License Plate Production Equipment

The State of Maine Division of Purchases is soliciting sealed bids for license plate production equipment, with bids due August 18, 2009. Awards will be made to the lowest responsible bidder based on best-value considerations including quality, conformity with specifications, delivery dates, and ultimate cost to the state.

Bidders must submit separate unit prices for each item on prescribed forms or electronic mediums. Sealed bids and electronic quotes must be received at the Division of Purchases office in Augusta, Maine prior to the specified closing date and time; late submissions will be rejected. Bids are opened electronically, and tabulations become available for public inspection following contract award.

Pricing must exclude both federal taxes and Maine state sales and use taxes, as the state is tax-exempt. Bidders must specify payment terms and cash discounts; discounts under 20 days will not be considered in award determinations due to standard accounting procedures. All transportation charges, including freight and express delivery costs, shall be prepaid and borne by the contractor unless otherwise specified.

The state reserves the right to reject any or all bids, waive formalities and technicalities, and accept individual items or groups of items deemed in the best interest of Maine. The state also reserves the right to increase or decrease quantities by up to 10 percent unless stated otherwise in the bid documents. Contractors must furnish items exactly as specified; deviations are grounds for rejection. In cases of contractor default, the state may procure materials from alternative sources and charge any excess costs to the contractor, though contractors are not liable for delays caused by strikes, fires, acts of God, or other causes beyond reasonable control. For hazardous chemical products, suppliers must provide current material safety data sheets in compliance with Maine's Chemical Substance Identification Law.