RFP Water Testing Grand 2025.docx

Michigan.gov/MiProcurement Proposal Instructions Michigan Department of Transportation Water Sampling and Analysis for MDOT Grand Region Facilities Request for Proposal No. 250000002936 Solicitation Manager Name: Mark Morrison Direct Phone: 517-275-1834 Email: Morrisonm@michigan.gov Main Phone: 1-855-MI-PURCH 1-855-647-8724 This is a Request for Proposal (RFP) for:

Water Sampling of various MDOT locations in Grand Region RFP Timeline

*A bidder’s proposal received at 3:00:01 p.m. Eastern is late and subject to disqualification.

This RFP is subject to change. Check www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS for current information.

1. PROPOSAL PREPARATION. The State recommends reading all RFP materials prior to preparing a proposal, particularly these Proposal Instructions and the Vendor Questions Worksheet. Bidders must follow these Proposal Instructions and provide a complete response to the items indicated in the RFP Structure and Documentation table below. References and links to websites or external sources may not be used in lieu of providing the information requested in the RFP within the proposal. Include the bidder’s company name in the header of all documents submitted with your proposal. Note that all documents and information submitted as part of a proposal will become public record immediately upon receipt by the State. Proposals received by the State may be posted on the State’s publicly available website after bidders are notified of the award recommendation.

RFP Structure and Documentation

2. CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE STATE. The sole point of contact for the State concerning this RFP is listed on the Cover Page. Contacting any other State personnel, agent, consultant, or representative about this RFP may result in bidder disqualification.

3. MODIFICATIONS. The State may modify this RFP at any time. Modifications will be posted on www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS. This is the only method by which the RFP may be modified.

4. QUESTIONS. Bidder questions about this RFP must be emailed to the Solicitation Manager no later than the time and date specified on the Cover Page. In the interest of transparency, only written questions are accepted. Answers to questions will be posted on www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS. Submit questions using the format below; a Microsoft Excel format or similar is suggested.

5. DELIVERY OF PROPOSAL.

Electronic – The bidder must submit its proposal, all attachments, and any modifications or withdrawals electronically through www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS. The price proposal should be saved separately from all other proposal documents. The bidder should submit all documents in a modifiable (native) format (examples include but are not limited to Microsoft Word or Excel and Google Docs or Sheets). In addition to submitting documents in a modifiable format, the bidder may also submit copies of documents in PDF. Attachment file size is limited to 30 MB per document. Bidder’s failure to submit a proposal as required may result in disqualification. The proposal and attachments must be fully uploaded and submitted prior to the proposal deadline. Do not wait until the last minute to submit a proposal, as the SIGMA VSS system requires the creation of an account and entry of certain information, in addition to uploading and submitting the materials. The SIGMA VSS system will not allow a proposal to be submitted after the proposal deadline identified in the solicitation Closing On/Closing Date fields (Summary view/Detail view), even if a portion of the proposal has been uploaded.

Questions on how to submit information or how to navigate in the SIGMA VSS system can be answered by calling (517) 284-0540 or (888) 734-9749. The Solicitation Manager will not provide assistance related to the submittal of the proposal and all attachments on the day of the proposal deadline. Responsibility for a complete submission lies with the bidder. Note that all documents and information submitted in any manner as part of a proposal will become public record immediately upon receipt by the State. Proposals received may be posted by the State on the State’s publicly available website after bidders are notified of the award recommendation.

6. EVALUATION PROCESS The State will evaluate each proposal on a PASS/FAIL basis based on the following criteria:

The State may utilize all bidder information to determine fair market value for goods or services sought. If applicable, the State’s evaluation will include consideration of a bidder’s qualified disabled veterans/service-disabled veteran owned business(QDV/SDVOB) status under MCL 18.1261(8). Additional information on the SDVOB preference is available at: Michigan.gov/SDVOB.

The State may but is not required to conduct an on-site visit to tour and inspect the bidder’s facilities; require an oral presentation of the bidder's proposal; conduct interviews, research, reference checks, and background checks; and request additional price concessions at any point during the evaluation process.

7. NOTICE OF DEFICIENCY. The State reserves the right to issue a Notice of Deficiency to bidders if the State determines after the proposal deadline that a portion of the RFP was deficient, unclear, or ambiguous. Failure to respond to a Notice of Deficiency timely may be cause for disqualification.

8. CLARIFICATION REQUEST. The State reserves the right to issue a Clarification Request to a bidder to clarify its proposal if the State determines the proposal is not clear. Failure to respond to a Clarification Request timely may be cause for disqualification.

9. RESERVATIONS. The State reserves the right to:

a. Disqualify a bidder for failure to follow these instructions.

b. Discontinue the RFP process at any time for any or no reason. The issuance of an RFP, your preparation and submission of a proposal, and the State’s subsequent receipt and evaluation of your proposal does not commit the State to award a contract to you or anyone, even if all the requirements in the RFP are met.

c. Consider late proposals if: (i) no other proposals are received; (ii) no complete proposals are received; (iii) the State received complete proposals, but the proposals did not meet mandatory minimum requirements or technical criteria; or (iv) the award process fails to result in an award.

d. Consider an otherwise disqualified proposal if no other proposals are received.

e. Disqualify a proposal based on: (i) information provided by the bidder in response to this RFP; (2) the bidder’s failure to complete registration on www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS ; or (3) if it is determined that a bidder purposely or willfully submitted false or misleading information in response to the RFP.

f. Consider prior performance with the State in making its award decision.

g. Consider overall economic impact to the State when evaluating proposal pricing and in the final award recommendation. This includes but is not limited to: considering principal place of performance, number of Michigan citizens employed or potentially employed, dollars paid to Michigan residents, Michigan capital investments, job creation, tax revenue implications, and economically disadvantaged businesses.

h. Consider total-cost-of-ownership factors (e.g., transition and training costs) when evaluating proposal pricing and in the final award recommendation.

i. Refuse to award a contract to any bidder that has failed to pay State taxes or has outstanding debt with the State.

j. Enter into negotiations with one or more bidders on price, terms, technical requirements, or other deliverables.

k. Award multiple, optional-use contracts, or award by Contract Activity.

l. Evaluate the proposal outside the scope identified in the Evaluation Process section of this document if the State receives only one proposal.

10. AWARD RECOMMENDATION. . The contract will be awarded to the responsive and responsible bidder who receives a PASS for each criterion and has the lowest price.

The State will publish an Award Recommendation and Evaluation Synopsis, by posting a Notice of Intent to Award (NIA1) on www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS

11. DEBRIEF MEETING AND BID PROTEST. DEBRIEF MEETING AND BID PROTEST. The State will post an Award Recommendation and Evaluation Synopsis which will provide instructions on how to request a debrief meeting.

If you wish to initiate a protest of the award, you must submit your written protest to Michael Meddaugh at MeddaughM@Michigan.gov no later than 3:00 p.m., three (3) business days after posting the Award Recommendation and Evaluation Synopsis on SIGMA VSS. The State reserves the right to adjust this timing and will publish any change.

Additional information about the protest process is available at DTMB - Programs and Policies (michigan.gov) under the “Bidder Protests” link.

12. STATE ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD. Contracts equal to $250,000 or greater than require approval by the State Administrative Board. The State Administrative Board’s decision is final; however, its approval does not constitute a contract. The award process is not complete until the awarded contractor receives a contract fully executed by all parties.

13. GENERAL CONDITIONS. The State will not be liable for any costs, expenses, or damages incurred by a bidder participating in this solicitation. The bidder agrees that its proposal will be considered an offer to do business with the State in accordance with its proposal, including the Contract Terms, and that its proposal will be irrevocable and binding for a period of 180 calendar days from date of submission. If a contract is awarded to the bidder, the State may, at its option, incorporate any part of the bidder’s proposal into a contract. This RFP is not an offer to enter into a contract. This RFP may not provide a complete statement of the State’s environment or contain all matters upon which agreement must be reached. The bidder understands that their proposal will become public record immediately upon receipt by the State. Other than verified trade secrets, proposals submitted via www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS are the State’s property.

14. CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT FORM AND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT. As a public record, all portions of the bidder’s proposal and resulting contract are subject to disclosure as required under Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231, et seq. However, the State may exempt some information from disclosure as permitted by law. Under MCL 18.1261(13)(b), records containing “a trade secret as defined under section 2 of the uniform trade secrets act, 1998 PA 448, MCL 445.1902,” are exempt from disclosure under FOIA. In addition, “financial or proprietary information” submitted with a bidder’s proposal is exempt from disclosure under FOIA. A bidder’s failure to comply with this Section is grounds for rejecting a bidder’s proposal as non-responsive. As a part of its proposal, each bidder must follow the procedure below.

a. SUBMIT A COMPLETED CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT FORM WITH YOUR BID. Completion and submission of the Confidential Treatment Form (CT Form) is required regardless of whether the bidder seeks confidential treatment of information. Failure to submit a completed CT Form may be cause for disqualification from the solicitation process. If a bidder fails to properly complete and submit the CT Form or otherwise fails to follow CT Form instructions, the proposal may be publicly disclosed in its entirety without redaction after an award recommendation.

Complete and sign Section 1 of the CT Form if the bidder does NOT request confidential treatment of information contained in its proposal; or Complete and sign Section 2 of the CT Form if the bidder requests confidential treatment of certain information. Bidder must also submit a copy of the proposal with the trade secret, financial, and proprietary information redacted and clearly labeled as the “PUBLIC COPY.”

Failure to complete and sign a CT Form may result in disqualification of the bidder. If a bidder fails to properly complete and submit the CT Form or otherwise fails to follow the CT Form instructions, the proposal, in its entirety, may be publicly disclosed by the State without redaction after an award recommendation.

b. FOIA REQUESTS. If a FOIA request is made for a bidder’s proposal, the Public Copy may be distributed to the public along with the bidder’s CT Form. The CT Form is a public document and serves as an explanation for the redactions to the Public Copy. Do not put any trade secret, financial, or proprietary information in the CT Form. Do not redact the CT Form itself.

c. NO ADVICE. The State will not advise a bidder as to the nature or content of documents entitled to protection from disclosure under FOIA or other laws, as to the interpretation of such laws, or as to the definition of trade secret or financial or proprietary information. Nothing contained in this provision will modify or amend requirements and obligations imposed on the State by FOIA or other applicable law. The State is not obligated to notify a bidder if a FOIA request for bidder’s proposal is received nor if bidder’s proposal is made available to the public.

d. FAILURE TO REQUEST CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT. Failure to request material be treated as confidential as specified herein relieves the State, its agencies, and personnel from any responsibility for maintaining material in confidence.

e. Bids containing a request to maintain an entire proposal as confidential may be rejected as non-responsive. Bidders may not request confidential treatment with respect to resumes, pricing, and marketing materials. The State reserves the right to determine whether material designated as exempt by a bidder falls under MCL 18.1261 or other applicable FOIA exemptions. If a FOIA request is made for materials that the bidder has identified as trade secret, financial, or proprietary information, the State has the final authority to determine whether the materials are exempt from disclosure under FOIA.

f. Bidder forever releases the State, its departments, subdivisions, officers, and employees from all claims, rights, actions, demands, damages, liabilities, expenses and fees, which arise out of or relate to the disclosure of all or a portion of bidder’s proposal submitted under this RFP. Bidder must defend, indemnify and hold the State, its departments, subdivisions, officers, and employees harmless, without limitation, from and against all actions, claims, losses, liabilities, damages, costs, attorney fees, and expenses (including those required to establish the right to indemnification), arising out of or relating to any FOIA request, including potential litigation and appeals, related to the portion of bidder’s proposal submitted under this RFP that bidder has identified as a trade secret, or financial or proprietary information. The State will notify bidder in writing if indemnification is sought. The State is entitled to: (i) regular updates on proceeding status; (ii) participate in the defense of the proceeding; (iii) employ its own counsel; and to (iv) retain control of the defense, or any portion thereof, if the State deems necessary. Bidder will not, without the State’s written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld), settle, compromise, or consent to the entry of any judgment in or otherwise seek to terminate any claim, action, or proceeding. If a State employee, official, or law is involved or challenged, the State may control the defense of that portion of the claim. Any litigation activity on behalf of the State, or any of its subdivisions under this Section, must be coordinated with the Department of Attorney General. An attorney designated to represent the State may not do so until approved by the Michigan Attorney General and appointed as a Special Assistant Attorney General.

Confidential Treatment Form INSTRUCTIONS. A signed and dated Confidential Treatment Form (CT Form) must be submitted with your proposal, regardless of whether your proposal contains confidential information.

1. Complete either Section 1 or Section 2 of this form and sign where indicated. Do not complete both sections. Note: Completion of Section 2 is required to request confidential treatment.

2. This form must be signed by the individual who signed the bidder’s proposal.

Failure to submit a completed CT Form with your bid is grounds for rejecting the proposal as non-responsive.

In addition, failure to follow the instructions on this form or to properly complete and submit it may result in the entire proposal being publicly disclosed by the State without redaction after an award recommendation.

See the Confidential Treatment Form and the Freedom of Information Act section of the Proposal Instructions for additional information.

Section 1. CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT IS NOT REQUESTED This section must be completed, signed, and submitted with the proposal if the bidder does not request confidential treatment of any material contained in the proposal. If this section is completed, do not complete Section 2.

By signing below, the bidder affirms that confidential treatment of material contained in their proposal is not requested.

250000002936 RFP Number

Water Sampling and Analysis RFP Title

Signature

Date

Printed Name, Title, Company

Section 2. CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT IS REQUESTED Bidders must complete, sign, and submit this section with the proposal, to request confidential treatment of any material contained in the proposal. If this section is completed, do not complete Section 1.

Bidders must specifically identify the information to be protected as confidential and/or proprietary and state the reasons why protection is necessary. As shown in the table below, the following details are required for each confidentiality request.

1. The proposal page number, section number, and paragraph number.

2. Whether the material referenced is Trade Secret (TS), Proprietary Financial Information (FI), or Proprietary Information (PI). Bidders may not request confidential treatment of resumes, pricing, and marketing materials.

3. An explanation of the specific legal grounds that support treatment of the material as TS, FI, or PI and a complete justification as to how the material falls within the scope of an applicable FOIA exemption or relevant case law. Bidders must not simply cite an applicable exemption or case name.

4. The person at their organization authorized to respond to inquiries by the State concerning the material and their contact information.

REQUIRED: Bidders completing this section must also submit a copy of the proposal with the trade secret, financial, and proprietary information redacted and clearly label this redacted copy as the PUBLIC COPY.

(1) Proposal Page #, Section #, Paragraph # (2) Material is Trade Secret (TS), Proprietary Financial Information (FI), Proprietary Information (PI) (3) Applicable FOIA Exemption with Written Justification (4) Bidder Contact Information

Bidders may add rows or additional pages using the same format shown in the table.

State of Michigan FOIA Requests The State reserves the right to determine whether material designated as exempt by a bidder falls under MCL 18.1261 or other applicable FOIA exemptions.

If a FOIA request is made for materials that the bidder has identified as trade secret, financial, or proprietary information, the State has the final authority to determine whether the materials are exempt from disclosure under FOIA.

The State is not obligated to notify a bidder if a FOIA request for bidder’s proposal is received nor if bidder’s proposal is made available to the public. This form, and any additional justification letters, are not exempt from release under FOIA.

By signing below, the bidder affirms that confidential treatment of material contained in their proposal is requested and has attached to this form a redacted “Public Copy” of the bidder’s proposal.

250000002936 RFP Number

Water Sampling and Analysis RFP Title

Signature

Date

Printed Name, Title, Company

Vendor Questions Worksheet Provide a detailed response to each question. “You” and “company” refers to the bidder.

Contact Information

Bidder’s sole contact person during the RFP process. Include name, title, address, email, and phone number.

Person authorized to receive and sign a resulting contract. Include name, title, address, email, phone number and vendor customer code in SIGMA VSS.

Company Background Information

Legal business name and address. Include business entity designation, e.g., sole proprietor, Inc., LLC, or LLP.

What state was the company formed in?

Phone number.

Website address.

Number of years in business.

Number of employees.

Legal business name and address of parent company, if any.

Has there been a recent change in organizational structure (e.g., management team) or control (e.g., merger or acquisition) of your company? If the answer is yes: (a) explain why the change occurred and (b) how this change has affected your company.

Discuss your company’s history. Has growth been organic, through mergers and acquisitions, or both?

Has bidder ever been debarred, suspended, or disqualified from bidding or contracting with any entity, including the State of Michigan? If yes, provide the date, the entity, and details about the situation.

Has your company been a party to litigation against the State of Michigan? If the answer is yes, then state the date of initial filing, case name and court number, and jurisdiction.

Within the last 5 years, has your company or any of its related business entities defaulted on a contract or had a contract terminated for cause? If yes, provide the date, contracting entity, type of contract, and details about the termination or default.

State your gross annual sales for each of the last 5 years.

If receiving a contract under this RFP will increase your gross revenue by more than 25% from last year’s sales, explain how the company will scale-up to manage this increase.

Describe partnerships and strategic relationships you think will bring significant value to the State.

State the physical address of the place of business that would have primary responsibility for this account if bidder is awarded a contract under this RFP.

To demonstrate qualification as a qualified disabled veteran, you must provide:

(a) Proof of service and conditions of discharge (DD214 or equivalent);

(b) Proof of service-connected disability (DD214 if the disability was documented at discharge or Veterans Administration Rating Decision Letter or equivalent if the disability was documented after discharge); and

(c) Legal documents setting forth the ownership of the business entity.

In lieu of the documentation identified above, you may provide proof of certification by the National Veterans Business Development Council.

Enter the names of documents submitted with your proposal to demonstrate status as a qualified disabled veteran.

Participation in RFP Development or Evaluation

If you enter “YES”, you are not eligible for contract award or to work as a subcontractor for the awarded vendor.

If you enter “YES,” you are not eligible for contract award. An awarded vendor may not partner or subcontract with anyone to provide goods and services required under a resulting contract if that subcontractor or partner assisted in the development of this solicitation.

If you enter “YES”, you are not eligible for contract award or to work as a subcontractor for the awarded vendor.

State of Michigan Experience and Prior Experience

Does your company have experience working with the State of Michigan? If so, please provide a list (including the contract number) of the contracts you hold or have held with the State for the last 10 years.

Experience 1

Company name.

Contact name.

Contact role at time of project.

Contact phone.

Contact email.

City.

State.

Zip.

1. Project name and description of the scope of the project.

2. What role did your company play?

3. How is this project experience relevant to the subject of this RFP?

Dollar value.

Start and end date (mm/yy – mm/yy)

Status (completed, live, other – specify phase)

Results obtained.

Experience 2

Company name.

Contact role at time of project.

City.

1. Project name and description of the scope of the project.

Dollar value.

Start and end date (mm/yy – mm/yy)

Status (completed, live, other – specify phase)

Results obtained.

Experience 3

Company name.

Contact role at time of project.

City.

1. Project name and description of the scope of the project.

Dollar value.

Start and end date (mm/yy – mm/yy)

Status (completed, live, other – specify phase)

Results obtained.

Standard Contract Terms

Bidder must affirm agreement with the attached Contract Terms. If not in agreement, written exceptions in accordance with the Evaluation Process section of the Proposal Instructions must be provided with Bidder’s proposal.

Michigan Voluntary Protection Program

Number of employees currently employed at locations within the State of Michigan.

Number of additional employees to be employed at locations within the State of Michigan if awarded this Contract (if any)

Minimum wage paid to employees employed at locations within the State of Michigan.

Average wage paid to employees employed at locations within the State of Michigan.

Percentage of employees employed at locations within the State of Michigan that are covered by employer-provided health insurance.

Labor, Antidiscrimination and Environmental Laws Compliance

Bidder must disclose any violations of state or federal labor, antidiscrimination and employment laws and regulations received within the past five years.

Bidder must disclose any violations of state or federal environmental laws and regulations received within the past five years.

Other

STATE OF MICHIGAN

PROCUREMENT

STANDARD CONTRACT TERMS (SHORT FORM)

Vendor is deemed to have accepted these terms upon the earliest of vendor’s: written acceptance of these terms; commencement of work; receipt of payment; or submission of a bid, proposal, or other offer in response to a solicitation.

1. Insurance Requirements.

1. General Requirements. Contractor, at its sole expense, must maintain the insurance coverage as specified herein for the duration of the Term. Minimum limits may be satisfied by any combination of primary liability, umbrella or excess liability, and self-insurance coverage. To the extent damages are covered by any required insurance, Contractor waives all rights against the State for such damages. Failure to maintain required insurance does not limit this waiver.

1. Qualification of Insurers. Except for self-insured coverage, all policies must be written by an insurer with an A.M. Best rating of A- VII or higher unless otherwise approved by DTMB Enterprise Risk Management.

1. Primary and Non-Contributory Coverage. All policies for which the State of Michigan is required to be named as an additional insured must be on a primary and non-contributory basis.

1. Claims-Made Coverage. If any required policies provide claims-made coverage, Contractor must:

3. Maintain coverage and provide evidence of coverage for at least 3 years after the later of the expiration or termination of the Contract or the completion of all its duties under the Contract;

3. Purchase extended reporting coverage for a minimum of 3 years after completion of work if coverage is cancelled or not renewed, and not replaced with another claims-made policy form with a retroactive date prior to the Effective Date of this Contract

1. Proof of Insurance

4. Insurance certificates showing evidence of coverage as required herein must be submitted to the Contract Administrator within 10 days of the contract execution date.

4. Renewal insurance certificates must be provided on annual basis or as otherwise commensurate with the effective dates of coverage for any insurance required herein.

4. Insurance certificates must be in the form of a standard ACORD Insurance Certificate unless otherwise approved by DTMB Enterprise Risk Management.

4. All insurance certificates must clearly identify the Contract Number (e.g., notated under the Description of Operations on an ACORD form).

4. The State may require additional proofs of insurance or solvency, including but not limited to policy declarations, policy endorsements, policy schedules, self-insured certification/authorization, and balance sheets.

4. In the event any required coverage is cancelled or not renewed, Contractor must provide written notice to the Contract Administrator no later than 5 business days following such cancellation or nonrenewal.

1. Subcontractors. Contractor is responsible for ensuring its subcontractors carry and maintain insurance coverage.

1. Limits of Coverage & Specific Endorsements. (See Table 6.1 Below)

TABLE 6.1

Commercial General Liability Insurance

Minimum Limits:

$1,000,000 Each Occurrence $1,000,000 Personal & Advertising Injury $2,000,000 Products/Completed Operations $2,000,000 General Aggregate

Contractor must have their policy endorsed to add “the State of Michigan, its departments, divisions, agencies, offices, commissions, officers, employees, and agents” as additional insureds using endorsement CG 20 10 11 85, or both CG 20 10 12 19 and CG 20 37 12 19.

Automobile Liability Insurance

Minimum Limits:

$1,000,000 Per Accident Contractor must have their policy: (1) endorsed to add “the State of Michigan, its departments, divisions, agencies, offices, commissions, officers, employees, and agents” as additional insureds; and (2) include Hired and Non-Owned Automobile coverage.

Workers' Compensation Insurance

Minimum Limits:

Coverage according to applicable laws governing work activities.

Waiver of subrogation, except where waiver is prohibited by law.

Employers Liability Insurance

Minimum Limits:

$500,000 Each Accident $500,000 Each Employee by Disease $500,000 Aggregate Disease

1. Non-Waiver. This Section 6 is not intended to and is not to be construed in any manner as waiving, restricting or limiting the liability of either party for any obligations under this Contract, including any provisions hereof requiring Contractor to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the State.

1. General. Vendor’s failure to deliver or comply with any of these terms, may result in damages against the Vendor and the termination of the Contract.

1. Delivery, Title and Risk of Loss. Vendor must pay all costs associated with packaging, freight, and shipping, and must ship all deliverables F.O.B. destination, inside delivery, unless otherwise specified in the Contract. Title and risk of loss or damage to deliverables remains with Vendor until the deliverables have been received, inspected and accepted by the State in accordance with these terms. All containers and packaging become the State’s exclusive property upon final acceptance. Vendor shall ensure that all deliverables and services (“Deliverables”) are provided to the State by the date and time specified on the Contract. If Vendor fails to provide the Deliverables in accordance with the Contract, the State may reject the delivery and terminate the Contract without any termination charges or penalties, and Vendor must pay all associated costs, including, but not limited to, expedited routing costs, return shipping charges, the procurement of the Deliverables from another source, and any storage removal, or disposal expenses. The risk of loss of rejected or non-conforming Deliverables remains with Vendor. Rejected Deliverables not removed by Vendor within 10 calendar days will be deemed abandoned by Vendor, and the State will have the right to dispose of such Deliverables as its own property. Vendor is responsible for filing, processing, and collecting all damage claims.

1. Inspection. The State may inspect the work and activities of Vendor, and its subcontractors, at all reasonable times and places before, during and after delivery of the Deliverables. All Deliverables are subject to final inspection and acceptance by the State notwithstanding any prior payments or inspections. Final inspection will take place within 30 calendar days of the later of the delivery date, installation, or completion of services. If any Deliverables are non-conforming or defective, the State is entitled to, at its option and at Vendor’s expense: (a) a refund; (b) a credit; or (c) correction or replacement. If Vendor fails to correct defects or replace non-conforming Deliverables within 10 calendar days, the State may, in addition to its other remedies: (i) reject such Deliverables; (ii) accept such Deliverables at a discount; or (iii) make such corrections or replace such Deliverables and charge Vendor any resulting costs incurred by the State plus an additional 10% administrative fee.

1. Payment. Invoices must include an itemized statement of all charges. All undisputed amounts are payable within 45 calendar days of the later of the State’s: (a) receipt of an invoice; or (b) final acceptance of the Deliverables. The State is exempt from State sales tax for direct purchases and may be exempt from federal excise tax, if Deliverables purchased under the Contract are for the State’s exclusive use. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all fees are inclusive of taxes, and Vendor is responsible for all sales, use, and excise taxes, and any other similar taxes, duties, and charges of any kind imposed by federal, state or local government entities on any amounts payable by the State. The State may withhold payment in whole or in part for Deliverables the State determines are defective, untimely, or otherwise non-conforming to the Contract. All amounts due and payable by the State to Vendor shall be subject to deduction or setoff by the State against any claim the State may have against Vendor whether arising out of the Contract or any other transactions with the State. The State will only disburse payments through Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). If Vendor does not register to receive payments at http://www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS, the State is not liable for failure to provide payment.

1. Warranties and Representations. Vendor represents and warrants: (a) all Deliverables furnished under the Contract will conform to all specifications and industry standards, and will be free from defects, including, where applicable and without limitation, defects in material, workmanship, and title; (b) Vendor is the owner or licensee of all Deliverables it licenses, sells, or develops and Vendor has the rights necessary to convey title, ownership rights, or licensed use; (c) all Deliverables are provided free from any security interest, lien, or encumbrance and will continue in that respect; (d) the Deliverables will not infringe the patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, or other proprietary rights of any third party; (e) Vendor must assign or otherwise transfer to the State or its designee any manufacturer's warranty for the Deliverables; (f) Vendor will not negate, exclude, limit, or modify in any warranty otherwise available to the State in any way; (g) the Deliverables are merchantable and fit for the State’s intended use ; (h) the Deliverables furnished will conform in all respects to samples, advertisements, and other forms of representation made to the State; (i) the Contract signatory has the authority to enter into the Contract; (j) all information furnished and representations made in connection with the Contract is true, accurate, and complete, and contains no false statements or omits any fact that would make the information misleading, and the (k) Vendor is neither currently engaged in nor will engage in the boycott of a person based in or doing business with a strategic partner as described in 22 USC 8601 to 8606. Vendor agrees to promptly replace or correct any Deliverables not conforming to the foregoing warranty, without expense to the State, when notified of such non-conformity by the State. A breach of this Section is a material breach of the Contract.

1. Termination for Cause. The State may terminate the Contract, in whole or in part, at any time for cause in the event Vendor fails to comply with any of these terms, including, without limitation, late delivery or performance, the delivery of defective or non-conforming Deliverables, or failure to provide the State with reasonable assurances of future performance. In the event of termination for cause, the State will not be liable to Vendor for any amount, and Vendor will be liable to the State for any and all damages, including but not limited to, administrative fees, court costs, attorney fees, and cover costs. Any ineffectual termination for cause is hereby deemed a termination for convenience, effective as of the same date and limited to those rights.

1. Termination for Convenience. The State may immediately terminate the Contract, in whole or in part, without penalty and for any reason or no reason, including but not limited to, appropriation or budget shortfalls. Upon termination for convenience, the State will only pay for those Deliverables, not including standard stock, then in progress and which cannot be returned under these terms.

1. Indemnification. Vendor must defend, indemnify and hold the State, all of its instrumentalities, and employees harmless, without limitation, from and against any and all actions, claims, losses, liabilities, damages, costs, attorney fees, and expenses (including those required to establish the right to indemnification), arising out of or relating to: (a) any breach by Vendor (or any of Vendor’s employees, agents, subcontractors, or by anyone else for whose acts any of them may be liable) of any of the promises, agreements, representations, warranties, or other requirements contained in the Contract; (b) any infringement, misappropriation, or other violation of any intellectual property right or other right of any third party; (c) any bodily injury, death, or damage to real or tangible personal property occurring wholly or in part due to action or inaction by Vendor (or any of Vendor’s employees, agents, subcontractors, or by anyone else for whose acts any of them may be liable); and (d) any acts or omissions of Vendor (or any of Vendor’s employees, agents, subcontractors, or by anyone else for whose acts any of them may be liable). Due to constitutional prohibitions, the State will not indemnify Vendor, or its employees or affiliates, for any reason whatsoever.

1. Confidentiality. Vendor agrees that any information, including State Data, disclosed by the State in relation to the Contract will be used only in the performance thereof. Vendor will keep the information confidential, will not disclose it to any third party, except as authorized by the State, and will only disclose it to those within its organization who need it for performance of the Contract. Upon completion or termination of the Contract, Vendor will return all such information to the State, or make such other disposition thereof as directed or approved by the State. No item furnished under the Contract, or tools, plans, designs, or specifications for producing the same, which have been specifically designed for or by the State, will be duplicated or used by Vendor. Nothing in this provision will restrict Vendor’s right to use or disclose any information which is or becomes known to the public without breach of this provision by Vendor or is rightfully obtained without restriction from other sources.

1. Proprietary Rights. All materials, tools, plans, designs, specifications, equipment, and other property either furnished by the State to Vendor or paid for by the State, will remain the property of the State, but the Vendor assumes the risks of, and will be responsible for, any loss or damage, until returned in good order to the State. Such property must be safely stored and properly maintained by Vendor. Upon completion of this Contract, Vendor will return such property to the State or to any other entity as the State may direct, in the condition in which it was received, manufactured or procured by Vendor, except for reasonable wear and tear and except if such property has been incorporated into the Deliverables.

1. State Data. All data and information provided to Vendor by or on behalf of the State, and all data and information derived therefrom, is the exclusive property of the State (“State Data”) and may only be used as specifically required by the Contract; this definition is to be construed as broadly as possible. Upon request, Vendor must provide to the State, or its third-party designee, all State Data within 10 calendar days of the request and in the format requested by the State. Vendor will assume all costs incurred in compiling and supplying State Data. No State Data may be used for any marketing purposes.

1. Intellectual Property. Unless otherwise stated in the Contract, Vendor: (a) agrees that any computer program, software, documentation, copyrightable work, discoveries, inventions or improvements developed by Vendor resulting from supplying the Deliverables are the property of the State; and (b) hereby assigns all rights therein to the State. Vendor further agrees to provide the State with any assistance which the State may require to obtain patents or copyright registrations.

1. Limitation of Liability. The State is not liable for consequential, incidental, indirect, or special damages, regardless of the nature of the action. Under no circumstances will the State be liable for any amounts, in whatever form, in excess of the total aggregate value set forth in the Contract.

1. Records Maintenance, Inspection, Examination, and Audit. The State or its designee may audit Vendor to verify compliance with the Contract. Vendor must retain and provide to the State or its designee and the auditor general upon request, all financial and accounting records related to the Contract through the term of the Contract and for 4 years after the latter of termination, expiration, or final payment under the Contract or any extension.

1. Notices. All notices and other communications required or permitted under the Contract must be in writing and will be considered given and received: (a) when verified by written receipt if sent by courier; (b) when actually received if sent by mail without verification of receipt; or (c) when verified by automated receipt or electronic logs if sent by facsimile or email.

1. Modifications. The Contract may not be amended except by signed agreement between the parties (a “Change Notice”).

1. Independent Contractor. Vendor is an independent contractor and assumes all rights, obligations and liabilities set forth in the Contract. Vendor, its employees, and agents are not considered employees of the State.

1. Subcontracting and Assignment. Vendor may not delegate or assign any of its obligations or rights under the Contract without the prior written approval of the State.

1. Compliance with Laws and Policies. Vendor must comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations. Vendor must also comply with all applicable State physical and IT security policies and standards, which will be made available upon request

1. Nondiscrimination. Under the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, 1976 PA 453, MCL 37.2101, et seq., the Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act, 1976 PA 220, MCL 37.1101, et seq., and Executive Directive 2019-09. Vendor and its subcontractors agree not to discriminate against an employee or applicant for employment with respect to hire, tenure, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, or a matter directly or indirectly related to employment, because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (as defined in Executive Directive 2019-09), height, weight, marital status, partisan considerations, any mental or physical disability, or genetic information that is unrelated to the person’s ability to perform the duties of a particular job or position. Breach of this covenant is a material breach of the Contract.

1. Unfair Labor Practice. Under MCL 423.324, the State may void any Contract with a Contractor, Vendor, or subcontractor who appears on the Unfair Labor Practice register compiled under MCL 423.322.

1. Governing Law. The Contract is governed, construed, and enforced in accordance with Michigan law, excluding choice-of-law principles, and all claims relating to or arising out of the Contract are governed…