:

Office of Management & Budget, State Procurment Office

Gabriel Hoggarth

State Procurement Officer

1/12/2024

SECTION 6

CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. Scope of Work. CONTRACTOR, in exchange for the compensation paid by STATE under this Contract, shall provide the commodities and services described in this solicitation.

2. Compensation.

a. Contractual Amount

STATE shall pay for the accepted services provided by CONTRACTOR under this Contract an amount not to exceed the amount indicated on the Bid Response form (Contractual Amount). The Contractual Amount is firm for the duration of the Contract and constitutes the entire compensation due CONTRACTOR for performance of its obligations under this Contract, unless amended, regardless of the difficulty, materials or equipment required, including fees, licenses, overhead, profit and all other direct and indirect costs incurred by CONTRACTOR, except as provided by an amendment to this Contract.

b. Payment

1) Payment made in accordance with this Compensation section shall constitute payment in full for the services and work performed and the deliverables and work(s) provided under this Contract and CONTRACTOR shall not receive any additional compensation hereunder.

2) STATE shall make payment under this Contract within forty-five (45) calendar days after receipt of a correct invoice.

3) Payment of an invoice by STATE will not prejudice STATE’s right to object to or question that or any other invoice or matter in relation thereto. CONTRACTOR's invoice will be subject to reduction for amounts included in any invoice or payment made which are determined by STATE, on the basis of audits conducted in accordance with the terms of this Contract, not to constitute allowable costs. At STATE’s sole discretion, all payments shall be subject to reduction for amounts equal to prior overpayments to CONTRACTOR.

4) For any amounts that are or will become due and payable to STATE by CONTRACTOR, STATE reserves the right to deduct the amount owed from payments that are or will become due and payable to CONTRACTOR under this Contract.

3. Prepayment. STATE will not make any advance payments before performance by CONTRACTOR under this Contract.

4. Payment of Taxes by State. STATE is not responsible for and will not pay local, state, or federal taxes. STATE will furnish certificates of exemption upon request by the CONTRACTOR.

5. Purchasing Card. STATE may make a payment using a government credit card. CONTRACTOR will accept a government credit card without passing the processing fees for the government credit card back to STATE.

6. Termination.

a. Termination by Mutual Agreement

This Contract may be terminated by mutual consent of both parties executed in writing.

b. Early Termination in the Public Interest

STATE is entering into this Contract for the purpose of carrying out the public policy of the State of North Dakota, as determined by its Governor, Legislative Assembly, Agencies and Courts. If this Contract ceases to further the public policy of the State of North Dakota, STATE, in its sole discretion, by written notice to CONTRACTOR, may terminate this Contract in whole or in part.

c. Termination for Lack of Funding or Authority

STATE by written notice to CONTRACTOR, may terminate the whole or any part of this Contract under any of the following conditions:

1) If funding from federal, state, or other sources is not obtained and continued at levels sufficient to allow for purchase of the services or supplies in the indicated quantities or term.

2) If federal or state laws or rules are modified or interpreted in a way that the services are no longer allowable or appropriate for purchase under this Contract or are no longer eligible for the funding proposed for payments authorized by this Contract.

3) If any license, permit, or certificate required by law or rule, or by the terms of this Contract, is for any reason denied, revoked, suspended, or not renewed.

Termination of this Contract under this subsection is without prejudice to any obligations or liabilities of either party already accrued prior to termination.

d. Termination for Cause

STATE may terminate this Contract effective upon delivery of written notice to CONTRACTOR, or any later date stated in the notice:

1) If CONTRACTOR fails to provide services required by this Contract within the time specified or any extension agreed to by STATE; or

2) If CONTRACTOR fails to perform any of the other provisions of this Contract, or so fails to pursue the work as to endanger performance of this Contract in accordance with its terms.

The rights and remedies of STATE provided in this subsection are not exclusive and are in addition to any other rights and remedies provided by law or under this Contract.

7. Force Majeure. Neither party shall be held responsible for delay or default caused by fire, riot, terrorism, acts of God, or war if the event is beyond the party’s reasonable control and the affected party gives notice to the other party promptly upon occurrence of the event causing the delay or default or that is reasonably expected to cause a delay or default.

8. Works for Hire. CONTRACTOR acknowledges that all work(s) under this Contract is "work(s) for hire" within the meaning of the United States Copyright Act (Title 17 United States Code) and hereby assigns to STATE all rights and interests CONTRACTOR may have in the work(s) it prepares under this Contract, including any right to derivative use of the work(s). All software and related materials developed by CONTRACTOR in performance of this Contract for STATE shall be the sole property of STATE, and CONTRACTOR hereby assigns and transfers all its right, title, and interest therein to STATE.CONTRACTOR shall execute all necessary documents to enable STATE to protect STATE’s intellectual property rights under this section.

9. Work Product. All work product, equipment or materials created for STATE or purchased by STATE under this

Contract belong to STATE and must be immediately delivered to STATE at STATE'S request upon termination of this

10. Confidentiality. CONTRACTOR shall not use or disclose any information it receives from STATE under this Contract that STATE has previously identified as confidential or exempt from mandatory public disclosure except as necessary to carry out the purposes of this Contract or as authorized in advance by STATE. STATE shall not disclose any information it receives from CONTRACTOR that CONTRACTOR has previously identified as confidential and that STATE determines in its sole discretion is protected from mandatory public disclosure under a specific exception to the North Dakota public records law, N.D.C.C. ch. 44-04. The duty of STATE and CONTRACTOR to maintain confidentiality of information under this section continues beyond the Term of this Contract.

11. Compliance with Public Records Laws. CONTRACTOR Under the North Dakota public records law and subject to the Confidentiality clause of this Contract, certain records may be open to the public upon request. Public records may include: (a) records STATE receives from CONTRACTOR under this Contract, (b) records obtained by either Party under this Contract, and (c) records generated by either Party under this Contract. CONTRACTOR agrees to contact STATE immediately upon receiving a request for information under the public records law and to comply with STATE’s instructions on how to respond to such request.

12. Independent Entity. CONTRACTOR is an independent entity under this Contract and is not a STATE employee for any purpose, including the application of the Social Security Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Federal Insurance Contribution Act, the North Dakota Unemployment Compensation Law and the North Dakota Workforce Safety and Insurance Act. CONTRACTOR retains sole and absolute discretion in the manner and means of carrying http://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t44.html out CONTRACTOR’S activities and responsibilities under this Contract, except to the extent specified in this

13. Assignment and Subcontracts. CONTRACTOR may not assign or otherwise transfer or delegate any right or duty without STATE’s express written consent, provided, however, that CONTRACTOR may assign its rights and obligations hereunder in the event of a change of control or sale of all or substantially all of its assets related to this Contract, whether by merger, reorganization, operation of law, or otherwise. Should Assignee be a business or entity with whom STATE is prohibited from conducting business, STATE shall have the right to terminate without cause.

CONTRACTOR may enter into subcontracts provided that any subcontract acknowledges the binding nature of this Contract and incorporates this Contract, including any attachments. CONTRACTOR is solely responsible for the performance of any subcontractor with whom CONTRACTOR contracts. CONTRACTOR does not have authority to contract for or incur obligations on behalf of STATE.

14. Spoliation – Preservation of Evidence. CONTRACTOR shall promptly notify STATE of all potential claims that arise or result from this Contract. CONTRACTOR shall also take all reasonable steps to preserve all physical evidence and information that may be relevant to the circumstances surrounding a potential claim, while maintaining public safety, and grants to STATE the opportunity to review and inspect such evidence, including the scene of an accident.

15. Merger and Modification, Conflict in Documents. This Contract, including the following documents, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties. There are no understandings, agreements, or representations, oral or written, not specified within this Contract. This Contract may not be modified, supplemented, or amended, in any manner, except by written agreement signed by both parties. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event of any inconsistency or conflict among the documents making up this Contract, the documents must control in this order of precedence:

a. The terms of this Contract as may be amended;

b. STATE’s Solicitation Amendments related to this Invitation for Bid;

c. STATE’s Invitation for Bid;

d. CONTRACTOR’s Bid Response submitted in response to this Invitation for Bid.

e. All automated end-user agreements (e.g., click-through, shrink-wrap, or browse-wrap) are specifically excluded and null and void. Clicking shall not represent acknowledgement or agreement to any terms or conditions contained in those agreements.

f. Terms and conditions contained within any documents furnished by the Contractor, including packing slips, shall not supersede the terms and conditions of this contract.

16. Severability. If any term of this Contract is declared to be illegal or unenforceable by a court having competent jurisdiction, the validity of the remaining terms is unaffected and, if possible, the rights and obligations of the parties are to be construed and enforced as if this Contract did not contain that term.

17. Applicable Law and Venue. This Contract is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of North Dakota. Any action to enforce this Contract must be adjudicated exclusively in the state District Court of Burleigh County, North Dakota. Each party consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of such court and waives any claim of lack of jurisdiction or forum non conveniens.

18. Alternative Dispute Resolution – Jury Trial. By entering into this Contract, STATE does not agree to binding arbitration, mediation, or any other form of mandatory…