S-915(5)_RFP_Attachments_2026.pdf

Rev. April 2025

ATTACHMENT A: RESPONDER DECLARATIONS

The undersigned certifies, to the best of his or her knowledge and belief, that:

A. Response Contents. The information provided is true, correct, and reliable for purposes of evaluation for potential contract award. The submission of inaccurate or misleading information may be grounds for disqualification from the award as well as subject the Responder to suspension or debarment proceedings as well as other remedies available by law

B. Authorized Signature. This Declaration is signed by the appropriate person(s), with the authority to contractually bind the Responder, as required by applicable articles, bylaws, resolutions, minutes, and ordinances.

C. Non-Collusion Certification.

1. The Proposal has been arrived at by the Responder independently and has been submitted without collusion and without any agreement, understanding or planned common course of action with any other vendor designed to limit fair or open competition; and

2. The contents of the Response have not been communicated by the Responder or its employees or agents to any person not an employee or agent of the Responder and will not be communicated to any other individual prior to the due date and time of this Solicitation. Any evidence of collusion among Responders in any form designed to defeat competitive responses will be reported to the Minnesota Attorney General for investigation and appropriate action.

D. Organizational Conflicts of Interest. To the best of Responder’s knowledge and belief, and except as otherwise disclosed, there are no relevant facts or circumstances which could give rise to an organizational conflict of interest.

An organizational conflict of interest exists when, because of existing or planned activities or because of relationships with other persons,

1. a vendor is unable or potentially unable to render impartial assistance or advice to the State;

2. the vendor’s objectivity in performing the contract work is or might be otherwise impaired; or

3. the vendor has an unfair competitive advantage.

If after award, an organizational conflict of interest is discovered, an immediate and full disclosure in writing must be made to the State’s Chief Procurement Officer which must include a description of the action which the contractor has taken or proposes to take to avoid or mitigate such conflicts. If an organizational conflict of interest is determined to exist, the State may, at its discretion, cancel the contract. In the event the Contractor was aware of an organizational conflict of interest prior to the award of the contract and did not disclose the conflict to OSP, the State may terminate the contract for default. Organizational conflicts of interest terms apply to any subcontractors for this work.

E. Certification Regarding Lobbying. For State of Minnesota Contracts and Grants over $100,000, the undersigned certifies, to the best of his or her knowledge and belief that:

1. No Federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid, by or on behalf of the undersigned, to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with the awarding of any Federal contract, the making of any Federal grant, the making of any Federal loan, the entering into of any cooperative agreement, and the extension, continuation, renewal, amendment, or modification of any Federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement.

2. If any funds other than Federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with this Federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement, the undersigned shall complete and submit Standard Form-LLL, Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying in accordance with its instructions.

3. The undersigned shall require that the language of this certification be included in the award documents for all sub-awards at all tiers (including subcontracts, sub-grants, and contracts under grants, loans and cooperative agreements) and that all sub-recipients shall certify and disclose accordingly.

This certification is a material representation of fact upon which reliance was placed when this transaction was made or entered into and is a prerequisite for making or entering into this transaction imposed by 31 U.S.C. 1352.

Any person who fails to file the required certification shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $10,000 and not more than $100,000 for each such failure.

F. Copyrighted Material Waiver. By signing its Response, the Responder certifies that it has obtained all necessary approvals for the reproduction and distribution of the contents of its response.

G. Diverse Spend Reporting. The Sample Contract contains a clause for Diverse Spend Reporting. When this clause applies, Contractor will be required to register in a free portal to report diverse spend.

See Diverse Spend Reporting Frequently Asked Questions for additional information.

By signing this form, Responder acknowledges and certifies compliance with all applicable requirements indicated above.

Company Name:

Signature:

Printed Name:

Title:

Date:

Phone Number:

Email Address:

https://osp.admin.mn.gov/sites/osp/files/2022-11/viva_diverse_spend_reporting_faq.pdf

ATTACHMENT B: EXCEPTIONS TO STATE’S TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The State presumes a responder agrees to the terms and conditions of this solicitation unless a responder takes specific exception to one or more of the conditions on this form.

The State reserves the right to reject, negotiate, or accept any exception listed to the State’s terms and conditions (including those found in the attached Sample Contract).

INSTRUCTIONS: A responder must explicitly list all exceptions to State’s terms and conditions, if any (including those found in the attached Sample Contract). Reference the clause number and page number of the State's term and condition for each of a responder’s exceptions. If no exceptions exist, state "NONE" specifically on the form below.

Whether or not exceptions are taken, the Responder must sign and date this form and submit it as part of their response. (Add additional pages if necessary.)

Clause and Page Number Suggested Change to Clause Explanation or Justification

By signing this form, I acknowledge that the above-named responder accepts, without qualification, all terms and conditions stated in this solicitation (including the sample contract) except those clearly outlined as exceptions above.

This acknowledgement includes acceptance of the section of the Sample Contract, Exhibit A, titled “Contractor’s Documents.”

Signature:

Printed Name:

Title:

Date:

ATTACHMENT C: COST DETAIL

1. Cost Proposal. Responders should review Exhibit D of the Sample Contract for additional pricing terms related to the Cost Proposal.

Responders must download and use the Exhibit D Price Schedule attached to this Solicitation. The Price Schedule must be completed by the Responder and uploaded with the response. If pricing is not returned with your solicitation response, your response will be rejected. Failure to use the Price Schedule may be cause for rejection.

Responders are strongly encouraged to provide pricing for all line items. However, responders are not required to provide pricing for all seed and mix items. Responders must complete Exhibit D: Price Schedule for each seed and/or mix they propose.

For any item listed in Exhibit D: Price Schedule for which the Responder is not submitting an offer, the Responder must enter “No Response” or “N/R” in the applicable line item. Responders are not required to submit an offer for every item. For evaluation purposes, if a Responder leaves a line item blank, the State may enter the highest price received from all Responders for that line item.

2. Alterations or Erasures. The State reserves the right to reject a response containing an alteration or erasure of any price used to determine the lowest responsible responder unless the alteration or erasure is done in a manner that is clear and authenticated by an authorized representative of the Responder. An acceptable way to make an alteration or erasure is to cross out the price, print the correction in ink adjacent to it, and have an authorized representative of the Responder initial and date that correction.

ATTACHMENT D: RESPONDER FORMS Workforce and Equal Pay Declaration Page

This form is required for all businesses executing government contracts under the following:

Select one:

☐ Businesses executing a contract with State or Metropolitan agencies in excess of $100,000 (Workforce Certificate) and if applicable $500,000 (Equal Pay Certificate)

☐ Businesses executing a contract with University of Minnesota for general obligation bond funded capital projects in excess of $100,000 (Workforce Certificate) and if applicable $500,000 (Equal Pay Certificate)

☐ Businesses executing a contract with Political Subdivisions for general obligation bond funded capital projects in excess of $250,000 (Workforce Certificate) and if applicable $1,000,000 (Equal Pay Certificate)

Select all that apply:

We are a Certificate holder:

☐ Workforce Certificate under the name: _________________________________________________________ ☐ Equal Pay Certificate under the name: __________________________________________________________

We are applying/have applied for the following certificate(s):

☐ Workforce Certificate Application date (MM/DD/YYYY): ____________________ ☐ Equal Pay Certificate Application date (MM/DD/YYYY): ____________________

We have not applied for one or both certificates:

☐ Our Company does not yet have a Workforce Certificate or Equal Pay Certificate. We acknowledge that a

Workforce and, if applicable, Equal Pay Certificate, or approved exemption by MDHR is required before a contract can be executed.

We are Exempt:

☐ We attest to MDHR that we have not employed 40 or more employees on a single day during the prior 12 months in Minnesota or the state in where we have our primary place of business. MDHR may request the names of our employees during the previous 12 months, the date of separation, if applicable, and the current employment status and count.

Business Information

Vendor/Supplier ID Business Name Name of Contracting Agency

Authorized Signatory Name Title Date

Signature Email Phone

For assistance with this form, email the Minnesota Department of Human Rights Compliance.MDHR@state.mn.us https://mn.gov/mdhr/certificates/workforce-certificate/ https://mn.gov/mdhr/certificates/equalpay/ https://mn.gov/mdhr/certificates/workforce-certificate/ https://mn.gov/mdhr/certificates/equalpay/ https://mn.gov/mdhr/certificates/workforce-certificate/ https://mn.gov/mdhr/certificates/equalpay/

ATTACHMENT E: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1. Contractor’s Contact Information. Provide the contact information for the representative responsible for the management of the contract and the representative receiving purchase orders.

Vendor’s Legal Name

Address

Contact Person (Contract)

Email Address

Telephone Number

Contact Person (PO Order)

Email Address

Telephone Number

2. Prompt Pay Discount. What prompt pay discounts do you offer? Select all that apply, if “other,” specify terms in the comment section below:

□ 1% in 30

□ 2% in 30

□ 3% in 30

□ 1% in 10, Net 30

□ 2% in 10, Net 30

□ 3% in 10, Net 30

□ 5% in 10, Net 30

□ 1% in 15, Net 30

□ 2% in 15, Net 30

□ 3% in 15, Net 30

□ 1% in 20, Net 30

□ 2% in 20, Net 30

□ 3% in 20, Net 30

□ Net 30

3. Delivery Time Frame. Responder must enter a delivery time frame after receipt of order (ARO) in the space below.

_____ Calendar Days ARO

4. Is your company submitting a response as a Joint-Venture as defined in Item 3, Joint Ventures, under Solicitation terms of the RFP Content?

☐ YES ☐ NO

If yes, provide the company name, address, and contact information with whom they are entering into a joint venture for this Solicitation:

Company Name:

Contact Name:

Address:

Email:

Phone Number:

In the event of an award, prior to contract execution, our company agrees to obtain and maintain a Category A or Category C Seed Permit from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) as required under Item 2.3, Seed Permit, of Exhibit C: Specifications, Duties and Scope of Work.

☐ YES ☐ NO

Can your company meet the Seed Quality requirements as specified in Item 3.2, Seed Quality, under Exhibit C:

Specifications, Duties and Scope of Work?

☐ YES ☐ NO

Our company can meet all the Contract Requirements and perform all the duties associated with the Item 1. Scope of Work and Item 2. Contract Qualifications and Eligibility, under Exhibit C: Specifications, Duties and Scope of Work

☐ YES ☐ NO

COMPANY NAME: ___________________________________________________________________________________

NAME OF INDIVIDUAL COMPLETING THIS FORM: _________________________________________________________

☐ I understand that if I answer “No” to an of the above requirements, my response may be rejected.

ATTACHMENT F: QUALIFICATIONS AND QUALITY ASSURANCE

Responder/Company Name:

Contact Name:

Address:

Email:

Phone Number:

1. Company Profile. Provide a profile demonstrating your company's capacity to perform the services described in this solicitation. At a minimum, include:

• Number of employees.

• Average number of seed mixes produced and/or shipped per month.

• Number and types of customers served.

• Years in business.

• Description of your company's experience and capabilities relevant to the services requested under this contract.

• Any additional information that demonstrates your organization's capacity to successfully fulfill the contract requirements.

Responders must provide a narrative of at least one-half page, double spaced.

Additional pages may be included as needed.

2. Quality Assurance Protocols. The State of Minnesota places a high value on the quality and integrity of products and services. Responders must describe their quality assurance program for preventing, detecting, and responding to contamination of seed mixes with undesirable or invasive plant species. At a minimum, address the following:

• Quality Assurance and Preventions. Describe your current quality assurance processes, procedures, and controls for ensuring the quality and purity of seed mixes. Include in your response the following:

o Processes used to prevent contamination with undesirable or invasive plant species.

o Quality control measures applied throughout seed sourcing, receiving, storage, production, packaging, and distribution.

o Procedures for evaluating and verifying the quality of seed purchased from third-party suppliers before it is incorporated into seed mixes.

o Methods used to reduce the risk of introducing or spreading invasive plant species through your products.

o Monitoring, testing, inspection, or certification practices used to verify seed quality.

o Corrective actions and mitigation procedures followed when contamination is identified before distribution.

• Customer Notification and Response. Describe your procedures for responding when contamination with an undesirable or invasive plant species is identified after a seed mix has been distributed. Include:

o How contamination incidents are investigated and confirmed.

o How and when affected customers are notified.

o Steps taken to mitigate impacts on customer conservation or restoration projects.

o Corrective actions implemented to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

Responders must provide a narrative response of at least one page, double-spaced.

Additional pages may be included as needed.