Backflow Preventer Valve Assemblies Inspection

District Five of Lexington and Solicitation # 2026-035
Richland Counties
Date Issued April 29, 2026
Request for Quotations Procurement Official Melissa Kauffman
Phone (803) 476-8136
E-Mail Address D5bids@lexrich5.org
DESCRIPTION One-time Inspection, Testing, Evaluation, and Reporting of all District Backflow Preventer Valve Assemblies
The Term "Offer" Means Your "Bid" or "Proposal"
SUBMIT OFFER BY May 13, 2026 @ 11:00 am
QUESTIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY May 6, 2026 @ 12:00 pm Electronically to D5bids@lexrich5.org
NUMBER OF COPIES TO BE SUBMITTED One (1)
OFFERS MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:
D5Bids@lexrich5.org
CONFERENCE TYPE: LOCATION:
DATE & TIME: N/A N/A
As appropriate, see "Conferences - Pre-Bid/Proposal" & "Site Visit" provisions
AWARD & The award, this solicitation, and any amendments will be posted at the following web address:
AMENDMENTS https://www.lexrich5.org/departments/office-of-finance/procurement/solicitations-and-awards
You must submit a signed copy of this form with Your Offer. By submitting a bid or proposal, You agree to be bound by the terms of the
Solicitation. You agree to hold Your Offer open for a minimum of sixty (60) calendar days after the Opening Date.
NAME OF OFFEROR (Full legal name of business submitting the offer) OFFEROR'S TYPE OF ENTITY:
(Check one)
(cid:0) Sole Proprietorship
AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE (cid:0) Partnership
(cid:0) Corporation (tax-exempt)
(Person signing must be authorized to submit a binding offer to enter into a contract on behalf of
(cid:0) Corporate entity (not tax-exempt)
the Offeror named above.) (cid:0) Government entity (Federal, state,
or local)
TITLE (Business title of person signing above) (cid:0) Other _____________________
PRINTED NAME (Printed name of person signing above) DATE SIGNED (See "Signing Your Offer" provision.)
Instructions regarding Offeror's name: Any award issued will be issued to, and the contract will be formed with, the entity identified as the
Offeror above. The entity named as the Offeror must be a single and distinct legal entity. Do not use the name of a branch office or a division
of a larger entity if the branch or division is not a separate legal entity, i.e., a separate corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, etc.
STATE OF INCORPORATION TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NO.
(If Offeror is a corporation, identify the state of Incorporation.)
COVER PAGE
PAGE TWO
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(Return Page Two with Your Offer)
HOME OFFICE ADDRESS (Address for Offeror's home office / NOTICE ADDRESS (Address to which all procurement and contract
principal place of business) related notices should be sent.) (See "Notice" clause)
Area Code - Number - Extension Facsimile
E-Mail Address
PAYMENT ADDRESS (Address to which payments will be ORDER ADDRESS (Address to which purchase orders will
sent.) be sent) (See "Purchase Orders" and "Contract Documents"
(See "Payment" clause) clauses)
Order E-Mail Address:
Order Address same as Home Office Address
Payment Address same as Home Office Address Order Address same as Notice Address (check only one)
Payment Address same as Notice Address (check only one)
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AMENDMENTS:
Offerors acknowledge receipt of amendments by indicating amendment number and its date of issue. (See "Amendments to
Solicitation" Provision)
Amend Amendment Issue Amend Amendment Amend Amendment Amend Amendment Issue Date
ment Date ment Issue Date ment Issue Date ment
No. No. No. No.
DISCOUNT FOR 10 Calendar Days (%) 20 Calendar Days (%) 30 Calendar Days (%) _____Calendar Days (%)
PROMPT
PAYMENT
(See "Discount for
Prompt Payment" ______ ______ _____
clause)
PREFERENCES - A NOTICE TO VENDORS (SEP. 2009): On June 16, 2009, the South Carolina General Assembly rewrote the law
governing preferences available to in-state vendors, vendors using in-state subcontractors, and vendors selling in-state or US end products. This
law appears in Section 11-35-1524 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. A summary of the new preferences is available at
www.procurement.sc.gov/preferences . ALL THE PREFERENCES MUST BE CLAIMED AND ARE APPLIED BY LINE ITEM,
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER AWARD IS MADE BY ITEM OR LOT. VENDORS ARE CAUTIONED TO CAREFULLY REVIEW
THE STATUTE BEFORE CLAIMING ANY PREFERENCES. THE REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY HAVE CHANGED. IF YOU
REQUEST A PREFERENCE, YOU ARE CERTIFYING THAT YOUR OFFER QUALIFIES FOR THE PREFERENCE YOU'VE
CLAIMED. IMPROPERLY REQUESTING A PREFERENCE CAN HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. [11-35-1524(E)(4)&(6)]
PREFERENCES - ADDRESS AND PHONE OF IN-STATE OFFICE: Please provide the address and phone number for your in-state office in
the space provided below. An in-state office is necessary to claim either the Resident Vendor Preference (11-35-1524(C)(1)(i)&(ii)) or the
Resident Contractor Preference (11-35-1524(C)(1)(iii)). Accordingly, you must provide this information to qualify for the preference. An
in-state office is not required, but can be beneficial, if you are claiming the Resident Subcontractor Preference (11-35-1524(D)).
(cid:0) In-State Office Address same as Home Office Address
(cid:0) In-State Office Address same as Notice Address (check only one) PREFERENCES DO NOT APPLY
PAGE TWO End of PAGE TWO
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Scope of Solicitation
II. Instructions to Offerors
A. General Instructions
B. Special Instructions
III. Scope of Work / Specifications
IV. Information for Offerors to Submit
V. Qualifications
VI. Award Criteria
VII. Terms and Conditions
A. General
B. Special
VIII. Bidding Schedule / Cost Proposal
IX. Attachments to Solicitation
I. SCOPE OF SOLICITATION
It is the intent of School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties to solicit competitive quotes from qualified
City of Columbia Certified Backflow Testers to perform a comprehensive, one-time inspection, testing, evaluation,
and reporting of all backflow preventer valve assemblies located throughout the District's facilities, including schools
and administrative buildings.
The purpose of this scope of work is to establish a complete and accurate inventory of existing backflow prevention
devices and to document their operational condition at a single point in time. This contract is not intended to provide
recurring, annual, or ongoing services, but rather a standalone assessment to support District records and compliance
documentation.
ACQUIRE SERVICES: The purpose of this solicitation is to acquire services complying with the enclosed
description and/or specifications and conditions.
GENERAL INFORMATION: School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties encompasses an area of
approximately 196 square miles, approximately one-half of which is situated in both Lexington and Richland
Counties. The School District consists of the northern portion of Lexington County north of Lake Murray and the
Saluda River and the northwestern portion of Richland County south of the Broad River. The School District is
primarily a residential suburb located to the northwest of the city of Columbia, the capital city of South Carolina. The
District has a student population of approximately 17,000 and 2,600 staff members. The District currently operates a
total of 13 elementary schools, 2 intermediate schools, 3 middle schools, 4 high schools, 1 Center for Advanced
Technical Studies, 1 virtual site, and 1 alternative school. Additional basic information about the District is posted on
the District's website: www.lexrich5.org.
II. INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS - A. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
DEFINITIONS, CAPITALIZATION, AND HEADINGS: CLAUSE HEADINGS USED IN THIS
SOLICITATION ARE FOR CONVENIENCE ONLY AND MUST NOT BE USED TO CONSTRUE MEANING
OR INTENT. EVEN IF NOT CAPITALIZED, THE FOLLOWING DEFINITIONS ARE APPLICABLE TO ALL
PARTS OF THE SOLICITATION, UNLESS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED OTHERWISE.
AMENDMENT means a document issued to supplement the original solicitation document. BOARD means the
Board of Trustees of District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties. BUSINESS means any corporation,
partnership, individual, sole proprietorship, joint stock company, joint venture, or any other legal entity.
CHANGE ORDER means any written alteration in specifications, delivery point, rate of delivery, period of
performance, price, quantity, or other provisions of any contract accomplished by mutual agreement of the parties to
the contract.
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CONTRACT means all types of District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties' agreements, regardless of what
they may be called, for the procurement or disposal of supplies, services, equipment or construction.
CONTRACT MODIFICATION means a written order signed by the Procurement Officer, directing the contractor to
make changes which the clause of the contract TITLED "Changes, "if included herein, authorizes the Procurement
Coordinator to order without the consent of the contractor.
CONTRACTOR means the Offeror receiving an award as a result of this solicitation.
COVER PAGE means the top page of the original solicitation on which the solicitation is identified by number.
Offerors are cautioned that Amendments may modify information provided on the Cover Page. DISTRICT means
District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties.
OFFER means the bid, quote or proposal submitted in response to this solicitation. The terms Bid and Proposal are
used interchangeably with the term Offer.
OFFEROR means the single legal entity submitting the offer. The term Bidder is used interchangeably with the term
Offeror. See bidding provisions entitled Signing Your Offer and Bid/Proposal As Offer To Contract.
PAGE TWO means the second page of the original solicitation, which is labeled Page Two.
PROCUREMENT OFFICER means the person, or his successor, identified as such on either the cover page, an
amendment, or an award notice.
YOU and YOUR means Offeror.
SOLICITATION means this document, including all its parts, attachments, and any Amendments.
SUBCONTRACTOR means any person you contract with to perform or provide any part of the work.
WORK means all labor, materials, equipment, services, or property of any type, provided or to be provided by the
Contractor to fulfill the Contractor's obligations under the Contract.
AMENDMENTS TO SOLICITATION: (a) The Solicitation may be amended at any time prior to opening. All
bidders requesting the bid package will be sent copies of all amendments. (b) Offerors must acknowledge receipt of
any amendment to this solicitation (1) by signing and returning the amendment, (2) by identifying the amendment
number and date in the space provided for this purpose on Page Two (3) by letter, or (4) by submitting a bid that
indicates in some way that the bidder received the amendment. (c) If this solicitation is amended, then all terms and
conditions which are not modified remain unchanged.
AMENDMENTS TO SOLICITATION: (a) The Solicitation may be amended at any time prior to opening. All
actual and prospective Offerors should monitor the following web site for the issuance of Amendments:
https://www.lexrich5.org/departments/office-of-finance/procurement/solicitations-and-awards (b) Offerors shall
acknowledge receipt of any amendment to this solicitation (1) by signing and returning the amendment, (2) by
identifying the amendment number and date in the space provided for this purpose on Page Two, (3) by letter, or (4)
by submitting a bid that indicates in some way that the bidder received the amendment. (c) If this solicitation is
amended, then all terms and conditions which are not modified remain unchanged.
AUTHORIZED AGENT: All authority regarding this procurement is vested solely with the responsible
Procurement Officer. Unless specifically delegated in writing, the Procurement Officer is the only government
official authorized to bind the government with regard to this procurement or the resulting contract.
AWARD NOTIFICATION: Notice regarding any award, cancellation of award, or extension of award will be
posted at the location and on the date specified on the Cover Page or, if applicable, the most recent notice of
extension of award. Should the contract resulting from this Solicitation have a total or potential value more than one
hundred thousand dollars, such notice will be sent electronically to all Offerors responding to the Solicitation. Unless
a written notice of intent to protest is timely filed pursuant to Section 11-35-4210(1)(b) or the award is otherwise
suspended or canceled, the award will be effective on the calendar day (including weekends and holidays)
immediately following the seventh business day after such notice is given.
BID/PROPOSAL AS OFFER TO CONTRACT: By submitting Your Bid or Proposal, You are offering to enter
into a contract with District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties. Without further action by either party, a
binding contract shall result upon final award. Any award issued will be issued to, and the contract will be formed
with, the entity identified as the Offeror on the Cover Page. An Offer may be submitted by only one legal entity;
"joint bids" are not allowed.
BID ACCEPTANCE PERIOD: In order to withdraw Your Offer after the minimum period specified on the Cover
Page, You must notify the Procurement Officer in writing.
BID IN ENGLISH and DOLLARS: Offers submitted in response to this solicitation must be in the English
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language and in US dollars, unless otherwise permitted by the Solicitation.
CERTIFICATE OF INDEPENDENT PRICE DETERMINATION: GIVING FALSE, MISLEADING, OR
INCOMPLETE INFORMATION ON THIS CERTIFICATION MAY RENDER YOU SUBJECT TO
PROSECUTION UNDER SECTION 16-9-10 OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS AND OTHER
APPLICABLE LAWS.
(a) By submitting an offer, the offeror certifies that-
(1) The prices in this offer have been arrived at independently, without, for the purpose of restricting competition, any
consultation, communication, or agreement with any other offeror or competitor relating to-
(i) Those prices;
(ii) The intention to submit an offer; or
(iii) The methods or factors used to calculate the prices offered.
(2) The prices in this offer have not been and will not be knowingly disclosed by the Offeror, directly or indirectly, to
any other Offeror or competitor before bid opening (in the case of a sealed bid solicitation) or contract award (in the
case of a negotiated solicitation) unless otherwise required by law; and
(3) No attempt has been made or will be made by the Offeror to induce any other concern to submit or not to submit
an offer for the purpose of restricting competition.
(b) Each signature on the offer is considered to be a certification by the signatory that the signatory-
(1) Is the person in the Offeror's organization responsible for determining the prices being offered in this bid or
proposal, and that the signatory has not participated and will not participate in any action contrary to paragraphs
(a)(1) through (a)(3) of this certification; or
(2)(i) Has been authorized, in writing, to act as agent for the Offeror's principals in certifying that those principals
have not participated, and will not participate in any action contrary to paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3) of this
certification [As used in this subdivision (b)(2)(i), the term "principals" means the person(s) in the offeror's
organization responsible for determining the prices offered in this bid or proposal];
(ii) As an authorized agent, does certify that the principals referenced in subdivision (b)(2)(i) of this certification have
not participated, and will not participate, in any action contrary to paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3) of this
certification; and
(iii) As an agent, has not personally participated, and will not participate, in any action contrary to paragraphs (a)(1)
through (a)(3) of this certification.
(c) If the Offeror deletes or modifies paragraph (a)(2) of this certification, the offeror must furnish with its offer a
signed statement setting forth in detail the circumstances of the disclosure.
CERTIFICATION REGARDING DEBARMENT AND OTHER RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS:
(a) (1) By submitting an Offer, Offeror certifies, to the best of its knowledge and belief, that- (i) Offeror
and/or any of its Principals
(A) Are not presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, or declared ineligible for the award of contracts
by any state or federal agency;
(B) Have not, within a three-year period preceding this offer, been convicted of or had a civil judgment rendered
against them for: commission of fraud or a criminal offense in connection with obtaining, attempting to obtain, or
performing a public (Federal, state, or local) contract or subcontract; violation of Federal or state antitrust statutes
relating to the submission of offers; or commission of embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or
destruction of records, making false statements, tax evasion, or receiving stolen property; and
(C) Are not presently indicted for, or otherwise criminally or civilly charged by a governmental entity with,
commission of any of the offenses enumerated in paragraph (a)(1)(i)(B) of this provision.
(ii) Offeror has not, within a three-year period preceding this offer, had one or more contracts terminated for default
by any public (Federal, state, or local) entity.
(2) "Principals," for the purposes of this certification, means officers; directors; owners; partners; and, persons
having primary management or supervisory responsibilities within a business entity (e.g., general manager; plant
manager; head of a subsidiary, division, or business segment, and similar positions).
(b) Offeror must provide immediate written notice to the Procurement Officer if, at any time prior to contract award,
Offeror learns that its certification was erroneous when submitted or has become erroneous by reason of changed
circumstances.
(c) If Offeror is unable to certify the representations stated in paragraphs (a)(1), Offer must submit a written
explanation regarding its inability to make the certification. The certification will be considered in connection with a
review of the Offeror's responsibility. Failure of the Offeror to furnish additional information as requested by the
Procurement Officer may render the Offeror non-responsible.
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(d) Nothing contained in the foregoing must be construed to require establishment of a system of records in order to
render, in good faith, the certification required by paragraph (a) of this provision. The knowledge and information of
an Offeror is not required to exceed that which is normally possessed by a prudent person in the ordinary course of
business dealings.
(e) The certification in paragraph (a) of this provision is a material representation of fact upon which reliance was
placed when making an award. If it is later determined that the Offeror knowingly or in bad faith rendered an
erroneous certification, in addition to other remedies available to the District, the Procurement Officer may terminate
the contract resulting from this solicitation for default.
CODE OF LAWS AVAILABLE: The District's Procurement Code is available at: www.lexrich5.org.
DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST OR UNFAIR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE:
("OCI FAQ for Contractors" is available at www.procurement.sc.gov)
(a) You certify that, after reasonable inquiry, to the best of your knowledge and belief: (1) your offer identifies any
services that relate to either this solicitation or the work and that have already been performed by you, a proposed
subcontractor, or an affiliated business or consultant of either; and (2) there are no relevant facts or circumstances that
may give rise to an actual or potential organizational conflict of interest, as defined in S.C. Code Ann. Reg.
19-445.2127, or that your offer identifies and explains any unfair competitive advantage you may have in competing
for the proposed contract and any actual or potential conflicts of interest that may arise from your participation in this
competition or your receipt of an award.
(b) If you, a proposed subcontractor, or an affiliated business or consultant of either, have an unfair competitive
advantage or an actual or potential conflict of interest, the District may withhold award. Before withholding award on
these grounds, the District will notify you of the concerns and provide a reasonable opportunity for you to respond.
The District may consider efforts to avoid or mitigate such concerns, including restrictions on future activities.
(c) The certification in paragraph (a) of this provision is a material representation of fact upon which the District will
rely when considering your offer for award.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF OFFER: Any offer received after the Procurement Officer of the District or
their designee has declared that the time set for opening has arrived, shall be rejected unless the offer has been
delivered to the designated District office or mailroom as instructed on the Cover page prior to the bid opening.
DISTRICT OFFICE CLOSINGS: If an emergency or unanticipated event interrupts normal processes so that
offers cannot be received at the District as designated for receipt of bids by the exact time specified in the
solicitation, the time specified for receipt of offers will be deemed to be extended to the same time of day specified
in the solicitation on the first work day on which normal district processes resume. In lieu of an automatic extension,
an Amendment may be issued to reschedule the bid opening. If district offices are closed at the time a pre-bid or
pre-proposal conference is scheduled, an Amendment will be issued to reschedule the conference. Useful
information may be available at: http://www.lexrich5.org
DRUG FREE WORK PLACE CERTIFICATION: By submitting an Offer, Contractor certifies that, if awarded a
contract, Contractor will comply with all applicable provisions of The Drug-free Workplace Act, Title 44, Chapter
107 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, as amended.
DUTY TO INQUIRE: Offeror, by submitting an Offer, represents that it has read and understands the Solicitation
and that its Offer is made in compliance with the Solicitation. Offerors are expected to examine the Solicitation
thoroughly and should request an explanation of any ambiguities, discrepancies, errors, omissions, or conflicting
statements in the Solicitation. Failure to do so will be at the Offeror's risk. All ambiguities, discrepancies, errors,
omissions, or conflicting statements in the Solicitation must be interpreted to require the better quality or greater
quantity of work and/or materials, unless otherwise directed by amendment. Offeror assumes responsibility for any
patent ambiguity in the Solicitation that Offeror does not bring to the District's attention. See clause entitled
"Questions from Offerors."
ETHICS CERTIFICATE: By submitting an offer, the offeror certifies that the offeror has and will comply with,
and has not, and will not, induce a person to violate Title 8, Chapter 13 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, as
amended (ethics act). The following statutes require special attention: Section 8-13-700, regarding use of official
position for financial gain; Section 8-13-705, regarding gifts to influence action of public official; Section 8-13-720,
regarding offering money for advice or assistance of public official; Sections 8-13-755 and 8-13-760, regarding
restrictions on employment by former public official; Section 8-13-775, prohibiting public officials with economic
interests from acting on contracts; Section 8-13-790, regarding recovery of kickbacks; Section 8-13-1150, regarding
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statements to be filed by consultants; and Section 8-13-1342, regarding restrictions on contributions by contractor to
candidate who participated in awarding of contract. The district may rescind any contract and recover all amounts
expended as a result of any action taken in violation of this provision. If contractor participates, directly or indirectly,
in the evaluation or award of public contracts, including without limitation, change orders or task orders regarding a
public contract, contractor must, if required by law to file such a statement, provide the statement required by
Section 8-13- 1150 to the procurement officer at the same time the law requires the statement to be filed.
MULTIPLE OFFERS: Offerors may submit more than one Offer, provided that each Offer has significant
differences other than price. Each separate Offer must satisfy all Solicitation requirements. If this solicitation is an
Invitation for Bids, each separate offer must be submitted or uploaded as a separate document and must clearly
indicate that it is a separate offer. If this solicitation is a Request for Proposals, multiple offers may be submitted or
uploaded as one document, provided that you clearly differentiate between each offer and you submit a separate cost
proposal for each offer, if applicable.
OMIT TAXES FROM PRICE: Do not include any sales or use taxes in your price that the District may be required
to pay.
OPEN TRADE REPRESENTATION: By submitting an Offer, Offeror represents that Offeror is not currently
engaged in the boycott of a person or an entity based in or doing business with a jurisdiction with whom South
Carolina can enjoy open trade, as defined in SC Code Section 11-35-5300.
PRICING: (a) Fixed Price. If a fixed price is required, award will not be made on an Offer if the total possible price
to the District cannot be determined. (b) Price Reasonableness: Any offer may be rejected if the Procurement Officer
determines in writing that it is unreasonable as to price. (c) Unbalanced Pricing. The District will analyze all offers
with separately priced line items or subline items to determine if the prices are unbalanced. Unbalanced pricing
exists when, despite an acceptable total evaluated price, the price of one or more line items is significantly over or
understated. The responsible procurement officer may reject an offer as unreasonably priced if she determines that
unbalanced pricing increases performance risk (e.g., it is so unbalanced as to be tantamount to allowing an advance
payment) or could result in payment of unreasonably high prices.
PROHIBITED COMMUNICATIONS AND DONATIONS: Violation of these restrictions may result in
disqualification of your offer, suspension or debarment, and may constitute a violation of law. (a) During the period
between publication of the solicitation and final award, you must not communicate, directly or indirectly, with the
District or its employees, agents or officials regarding any aspect of this procurement activity, unless otherwise
approved in writing by the Procurement Officer.
(b) You are advised to familiarize yourself with Regulation 19-445.2165, which restricts donation to a governmental
entity with whom you have or seek to have a contract. You represent that your offer discloses any gifts made, directly
or through an intermediary, by you or your named subcontractors to or for the benefit of the District during the
period beginning eighteen months prior to the Opening Date.
PROTESTS: If you are aggrieved in connection with the solicitation or award of the contract, you may be entitled to
protest, but only as provided in Section 11-35-4210. To protest the solicitation or an amendment, your written protest
must be received within fifteen Days of the date of the applicable solicitation document is issued. To protest an
award, (i) written notice of your intent to protest must be received within seven Business Days of the date the award
notice is posted and (ii) your actual written protest must be received within fifteen Days of the date the award notice
is posted. Time periods are computed in accordance with Section 11-35-310(13) and the definitions of Day and
Business Day. Both protests and notices of intent to protest must be received by the appropriate Chief Procurement
Officer (CPO). Coordinator of Procurement. (b) Pursuant to Section 11-35-410, documents directly connected to a
procurement activity may be available within five days after request. All document requests should be directed to
D5bids@lexrich5.org. If a protest is pending, the protestant's lawyer may access otherwise unavailable information
by applying to the CPO for the issuance of a protective order.
ANY PROTEST MUST BE ADDRESSED TO THE CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICE AND SUBMITTED IN
WRITING
(A) by email to D5bids@lexrich5.org, OR
(B) School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties, 1020 Dutch Fork Road, Irmo, SC 29063
Lauren Bove, Coordinator of Procurement
School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties
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1020 Dutch Fork Road
Irmo, SC 29063
Fax: 803-476-8140
E-Mail: lbove@lexrich5.org
PUBLIC OPENING: Offers will be publicly opened at the date/time and at the location identified on the Cover
Page, or last Amendment, whichever is applicable.
QUESTIONS FROM OFFERORS:
(a) Any prospective Offeror desiring an explanation or interpretation of the solicitation, drawings, specifications,
etc., must request it in writing. Questions regarding the original solicitation or any amendment must be received by
the Procurement Officer no later than five (5) days prior to opening unless an earlier date is stated on the Cover
Page. Label any communication regarding your questions with the name of the procurement officer, and the
solicitation's title and number. Oral explanations or instructions will not be binding. Any information given a
prospective Offeror concerning a solicitation will be furnished promptly to all other prospective Offerors as an
Amendment to the solicitation, if that information is necessary for submitting offers or if the lack of it would be
prejudicial to other prospective Offerors. We will not identify you in our answer to your question. (b) The District
seeks to permit maximum practicable competition. Offerors are urged to advise the Procurement Officer -- as soon as
possible -- regarding any aspect of this procurement, including any aspect of the Solicitation, that unnecessarily or
inappropriately limits full and open competition.
Email is the preferred method for submitting with "Questions: Solicitation # as the subject of the
email." Questions must be submitted in an easily copied format such as Word.
Email: D5bids@lexrich5.org
Questions may also be submitted to the address listed on the Cover Page of this document or faxed to (803)
476-8138.
REJECTION/CANCELLATION: The District may cancel this solicitation in whole or in part. The District may
reject any or all proposals in whole or in part.
RESPONSIVENESS: (a) Award will not be made on a nonresponsive offer. An offer is nonresponsive (i) if it does
not constitute an unambiguous offer to enter into a contract with the District, or (ii) if it imposes conditions
inconsistent with, or does not unambiguously agree to, the solicitation's material requirements. (b) Bid as Specified.
Offers for supplies or services other than those specified will not be considered unless authorized by the Solicitation.
SIGNING YOUR OFFER: Every Offer must be signed by an individual with actual authority to bind the Offer. (a)
If the Offeror is an individual, the Offer must be signed by that individual. If the Offeror is an individual doing
business as a firm, the Offer must be submitted in the firm name, signed by the individual, and state that the
individual is doing business as a firm. (b) If the Offeror is a partnership, the Offer must be submitted in the
partnership name, followed by the words by its Partner, and signed by a general partner. (c) If the Offeror is a
corporation, the Offer must be submitted in the corporate name, followed by the signature and title of the person
authorized to sign. (d) An Offer may be submitted by a joint venturer involving any combination of individuals,
partnerships, or corporations. If the Offeror is a joint venture, the Offer must be submitted in the name of the Joint
Venture and signed by every participant in the joint venture in the manner prescribed in paragraphs (a) through (c)
above for each type of participant. (e) If an Offer is signed by an agent, other than as stated in subparagraphs (a)
through (d) above, the Offer must state that it has been signed by an Agent. Upon request, Offeror must provide
proof of the agent's authorization to bind the principal.
DISCLOSURE OF YOUR BID / PROPOSAL & SUBMITTING CONFIDENTIAL DATA:
(a) According to Section 11-35-410, any person submitting a document in response or with regard to any solicitation
or other request, must comply with instructions provided in the solicitation for marking information exempt from
public disclosure. Information not marked as required by the applicable instructions maybe disclosed to the public.
IF YOU IDENTIFY YOUR ENTIRE RESPONSE AS EXEMPT FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURE, OR IF YOU DO
NOT SUBMIT A REDACTED COPY AS REQUIRED, THE DISTRICT MAY, IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION,
DETERMINE YOUR BID OR PROPOSAL NONRESPONSIVE AND INELIGIBLE FOR AWARD
(b) By submitting a response to this solicitation or request, Offeror agrees to the public disclosure of every page, or
portion thereof, of every document regarding this solicitation or request that was submitted at any time prior to
entering into a contract (including, but not limited to, documents contained in a response, documents submitted to
clarify a response, and documents submitted during negotiations), unless the page, or portion thereof, was redacted
and conspicuously marked "Trade Secret" or "Confidential" or "Protected. (2) agrees that any information not
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redacted and marked, as required by these bidding instructions, as a "Trade Secret" is not a trade secret as defined by
the Trade Secrets Act, and (3) agrees that, notwithstanding any claims or markings otherwise, any prices,
commissions, discounts, or other financial figures used to determine the award, as well as the final contract amount,
are subject to public disclosure.
(c) If your offer includes any information that you claim is exempt from public disclosure, you must submit one
complete copy of your offer from which you have removed or concealed such information (the redacted copy).
Except for the information removed or concealed, the redacted copy must be identical to your original offer.
(d) Do not mark your entire response (bid, proposal, quote, etc.) as confidential, trade secret, or protected. If only
portions of a page are subject to some protection, do not redact the entire page. The redacted copy must reflect the
same pagination as the original and show the empty space from which information was redacted. The Procurement
Officer must be able to view, search, copy and print the redacted copy without a password. If your response, or any
part thereof, is improperly marked as confidential or trade secret or protected, the District may, in its sole discretion,
determine it nonresponsive.
(e) On the redacted copy, you must identify the basis of your claim by marking each redaction as follows: You must
separately mark with the word "CONFIDENTIAL" every page, or portion thereof, that you redacted and claim as
exempt from public disclosure because it is either (1) a trade secret as defined in Section 30-4-40(a)(1) of the
Freedom of Information Act, or (2) privileged and confidential, as that phrase is used in Section 11-35410. You must
separately mark with the words "TRADE SECRET" every page, or portion thereof, that you redacted and claim as
exempt from public disclosure as a trade secret pursuant to Section 39-8-20 of the Trade Secrets Act. You must
separately mark with the word "PROTECTED" every page, or portion thereof, that you redacted and claim as exempt
from public disclosure pursuant to Section 11-35- 1810. All markings must be conspicuous; use color, bold,
underlining, or some other method in order to conspicuously distinguish the mark from the other text.
(f) In determining whether to release documents, the District will detrimentally rely on your redaction and marking of
documents, as required by these bidding instructions, as being either "Confidential" or "Trade Secret" or "Protected".
By submitting a response, you agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the District, its
officers and employees, from every claim, demand, loss, expense, cost, damage or injury, including attorney's fees,
arising out of or resulting from withholding information by the District, that you have redacted or marked as
"Confidential" or "Trade Secret" or "Protected". (All references to S.C. Code of Laws.)
SUBMITTING A PAPER OFFER OR MODIFICATION: (a) All prices and notations should be printed in ink or
typewritten. Errors should be crossed out, corrections entered and initialed by the person signing the bid. Do not
modify the solicitation document itself (including bid schedule). (b) (1) All copies of the offer or modification, and
any other documents required to be submitted with the offer shall be enclosed in a sealed, opaque envelope or
package. (2) Address to the Office of Procurement Services as specified in the Solicitation (3) The envelope or
package must show the time and date specified for opening, the solicitation number, and the name and address of the
bidder. If the offer or modification is sent by mail or special delivery service (UPS, Federal Express, etc.), the
outermost envelope or wrapper must be labeled "OFFER ENCLOSED" on the face thereof. (c) If you are responding
to more than one solicitation, submit each offer in a separate envelope or package. (d) Submit the number of copies
indicated on the Cover Page. (e) Facsimile or e-mail offers, modifications, or withdrawals, will not be considered
unless authorized by the Solicitation.
TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: (a) If Offeror is owned or controlled by a common parent as defined
in paragraph (b) of this provision, Offeror must submit with its Offer the name and TIN of common parent. (b)
Definitions: "Common parent," as used in this provision, means that corporate entity that owns or controls an
affiliated group of corporations that files its Federal income tax returns on a consolidated basis, and of which the
Offeror is a member. "Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)," as used in this provision, means the number required
by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to be used by the Offeror in reporting income tax and other returns. The TIN
may be either a Social Security Number or an Employer Identification Number.
(c) If Offeror does not have a TIN, Offeror must indicate if either a TIN has been applied for or a TIN is not
required. If a TIN is not required, indicate whether (i) Offeror is a nonresident alien, foreign corporation, or foreign
partnership that does not have income effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United
States and does not have an office or place of business or a fiscal paying agent in the United States; (ii) Offeror is an
agency or instrumentality of a state or local government; (iii) Offeror is an agency or instrumentality of a foreign
government; or (iv) Offeror is an agency or instrumentality of the Federal Government.
VENDOR REGISTRATION: Offerors who have not provided products/services to the District in the past or
within the past three years should complete a W-9 and submit it with your offer.
WITHDRAWAL OR CORRECTION OF OFFER: Offers may be withdrawn by written notice received at any
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