UNIFORM_INSTRUCTIONS_TO_BIDDERS.pdf

TEMPE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 3

3205 South Rural Rd

Tempe, AZ 85282

UNIFORM INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS

1. Definition of Terms

In addition to the definitions specified in Arizona Administrative Code R7-2-1001, the terms listed below are defined as follows:

A. “Attachment” means any item the Solicitation requires a Bidder to submit as part of the Bid.

B. “Contract Amendment” means a written document signed by the School District/Public Entity that is issued for the purpose of making changes in the Contract.

C. “Exhibit” means any item labeled as an Exhibit in the Solicitation or placed in the Exhibits section of the solicitation.

D. “Gratuity” means a payment, loan, subscription, advance, deposit of money, services, or anything of more than nominal value present or promised, unless consideration of substantially equal or greater value is received.

E. “Procurement Officer” means the person duly authorized to enter into and administer Contracts and make written determinations with respect to this solicitation or his/ her designee.

F. “Solicitation Amendment” means a written document that is authorized by the Procurement Officer and issued for the purpose of making changes to the Solicitation.

G. “Subcontract” means any Contract, express or implied, between the Contractor and another party or between a subcontractor and another party delegating or assigning, in whole or in part, the making or furnishings of any material or any service required for the performance of the Contract.

2. Inquiries

A. Duty to Examine. It is the responsibility of each Bidder to examine the entire Solicitation, seek clarification in writing, and check its Bid for accuracy before submitting the Bid. Lack of care in preparing a Bid shall not be grounds for withdrawing the Bid after the Bid due date and time nor shall it give rise to any Contract claim.

B. Solicitation Contact Person. Any inquiry related to a Solicitation, including any requests for or inquiries regarding standards referenced in the Solicitation shall be directed solely to the Solicitation contact person.

The Bidder shall not contact or direct inquiries concerning this Solicitation to any other employee unless the Solicitation specifically identifies a person other than the Solicitation contact person as a contact.

C. Submission of Inquiries. The Procurement Officer or the person identified in the Solicitation as the contact for inquires may require that an inquiry be submitted in writing. Any inquiry related to a Solicitation shall refer to the appropriate Solicitation number, page, and paragraph. Do not place the Solicitation number on the outside of the envelope containing that inquire since it may then be identified as an Bid and not be opened until after the Bid due date and time.

D. Timeliness. Any inquiry shall be submitted as soon as possible and at least seven (7) days before the Bid due date and time. Failure to do so may result in the inquiry not being answered.

E. No Right to Rely on Verbal Responses. Any inquiry that results in changes to the Solicitation shall be answered solely through a written Solicitation Amendment. A Bidder may not rely on verbal responses to inquiries.

F. Solicitation Amendments. The Solicitation shall only be modified by a Solicitation Amendment. Unless otherwise stated in the Solicitation, each Solicitation Amendment shall be acknowledged by the person signing the bid. Failure to acknowledge a material Solicitation Amendment or to follow the instructions for acknowledgement of the Solicitation Amendment may result in rejection of the bid.

G. Pre-Bid Conference. If a Pre-Bid Conference has been scheduled under this Solicitation, the date, time, and location appear on the Solicitation cover sheet or elsewhere in the Solicitation. A Bidder should raise any questions it may have about the Solicitation or the procurement at that time. Statements made during a pre-bid conference are not an amendment to the solicitation. Material issues raised at the conference that result in changes to the Solicitation shall be answered solely through a written Solicitation Amendment.

H. Persons with Disabilities. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation, such as a sign language interpreter, by contacting the appropriate Solicitation contact person. Requests shall be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.

3. Bid Preparation

A. Forms. A bid shall be submitted either on the forms provided in this Solicitation or their substantial equivalent. Any substitute document for the forms provided in this Solicitation will be legible and contain the same information requested on the form.

B. Typed or Ink; Corrections. The Bid should be typed or in ink. Erasures, interlineations or other modifications in the Bid should be initialed in ink by the person signing the Bid. Modifications shall not be permitted after Bids have been opened except as otherwise provided under A.A.C. R7-2-1030.

C. Evidence of Intent to be Bound. Failure to submit verifiable evidence of intent to be bound, such as an original signature, shall result in rejection of the Bid.

D. Exceptions to Terms and Conditions. All exceptions included with the Bid shall be submitted on the Deviations and Exceptions page in which the Bidder clearly identifies the specific paragraphs of the Solicitation where the exceptions occur. Any exceptions not included in such a section shall be without force and effect in any resulting Contract unless such exception is specifically referenced by the Procurement Officer in a written statement. The Bidder’s preprinted or standard terms will not be considered as a part of any resulting Contract. A Bid that takes exception to a material requirement of any part of the Solicitation, including terms and conditions, shall be rejected.

E. Subcontracts. Bidder shall clearly list any proposed subcontractors and the subcontractor’s proposed responsibilities in the Bid.

F. Cost of Bid Preparation. The District will not reimburse any Bidder the cost of responding to a Solicitation.

G. Solicitation Amendments. Unless otherwise stated in the Solicitation, each Solicitation Amendment shall be acknowledged by the person signing the Bid. Failure to acknowledge a material Solicitation Amendment or to follow the instructions for acknowledgement of the Solicitation Amendment may result in rejection of the Bid.

H. Federal Excise Tax. School Districts/Public Entities are exempt from Federal Excise Tax on manufactured goods. Exemption Certificates will be prepared upon request.

I. Provision of Tax Identification Numbers. Bidders are required to provide their Arizona Transaction

Privilege Tax number and/or Federal Tax Identification number, if applicable, in the space provided on the Offer and Acceptance Form and provide the tax rate and amount, if applicable, on the Price Sheet.

J. Identification of Taxes in Bid. School Districts/Public Entities are subject to all applicable state and local transaction privilege taxes. If Arizona resident Bidders do not indicate taxes on a separate item in the Bid, the School District/Public Entity will conclude that the price(s) bid includes all applicable taxes. At all times, payment of taxes and the determination of applicable taxes are the sole responsibility of the Bidder.

K. Disclosure. If the Firm, business, or person submitting this Bid has been debarred, suspended, or otherwise lawfully precluded from participating in any public procurement activity, including being disapproved as a subcontractor with any federal, state, or local government, or if any such preclusion from participation from any public procurement activity is currently pending, the Bidder must fully explain the circumstances relating to the preclusion or proposed preclusion in the Bid. The Bidder shall include a letter with its Bid setting forth the name and address of the governmental unit, the effective date of this suspension or debarment, the duration of the suspension or debarment, and the relevant circumstances relating the suspension or debarment. If suspension or debarment is currently pending, a detailed description of all relevant circumstances including the details enumerated above must be provided.

L. Solicitation Order of Precedence. In the event of a conflict in the provisions of this Solicitation and any subsequent contracts, the following shall prevail in the order set forth below:

1. Amendments;

2. Special Terms and Conditions;

3. Uniform General Terms and Conditions;

4. Scope of Work/Specifications;

5. Attachments;

6. Exhibits;

7. Special Instructions to Bidders;

8. Uniform Instructions to Bidders

M. Delivery. Unless stated otherwise in the Solicitation, all prices shall be F.O.B. Destination and shall include all delivery and unloading at the destination(s).

4. Submission of Bid

A. Sealed Envelope or Package. Each Bid shall be submitted to the location identified in this Solicitation, in a sealed envelope or package that identifies its contents as a Bid and the Solicitation number to which it responds. The appropriate Solicitation Number should be plainly marked on the outside of the envelope or package.

B. Electronic Submission. If determined by the District that electronic submission of bids is advantageous, the District will include the electronic submission requirements as well as if the electronic submission is mandatory or optional in the Special Instructions, Terms and Conditions section of the Solicitation. Unless otherwise instructed, a facsimile or electronically submitted Bid shall be rejected.

C. Bid Amendment or Withdrawal. A Bidder may modify or withdraw a Bid in writing at any time before Bid opening if the modification or withdraw is received before the Bid due date and time at the location designated in the Invitation for Bid. A Bid may not be amended or withdrawn after the Bid due date and time except as otherwise provided under A.A.C. R7-2-1028.

D. Public Record. Under applicable law, all Bids submitted and opened are public records and must be retained by the School District/Public Entity. Bids shall be open to public inspection after Contract award, except for such Bids deemed to be confidential by the School District/Public Entity, pursuant to A.A.C. R7- 2-1006. If an Bidder believes that information in its Bid contains confidential trade secrets or other proprietary data not to be disclosed as otherwise required by A.R.S. § 39-121, a statement advising the school district of this fact shall be provided on the Confidential/Proprietary Submittals page and the information shall be so identified wherever it appears. Contract terms and conditions, pricing, and information generally available to the public are not considered confidential information under this Section.

E. Non-collusion, Employment, and Services. By signing the Offer and Acceptance form or other official contract form, the Bidder certifies that:

1. The prices have been arrived at independently, without consultation, communication or Agreement, for the purpose of restricting competition, as to any matter relating to such prices with any other Bidder or with any competitor; the prices which have been quoted have not been nor will not be disclosed directly or indirectly to any other Bidder or to any competitor; nor attempt has been made or will be made to induce any person or firm to submit or not to submit, a Bid for the purpose of restricting competition. It did not involve collusion or other anti-competitive practices in connection with the preparation or submission of its Bid; and

2. It does not discriminate against any employee, applicant for employment, or person to whom it provides services because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or disability, and that it complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and executive orders regarding employment; and

3. By submission of this Bid, that neither it nor its principals is presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible or otherwise lawfully prohibited from participating in any public procurement activity, including, but not limited to, being disapproved as a subcontractor of any public procurement unit or other governmental body; and

4. By submission of this Bid, that 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 a Federal contract, the making of a Federal grant, the making of a Federal loan, the entering into a Cooperative Agreement, and the extension, continuation, renewal, amendment, or modification of a Federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement.

5. By submission of this Bid, that Bidder has taken steps and exercised due diligence to ensure that Bidder has not offered, conferred, or agreed to confer any personal gift or benefit on a person who supervises or participates in contracts, purchases, payments, claims or other financial transactions, or on a person who supervises or participates in planning, recommending, selecting or contracting for materials, services, goods, construction or construction services of the District, in accordance with A.R.S. § 15-213(O) and A.A.C. R7-2-1003(J).

5. Additional Bid Information

A. Unit Price Prevails. Where applicable, in the case of discrepancy between the unit price or rate and the extension of that unit price or rate, the unit price or rate shall govern.

B. Taxes. The amount of any applicable transaction privilege or use tax of a political subdivision of this state will not be a factor when determining lowest bidder.

C. Late Bids, Modifications or Withdrawals. A Bid, Modification or Withdrawal submitted after the exact Bid due date and time shall not be considered except under the circumstances set forth in A.A.C. R7-2-1028(B).

D. Disqualification. A Bid from a Bidder who is currently debarred, suspended or otherwise lawfully prohibited from any public procurement activity may be rejected.

E. Bid Acceptance Period. A Bidder submitting a Bid under this Solicitation shall hold its Bid open for the number of days from the due date that is stated in the Solicitation. If the Solicitation does not specifically state a number of days for the Bid acceptance, the number of days shall be ninety (90).

F. Payments. Payments shall comply with the requirements of A.R.S. Titles 35 and 41, Net 30 days. Upon receipt and acceptance of goods or services, the Contractor shall submit a complete and accurate invoice for payment within thirty (30) days.

G. Waiver and Rejection Rights. Notwithstanding any other provision of this solicitation, the School District/Public Entity reserves the right to:

1. Waive any minor informality;

2. Reject any and all Bids or portions thereof; or

3. Cancel a solicitation.

6. Award

A. Number or Types of Awards. Where applicable, the School District/Public Entity reserves the right to make multiple awards or to award a Contract by individual line item, by a group of line items, by an incremental award or by Region, as indicated within the Special Instructions, Terms and Conditions. The award will be limited to the least number of Bidders that the School District/Public Entity determines is necessary to meet the needs of the School District/Public Entity.

B. Contract Commencement. . A Bid does not constitute a Contract nor does it confer any rights on the Bidder to the award of a Contract. A Contract is not created until the Bid is accepted in writing by the District/Public Entity authorized signature on the Offer and Acceptance Form. A letter or other notice of award or of the intent to award shall not constitute acceptance of the Bid.

C. Effective Date. The effective date of this Contract shall be the date that the Procurement Officer signs the

Offer and Acceptance Form or other official contract form, unless another date is specifically stated in the Contract.

D. Final acceptance for each participating School District/Public Entity will be contingent upon the approval of their Governing Board, if applicable.

7. Protests

A protest shall comply with and be resolved according to Arizona Department of Education School District Procurement Code Rule A.A.C. R7-2-1141 through R7-2-1153. Protests shall be in writing and be filed with the District Representative as listed in the Special Instructions to Bidders.

A. Protest shall include:

1. The name, addresses, and telephone number of the interested party

2. The signature of the interested party or the interested party's representative;

3. Identification of the purchasing agency and the Solicitation or Contract number;

4. A detailed statement of the legal and factual grounds of the protest including copies of relevant documents; and

5. The form of relief requested.

B. The interested party shall supply promptly any other information requested by the district representative.

C. Protests based upon alleged improprieties in a solicitation that are apparent before the due date and time for responses to the solicitation, shall be filed before the due date and time for responses to the solicitation.

D. In cases other than those covered in section C of the section, the interested party shall file the protest within ten (10) days after the school district makes the procurement file available for public inspection.

E. The interested party may file a written request for an extension of the time limit for protest filing. The written request for an extension shall be filed with the District Representative before the expiration of the time limit and shall set forth good cause as to the specific action or inaction of the school district that resulted in the interested party being unable to file the protest within the ten (10) days. The district representative shall approve or deny the request in writing, state the reasons for the determination, and, if an extension is granted, set forth a new date for submission of the filing.

UNIFORM GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. Contract Interpretation

A. Arizona Law. The law of Arizona applies to this Contract including, where applicable, the Uniform

Commercial Code as adopted by the State of Arizona and the Arizona School District Procurement Code, Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) § 15-213 and its implementing rules, Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) Title 7, Chapter 2, Articles 10 and 11.

B. Implied Contract Terms. Each Provision of law and any terms required by law to be in this Contract are a part of this Contract as if fully stated in it.

C. Relationship of Parties. The Contractor under this Contract is an independent Contractor. Neither party to this Contract shall be deemed to be the employee agent of the other party to the Contract.

D. Severability. The provisions of this Contract are severable. Any term or condition deemed illegal or invalid shall not affect any other term or condition of the Contract.

E. No Parol Evidence. This Contract is intended by the parties as a final and complete expression of their agreement. No course of prior dealings between the parties and no usage of the trade shall supplement or explain any terms used in this document.

F. No Waiver. Either party’s failure to insist on strict performance of any term or condition of the Contract shall not be deemed waiver of that term or condition even if the party accepting or acquiescing in the nonconforming performance knows of the nature of the performance and fails to object to it.

2. Contract Administration and Operation

A. Records. Under A.R.S. § 35-214 and § 35-215, the Contractor shall retain and shall contractually require each Subcontractor to retain all data and other records (“records”) relating to the acquisition and performance of the Contract for a period of five years after the completion of the Contract. All records shall be subject to inspection and audit at reasonable times. Upon request, the Contractor shall produce a legible copy of any or all such records.

B. Non-Discrimination. The Contractor shall comply with State Executive Order No. 99-4, 2000-4 and all other applicable Federal and State laws, rules and regulations, including the Americans with Disabilities Act.

C. Audit. At any time during the term of this Contract and five (5) years thereafter, the Contractor’s or any Subcontractor’s books and records shall be subject to audit by the School District/Public Entity and, where applicable, the Federal Government, the extent that the books and records relate to the performance of the Contract or Subcontract.

D. Inspection and Testing. The Contractor agrees to permit access to its facilities, Subcontractor facilities and the Contractor’s processes for producing the materials, at reasonable time for inspection of the materials and services covered under this Contract. The School District/Public Entity shall also have the right to test at its own cost the materials to be supplied under this Contract. Neither inspection at the Contractor’s facilities nor testing shall constitute final acceptance of the materials. If the School District/Public Entity determines non-compliance of the materials, the Contractor shall be responsible for the payment of all costs incurred by the School District/Public Entity for testing and inspection.

E. Notices. Notices to the Contractor required by this Contract shall be made by the School District/Public Entity to the person indicated on the Offer and Acceptance Form submitted by the Contractor unless