Fire+Extinguishers+IFB.docx

STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA

INVITATION FOR BID (IFB)

(August 2023)

936-34 990-42 936-32, 33

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: Seth Westby EMAIL: swestby@nd.gov

PHONE: 701-328-1953

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.

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.

The commodity codes used for this solicitation are: 340-06, 08, 28, 29, 38, 936-34, 990-42, 936-32, 33 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.

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: https://apps.nd.gov/csd/spo/services/bidder/main.htm

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.

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.

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:

· Award by Zone. Up to two contracts will be awarded. One for Zone A one for Zone B. To be susceptible for a Zone award, you must respond to each major city category within the Zone you’re interested in bidding. The sum of the Zone categories will be used for purposes of making the award(s).

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)

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 1/1/2026 or its Effective Date, and ends on 12/31/2026.

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. Order Confirmation. The CONTRACTOR must confirm the receipt of orders by communicating with the Ordering Agency within 3 working days of the order placement.

10. 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.

11. 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.

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. Indemnification provisions are incorporated and made part of this solicitation and resultant contract. Contractor agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the state of North Dakota, its agencies, officers and employees (State), from and against claims based on the vicarious liability of the State or its agents, but not against claims based on the State’s contributory negligence, comparative and/or contributory negligence or fault, sole negligence, or intentional misconduct. The legal defense provided by Contractor to the State under this provision must be free of any conflicts of interest, even if retention of separate legal counsel for the State is necessary. Any attorney appointed to represent the State must first qualify as and be appointed by the North Dakota Attorney General as a Special Assistant Attorney General as required under N.D.C.C. § 54-12-08. Contractor also agrees to reimburse the State for all costs, expenses and attorneys' fees incurred if the State prevails in an action against Contractor in establishing and litigating the indemnification coverage provided herein. This obligation shall continue after the termination of this agreement.

2. Insurance. Insurance provisions are incorporated and made part of this solicitation and resultant contract. Bidders are instructed to review the Insurance Requirements. The Successful Bidder will be required to provide the required proof of insurance prior to contract award, and failure to provide evidence of insurance coverage is a material breach and grounds for award rescission. Failure of the CONTRACTOR to keep the required insurance in effect during the term of the contract is grounds for termination of the contract.

CONTRACTOR shall provide certificate of insurance and any endorsements to STATE electronically to:

Name: Seth Westby Email Address: swestby@nd.gov Email Subject Line: Certificate of Insurance – Fire Extinguishers – State Contract 026

Contractor shall secure and keep in force during the term of this agreement and Contractor shall require all subcontractors, prior to commencement of an agreement between Contractor and the subcontractor, to secure and keep in force during the term of this agreement, from insurance companies, government self-insurance pools or government self-retention funds, authorized to do business in North Dakota, the following insurance coverages:

1) Commercial general liability, including premises or operations, contractual, and products or completed operations coverages (if applicable), with minimum liability limits of $2,000,000 per occurrence.

2) Automobile liability, including Owned (if any), Hired, and Non-Owned automobiles, with minimum liability limits of $500,000 per person and $2,000,000 per occurrence.

3) Workers compensation coverage meeting all statutory requirements. The policy shall provide coverage for all of operation that apply to the performance of this contract.

4) Employer’s liability or “stop gap” insurance of not less than $2,000,000 as an endorsement on the workers compensation or commercial general liability insurance.

The insurance coverages listed above must meet the following additional requirements:

1) Any deductible or self-insured retention amount or other similar obligation under the policies shall be the sole responsibility of the Contractor.

2) This insurance may be in policy or policies of insurance, primary and excess, including the so called umbrella or catastrophe form and must be placed with insurers rated “A-” or better by A.M. Best Company, Inc., provided any excess policy follows form for coverage. Less than an “A-” rating must be approved by the State. The policies shall be in form and terms approved by the State.

3) The duty to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the State under this agreement shall not be limited by the insurance required in this agreement.

4) The state of North Dakota and its agencies, officers, and employees (State) shall be endorsed on the commercial general liability policy on a primary and noncontributory basis, including any excess policies (to the extent applicable), as additional insured. The State shall have all the benefits, rights and coverages of an additional insured under these policies that shall not be limited to the minimum limits of insurance required by this agreement or by the contractual indemnity obligations of the Contractor.

5) A “Waiver of Subrogation” waiving any right to recovery the insurance company may have against the State.

6) The Contractor shall furnish a certificate of insurance to the undersigned State representative prior to commencement of this agreement. All endorsements shall be provided as soon as practicable.

7) Failure to provide insurance as required in this agreement is a material breach of contract entitling the State to terminate this agreement immediately.

8) Contractor shall provide at least 30-day notice of any cancellation or material change to the policies or endorsements. Contractor shall provide on an ongoing basis, current certificates of insurance during the term of the contract. A renewal certificate will be provided 10 days prior to coverage expiration.

SECTION 5

BID RESPONSE FORM AND DETAILED SPECIFICATIONS

Testing. The testing required in the Bid Response to be provided by the Contractor, must comply with all directives set forth by OSHA part number: 1910, part title: Occupational Safety and Health Standards, subpart: L, subpart title: Fire Protection, standard number: 1910.157, title: Portable fire extinguishers, GPO source: e-CFR. For further information, please go to the link listed below:

https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9811

1. ABC Multi-Purpose Stored Pressure Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher:

a. Amerex or equivalent

b. Dry chemical

c. Wall hanging style

d. Stored pressure design

e. Durable high gloss polyester powder paint.

f. All metal valve construction

g. Temperature range from -65°F to 120°F

h. Manufactured and tested to ANSI/UL Standards

i. Complies with NFPA 10 Standard

j. ISO-9001/ISO-14001 Certified

k. UL Listed

l. Must be rated 3-A:40-B:C

m. Sizes:

i. 2.5 lb.

ii. 5 lb.

iii. 10 lb.

iv. 20 lb.

2. Class K Fire Extinguisher:

a. UL fire rated

b. Badger Model # WC-100 or equivalent

c. Agent type of potassium acetate

d. Cylinder material made of stainless steel

e. Valve made of plated brass

f. Handle or lever made from stainless steel

g. Expellant consisting of a mixture of Nitrogen/Air.

h. Temperature range from -40°F to 120°F

i. Nom. Discharge time of 50-55 seconds

j. Discharge range of 8-12 feet

k. Unit height maximum of 19.5 in.

l. Unit width maximum of 8.75 in.

m. Unit depth maximum of 7 in.

n. UL listed – Meets D.O.T. requirements

o. Sizes:

i. 2.5 gallon

ii. 6 L

3. Annual Maintenance Inspection of Fire Extinguisher:

a. Visual inspection of the fire extinguisher

b. Replace with current up-to-date tags

c. The vendor will provide the Purchasing Agency with the annual maintenance date

d. To be in compliance with the National Fire Protection Association, verification collars are required on any fire extinguisher that has been opened for internal maintenance

e. Recertification for all building extinguishers is to be completed in January of each calendar year.

f. Stored pressure extinguishers do not require an internal examination

g. The vendor shall assure that alternate equivalent protection is provided when portable fire extinguishers are removed from service for maintenance and recharging

4. 6 Year Maintenance of Fire Extinguisher:

a. Vendor will perform a “dump and fill” maintenance and any applicable maintenance procedures of fire extinguishers

b. To be in compliance with the National Fire Protection Association, verification collars are required on any fire extinguisher that has been opened for internal maintenance

c. Vendor will replace O-rings

d. If the bid fire extinguisher is an Amerex brand, the vendor will replace the valve stem and O-rings

e. The vendor shall assure that alternate equivalent protection is provided when portable fire extinguishers are removed from service for maintenance and recharging

5. Hydrostatic Testing of Fire Extinguisher:

a. The vendor shall assure that hydrostatic testing is performed by trained persons with suitable testing equipment and facilities.

b. The vendor shall assure that portable fire extinguishers are hydrostatically tested whenever they show new evidence of corrosion or mechanical injury except under the following conditions which hydrostatic testing will not be performed:

i. when the unit has been repaired by soldering, welding, brazing or use of patching compounds

ii. when the cylinder or shell threads are damaged

iii. when there is corrosion that has caused pitting, including corrosion under removable name plate assemblies

iv. when the extinguisher has been in a fire

v. when a calcium chloride extinguishing agent has been used in a stainless steel shell

c. To be in compliance with the National Fire Protection Association, verification collars are required on any fire extinguisher that has been opened for internal maintenance.

d. Wetting agent fire extinguishers shall be hydrostatically tested every 5 years from the manufactured date.

e. Fire extinguishers with dry chemical, stored pressure, with mild steel, brazed brass or aluminum shells shall be hydrostatically tested every 12 years from the manufactured date.

f. In addition to an external visual examination, the vendor shall assure that an internal examination of cylinders and shells to be tested is made prior to the hydrostatic tests.

g. The vendor shall assure that hydrostatic tests are performed on extinguisher hose assemblies which are equipped with a shut-off nozzle at the discharge end of the hose. The test interval shall be the same as specified for the extinguisher on which the hose is installed.

h. The vendor shall assure that dry chemical and dry powder hose assemblies with a shut-off nozzle are hydrostatically tested at 300 psi (2,070 kPa).

i. Hose assemblies passing a hydrostatic test do not require any type of recording or stamping.

j. Air or gas pressure may not be used for hydrostatic testing.

k. Extinguisher shells, cylinders or cartridges which fail a hydrostatic pressure test, or which are not fit for testing shall be removed from service and the Purchasing Agency.

l. The equipment for testing compressed gas type cylinders shall be of the water jacket type. The equipment shall be provided with an expansion indicator which operates with an accuracy within one percent of the total expansion or .1cc (.1mL) of liquid.

m. Vendor will replace O-rings.

n. If the bid fire extinguisher is an Amerex brand, the vendor will replace the valve stem and O-rings.

BID RESPONSE FORM:

Zone A Major Cities & Estimated Quantities

CATEGORY 1: WILLISTON

GRAND TOTAL:

CATEGORY 2: DICKINSON

GRAND TOTAL:

CATEGORY 3: BISMARCK

GRAND TOTAL:

CATEGORY 4: MINOT

GRAND TOTAL:

Zone B Major Cities & Estimated Quantities

CATEGORY 5: VALLEY CITY

GRAND TOTAL:

CATEGORY 6: JAMESTOWN

GRAND TOTAL:

CATEGORY 7: DEVILS LAKE

GRAND TOTAL:

CATEGORY 8: GRAND FORKS

GRAND TOTAL:

CATEGORY 9: FARGO

GRAND TOTAL:

CATEGORY 10: WAHPETON

GRAND TOTAL:

CATEGORY 11: GRAFTON

GRAND TOTAL:

ADDITIONAL ITEMS:

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:

Address:

City & State & ZIP

Phone Number:

Cell Phone Number:

Toll Free Number:

E-Mail Address:

Fax Number:

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:

Contractor Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)

Bidder Street Address/ P.O. Box:

City, State ZIP:

Contact Name:

Contact Title:

Telephone Number:

Email:

Authorized Representative Signature:

Date:

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:

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.

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.

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…