Lift_Station_Inspection,_Maintenance,_and_Repair_Services.pdf

County of San Mateo

Request for Proposals (RFP) for Lift Station Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair Services

Parks Department

RFP No. 2026-RFP-00351

RFP Contact: Travis Dunn tdunn1@smcgov.org

1. Introduction and Schedule

The County of San Mateo (the “County” or “SMC”) covers most of the San Francisco Peninsula. The region covers 744 mi and is home to nearly 800,000 residents and 20 incorporated cities. The County provides for the health and welfare of all people within its borders and serves as the local government for the unincorporated areas. Innovation thrives here in industries including bioscience, computer software, green technology, hospitality, financial management, health care, education and transportation. The

County prides itself on how that prosperity fosters its commitment to protecting and enhancing the health, safety, welfare and natural resources of the community.

1.1. Summary

The County of San Mateo (“County”) covers most of the San Francisco Peninsula. The region covers 744 mi2 and is home to approximately 750,000 residents. The County is made up of 20 incorporated cities.

The County provides for the health and welfare of all people within its borders and serves as the local government for the unincorporated areas. Innovation thrives here in industries including bioscience, computer software, green technology, hospitality, financial management, health care, education, and transportation. The County prides itself on how that prosperity fosters its commitment to protecting and enhancing the health, safety, welfare, and natural resources of the community.

The San Mateo County Parks Department (“Department”) serves nearly three million visitors every year.

Visitors have many options when visiting the County’s unique park system. With 24 parks and recreation areas, over 16,000 acres of park land, and 190 miles of trail, the Department provides healthy outdoor activities, educational opportunities, and lasting memories.

Due to the diversity of the park system, visitors can enjoy an array of recreational opportunities, including walking; running; hiking; biking; picnicking; horseback riding; sailing; kite surfing; fishing; camping;

gardening; tidepooling; volunteering; learning; sports courts; and playing on playgrounds.

1.2. Background

The Coyote Point Recreation Area occupies approximately 149 acres of shoreline and is one of the most heavily used parks in San Mateo County, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year for recreation, leisure, and educational experiences.

Coyote Point Recreation Area includes a variety of support facilities that sustain park operations and visitor services. The park’s wastewater collection system relies on multiple lift stations to convey sewage from restrooms and other facilities to downstream collection points where gravity flows can resume.

Ongoing maintenance and timely repairs of this lift station infrastructure are critical to ensuring sanitary operations, preventing sewage backups or overflows, and maintaining public health and environmental quality at this busy recreational location.

Six (6) lift stations located throughout the park serve restrooms, marina facilities, and park operations.

These lift stations vary in configuration, with both single and dual pump systems, and require periodic inspection, preventive maintenance, operational testing, repair, and emergency response services to remain fully functional. The selected Contractor will support the County in maintaining these essential systems to meet operational reliability and regulatory expectations.

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1.3. Contact Information

Project Contact:

Travis Dunn Contract Administrator II Email: tdunn1@smcgov.org Phone: (650) 599-1229

Procurement Contact:

Travis Dunn Contract Administrator II Email: tdunn1@smcgov.org Phone: (650) 599-1229

Department:

Parks Department

Department Head:

Emma Gonzalez Director

1.4. Timeline

RFP Released April 21, 2026

Deadline for Questions, Comments and

Contract Exceptions

April 30, 2026, 5:00pm

Proposal Due Date and Time May 8, 2026, 5:00pm

2. Scope of Work

2.1. PROJECT OVERVIEW

The County of San Mateo Parks Department (“County”) is soliciting proposals from qualified contractors to provide inspection, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, repair, and on-call emergency services for wastewater lift stations located at Coyote Point Recreation Area in San Mateo County, California.

The selected Contractor shall furnish all labor, supervision, tools, equipment, materials, transportation, and incidentals necessary to maintain the lift stations in safe and reliable operating condition.

Services shall be provided for the following six (6) lift stations located at Coyote Point Recreation Area:

A. Beach Center – Dual pump lift station (tank 6' wide, 8' deep)

B. Harbor Master’s Office – (Single lift, 2' wide, 3' deep)

C. Marina Berm Restroom – (Single lift station, 3' wide, 4' deep) mailto:tdunn1@smcgov.org tel:(650)599-1229 mailto:tdunn1@smcgov.org tel:(650)599-1229

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D. Yacht Club – Dual pump lift station (Dual lift station, 4' wide, 5' deep)

E. Ranger Station – (Dual lift station 4' wide, 6' deep)

F. Eucalyptus Restroom – (Dual lift station 5' wide, 7' deep )

Contractor shall:

• Comply with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

• Follow all OSHA requirements.

• Be properly licensed in the State of California.

• Maintain required insurance coverage per County standards.

• Coordinate all work with County staff.

2.2. INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE

Contractor shall perform semi-annual inspections, as scheduled by County. Proposers may recommend annual vs. semi-annual schedules, but pricing shall reflect semi-annual service unless otherwise approved by the County.

Each inspection shall include, at a minimum:

A. Control Panel and Electrical System Inspection

• Inspect control panels for proper operation

• Check breakers, relays, contactors, seal failure indicators, and overload protection

• Verify alarm systems are operational

• Inspect wiring and connections for corrosion, moisture intrusion, or damage

• Test alternator function (for dual pump systems)

• Document voltage and amperage readings

B. Wet Well Inspection

• Inspect wet well interior condition

• Check for debris accumulation, grease buildup, inflow issues, and structural defects

• Measure and record operating levels

• Provide written recommendation for cleaning if required

Wet Well Cleaning / Pump-Out:

Contractor shall provide wet well cleaning and pump-out services as needed to maintain proper operation.

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Proposals shall clearly identify whether this service is included in base pricing or provided on a unit-cost basis. Contractor shall be capable of performing or coordinating vacuum truck services when required.

C. Pump Inspection and Operational Testing

• Record pump amperage draw

• Inspect pumps for vibration, noise, overheating, or abnormal operation

• Inspect guide rails, chains, and mounting hardware

• Remove minor clogs and debris as part of routine service

• Verify check valve and isolation valve functionality

• Log pump run times and cycle frequency

D. Float and Level Control System

• Test float switches and/or level sensors

• Verify proper start/stop sequencing

• Inspect cords and mounting brackets

• Adjust or recalibrate as necessary

E. Piping and Valves

• Inspect discharge piping for leaks or corrosion

• Operate and inspect check valves and isolation valves

• Inspect fittings and structural components

F. Documentation

Following each inspection, Contractor shall provide a written service report including:

• Date of service

• Site name

• Operational readings (voltage, amperage, run times)

• Observed deficiencies

• Recommended corrective actions

• Photographs of deficiencies (if applicable)

Reports shall be submitted electronically within five (5) business days of service.

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2.3. REPAIR, REPLACEMENT, AND UPKEEP SERVICES

Contractor shall provide on-call repair and maintenance services necessary to keep the lift stations fully operational.

Services may include, but are not limited to:

A. Electrical and Control Systems

• Repair or replacement of control panels

• Replacement of breakers, relays, contactors, and wiring

• Troubleshooting alarm systems

• Installation of upgraded control components

B. Pump Systems

• Pump unclogging beyond routine debris removal

• Pump removal and reinstallation

• Pump repair or rebuild

• Pump replacement

• Seal replacement

C. Float and Level Controls

• Float switch replacement

• Level sensor repair or replacement

• Recalibration of control systems

D. Plumbing and Mechanical Infrastructure

• Valve replacement

• Check valve repair

• Discharge piping repair

• Structural hardware repair

E. Emergency Response

Contractor shall provide emergency response services for system failures, alarms, backups, or overflows.

Proposals shall specify:

• Emergency response time

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• After-hours rates

• 24/7 availability

2.4. PERFORMANCE MEASURE

Contractor shall:

A. Respond to routine service requests within two (2) business days of County notification.

B. Respond to emergency service calls within the response time proposed in their bid (not to exceed

12 hours).

C. Submit written inspection and service reports within five (5) business days of service completion.

Contractor shall meet the above requirements in at least 95% of service instances annually.

3. Submission Requirements

3.1. Submission Deadline

Proposals must be electronically received by 5:00 pm, on Friday, May 8, 2026 via eProcurement system.

Allow sufficient time for the upload to complete by the Due Date and Time. Partial uploads will automatically terminate, and proposals will be rejected. The eProcurement system submission time will be the official submission time. The County will not be responsible for and may not accept proposals that are late due to slow internet connections or for any other failure of the eProcurement system.

NOTE: The County does not maintain the eProcurement system and is not liable for site failures or technical problems. To resolve technical issues, contact OpenGov Technical Support by using the real time chat located in the lower right hand corner of the screen, or via email at procurement-support@opengov.com https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/smcgov

3.2. Pre-submission Registration

Organizations or individuals interested in responding to this solicitation must register online with the

County of San Mateo at:

• https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/smcgov

It is recommended that organizations complete this registration as soon as possible. The County will not be responsible for and may not accept proposals that are late due to a failure to register in the eProcurement system.

3.3. Submission via eProcurement Portal

Required Documents

Please refer to the Technical Proposal section for submittal documents and requirements.

mailto:procurement-support@opengov.com mailto:procurement-support@opengov.com https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/smcgov https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/smcgov https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/smcgov/projects/236734/document?section=2252642

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Electronic Submissions

Include the proposer name and the RFP title and number in each filename. Submit proposals via the eProcurement website, allowing sufficient time for the upload to complete by the Due Date and Time. As noted above, the eProcurement portal submission time will be the official submission time, and partial uploads will automatically terminate, and proposals will be rejected. Contact eProcurement Portal with technical questions regarding this site.

Conflicts between Certain Requirements

Prior to the submission deadlines and solely relating to a determination of the timeliness of questions, comments, and proposal submissions, information displayed on the eProcurement portal site will take precedence in the event of a discrepancy between that information and the information within the solicitation documents. For all other discrepancies, the information in the solicitation documents will take precedence.

Format

Documents should be created in the following format:

• Text should be Times New Roman (12-point minimum font size) and unjustified (i.e., with a ragged-right margin)

• Pages should have margins of at least one inch on all sides (excluding headers and footers)

• If the proposal is lengthy, a Table of Contents should be included.

• PDF format is preferred.

Errors in Proposals

The County will not be liable for any errors in proposals. Proposals may be rejected as unresponsive if they are late, incomplete, missing pages or information, or cannot be opened for any reason. The County may waive minor irregularities, but such waiver will not modify any remaining RFP requirements.

3.4. Procurement Preference for Local Businesses and Local Non-Profits

The County of San Mateo has adopted a Procurement Preference for Local Businesses Ordinance (County

Ord. Code Ch. 2.89.) The purpose of this Ordinance is to promote a strong local economy by giving preference to local businesses, local non-profits, local small and micro businesses, and local small and micro non-profits in County procurements, to the extent consistent with the law and interests of the public. The County’s process for applying local preferences to competitive procurements is set forth in

County Ordinance Code Section 2.89.030. The Ordinance and exemptions (e.g. the ordinance will be exempt when all bids or proposals received are from Non-Profit Organizations) can be reviewed here:

Chapter 2.89 - PROCUREMENT PREFERENCE FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES | Code of Ordinances |

San Mateo County, CA | Municode Library

The requirements for bidders to establish eligibility for a local preference for this solicitation are detailed below in Section III (Submission Requirements) The Ordinance does not apply if a procurement is determined to be exempt (County Ord. Code sec. 2.89.050), and the County reserves the right to waive https://library.municode.com/ca/san_mateo_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT2AD_ART2.8INFIPRCOCO_CH2.89PRPRLOBU https://library.municode.com/ca/san_mateo_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT2AD_ART2.8INFIPRCOCO_CH2.89PRPRLOBU

Page 9 of 17 Release date of April 21, 2026 application of the Ordinance to this procurement if determined to be in the best interests of the County

(County Ord. Code sec. 2.89.060).

4. Minimum Qualifications and Technical Proposal

4.1. Minimum Qualifications

4.1.1. Has Proposer has been providing similar services for a minimum of four (4) years within the last seven (7) years?*

☐ Yes

☐ No

*Response required

4.1.2. Account manager has a minimum of two (2) years of experience within the last five (5) years in providing account services?*

☐ Yes

☐ No

*Response required

4.1.3. Vendor is not excluded, suspended, or debarred from the System for Award

Management (SAM).*

SAM.gov

☐ Please confirm

*Response required

4.1.4. What is the registered Business Name and Unique Entity ID (UEI) No.? (If Applicable)

• UEI number can be obtained by registering your business through SAM.GOV

• Should you be in the process of obtaining your UEI number, please enter the digits ‘123’ temporarily for your response below in order to proceed with proposal. This temporary number should be replaced with the correct registration number for submission of the proposal.

4.2. Technical Proposal

4.2.1. Introduction and Executive Summary *

Submit a letter of introduction and executive summary of the proposal. The letter must contain:

• Name, title and contact information (email, phone, and address) for representative of proposer that is responsible for communication related to this RFP.

• Name, title, contact information, and signature of person authorized to obligate firm to perform the commitment contained in the proposal.

Submission of the letter will constitute a representation by proposer that it is willing and able to perform the commitments contained in the proposal and has not violated the terms of this RFP.

*Response required https://sam.gov/content/home

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4.2.2. Statement of Minimum Qualifications *

Describe how the proposer meets the minimum qualifications as set forth in Minimum Qualifications of this RFP.

Submission of the Minimum Qualifications checklist is not a substitute for providing a detailed written response.

*Response required

4.2.3. Project Approach*

This section should correlate to the Scope of Work . Proposer should give a short summary describing how it will perform the relevant work

*Response required

4.2.4. Firm Qualifications *

Attach information regarding background and qualifications, including the following:

• A brief description of the proposer.

• A description of not more than three (3) projects similar in size and scope conducted by the proposer, including the client, reference and telephone numbers, primary staff members involved, budget, schedule, and project summary. Descriptions should be limited to one (1) page for each project.

• If subcontractors are anticipated, identify them (if known) and provide information on how they will be used.

*Response required

4.2.5. Team Qualifications*

Provide a chart identifying:

▪ Project team and reporting structure

▪ Lead project manager

▪ Role each person will play in the project

Provide a brief description of the experience and qualifications of the project team members, including short resumes if desired.

Written assurance that the key individuals listed and identified will be performing the work and will not be substituted or reassigned without the County’s prior approval

*Response required

4.2.6. References*

Provide two (2) references for each of the following, including the name, address, and telephone number of recent clients (preferably other public agencies):

*Response required

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5. Pricing Proposal

Line Item Description Quantity Unit of

Measure Unit Cost Total

1 Routine Inspection Services (per station, per visit) 1 $

2 Wet Well Cleaning 1 $

3 Hourly Labor Rates (Regular) 1 $

4 Hourly Labor Rates (Emergency /

After Hours) 1 $

5 Pump repair/rebuild cost 1 $

6 Markup on parts and materials 1 %

TOTAL

6. Evaluation and Selection Criteria

The proposals will be evaluated by a selection committee with relevant expertise. The County intends to evaluate the proposals generally in accordance with the criteria itemized below. Proposers with the highest scoring proposals may be interviewed by the committee to make the final selection.

No. Evaluation Criteria Scoring Method Weight (Points)

1. Project Approach Points Based 30 (30% of Total)

2. Firm Qualifications Points Based 25 (25% of Total)

3. Team Qualifications Points Based 20 (20% of Total)

4. Price Points Based 25 (25% of Total)

7. Instructions to Proposers

7.1. Instructions

There will be no pre-proposal conference or site visit for this project.

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7.2. Communications

A. As of the issuance date of this RFP and continuing until it is canceled or an award is made, no proposer or person acting on behalf of a prospective proposer may discuss any matter relating to the RFP with any officer, agent, or employee of the County, other than through eProcurement portal, to the Authorized Contact Person, or as outlined in the evaluation or protest procedures.

B. Proposers (including any agent, owner, employee, board members, or other such affiliates) shall not offer any gift, favor, or other personal benefit to any County officer or employee during the procurement process for this agreement, including during the solicitation period and contract negotiations.

Violation of the foregoing prohibitions may result in a proposer being found non-responsible and barred from participating in this or future procurements.

7.3. Contract Award

A. Award Procedure

Contract negotiations are neither an offer nor guarantee that a contract will be executed. A contract award, if any is made, will be to the responsive, responsible proposer offering the overall best value to the County for the services and goods described in this solicitation, or as applicable, for a specific portion of the services and goods described. Any agreement reached will be memorialized in a formal agreement using the attached template, executed by the appropriate authority.

B. Notice of Intent to Award

If a decision is made to take steps to enter into an agreement with one or more proposers, the

County will post a Notice of Intent to Award or otherwise notify proposers the remaining proposers of their non-selection. Notice may instead be provided by including approval of the agreement as an item on an agenda for a meeting of the Board of Supervisors.

C. Commencement of Performance

After all parties have signed the agreement, the County will notify the contractor and performance may proceed. Prior to execution of the agreement by the County, no County employee may authorize work under the agreement. Any work performed prior to the full execution of the Agreement may not be compensated.

D. Levine Act DisclosureThe Levine Act (California Government Code Section 84308) imposes certain requirements on parties contracting with the County of San Mateo related to campaign contributions to County “officers,” including elected County officers and candidates seeking elective office, who may participate in making a decision on certain County contracts. Elected

County officers in San Mateo County include: the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder, County Controller, Coroner, District Attorney, Sheriff, and Tax

Collector-Treasurer.Generally, under current County policy, approval by the Board of

Supervisors is required for any agreement for services above $200,000, and agreements for

Page 13 of 17 Release date of April 21, 2026 services below that threshold may be approved by Department heads.If your proposal is selected, you will be required to certify compliance with the Levine Act.As part of this process, you will need to certify and warrant that you have fully complied, and will remain in full compliance, with all applicable requirements of the Levine Act in connection with the

Agreement, including making any required disclosures of campaign contributions to County

Officers, which includes but may not be limited to elected County Officers. Elected County

Officers include members of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, as well as the

Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder, Controller, Coroner, District Attorney, Sheriff, and Tax

Collector-Treasurer. Any campaign contribution required to be disclosed under the Levine Act in connection with this Agreement shall be disclosed on the County of San Mateo Levine Act

Disclosure Form, a copy of which is available from the County upon request.Parties are solely responsible for accurate certification and disclosure. The Levine Act is complex, and this brief description is not legal advice. For example, certain contributions must be aggregated when determining whether contributions have exceeded the $500 threshold. If your proposal is selected, you are urged to review the Levine Act and consider consulting an attorney.

7.4. Term

Parks Departmentis issuing Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 2026-RFP-00351 for Lift Station Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair Services.

The agreement shall have a term of three (3) years. In addition, the County shall have two (2) options, each to extend the term for an additional period not to exceed one year, which the County may exercise in its sole, absolute discretion. To exercise this option, the County shall provide written notice to the

Contractor at least thirty days before the end of the agreement’s term.

The County’s standard contract template has been included with this solicitation. The awarded contractor will be expected to sign an agreement prepared by the County using this template. Please ensure that your firm has completed legal review of these contract terms. If your firm wishes to request exceptions to these standard terms, submit a Contract Exceptions Request by the Deadline for Questions, Comments and

Contract Exceptions listed in the Solicitation Schedule below. The County will consider Contract

Exceptions Requests but reserves the right to reject requested modifications to its standard terms.

8. Terms and Conditions for Receipt of Proposals

8.1. Errors, Omissions and Inquiries regarding the RFP

Proposers are responsible for reviewing all portions of this RFP. Proposers are to notify the department, in eProcurement portal, if the proposer discovers any ambiguity, discrepancy, omission, or apparent error in the RFP. Such notification should be made promptly after discovery, but in no event later than five business days prior to the deadline for receipt of proposals. Modifications and clarifications will be made by addenda as provided below.

Inquiries regarding the RFP should be lodged in eProcurement portal.

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8.2. Objections to RFP Terms

Should a proposer object on any ground to any provision or legal requirement set forth in this RFP, the proposer must, not more than ten calendar days after the RFP is issued, provide written notice to the department, via eProcurement portal, setting forth with specific grounds for the objection.

8.3. Addenda

The County may cancel, revise, or reissue this RFP, in whole or in part, for any reason. Revisions will be posted as Addenda on eProcurement portal. No other revision of this RFP is valid. Proposers shall be responsible for ensuring that their proposals reflects any and all Addenda issued by the County prior to the proposal due date regardless of when a proposal is submitted. Therefore, the County recommends that proposers consult eProcurement portal frequently, including shortly before the proposal due date, to confirm that all Addenda have been downloaded.

8.4. Term of Proposal

Submission of a proposal signifies that the proposed services and prices are valid for the duration of the proposed agreement term and that the quoted prices are genuine and not the result of collusion or any other anti-competitive activity.

8.5. Revision or Withdrawal of Proposal

A proposer may revise a proposal on the proposer’s own initiative at any time before the deadline for submission of proposals. The proposer must submit the revised proposal in the same manner as the original on or before the proposal due date.

A proposer may withdraw a proposal at any time before the deadline for submission of proposals. After that time, whether or not a new RFP is issued for the same subject matter, withdrawal of a proposal may preclude the proposer from participating in the procurement as a proposer or subcontractor, except that an original equipment manufacturer may participate indirectly through a reseller.

8.6. Errors and Omissions in Proposal

The County will not be liable for any errors in proposals. Proposals may be rejected as unresponsive if they are incomplete, are missing pages or information, or cannot be opened for any reason. The County may waive minor irregularities, but such waiver will not modify any of the remaining RFP requirements.

8.7. No Commitment

Neither submission of a proposal nor the County’s receipt of proposal materials confers any right to the proposer nor any obligation on the County. This RFP does not commit the County to award a contract.

8.8. Financial Responsibility

The County shall have no financial responsibility for any costs incurred by a firm in responding to this

RFP or participating in any presentations or negotiations.

8.9. Estimated Quantity

If the RFP results in an indefinite quantity or a requirements agreement, the goods and services actually requested by the County may be less than the maximum value of the agreement and there is no guarantee, Page 15 of 17 Release date of April 21, 2026 either expressed or implied, as to the actual quantity of goods and services that will be authorized under the agreement.

8.10. Public Record

A. General

1. All proposals, protests, and information submitted in response to this solicitation will become the property of the County and will be considered public records. As such, they may be subject to public review.

2. Any contract arising from this RFP will be a public record.

3. The County is not seeking proprietary information and will not assert any privileges that may exist on behalf of the proposer.

4. Submission of any materials in response to this RFP constitutes:

▪ Consent to the County’s release of such materials under the Public Records Act without notice to the person or entity submitting the materials; and

▪ Waiver of all claims against the County and/or its officers, agents, or employees that the

County has violated a proposer's right to privacy, disclosed trade secrets, or caused any damage by allowing the proposal or materials to be inspected; and

▪ Agreement to indemnify and hold harmless the County for release of such information under the Public Records Act; and

▪ Acknowledgement that the County will not assert any privileges that may exist on behalf of the person or entity submitting the materials.

8.11. Reservations of Rights by the County

The issuance of this RFP does not constitute an agreement by the County that any contract will actually be entered into by the County. The County expressly reserves the right at any time to:

• Waive or correct any defect or informality in any response, proposal, or proposal procedure;

• Reject any or all proposals;

• Reissue an RFP;

• Prior to submission deadline for proposals, modify all or any portion of the selection procedures, including deadlines for accepting responses, the specifications or requirements for any materials, equipment or services to be provided under this RFP, or the requirements for contents or format of the proposals;

• Procure any materials, equipment or services specified in this RFP by any other means; or

• Determine that no project will be pursued.

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8.12. No Waiver

No waiver by the County of any provision of this RFP shall be implied from any failure by the County to recognize or take action on account of any failure by a proposer to observe any provision of this RFP.

8.13. Cooperative Agreement (Piggyback)

This competitive solicitation is being conducted as a Cooperative Procurement. The services, terms and conditions of any agreement resulting from this solicitation may be used by other organizations as a

Cooperative Agreement.

This provision in no way commits any affiliate to procure services from any awarded contractor, nor does it guarantee that any additional orders will result. At their discretion, and subject to their own procurement policies, interested organizations may make use of this competitive procurement and contract directly from the awarded contractor.

9. Protest Procedures

9.1. Protest of Non-Responsiveness Determination

Within five (5) working days of the County's issuance of a notice of non-responsiveness, any firm that has submitted a proposal and believes that the County has incorrectly determined that its proposal is non-responsive may submit a written notice of protest. Such notice of protest must be received by the County on or before the fifth working day following the County's issuance of the notice of non-responsiveness. The notice of protest must include a written statement specifying in detail each and every one of the grounds asserted for the protest. The protest must be signed by an individual authorized to represent the proposer, and must cite the law, rule, local ordinance, procedure or RFP provision on which the protest is based. In addition, the protestor must specify facts and evidence sufficient for the County to determine the validity of the protest.

9.2. Protest of Contract Award

Within five (5) working days of the County's issuance of a notice of intent to award the contract, any firm that has submitted a responsive proposal and believes that the County has incorrectly selected another proposer for award may submit a written notice of protest. Such notice of protest must be received by the

County on or before the fifth working day after the County's issuance of the notice of intent to award.

The notice of protest must include a written statement specifying in detail each and every one of the grounds asserted for the protest. The protest must be signed by an individual authorized to represent the proposer, and must cite the law, rule, local ordinance, procedure or RFP provision on which the protest is based. In addition, the protestor must specify facts and evidence sufficient for the County to determine the validity of the protest.

9.3. Delivery of Protests

All protests must be received by the due date. If a protest is mailed, the protestor bears the risk of non-delivery within the deadlines specified herein. Protests should be transmitted by a means that will objectively establish the date the County received the protest. Protests or notice of protests made orally

(e.g., by telephone) will not be considered. Protests must be delivered to:

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Protests@smcgov.org

Subject: Lift Station Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair Services, 2026-RFP-00351