IFB 2026_09 Meter Installation Bid Documents.pdf

CITY OF ACWORTH, GEORGIA

INVITATION FOR BIDS

IFB Number 2026-09

SMART METER INSTALLATION SERVICES

Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Deployment

Contact: Angie Luna Phone: (770) 974-5233 Email: aluna@acworth-ga.gov

Address: 4415 Center Street Acworth, Georgia 30101

Bid Due Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 by 2:00 p.m. ET

Pre-Bid Meeting: Monday, May 4 2026 at 2:00 p.m. ET

City of Acworth | IFB 2026-09 | Smart Meter Installation Services

City of Acworth – IFB 2026-09 Page 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

1. Background Information

2. Scope of Work

2.1 Meter Installation Services

2.2 Network Infrastructure Installation

2.3 Project Management and Coordination

2.4 Work Order Management

2.5 Inventory Management and Storage

2.6 Customer Communication and Scheduling

2.7 Safety Requirements

3. System Information

4. Project Requirements

4.1 Deployment Schedule

4.2 Phasing

4.3 Performance Metrics

4.4 Prevailing Wage and Labor Requirements

4.5 Bonding Requirements

4.6 Quality Assurance and Audit Inspection

4.7 Meter Acceptance Criteria

4.8 Billing Cycle Coordination

4.9 Licensing Requirements

4.10 Special Account Handling

4.11 Meter Swap File and Daily Install File

5. Proposal Requirements

A. Executive Summary

B. Company Overview

C. References

D. Meter Installation Approach

E. Infrastructure Installation Approach

F. Safety Program

G. Supporting Materials

6. Evaluation Criteria

7. Schedule

Pre-Bid Meeting

8. Terms and Conditions

8.1 E-Verify Compliance

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9. Insurance Requirements

9.1 Commercial General Liability Insurance

9.2 Automobile Liability Insurance

9.3 Workers’ Compensation and Employers’ Liability

9.4 Umbrella/Excess Liability

9.5 Additional Insured

10. Bid Submission Instructions

10.1 Delivery of Bids

10.2 Bid Package Contents

10.3 Format Requirements

10.4 General Instructions

Exhibit A – Bid to Perform

Exhibit B – Bid Response Form

Exhibit C – Reference Form

Exhibit D – Electric Meter Inventory

Exhibit E – Contractor Affidavit under O.C.G.A. § 13-10-91(b)(1)

Exhibit F – E-Verify Contractor Exemption Affidavit

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1. Background Information

This Invitation for Bids (IFB) is issued by the City of Acworth, Georgia (hereinafter referred to as "THE

CITY" or "City of Acworth") to solicit competitive bids from qualified contractors for smart meter installation services in support of the City’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) deployment.

The City of Acworth’s existing Itron drive-by meter reading system is approaching end-of-life. The City has elected to migrate to a modern AMI platform to achieve significant operational and customer service advantages. The AMI deployment will establish the infrastructure foundation for improved load analysis, proactive outage management, enhanced customer engagement through usage visibility, and future distribution automation capabilities.

The City of Acworth’s service territory encompasses portions of the City of Acworth as well as areas within Cobb and Bartow Counties. The distribution system consists of approximately 101 miles of line, with 54 miles underground and 47 miles overhead. The City currently serves approximately 7,200 electric meters across residential, commercial, and other customer classes.

The City is separately procuring the AMI solution (meters, network infrastructure, and head-end system) through a companion procurement (IFB 2026-03). This IFB 2026-09 is specifically for the professional installation services required to deploy the selected AMI solution, including meter changeout services and network infrastructure installation.

Bids are being solicited only from responsible and established contractors known to be experienced and regularly engaged in the work of electric meter installation and AMI infrastructure deployment. Selection will consider contractor qualifications, experience, references, project approach, safety program, schedule, crew management, and cost reasonableness.

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2. Scope of Work

The City of Acworth is seeking bids from qualified contractors to provide comprehensive smart meter installation services for the deployment of approximately 7,100 electric AMI meters and associated network infrastructure across the City’s service territory. The scope of work encompasses the following major categories:

2.1 Meter Installation Services

The Contractor shall remove existing Itron AMR meters and install new AMI meters at all active service locations identified by the City. Current meter counts by customer class are as follows:

Customer Class Meter Count Service Details

Residential 6,500± Single-family and multi-family residential service

Commercial 710± Small and medium commercial accounts

Total 7,210 Per Addendum 2 meter address list

The breakdown of electric meter forms to be replaced is detailed in Exhibit D. Key meter form categories include:

Meter Type Approximate Quantity

Form 2S (Self-Contained, Class 200) 6,685

Form 2S (Class 320) 66

Form 9S (Instrument-Rated, includes 8S/9S) 148

Form 12S 152

Form 16S 66

Form 3S/4S 23

Form 1S 5

Other (14S, 15K, 16K, 2K, 36S) 18

Unclassified / Descriptive Only 47

Total 7,210

Key meter installation requirements include:

• The Contractor shall perform all meter changeouts in accordance with CAT2 uniform specifications.

• Prior to the installation of each new electric meter, the Contractor shall perform a jaw tightness test while on-site using a mechanical tool that engages the jaws of the meter socket and indicates a gap or significant loss of jaw pre-load.

• The Contractor shall capture GPS coordinates for each meter location in decimal degrees format

(latitude/longitude) using the WGS84 datum, to a minimum of 5 decimal places, with horizontal accuracy of no greater than 3 meters.

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• GPS metadata shall include, at minimum: timestamp of capture, horizontal accuracy (in meters), and datum reference (WGS84). GPS data shall be delivered in a format compatible with standard

GIS platforms (e.g., CSV, Shapefile, or GeoJSON) as agreed upon during project coordination.

• The Contractor shall collect photographs before and after the installation of each meter and provide collected data to the City.

• New meters will utilize plug-and-play technology; the Contractor will not be required to program or initialize meters on-site.

• Meters shall be commissioned within 3 business days of being installed.

• The installation vendor shall make at least 3 attempts to install a meter before creating a failure status.

• Saturday installations are permitted. No after-hours or Sunday installations.

• Apartments and multi-family units are individually metered.

• The Contractor shall provide daily install files compatible with the City’s CIS/billing system format, as defined during project coordination meetings.

Socket Conditions and Responsibilities

The Contractor is responsible for identifying and documenting socket conditions at the time of meter exchange. Minor conditions encountered during the normal course of a standard meter exchange, such as corroded or pitted jaws, loose jaw tension, or minor weathering, are the Contractor’s responsibility and shall be included in unit pricing.

Conditions beyond the scope of a standard meter exchange—such as burned, melted, or structurally damaged sockets; evidence of tampering or diversion; missing or broken socket covers; water intrusion;

or any condition requiring a licensed electrician—are the City of Acworth’s responsibility. The Contractor shall not proceed with installation on any socket presenting a safety concern. The Contractor shall document and photograph the condition, report it through the work order management system, and proceed to the next scheduled installation.

In the event of an emergency such as an active electrical hazard, fire risk, or exposed energized components, the Contractor shall immediately contact the City of Acworth for emergency response.

2.2 Network Infrastructure Installation

The Contractor shall install all AMI network infrastructure equipment, including but not limited to collectors, gateways, routers, repeaters, and associated communication devices as specified by the selected AMI vendor. Specific infrastructure requirements include:

• Installation of network communication devices (collectors/gateways) at locations determined by the AMI vendor’s network design and propagation study.

• Mounting, powering, and commissioning of all network devices in accordance with manufacturer specifications.

• Installation of any required antennas, cabling, and backhaul connectivity components.

• Coordination with the City’s electric operations team for pole-mounted or structure-mounted installations.

• Testing and validation of each installed network device to confirm communication with the AMI head-end system.

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The AMI vendor will provide detailed network design specifications, equipment quantities, and installation requirements. The specific number and type of network devices will be determined by the AMI vendor selection process and communicated to the installation contractor prior to deployment.

2.3 Project Management and Coordination

The Contractor shall provide a dedicated Project Manager for the duration of the project who shall serve as the primary point of contact with the City. The Project Manager shall:

• Manage all installation operations from the planning phase through final meter commissioning.

• Provide weekly status reports including meters installed, success rates, failures, rework, and schedule adherence.

• Coordinate deployment scheduling with the City’s operations staff and the AMI vendor.

• Attend regular project coordination meetings as scheduled by the City.

• Manage the daily install file process and communication procedures with the City.

2.4 Work Order Management

The Contractor may use their own work order management system for managing daily installations. The system shall be accessible by City staff to check installation status in real-time. The City requires a minimum of four (4) concurrent user access licenses. The Contractor shall provide reports showing:

• Number of meters installed per day.

• Details on successful installs, failures, and re-tries.

• Customer or meter issues and failed installations.

• Socket condition reports and referrals.

• GPS data collection status and quality metrics.

2.5 Inventory Management and Storage

The Contractor shall:

• Receive shipments of meters directly from the AMI vendor or the AMI vendor’s distributor.

• Be responsible for securing their own storage facility and staging site for inventory and office space.

• Be responsible for taking custody of, protecting, and accounting for all stored assets.

• Be responsible for replacing any missing or damaged assets while in the Contractor’s custody.

• Provide all equipment necessary for staging site management and installation activities (e.g., storage containers, pallet jacks, scrap bins, vehicles, tools).

• Be responsible for disposing of all material from worksites, including but not limited to waste, packaging, scrap, and electronic waste.

• Return all removed meters to a location designated by the City in an organized and documented manner.

2.6 Customer Communication and Scheduling

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The City will be responsible for providing initial customer notification materials (postcards, mailers, door hangers). The City will work with the Contractor to facilitate appointment scheduling and call center services as needed. The Contractor shall:

• Coordinate with the City to establish customer communication procedures and deployment notification schedules.

• Contact each individual customer on-site prior to meter changeouts where applicable.

• The City will communicate with customers when access to the meter is required.

• The City will provide support for customer opt-outs or refusals.

• The Contractor shall use the typical 911 process for any customer threats.

2.7 Safety Requirements

The Contractor shall:

• Comply with all safety and training rules for the State of Georgia, including OSHA requirements.

• Provide all safety equipment for their personnel.

• Ensure all installation personnel possess required training and certifications for electric meter installation work.

• Develop and maintain a site-specific safety plan for the project.

• Report all safety incidents to the City within 24 hours of occurrence.

• Maintain responsibility for determining safe installation methods; however, safety is a factor that the City expects to be addressed comprehensively by the Contractor.

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3. System Information

The City of Acworth utilizes the following core business systems that support its meter-to-cash operations.

The installation contractor should be aware of these systems as they relate to data exchange, integration, and project coordination:

System Vendor/Platform

Automated Meter Reading (AMR) Itron (current, to be replaced)

Customer Information System (CIS) Edmunds GovTech

Geographic Information System (GIS) ESRI ArcGIS

The City currently performs meter reading using Itron drive-by AMR technology. Meter readers travel established routes collecting meter data via mobile radio frequency (RF) equipment. The City operates on a monthly billing cycle with four (4) billing cycles and reads occurring approximately every 28–32 days.

Two meter readers currently perform all reads for the approximately 7,200 meters.

The City is currently conducting a comprehensive field audit of its distribution system. This audit is expected to be completed within approximately three months and will cover all primary infrastructure, transformers, overhead and underground facilities, and secondary systems on overhead circuits. The audit will not include meter-level data, as meter location data will be captured via GPS during the AMI installation process.

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4. Project Requirements

4.1 Deployment Schedule

The City anticipates the AMI deployment will begin as early as Q3 2026, with the full transition of approximately 7,200 electric meters to be completed within a 6-month deployment window. The City understands that the start date may need to be adjusted and is flexible. The priority is a 6-month deployment window once the project begins.

The preferred deployment plan is as follows:

Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 Month 6

Deploy % 10% 15% 20% 20% 20% 15%

Monthly Total 720 1,080 1,440 1,440 1,440 1,080

Cumulative 720 1,800 3,240 4,680 6,120 7,200

The installation will be contiguous (premise-to-premise) rather than sporadically located throughout the service territory. The City does not anticipate any shutdown periods during the deployment. Bidders should indicate their anticipated start date and confirm the 6-month completion commitment from that point.

4.2 Phasing

The deployment shall be executed in phases as follows:

• Phase 1 – Network Infrastructure: Installation of all AMI network communication devices

(collectors, gateways, routers) prior to the commencement of meter installations. The Contractor shall coordinate with the AMI vendor to establish network coverage before meter deployment begins.

• Phase 2 – First-Article Meters: An initial deployment of approximately 500–1,000 meters to validate installation processes, data flow, commissioning procedures, and work order management workflows.

• Phase 3 – Full Deployment: Systematic installation of remaining meters across all service territory, following established routes and billing cycles.

• Phase 4 – Closeout and Remediation: Resolution of all failed installations, rework items, data reconciliation, and final project documentation.

4.3 Performance Metrics

Performance-based metrics will be established during contract negotiations and will address the following areas:

• Daily and weekly installation throughput targets.

• First-pass success rate benchmarks.

• Quality assurance benchmarks, including potential damage rates.

• Documentation completeness requirements.

• GPS data quality and accuracy standards.

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Potential penalty amounts and thresholds, including liquidated damages, will be defined in the final contract agreement.

4.4 Prevailing Wage and Labor Requirements

Davis-Bacon Act prevailing wage requirements do not apply to this contract. The Contractor is not required to utilize unionized field personnel.

4.5 Bonding Requirements

The successful bidder will be required to provide a performance bond equal to 100% of the contract value. Bond requirements will be detailed in the final contract agreement. Bidders should include bonding costs in their bid pricing.

4.6 Quality Assurance and Audit Inspection

The City of Acworth will conduct quality assurance audits of the Contractor’s installation work throughout the deployment. The audit program shall include:

• Initial Period (First 10 Business Days): 100% inspection of all installations performed during the first 10 business days of deployment. All installations must pass inspection before the

Contractor proceeds to full deployment.

• Ongoing Inspections: Random inspection of a minimum of 5% of all installations on an ongoing basis throughout the remainder of the project.

• Hot Socket Gap Indication: The Contractor shall perform hot socket gap detection as part of the standard installation process. Any socket exhibiting a gap or loss of jaw pre-load shall be documented and reported through the work order management system.

The City reserves the right to increase the inspection rate at any time if quality issues are identified.

Installations that fail inspection shall be corrected by the Contractor at no additional cost to the City.

4.7 Meter Acceptance Criteria

A meter installation shall be considered accepted when all of the following conditions are met:

• The new meter is properly seated, energized, and the meter display is active.

• The meter has established communication with the AMI head-end system and is confirmed as communicating within 3 business days of installation.

• GPS coordinates, photographs, and all required documentation have been submitted to the City through the work order management system.

• Jaw tightness testing and hot socket gap indication have been performed and documented.

• The removed meter has been returned to the City’s designated location in an organized and documented manner.

Final acceptance of the project will not occur until all meters are installed, commissioned, communicating, and all documentation has been reconciled.

4.8 Billing Cycle Coordination

The City of Acworth operates on a monthly billing cycle with four (4) billing cycles. Meter reads occur approximately every 28–32 days. The Contractor shall coordinate installation activities with the City’s

City of Acworth – IFB 2026-09 Page 12 billing department to avoid disruption to billing operations. A blackout window of 3–4 business days prior to each billing cycle close will be established during project coordination meetings, during which meter installations within the affected cycle area will be suspended to ensure accurate customer billing.

A detailed billing cycle map and schedule will be provided to the selected Contractor during project mobilization.

4.9 Licensing Requirements

The Contractor shall ensure that all personnel performing meter installation work possess the required training, certifications, and licenses applicable in the State of Georgia. For any site repairs requiring the services of a licensed electrician (e.g., meter base replacement, socket can replacement, or wiring modifications), the City of Acworth will contract directly with a licensed electrician to perform such repairs.

The Contractor is not required to employ licensed electrical personnel for these repairs.

4.10 Special Account Handling

The City will identify and provide information regarding the following account categories during project coordination:

• Critical Care / Life Support Accounts: Locations with customers dependent on electrically powered life-support or medical equipment. These accounts require special coordination, advanced notice, and may require a City representative to be present during the meter exchange.

• Access Notes: Account-specific notes regarding physical meter locations, access codes, key numbers, animal alerts, and other safety or access considerations will be provided as part of the download file during project coordination meetings.

• Locking Rings and Security Devices: Some meters may have locking rings or other security devices. Details regarding locking ring types, keys, and removal procedures will be provided during project coordination.

4.11 Meter Swap File and Daily Install File

The City will provide the Contractor with a meter swap file compatible with the Edmunds GovTech CIS prior to deployment. The file will include, at minimum: service address, utility account number, current meter serial number, meter ERT ID, meter form/type, and applicable service notes. A sample meter swap file format will be provided to shortlisted bidders prior to finalist interviews.

Upon completion of each day’s installations, the Contractor shall provide a daily install file in spreadsheet format (Excel .xlsx) compatible with the City’s Edmunds GovTech CIS meter swap import process. The daily install file must contain the following required fields:

Field Name Description

Utility Account City utility account number for the service location

Name / Location Customer name and/or service address

Old ERT ID ERT/endpoint ID of the removed meter

Old Serial Num Serial number of the removed meter

Meter Seq Meter sequence number (for multi-meter accounts)

New ERT ID ERT/endpoint ID of the newly installed AMI meter

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New Serial Num Serial number of the newly installed AMI meter

Final Read Final meter read from the removed meter at time of exchange

Reset Read Initial read on the newly installed meter (typically 0 or factory default)

Final Read / Reset / Install Date Date and time the meter exchange was performed

Additional fields (Year, Period, Reading Batch ID, Install New Meters Service Type) will be established during project coordination meetings. The City’s CIS uses an Update Type of “Meter Swap / Replace

Meter” and Service Type of “Power.” The Contractor’s work order management system must be capable of producing a daily export file in this format.

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5. Proposal Requirements

Bidders are requested to submit responses detailing how they propose to address the installation services outlined in this IFB. Please keep responses simple and economical, providing a straightforward and concise description of the proposed services. Describe all services unambiguously and with precision. Costs incurred preparing and submitting a response are entirely the bidder’s responsibility and not chargeable to the City of Acworth.

All responses, documents, terms, and information related to the bidder’s response to this IFB shall be submitted with the response package prior to the submission deadline. No separate schedules, agreements, terms, conditions, or other documents shall be recognized or accepted if not submitted with the response.

Proposals should include a table of contents listing all sections, figures, and tables. Major sections and appendices should be separated and labeled; pages should be numbered.

A. Executive Summary

Provide the following information:

• A summary of your proposed approach to the smart meter installation project, clearly indicating the services being offered.

• Why your firm is qualified to handle this project – differentiators and strengths of your company and project team.

• Which subcontractors, if any, are part of the proposed project team.

• An affirmation of no conflict of interest.

• An original authorized signature.

B. Company Overview

Provide the following information:

• Name of firm and mailing address, phone number, and email of the proposer’s principal place of business.

• A brief company history, including ownership, size, and number of national offices. Recent acquisitions or changes in ownership should be clearly disclosed.

• Overall company experience in AMI meter installation, electric utility field services, and network infrastructure deployment.

• Confirmation that your company and personnel are legally allowed to work in the State of

Georgia.

• The company’s capital position and financial health. Provide annual reports and/or financial statements for the division of the company directly responsible for the services proposed in this

IFB for each of the last three fiscal years as an appendix.

• State whether there are pending or prior legal disputes or lawsuits with any existing or previous clients. If so, state all such disputes, including dates, as well as any facts and outcomes.

• State the standard method or methods of resolving disputes, should they arise.

• Identify specific subcontractors and the specific requirements of this IFB for which each proposed subcontractor will perform services.

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• Describe the relationships amongst entities proposing jointly, how long you have worked together, what projects were successfully implemented jointly, and whether any companies submitting jointly have vested interest in one another.

• Depict any utilities using your installation services in the State of Georgia.

C. References

Bidders shall provide a minimum of five (5) references from similar meter installation projects performed for electric utility clients within the last seven (7) years. Preference will be given to references from utilities of similar size to the City of Acworth (6,000–25,000 meters) and to Georgia-based deployments. Provide references for any/all subcontractors anticipated for this project. References shall include:

• Utility name

• Contact name and title

• Address

• Telephone

• Email address

• Project name and description

• Project start and end dates

• Number of meters deployed

• Network architecture installed (if applicable)

• Option for site visit or reference call

D. Meter Installation Approach

Please provide detailed information regarding your approach to the meter installation scope:

• Describe your meter changeout process from pre-installation through commissioning, including a step-by-step workflow for each service type.

• Describe your approach to jaw tension testing and meter base inspection.

• Describe your GPS data collection methodology, equipment, and quality assurance procedures.

• Describe your process to manage the daily install file and your proposed communication process with City staff throughout the deployment.

• Describe your meter changeout scheduling process, customer communication procedures, and related business practices.

• Discuss your proposed approach to meter storage, inventory management, and asset tracking.

• Describe your claims resolution process for handling customer property damage or service complaints.

• Describe the installer staffing process for the project, including all required training and certifications for installers.

• Provide a description and sample screenshots of the work order management system proposed for the project.

• Describe how your firm will handle inaccessible meter locations (fences, obstructions, indoor meters) and coordinate with the City for resolution.

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E. Infrastructure Installation Approach

Please provide the following information regarding the deployment of AMI network infrastructure:

• Provide a detailed description of your approach to installing network communication devices

(collectors, gateways, routers), including pole-mounted and structure-mounted installations.

• Describe your safety processes for infrastructure installation, including work at heights and energized equipment proximity.

• Provide a proposed timeline for network infrastructure installation relative to meter deployment.

• Describe any specialized equipment or certifications required for infrastructure installation activities.

F. Safety Program

Provide the following information:

• A copy of the bidder’s written safety program.

• Experience Modification Rate (EMR) for the last three years.

• OSHA 300 logs for the last three years.

• Description of any OSHA citations received in the last five years.

• Description of safety training programs for field personnel.

G. Supporting Materials

Provide the following additional information:

• Draft work plan and proposed project schedule.

• Pricing for each phase of the project and for the overall project scope, as described in this IFB.

Use the Bid Response Form (Exhibit B).

• Certificates of insurance as described in Section 9.

• Brochures or other collateral materials.

• Pricing notes or clarifications should be included as general information, separate from the Bid

Response Form.

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6. Evaluation Criteria

The City of Acworth will review all bids and identify top respondents. Shortlisted bidders may be invited to participate in interviews with the City’s evaluation team. Criteria to be included in the evaluation process include:

• Vendor’s background and capability to provide the services requested.

• Evaluation of references, with preference given to utilities of similar size and Georgia deployments.

• Experience working with municipal utilities and public power entities.

• Quality and completeness of the proposed installation approach and work plan.

• Safety program and track record.

• Pricing and total cost of the installation services.

• Proposal responsiveness and completeness.

• Quality of the proposed work order management system and reporting capabilities.

The City reserves the right to award to the bidder whose proposal is deemed to be in the best overall interest of the City, and not necessarily to the lowest priced bid.

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7. Schedule

The anticipated schedule for this procurement is as follows:

Milestone Date

Release of IFB April 2026

Voluntary Pre-Bid Meeting Monday, May 4, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. ET

Deadline for Questions Wednesday, May 8, 2026

Answers to Questions Provided Wednesday, May 11, 2026

Deadline for Sealed Bid Submissions Wednesday, May 13, 2026 by 2:00 p.m. ET

Evaluation of Bids May 14-21, 2026

Finalist Interviews May 26–29, 2026

Anticipated Deployment Start Q3 2026

The City of Acworth reserves the right to modify this schedule as necessary.

Pre-Bid Meeting

A voluntary pre-bid meeting will be held on Monday, May 4, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. ET at the following location:

City of Acworth

4402 Acworth Industrial Drive

Acworth, GA 30101

The pre-bid meeting is not mandatory, but attendance is strongly encouraged. Bidders will have the opportunity to ask questions and view representative meter installations in the service territory.

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8. Terms and Conditions

• All communications related to this IFB should be directed through Angie Luna, City of Acworth

Power & Public Works Department, at aluna@acworth-ga.gov or (770) 974-5233.

• The City of Acworth will issue responses to inquiries and any other corrections or amendments it deems necessary in written addenda issued prior to the due date. All questions must be submitted by the deadline for questions listed on the schedule.

• By submitting a response, the vendor represents and warrants that such bid is genuine and not a sham or collusive or made in the interest or on behalf of any person not therein named, and that the vendor has not directly or indirectly induced or solicited any other vendor to submit a sham bid, or any other person, firm, or corporation to refrain from submitting, and that the vendor has not in any manner sought by collusion to secure any advantage over any other vendor.

• By submitting a bid, the vendor represents and warrants that no official or employee of the City of

Acworth has, in any manner, an interest, directly or indirectly, in the bid or in the contract which may be made under it, or in any expected profits to arise therefrom.

• All expenses involved with the preparation and submission of this bid to the City of Acworth, or any work performed in connection therewith, is the responsibility of the vendor(s).

• All materials submitted in connection with this Invitation for Bids will be public documents and subject to the laws of the State of Georgia, the United States of America, and the open records policies of the City of Acworth. All such materials shall remain the property of the City of Acworth and will not be returned to the respondent.

• All respondents to this Invitation for Bids shall hold harmless the City of Acworth and any of its officers and employees from all suits and claims alleged to be a result of this solicitation. The City reserves the right to determine, at its sole discretion, whether any aspect of a respondent’s submittal meets the criteria in this IFB. The City also reserves the right to seek clarifications, to negotiate with any vendor submitting a response, to reject any or all responses with or without cause, and to modify the procurement process.

• In the event that this Invitation for Bids is withdrawn or there is a need to cancel the contract services for any reason, the City shall have no liability to any respondent for any costs or expenses incurred in connection with this request or otherwise.

• In case of failure to deliver goods or services in accordance with the contract terms and conditions, the City, after due oral or written notice, may procure substitute goods or services from other sources and hold the vendor responsible for any resulting additional purchasing and administrative costs.

• Any contract resulting from this Invitation for Bids shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of Georgia. The contractor shall comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

• It is understood and agreed between the parties herein that the City of Acworth shall be bound hereunder only to the extent of the funds available, or which may hereafter become available, for the purpose of this agreement.

• The City will consider redlines in the negotiation process; however, the standard agreement is typically what is used without changes.

• Bid submissions must remain valid for a minimum period of ninety (90) days after the submission due date.

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8.1 E-Verify Compliance

In accordance with O.C.G.A. § 13-10-91, all contractors and subcontractors performing work under this contract must register and participate in the federal work authorization program commonly known as E-

Verify, or any subsequent replacement program. By submitting a bid, the contractor certifies compliance with this requirement.

The successful bidder shall be required to execute the Contractor Affidavit under O.C.G.A. § 13-10-

91(b)(1), included as Exhibit E of this IFB. The City of Acworth reserves the right to withhold from entering into any contract if a contractor is not registered with E-Verify. Furthermore, processing payment for services performed may be delayed if a contractor is not in compliance with E-Verify.

Contractors who are exempt from the requirements of O.C.G.A. § 13-10-91 (contracted individuals with no employees) shall execute the E-Verify Contractor Exemption Affidavit included as Exhibit F.

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9. Insurance Requirements

Prior to commencing work, the successful bidder shall procure and maintain at their own cost and expense for the duration of the agreement the following insurance against claims for injuries to persons or damages to property which may arise from or in connection with the performance of the work hereunder by the Contractor, its agents, representatives, employees, or subcontractors:

9.1 Commercial General Liability Insurance

Coverage of not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate for bodily injury, property damage, and personal injury. Coverage shall be occurrence-based and include:

• Premises/operations

• Products/completed operations

• Contractual liability

• Independent contractors

9.2 Automobile Liability Insurance

Coverage of not less than $1,000,000 combined single limit per accident for bodily injury and property damage, covering owned, hired, and non-owned vehicles.

9.3 Workers’ Compensation and Employers’ Liability

Workers’ compensation insurance as required by the State of Georgia, and employers’ liability insurance with limits of not less than $500,000 per accident, $500,000 disease per employee, and $500,000 disease policy limit.

9.4 Umbrella/Excess Liability

Coverage of not less than $5,000,000 per occurrence and aggregate, providing excess coverage over the general liability, automobile liability, and employers’ liability policies.

9.5 Additional Insured

The City of Acworth shall be named as additional insured on the commercial general liability and automobile liability policies. A certificate of insurance and any required endorsements must be submitted to the City prior to the commencement of any work.

City of Acworth – IFB 2026-09 Page 22

10. Bid Submission Instructions

10.1 Delivery of Bids

Sealed bids will be accepted at the following location no later than 2:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 13, 2026:

City of Acworth

Office of the City Clerk

Attn: Angie Luna – IFB 2026-09

4415 Center Street

Acworth, GA 30101

Bids may be hand-delivered or mailed to the address above. If mailing a bid, it is the bidder’s sole responsibility to ensure the bid is received at the designated location by the deadline. The City of Acworth assumes no responsibility for delays in mail delivery. Bids received after the designated time will not be accepted regardless of the reason for late arrival.

At the designated time, sealed bids will be publicly opened and the Bid to Perform amounts will be read aloud.

10.2 Bid Package Contents

Each bid must be submitted with the following fully executed documents:

• Exhibit A – Bid to Perform (cover sheet)

• Exhibit B – Bid Response Form (completed pricing schedule)

• Exhibit C – Reference Form (minimum of five references)

• Exhibit E – Contractor Affidavit (E-Verify) or Exhibit F – Exemption Affidavit

• Representations and Certifications Solicitation (included in bid package)

• Audit Clause for Contracts (included in bid package)

• W-9 Form

• Certificates of Insurance per Section 9

Failure to submit bids on all items shall be cause for rejection of the entire bid.

10.3 Format Requirements

Bidders shall submit the following:

• Hard Copy: Submit one (1) original and two (2) copies of the complete bid package in a sealed envelope.

• Electronic Copy: Submit one (1) USB flash drive containing a complete electronic copy of the bid package in PDF format. The USB drive shall be included inside the sealed bid envelope.

City of Acworth – IFB 2026-09 Page 23

All sealed bid envelopes must be clearly marked with the following information:

• IFB Number: 2026-09

• Description: Smart Meter Installation Services

• Bidder name and address

• Bid opening date: May 6, 2026

10.4 General Instructions

All bidders must comply with all general and special instructions contained in this IFB. All sealed bids must be delivered to the address listed above no later than the time and date indicated. Late bids will not be accepted.

The City of Acworth reserves the right to waive any or all informalities, accept or reject any or all bids, to re-advertise, and to award in the best interest of the City.

For additional information, contact Angie Luna at (770) 974-5233 or email aluna@acworth-ga.gov. Refer to IFB Number 2026-09.

Request for bidder information packets may be made at the City of Acworth, located at 4415 Center

Street, Acworth, GA 30101, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., by calling the above number, or by emailing a request to aluna@acworth-ga.gov.

City of Acworth – IFB 2026-09 Page 24

Exhibit A – Bid to Perform

Bidders should use this document as their cover sheet for each bid.

Furnish all necessary labor, material and equipment to perform the work indicated, per contract documents and specifications for the

Smart Meter Installation Services Project for the City of Acworth, Georgia.

Bidder is to fill in all blanks with prices. Failure to submit bids on all items shall be cause for rejection of the entire bid.

Bid Amount:

Number Price Written Out

Signature Title

Print Name Date

City of Acworth – IFB 2026-09 Page 25

Exhibit B – Bid Response Form

Bidders shall complete the following pricing schedule. All unit prices shall be inclusive of labor, materials, equipment, overhead, profit, bonding, insurance, and all other costs necessary to perform the work described. Minor socket repairs (corroded/pitted jaws, loose jaw tension, minor weathering) shall be included in unit pricing.

Item Description Est. Qty Unit Price Extended Price

1 Meter Installation – Form 2S (Self- Contained, Class 200)

6,685 $_______ $_______

2 Meter Installation – Form 2S (Class 320)

66 $_______ $_______

3 Meter Installation – Form 9S (Instrument-Rated, incl. 8S/9S)

148 $_______ $_______

4 Meter Installation – Form 12S 152 $_______ $_______

5 Meter Installation – Form 16S 66 $_______ $_______

6 Meter Installation – Form 3S/4S 23 $_______ $_______

7 Meter Installation – Form 1S 5 $_______ $_______

8 Meter Installation – Other Forms (14S, 15K, 16K, 2K, 36S)

18 $_______ $_______

9 Meter Installation – Unclassified (to be classified)

47 $_______ $_______

10 Network Device Installation – Collector/Gateway (pole-mount)

TBD $_______ $_______

11 Network Device Installation – Collector/Gateway (structure-mount)

TBD $_______ $_______

12 Network Device Installation – Router/Repeater

TBD $_______ $_______

13 Project Management (monthly rate) 6 months $_______ $_______

14 Work Order Management System (monthly rate)

6 months $_______ $_______

15 Mobilization/Demobilization (lump sum) 1 $_______ $_______

TOTAL BID AMOUNT: $_______

Company Name: _______________________________________________________________

Authorized Representative: ______________________________________________________

Title: _______________________________________________________________________

Signature: ___________________________________________________________________

Date: _______________________________________________________________________

Phone: ______________________________________________________________________

Email: _______________________________________________________________________

City of Acworth – IFB 2026-09 Page 26

City of Acworth – IFB 2026-09 Page 27

Exhibit C – Reference Form

Provide a minimum of five (5) references from similar meter installation projects performed for electric utility clients within the last seven (7) years. Preference will be given to utilities in the 6,000–25,000 meter range and Georgia-based deployments. Additional references beyond five may be attached separately.

Ref. 1 Ref. 2 Ref. 3 Ref. 4 Ref. 5

Utility Name

Contact Name & Title

Address

Phone / Email

Project Name

Project Description

Start Date / End Date

Meters Deployed

Network Arch. Installed

Site Visit / Call Avail.?

Bidder Company Name: ___________________________________________________________

City of Acworth – IFB 2026-09 Page 28

Exhibit D – Electric Meter Inventory

The following table details the current electric meter inventory for the City of Acworth service territory.

Meter forms marked as “To Be Determined” will be identified and classified prior to deployment. An updated meter inventory will be provided to the selected contractor during project mobilization.

Meter Type Quantity

Form 2S (Self-Contained, Class 200) 6,685

Form 2S (Class 320) 66

Form 9S (Instrument-Rated, includes 8S/9S) 148

Form 12S 152

Form 16S 66

Form 3S/4S 23

Form 1S 5

Form 14S 3

Form 15K 2

Form 16K 4

Form 2K 7

Form 36S 2

Unclassified / Descriptive Only 47

Total 7,210

Note: Meter counts above reflect the updated meter address list provided in Addendum 2 of the companion AMI procurement (IFB 2026-03). Approximately 47 meters carry descriptive labels rather than standard form codes and will be classified prior to deployment. Final meter counts and forms may vary slightly at the time of installation.

A complete meter service location address list is available and will be provided to the selected contractor or finalist bidders upon request.

City of Acworth – IFB 2026-09 Page 29

Exhibit E – Contractor Affidavit under O.C.G.A. § 13-10-91(b)(1)

By executing this affidavit, the undersigned contractor verifies its compliance with O.C.G.A. § 13-10-91, stating affirmatively that the individual, firm or corporation which is engaged in the physical performance of services on behalf of THE CITY OF ACWORTH, GEORGIA has registered with, is authorized to use and uses the federal work authorization program commonly known as E-Verify, or any subsequent replacement program, in accordance with the applicable provisions and deadlines established in

O.C.G.A. § 13-10-91. Furthermore, the undersigned contractor will continue to use the federal work authorization program throughout the contract period and the undersigned contractor will contract for the physical performance of services in satisfaction of such contract only with subcontractors who present an affidavit to the contractor with the information required by O.C.G.A. § 13-10-91(b). Contractor hereby attests that its federal work authorization user identification number and date of authorization are as follows:

Federal Work Authorization User Identification Number

Date of Authorization

Name of Contractor

Name of Project

Name of Public Employer

I hereby declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.

Executed on _______, ____, 20___ in ____(city), _______(state).

Signature of Authorized Officer or Agent

Printed Name and Title of Authorized Officer or Agent

City of Acworth – IFB 2026-09 Page 30

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN BEFORE ME

ON THIS THE _______ DAY OF _________________, 20___.

NOTARY PUBLIC

My Commission Expires: ________________________

City of Acworth – IFB 2026-09 Page 31

Exhibit F – E-Verify Contractor Exemption Affidavit

By executing this affidavit, the undersigned contractor verifies that it is exempt from requirements of

O.C.G.A. 13-10-91, and affirms that they are a contracted individual with no employees and therefore, have attached hereto, a copy of their approved state issued identification card/driver’s license from an approved state as provided on the Attorney General’s website; or is an individual licensed under Title 26, Title 43, or the State Bar of Georgia who is in good standing and that they, as an individual, are performing the specified contracted service to the City.

Name of Business

Printed Name of Exempt Contractor

Signature of Exempt Contractor or

Signature of Authorized Officer or Agent

Printed Name and Title of Authorized Officer or Agent

I hereby declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.

Executed on _____________, 20___ in (city), _____________(state).

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN BEFORE ME

ON THIS _______ DAY OF _________________, 20___.

NOTARY PUBLIC

My Commission Expires: ________________________

City of Acworth – IFB 2026-09 Page 32

The City of Acworth reserves the right to withhold from entering into any contract if a contractor is not registered with

E-Verify. Furthermore, processing payment for services performed may be delayed if a contractor is not in compliance with E-Verify.