IFB_Event_ID_0000031168_Addendum_1.docx

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES – PROCUREMENT DIVISION

INVITATION FOR BID

Paper, [Newsprint and] Carbonless

EVENT ID [0000029001]*0000031168*

*May 14, 2024*

BIDS ARE DUE BY: May 24, 2024, at 2:00 PM PT

RETURN BID TO:

CMU@dgs.ca.gov

(Contract Reference Number 75-41B) PD Reference Only Business Unit (BU): 77601

SCOPE

The State of California, Department of General Services, Procurement Division (DGS-PD) is issuing this Invitation for Bid (IFB) to cover the requirements of the Department of General Services, Office of State Publishing (DGS-OSP) for Paper, Carbonless. The contract resulting from this solicitation will be mandatory for DGS-OSP only.

The term of any contract resulting from this solicitation will be for three (3) years. The contract will contain two (2) extension options for one (1) year or portion thereof. If a mutual agreement for a contract extension cannot be met, the contract will expire at the end of the current contract term.

CURRENT CONTRACT

The historical value based on expenditures from the current mandatory statewide contract over a four (4) year period is approximately:

METHOD OF AWARD

Award will be made on an "All or None" basis to the responsive and responsible Bidder with the lowest cost, including all applicable preference and incentive calculations.

DRAFTS

If the State determines that bids from all Bidders contain material deviations, the State may declare the bids to be draft bids. If bids are declared drafts, the State will issue an addendum to the solicitation document and confidential discussions may be held with the Bidders who wish to continue in the bidding process. Notifying the Bidder of defects is intended to minimize the risk that the final bids will be deemed non-compliant; however, the State will not provide any warranty that all defects in the draft bids have been detected. Notification of defects in the draft bid will not preclude rejection of the final bid, if undiscovered defects contained in the declared draft bid are later found in the final bid. Oral statements made by either party during confidential discussions shall not be binding.

NEGOTIATIONS

The State may elect to enter into negotiations pursuant to Public Contract Code §6611 if conditions exist. Should the State elect to negotiate, the process shall be described in writing and provided to the parties involved prior to commencement of negotiations.

ALTERNATIVE PROTEST PROCESS

This solicitation/acquisition is being conducted under the provisions of the Alternative Protest Process (Public Contract Code Section 12125, et seq.) By submitting a bid or proposal to this solicitation, the bidder consents to participation in the Alternative Protest Process and agrees that all protests of the proposed award shall be resolved by binding arbitration pursuant to the California Code of Regulations, Title 1, Division 2, Chapter 5. Link to the Alternative Protest Process regulations.

A Notice of Intent to Award for this solicitation will be publicly posted on the Department of General Services Procurement Division webpage and sent via facsimile to any bidder who submits a written request for notice and provided a facsimile number. DGS/PD webpage link.

During the protest period, any participating bidder may protest the proposed award on the following grounds:

1. For major information technology acquisitions – that there was a violation of the solicitation procedure(s) and that the protesting bidder’s bid should have been selected; or

2. For any other acquisition – that the protesting bidder’s bid or proposal should have been selected in accordance with the selection criteria in the solicitation document.

A written Notice of Intent to Protest the proposed award of this solicitation must be received (facsimile acceptable) by the Coordinator before the close of business 5 p.m. PST/PDT on the 2nd working day after issuing the notice of intent, as specified in the solicitation. Failure to submit a timely, written Notice of Intent to Protest waives bidder’s right to protest.

Bidder is to send the notice of protest to:

Alternative Protest Process Coordinator/Dispute Resolution Department of General Services Procurement Division Purchasing Authority Management Section 707 Third Street, 2nd Floor South West Sacramento, CA 95605 Fax: 916 / 376-6226 Email: PDProtest@dgs.ca.gov

Within seven (7) working days after the last day to submit a Notice of Intent to Protest, the Coordinator must receive from the protesting bidder the complete protest filing including the signed, written detailed statement of protest including exhibits, filing fee and deposit or small business certification as applicable. Untimely submission of the complete protest filing waives the bidder’s right to protest.

Protest bond requirement: bond amount for this Alternative Protest Process shall be 10 percent of the contract amount as specified in the solicitation. See California Code of Regulations, Title 1, Section 1418.

RESPONSIBLE BIDDER

DGS-PD may require Bidders to submit evidence of their qualifications. This includes, but is not limited to, personnel in the numbers and with the skills required, equipment of appropriate type and sufficient quantity, financial resources sufficient to complete performance under the contract, and experience in similar endeavors. If such information is required, the Bidder will be notified to submit the required information. If the State determines the Bidder is not responsible, the bid will be rejected.

BIDDER INSTRUCTIONS

The Bidder Instructions include the Bidder’s and the State’s rights and responsibilities for the bidding process, unless otherwise specified in this solicitation. Bidder Instructions are located at the following link: Bidder Instructions (rev 11/09/2011).

ADDENDA

In the event that the solicitation is revised by an addendum, Bidder is required to meet all requirements of the most current addendum, including using any updated forms.

The IFB document is not required to be submitted with the bid. This language supersedes DGSPD-451, Bidder Instructions (rev 11/09/2011) Section 3.b., Solicitation Addendum (Addenda).

PROCUREMENT OFFICIAL

The Procurement Official contact information for this IFB is listed below:

Willie Orphé III Procurement Division Department of General Services 707 Third Street, 2nd Floor West Sacramento, CA 95605 Telephone: (279) 946-8393 E-mail: willie.orphe@dgs.ca.gov Bid Submittal E-mail: CMU@dgs.ca.gov

The Procurement Official shall be the single point of contact. All inquiries and questions must be directed to only this person. Oral communications are discouraged and shall not be binding to the State. Bidders should only rely on written statements issued by the Procurement Official.

Bid submittals shall be sent to the Bid Submittal E-mail address identified above.

BIDDER QUESTIONS

This IFB addresses all requirements that Bidders must meet to be eligible for consideration. Bidders must carefully read the entire IFB, ask appropriate questions in a timely manner, and make sure all procedures and requirements of the IFB are accurately followed and addressed.

If a Bidder discovers any ambiguity, conflict, discrepancy, omission, or other errors in the IFB, the Bidder shall immediately notify the Procurement Official of such error, in writing, and request clarification or modification of the document.

All questions, comments, and concerns should be immediately directed to the Procurement Official, in writing, no later than four (4) working days prior to bid due date. All questions and/or concerns shall be directed to willie.orphe@dgs.ca.gov.

CLARIFYING INFORMATION

During the evaluation and selection process the State may ask the Bidder to clarify their submitted response if the bid contains conflicting information regarding a requirement for which compliance cannot be determined. Clarification will not be requested if the Bidder has been deemed non-compliant to other requirements.

Except for clerical errors, the State will not ask clarifying questions for bids where the response to the requirement is non-compliant as this would result in a change to the bid.

AGREEMENT COVER LETTER AND CONTRACT PROVISIONS

All Bidders must complete the Agreement Cover Letter and include it with the bid. The Agreement Cover Letter (which shall be considered an integral part of the bid) shall be signed by an individual who is authorized to bind the bidding firm contractually. An unsigned Agreement Cover Letter shall cause the bid to be rejected.

By signing the Agreement Cover Letter and submitting a bid, Bidder is agreeing to accept all of the terms and conditions of the Non-IT General Provisions (rev 6/21/2022) without addition or modification.

Bidder also agrees to comply with all applicable statutes, rules, regulations, and orders of the United States and the State of California.

SPECIFICATIONS

All products offered must meet or exceed Attachment 2 – Bid Specifications, entitled State of California Bid Specification Number 9310-0337030, dated April 30, 2024.

TECHNICAL QUESTIONNAIRE

Bidders shall use Attachment 2A - Technical Questionnaire to enter product information for the product the Bidder is proposing and submit with bid response. All information and reference material must be complete. Failure to submit the questionnaire with the bid will result in the proposal being considered non-responsive.

SAMPLES

The State may require samples of offered products to assist in its determination of award. If required, the Bidder shall submit samples within ten (10) working days after request from the State. The Bidder will be given one opportunity to submit the samples. Failure to submit requested samples will result in the bid being considered non-responsive.

ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PURCHASING (EPP)

DGS-PD is responsible for the implementation of Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) as mandated by PCC Sections 12400-12404. By signing the Agreement Cover Letter, the Bidder is certifying that the products offered under this solicitation are in compliance with the Federal Trade Commission’s Guidelines for the Use of Environmental Marketing Terms, per PCC Section 12404.

ECOLABELS CERTIFICATION FORM

Bidders must submit a completed Attachment 4 - Ecolabels Certification Form for Paper, Carbonless with the bid response for all contract line items. Each product proposed must be listed in the respective certification online database by the bid due date. The brand name and manufacturer’s part number provided on Attachment 4 shall match the web link product results for each line item. The claimed ecolabel should be listed on each individual product certification. Bidder must provide one or more of the following certifications, for each product proposed:

· Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

· Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)

· Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)

Contract awarded with these ecolabels will be monitored throughout the life of the contract. Product substitutions must meet the listed requirements by the time the substitution is submitted for consideration.

POST-CONSUMER RECYCLED CONTENT CERTIFICATION

State departments are required to report purchases made within sixteen (16) product categories in the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery’s (CalRecycle) State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign (SABRC) in accordance with PCC Sections 12200-12217.

In order to comply with those requirements, Bidders are required to certify in writing the minimum percentage, if not the exact percentage, of post-consumer recycled content (PCRC) material in each of the products offered as part of this solicitation.

The PCRC Certification Workbook contains the following documents:

· PCRC Percentages Worksheet – Bidder shall complete the PCRC Percentages Worksheet for each product offered.

· Letter of Certification – Bidder shall sign the Letter of Certification certifying that the minimum percentage, if not exact percentage, listed in the PCRC Percentages Worksheet is accurate. The Letter of Certification shall be furnished under penalty of perjury. The Letter of Certification shall be provided regardless of content, even if the products do not contain PCRC.

· Reportable Product Categories Table – This table is provided for informational purposes only and identifies the sixteen (16) SABRC reportable product categories.

The Bidder shall complete and submit the PCRC Certification Workbook with the bid.

During the life of the contract, the Contractor will be required to submit revised PCRC Certification Workbook information if percentages are adjusted or if substitute line items are approved by the State Contract Administrator.

PRICING STRUCTURE

Contract line items are Paper, Carbonless line items that are commonly purchased by DGS-OSP. These items will be available for purchase by ordering agencies at a fixed contract price (offered on Attachment 1 – Pricing Worksheet). The State reserves the right to eliminate any specific line item from the final award.

PRICING WORKSHEET

Attachment 1 – Pricing Worksheet contains the price sheet that the Bidders shall use to enter pricing for the solicitation. In order to be considered for award, all line items in Attachment 1 – Pricing Worksheet, must be bid. All dollar figures must be entered to no more than two (2) decimal places (e.g., $150.00). Upon award, the Bidder’s proposed products listed on Attachment 1 – Pricing Worksheet will be the Contract Line Items (CLINs) under the resultant contract.

Bidders are required to provide the following proposed product information for each line item on the Pricing Worksheet:

· Manufacturer Part Number (OEM #)

· Manufacturer (OEM)

· Bidder’s product Stock Keeping Unit Number (SKU#)

· Item Description

· Contract Unit Price

Prices quoted shall be all inclusive. Only the prices submitted in the bid response shall be included in the awarded contract. No other fees can be charged to the customer.

Attachment 1 – Pricing Worksheet must be filled out completely or the bid may be rejected. Yellow cells are mandatory and must be completed. Modifying any other cell in any worksheet may disqualify the Bidder.

Bidders shall submit one (1) electronic copy in Microsoft Excel format of the completed Attachment 1 – Pricing Worksheet with the emailed bid response.

Failure to submit the Attachment 1 – Pricing Worksheet with the bid response shall result in the bid being considered non-responsive. Please refer to the Worksheet Key tab for field definitions and additional completion instructions.

QUANTITIES

The quantities shown in Attachment 1 – Pricing Worksheet, are representative and used for evaluation purposes only. Actual purchases may vary. The State will not guarantee that these quantities will be purchased. Consequently, there is no guaranteed dollar value for this contract. The State will not be obligated to purchase Contractor’s excess inventory. The State reserves the right to purchase any quantity of any line item from the resulting contract.

SALES TAX

Sales tax is not to be included in the bid response or on Attachment 1 – Pricing Worksheet. If awarded the contract, sales tax should be added at time of invoicing. The sales tax rate applied should be based on the rate of the area where the product is to be delivered.

NARRATIVE RESPONSE

The IFB includes some items that require a narrative response. Those items have been listed on Attachment 3 – Narrative Response. Bidders shall input narrative responses on the attachment only, and only for the items requested. If necessary, Bidders may add pages to the attachment to further explain their response.

Bidders shall not input narrative responses within the IFB document, nor should narrative responses be included for items the State did not list on Attachment 3 – Narrative Response. Attachment 3 - Narrative Response shall be included with the bid.

SELLER PERMIT AND SECRETARY OF STATE

Bidders are required to provide their Seller’s Permit number and, if a corporation or limited liability company, their Secretary of State (SOS) certification number on Attachment 3 – Narrative Response.

A copy of the Seller’s Permit or certification of registration, and, if applicable, the permit or certification of all participating affiliates issued by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) must be provided within five (5) working days after request from the State or bid may be deemed non-responsive.

SOS certification must be approved and in “Active” status prior to award of any contract. If a Bidder’s SOS certification is not in “Active” status on the bid submission due date, the Bidder will have five (5) working days after notification from the State to provide an “Active” SOS certification.

CUSTOMER REFERENCES

Prior to award, at the State’s sole discretion, Bidder may be required to submit customer references in order to demonstrate to the State that the Bidder can provide Paper, Carbonless and can handle the anticipated spend for this solicitation.

Customer References must be for the Bidder. Customers are defined as end-users of the product. References from a contractor for which the Bidder did sub-contract work are not acceptable.

Customer references shall:

· Be for work performed within the last five (5) years prior to bid submission due date.

· Be for similar product (i.e., sale and distribution of Paper, Carbonless) to that requested in this IFB.

· In total, must be valued at or above $85,000.00. An accumulation of orders from a single customer or multiple references from different customers totaling the applicable minimum value is acceptable.

· Confirm that the Bidder’s overall performance of contract requirements was, at minimum, satisfactory.

References from the DGS-PD are not acceptable. References for transactions against California Statewide Contracts or other Leveraged Procurement Agreements must be from an ordering department.

If requested, the State will provide the Bidder with the Customer Reference Form. Customer references must be provided on this form only. References submitted in any other format will not be considered. Bidder shall submit Customer Reference Forms within ten (10) working days after notification from the State.

The State may contact customer references to verify the information on the submitted forms. Failure to submit compliant references may result in rejection of the bid.

AUTHORIZED RESELLER

If the Bidder is not the Manufacturer (mill) of the product being proposed, the Bidder must provide, on mill company letterhead and signed by an authorized mill representative, documentation identifying the Bidder as an authorized mill reseller. The Authorized Reseller letter should be submitted with the bid response. If this document is not included in the bid response, Bidder shall provide it within five (5) days after request from the State. Failure to submit required information may result in the bid being considered non-responsive. The State has the option to follow-up and verify any Authorized Reseller letter.

DECLARATION FORMS

All Bidders must complete the Bidder Declaration Form (GSPD-05-105) and include it with the bid response. When completing the declaration, Bidders must identify all subcontractors proposed for participation in the contract. Bidders awarded a contract are contractually obligated to use the subcontractors for the corresponding work identified unless the State agrees to a substitution, and it is incorporated by amendment to the contract.

If a Bidder proposes the use of a subcontractor for a portion of the contract, the Bidder agrees that all requirements will be adhered to and that requirements will apply to subcontractors. All subcontractors must comply fully with the administrative and technical requirements that are applicable with the portion of the work being delegated to the subcontractor.

Bidders and any subcontractors who have been certified by California as a DVBE (or who are bidding rental equipment and have obtained the participation of subcontractors certified by California as a DVBE) must also submit a completed Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Declaration Form DGS PD 843. All disabled veteran owners and disabled veteran managers of the DVBE(s) must sign the form. The completed form should be included with the bid response.

SOCIOECONOMIC PROGRAMS

This solicitation may include the following socioeconomic programs:

A. Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) Program Requirements and DVBE Incentive B. Small Business Preference C. Small Business Nonprofit Veteran Services Agencies (SB/NVSA) D. Non-Small Business Subcontractor Preference E. Target Area Contract Preference Act (TACPA) Preference

All certified firms must perform a “commercially useful function” in the performance of the contract as defined in Government Code (GC) Section 14837(d)(4).

The Contractor must notify the State Contract Administrator by written notification of any proposed changes in the SB and/or DVBE subcontractors made during the term of the contract. Changes cannot be made without State Contract Administrator approval.

If claiming SB and/or DVBE participation, the relevant Bidder and/or subcontractor must be certified by California as a SB and/or DVBE. Completed certification applications and required support documents must be submitted to the Office of Small Business and DVBE Services (OSDS) no later than 5:00 p.m. PT on the bid due date, and the OSDS must be able to approve the application as submitted.

1. Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) Program Requirements and DVBE Incentive:

This solicitation does not require a minimum DVBE participation percentage. The DVBE participation requirement has been waived.

This solicitation provides an incentive for DVBE participation. California DVBE Bid Incentive Instructions include information about the DVBE incentive. If applicable, Bidders must claim this incentive on Attachment 3 – Narrative Response Small Business Preference A 5 percent bid preference is available to Bidders certified as a small business in accordance with GC 14835 et seq. If applicable, Bidders must claim this preference on Attachment 3 – Narrative Response.

The Small Business regulations concerning the application and calculation of the small business preference, small business certification, responsibilities of small business, department certification, and appeals can be viewed in the California Code of Regulations (Title 2, Division 2, Chapter 3, Subchapter 8, Section 1896 et seq.).

Small Business Nonprofit Veteran Services Agencies (SB/NVSA) SB/NVSA prime Bidders meeting requirements specified in the Military and Veterans Code (MVC) Section 999.50 et seq. and obtaining a California certification as a small business are eligible for the 5 percent small business preference. If applicable, claim the preference on Attachment 3 – Narrative Response. SB/NVSAs claiming the small business preference must possess certification by California prior to the day and time bids are due. Questions regarding certification should be directed to the OSDS at (916)375-4940.

Non-Small Business Subcontractor Preference A 5 percent bid preference is available to a non-small business claiming 25 percent California Certified small business subcontractor participation. If applicable, claim the preference on Attachment 3 – Narrative Response.

Target Area Contract Preference Act (TACPA) Preference This solicitation provides for the optional TACPA preference. Bidders are not required to apply for this preference. Denial of the TACPA preference request is not a basis for rejection of the bid.

Bidders desiring to claim the TACPA preference are encouraged to carefully review the TACPA forms, requirements, and submittal instructions. Bidders must complete and submit all applicable preference program forms (Standard Form 830, Bidder’s Summary form, and Manufacturer’s Summary) to be considered for a preference.

The State as part of its evaluation process reserves the right to verify, validate, and clarify all information contained in the bid. This may include, but is not limited to, information from Bidders, manufacturers, subcontractors, and any other sources available at the time of bid evaluation. Bidder refusal to agree to and/or comply with these terms, or failure to provide additional supporting information at the State’s request may result in the denial of the preferences requested.

Contracts awarded with the applied preference will be monitored throughout the life of the contract for compliance with statutory, regulatory, and contractual requirements. The State will take appropriate corrective action and apply sanctions as necessary to enforce the preference program.

Any questions regarding the TACPA preference should be directed to TACPA@dgs.ca.gov.

COMMERCIALLY USEFUL FUNCTION (CUF)

Suppliers, whether the Bidder or a subcontractor, who have a California certification for one (1) or more of the socio-economic programs (i.e., small business or DVBE), must perform a Commercially Useful Function (CUF) in the resulting contract. CUF is defined in the Military and Veterans Code Section 999(b)(5)(B) for DVBEs and in the Government Code Section 14837(d)(4)(A) for small business as consisting of all of the following:

· Responsibility for the execution of a distinct element of the work

· Actually performing, managing, or supervising the work

· Performing work that is normal for its business services and functions

· Not further subcontracting work that is greater than that expected by normal industry standards

· Responsible, with respect to any products, inventories, materials, and supplies required for the contract, for negotiating price, determining quality and quantity, ordering, installing (if applicable), and making payment

Bidders shall describe in detail how each certified SB and/or DVBE, whether the Bidder or a subcontractor, meets the CUF criteria on Attachment 3 - Narrative Response, in accordance with Section 31, Distribution Plan.

A Contractor, subcontractor, or supplier is not considered to perform a CUF if their role is limited to that of an extra participant through which funds are passed in order to obtain the appearance of participation.

At the State’s option, Bidders may be required to submit additional written clarifying information regarding CUF. Failure to submit the requested written information, as specified, may be grounds for rejection of the bid.

DISTRIBUTION PLAN

Bidder shall describe in detail their Distribution Plan on Attachment 3 – Narrative Response. The Distribution Plan should be the Bidder’s written plan for distribution of the products. The plan must clearly show distribution from the manufacturer to the end user, including all points in between specific to the resulting contract only, and the role that the Bidder, as the Contractor of record, will play in the distribution.

This plan should clearly identify all parties, including any subcontractor, DVBE and/or small business participants involved in the execution of this contract and their responsibilities. Work performed by a Bidder or a subcontractor who is a California certified Small Business and/or DVBE must perform a CUF.

DARFUR CONTRACTING ACT

Public Contract Code Sections 10475 -10481 applies to any company that currently or within the previous three (3) years has had business activities or other operations outside of the United States. For such a company to bid on or submit a proposal for a State of California contract, the company must certify that it is either a) not a scrutinized company; or b) a scrutinized company that has been granted permission by the DGS to submit a proposal.

A scrutinized company is a company doing business in Sudan as defined in Public Contract Code Section 10476. Scrutinized companies are ineligible to, and cannot, bid on or submit a proposal for a contract with a State agency for goods or services (Public Contract Code Section 10477(a)), unless written permission from the Director of DGS to bid on this procurement has been granted (Public Contract Code Section 10477(b)).

A Bidder is required to submit a completed Darfur Contracting Act form (https://www.dgs.ca.gov/-/media/CBAFDC111B6C43B09496B8391E11F394.ashx) if their company currently or within the previous three (3) years has had business activities or other operations outside of the United States. The Darfur Contracting Act form should be submitted with the bid response. If this document is not included in the bid response, Bidder shall provide it within five (5) working days after request from the State. Failure to submit required information will result in the bid being considered non-responsive.

If a Bidder has not conducted business outside of the United States in the last three (3) years, this section does not apply. Bidders shall submit their response on Attachment 3 - Narrative Response.

CALIFORNIA CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS CERTIFICATION

Pursuant to PCC Section 2010, any Bidder entering into or renewing a contract over $100,000 on or after January 1, 2017, shall certify all of the following:

A. That they are in compliance with the Unruh Civil Rights Act (Section 51 of the Civil Code).

B. That they are in compliance with the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 12960) of Part 2.8 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

C. (1) That any policy that they have against any sovereign nation or peoples recognized by the government of the United States, including, but not limited to, the nation and people of Israel, is not used to discriminate in violation of the Unruh Civil Rights Act (Section 51 of the Civil Code) or the FEHA (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 12960) of Part 2.8 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

(2) Any policy adopted by a person or actions taken thereunder that are reasonably necessary to comply with federal or state sanctions or laws affecting sovereign nations, or their nationals shall not be construed as unlawful discrimination in violation of the Unruh Civil Rights Act (Section 51 of the Civil Code) or the FEHA (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 12960) of Part 2.8 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

Bidders are required to submit the California Civil Rights Laws Certification form with the bid response. Failure to submit this form will result in the bid being considered non-responsive.

IRAN CONTRACTING ACT

Pursuant to the Iran Contracting Act of 2010 (PCC Sections 2200 through 2208 are “the Act”), vendors are ineligible to bid on, submit a proposal for, enter into, or renew any contract with the state for goods or services of one million dollars ($1,000,000) or more if the vendor engages in investment activities in Iran, as defined in the Act. Prior to submitting a bid or proposal and prior to executing any state contract or renewal for goods or services of one million dollars ($1,000,000) or more, a vendor must complete and return the attached Iran Contract Act Certification form with their bid response certifying that it is not on the list of ineligible vendors prohibited from doing business with the State of California.

Bidders are required to submit the Iran Contracting Act Certification with the bid response. Failure to submit this form will result in the bid being considered non-responsive.

FEDERAL DEBARMENT, SUSPENSION, INELIGIBILITY AND VOLUNTARY CERTIFICATION

Expenditures from this contract may involve Federal funds. The Federal Department of Labor requires all State agencies which are expending Federal funds to have in the contract file, a certification by the Contractor that they have not been debarred nor suspended from doing business with the Federal government. Bidders must submit the Federal Debarment Certification form within five (5) working days after request from the State. Failure to submit this form upon request, will result in the bid being considered non-responsive.

EXECUTIVE ORDER N-6-22 – RUSSIAN SANCTIONS

On March 4, 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-6-22 (the EO) regarding Economic Sanctions against Russia and Russian entities and individuals. “Economic Sanctions” refers to sanctions imposed by the U.S. government in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, as well as any sanctions imposed under state law. By submitting a bid or proposal, Contractor represents that it is not a target of Economic Sanctions. Should the State determine Contractor is a target of Economic Sanctions or is conducting prohibited transactions with sanctioned individuals or entities, that shall be grounds for rejection of the Contractor’s bid/proposal any time prior to contract execution, or, if determined after contract execution, shall be grounds for termination by the State.

PAYEE DATA RECORD

The Bidder to be awarded this contract will be required to complete and sign a Payee Data Record (STD 204) prior to contract award.

TAX DELINQUENCY

Pursuant to the Public Contract Code Section 10295.4, prior to executing any State contract or renewal for non-IT goods or services, the contracting department must verify that the Bidder in not on either of the prohibited lists below. If Bidder is on either list, they will be ineligible for contract award.

FTB Top 500 Delinquent Taxpayers

CDTFA Top 500 Sales & Use Tax Delinquencies in California

INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor must maintain in force applicable insurance in accordance with the Non-IT General Provisions (rev 6/21/2022), Article 21 entitled “Insurance.” Contractor shall furnish an insurance certificate evidencing required insurance coverage acceptable to the State within five (5) working days of request.

PRODUCT SUBSTITUIONS

Bidder’s proposed product must be available for the entire contract term. If, during the contract term, specific contract line items are no longer available, Contractor may propose substitute product that either meets or exceeds the minimum requirements. Product substitution shall be in accordance with the General Provisions (rev 6/21/2022), Article 16 entitled “Substitutions”.

PRICE ADJUSTMENTS

All prices shall be firm fixed for the contract term, including any optional year extensions, unless a price adjustment is granted.

A. Frequency/Guidelines:

Price adjustments will only be acknowledged in accordance with the following guidelines:

1. Price adjustments will not be made during the first three (3) months of the contract or within three (3) months following an approved price adjustment.

1. Price adjustment requests must include substantiating documentation that supports the requested price adjustment as defined in section B.2 below.

1. Price adjustments may only be requested when the cost of finished products based on the supporting documentation identified in section B.2 below has increased no less than two (2) percent.

1. No price increase/decrease shall apply to quantities ordered from the contract prior to the effective date of the price adjustment. No retroactive contract price adjustments will be allowed.

1. An exemption to these frequency/guidelines may be requested should unusual circumstances occur, in which case substantiating documentation will be required.

1. The State reserves the right to decrease prices in the same manner as price increase adjustments.

B. Processing a Price Increase:

1. Any price adjustment request must be in writing. The price adjustment, if accepted, will be effective upon publication of Contract User Instructions supplement by the State.

2. Price adjustment requests must include:

a. Two (2) letters from two (2) different paper mills stating that paper prices are being adjusted. Letter one (1) must be from the mill providing the paper on contract. If possible, letter two (2) should be from a different paper mill not providing paper on contract.

b. An Excel spreadsheet detailing the requested adjustment to the contract line item(s). The spreadsheet should include the CLIN, current State Contract Price, percent increase/decrease requested, and adjusted State Contract Price for each contract line item.

c. Additional support documentation may include the following:

Although a Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) PPI index will not be used as an index to grant price adjustments, the State may use the BLS PPI index as a guide to the paper market.

3. Price adjustments, if granted, will be made as follows:

The percentage change between the invoiced cost at the time of contract award/last price adjustment and current invoiced cost at time of request. That percentage change will be applied to the Contractor’s current contract price.

Additional price adjustments within the contract term including extensions, if granted, will be made as detailed above. The base Contractor’s cost will be the accepted Contractor’s cost at the time of the last approved price increase request.

Upon receipt of a price increase request, the State reserves the right to:

0. Accept the adjustment as competitive with the general market price at that time; or

0. Negotiate proposed price adjustments. Note: The State will notify the Contractor, in writing, its desire to negotiate; or

0. Deny adjustment request and continue with current State contract prices; or

0. Cancel the contract without prejudice, effective upon written notice from the State.

If negotiations fail to produce any agreement, the State reserves the right to exercise Options 3c or 3d with an effective date no later than ten (10) working days after unsuccessful negotiation.

PRICE DECLINES

The Contractor shall immediately notify the State Contract Administrator of all manufacturer’s price declines and ordering agencies shall receive full benefit of such declines.

MINIMUM ORDER

The minimum order are as follows:

· Paper, Carbonless Rolls shall be 5,000 lbs. rolls.

· Paper, Carbonless Sheets shall be one (1) carton sheets. Orders shall be placed in full carton increments.

The contractor shall deliver material in the quantity specified only, no shortage or overages, unless authorized in advance by the ordering agency. If authorized, overages shall be invoiced at the same unit price offered on the contract.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

The Contractor will have a customer service unit that supports this contract. The customer service unit shall provide office and personnel resources for responding to inquiries, including telephone and email coverage weekdays during the hours of 8:00 AM through 5:00 PM (PT).

Contractor shall assign a Contract Manager to act as a contact for all contract-related issues. Contractor Contract Manager information shall be provided prior to award.

The Contractor shall provide technical support for paper supplied. The Contractor shall respond to requests for technical support within eight (8) working hours of request. The request may be a documented phone call. When necessary, on-site technical support shall be provided within three (3) working days.

CONTRACTOR ORDERING INFORMATION

The Contractor shall accept orders through the following methods:

· Email – An email address to be used by ordering agencies for placing orders is to be in place before the commencement of this contract.

· Facsimile – A facsimile number to be used by ordering agencies for placing orders is to be in place before the commencement of this contract. Facsimile orders must be accepted between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM (PT), Monday through Friday.

· Mail – Contractor must have the capability to receive orders by mail in place before the commencement of this contract.

ORDER ACCEPTANCE

The Contractor shall accept orders from DGS-OSP only.

The Contractor shall not accept purchase documents for this contract that:

· Are incomplete (required information on purchase documents will be provided during contract implementation)

· Contain non-contract items or items outside the scope of the contract

· Contain non-contract terms and conditions

The Contractor must not refuse to accept orders for any other reason without written authorization from the State Contract Administrator.

PURCHASE EXECUTION

Ordering agencies will submit orders directly to the Contractor via one of the ordering methods in accordance with Section 45, Contractor Ordering Information.

State department orders will be submitted using a Purchasing Authority Purchase Order (Std. 65) or using the Fi$Cal Purchase Order process.

ORDER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Contractor must provide the ordering agency with an order receipt acknowledgement, either through email or facsimile, within two (2) working days of receipt. Order Acknowledgement will include:

· Contractor’s Order Number

· Ordering Agency Name

· Agency Order Number (Purchase Order Number)

· Description of Goods

· Total Cost

· Anticipated Delivery Date

· Identification of any Out of Stock/Discontinued Items

DELIVERY LOCATIONS

Delivery for orders placed against the contract resulting from this solicitation shall be to the following location:

Department of General Services, OSP 1000 Riverside Parkway West Sacramento, CA 95605

DELIVERY SCHEDULES

Delivery of ordered product shall be completed in full within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt of an order (ARO), unless otherwise agreed to by the ordering agency. Agreed upon delivery timelines beyond the thirty (30) calendar days must be in writing. Since receiving hours for each ordering agency will vary by facility, it will be the Contractor’s responsibility to check with each facility for their specific delivery hours before delivery occurs.

The Contractor must notify the ordering agency within twelve (12) hours of scheduled delivery time, if delivery cannot be made within the time frame specified on the Order Confirmation.

DELIVERY SECURITY REQUIREMENTS

Deliveries may be made to locations inside secure grounds that require prior clearances or special entry procedures for delivery drivers.

Security procedures may vary from facility to facility. The Contractor will be responsible for contacting the secure location for security procedures, hours of operation for deliveries and service, dress code, and other rules of delivery.

Deliveries that are delayed due to drivers not being cleared to enter secure grounds may be cause for contract default.

MILL ALLOTMENT

If, during the term of any resultant contract, the Contractor is placed on mill allotment for the paper(s) covered by the contract, the Contractor shall:

1. Immediately notify the State if such allotment effects quantities available for delivery to the State.

2. Submit to the State written substantiation from the mill or mills concerned.

3. Submit to the State a schedule of quantities and delivery times by line item available under the allotment.

On receipt of the above notification, the State may exercise one (1) of the following options:

1. Accept the terms of the allotment.

2. Cancel the contract.

3. Accept the terms of the allotment but purchase quantities not available under the allotment from non-contract sources.

FREE ON BOARD (F.O.B.) DESTINATION

All prices offered shall be F.O.B. destination; freight prepaid by the Contractor, to the ordering agency’s receiving point. Responsibility and liability for loss or damage for all orders shall remain with the Contractor until final inspection and acceptance, when all responsibility shall pass to the ordering agency, except the responsibility for latent defects, fraud, and the warranty obligations.

PACKAGING, PACKING AND MARKING

All shipments must comply with the Non-IT General Provisions (rev 6/21/2022), Article 12 entitled “Packing and Shipment.”

INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

Inspection and acceptance shall be in accordance with the Non-IT General Provisions (rev 6/21/2022), Article 17 entitled “Inspection, Acceptance and Rejection.”

INVOICING REQUIREMENTS

Invoices shall be submitted to the ordering agency within seven (7) calendar days from date of delivery. The Contractor’s invoice must include, at a minimum:

· Contractor’s name, address, and telephone number

· Contract Number

· Purchase Order Number

· Line-Item Number

· Quantity purchased

· Contract Unit Price and Extension

· State sales and/or use tax

· Prompt payment discounts/cash discounts, if applicable

· Totals for each order

The State’s obligation to make payment pursuant to the contract is subject to availability of appropriated funds. Receipt of a Purchasing Authority Purchase Order (STD. 65) or Purchase Order in FI$Cal under this contract is proof of encumbered funds for that order.

STATE FINANCIAL MARKETPLACE

The State reserves the right to select the form of payment for all procurements, be it either an outright purchase with payment rendered directly by the State, or a financing purchase (using GS $Mart), or operating lease (using Lease $Mart) through the State Financial Marketplace (GS $Mart and/or Lease $Mart). If payment is done through the financial marketplace, the Contractor will invoice the State and the State will approve the invoice and the selected Lender/Lessor will pay the Contractor on behalf of the State for all product listed on the State's procurement document.

CAL-CARD PAYMENT

Bidders must indicate on Attachment 3 – Narrative Response if the Bidder will or will not accept the State’s CAL-Card Visa credit card for order payments.

QUALITY ASSURANCE

All deliveries shall conform to the quality set levels set by the contract and be free of any defects. Deliveries inspected and rejected (non-compliant to specifications or out of tolerance) are subject to return for full credit. The State will document the defect and submit the report to the Contractor. The Contractor shall arrange for and pick up the rejected goods within fourteen (14) calendar days of notification. Failure to pick up the rejected goods within this time frame will be grounds for the State to dispose of the goods. The Contractor shall be liable for any damage to press equipment or loss of press time caused by non-compliant stock. Delivery of replacement product shall be completed within thirty (30) calendar days of notification. When necessary, express shipping for replacement product shall be provided at no cost to the State.

RANDOM SAMPLE COMPLIANCE REVIEW

The State has the option of randomly sampling offered products after award from any order to ensure compliance to contract requirements. Any products failing random sample review will be replaced by the Contractor free of charge and re-evaluated by the State. The State has the option of removing listed line items that fail random sample compliance review. Notice will be made by email. Failure to submit requested products may be considered a breach of contract and subject the Contractor to Non-IT General Provisions (rev 6/21/2022), Article 26 entitled “Rights and Remedies of State for Default”.

PRODUCT RECALL PROCEDURES

The Contractor shall provide product recall notification, regardless of level, in writing to the State Contract Administrator and each ordering agency through the most expedient method possible. The notices, at a minimum, shall include a complete product description and/or identification, contract number, delivery order number and disposition instructions.

The Contractor shall issue replacement of product or credit for any product removed or recalled. Each ordering agency shall have the option of accepting either replacement product or credit in exchange for recalled/removed products.

SAFETY DATA SHEET

The Contractor shall provide a Safety Data Sheet for products subject to Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR), Section 5194, Hazard Communication.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS:

During the contract period, Contractor is required to submit…