Q & A deadline: Jul 25, 2023 4:00:00 PM EDT. Complete sets of Bidding Documents must be used in preparing Bids; the OWNER does not assume any responsibility for errors or misinterpretations resulting from the use of incomplete sets of Bidding Documents. The OWNER, in making copies of the bidding documents available on the above terms, does so only for the purpose of obtaining bids for the work and does not confer a license or grant for any other use. The OWNER reserves the right to reject any or all Bids and to waive any informalities or minor defects therein. All bidders must agree that such rejection shall be without liability on the part of the OWNER for any damage or claim, including but not limited to loss of profits, savings or income, or any indirect, consequential, incidental, exemplary, punitive or special damages brought by any bidder because of such rejections, nor shall the bidders seek any recourse of any kind against the OWNER because of such rejections. The filing of any Bid in response to this invitation shall constitute an agreement by the bidder to these conditions. All bidders must be licensed Contractors as required by the Contractors Licensing Act of 1994, as amended (TCA Title 62, chapter 6). Sealed bid envelope exterior labeling must conform to the requirements of KUB Specification 00140 Paragraph 29. The Bid Contractor Cover Sheet is provided on page 3 of this Section (00030 Instruction to Bidders). In Case of joint ventures, each party must complete its own Cover Sheet. All Bids must be made out on the bid form provided with the Bidding Documents. Each bidder must turn in a security deposit with its Bid. The deposit is five percent (5%) of the Bid amount, subject to the conditions stated in the Instructions to Bidders. The successful bidder shall also be required to execute performance and payment Bonds in such amounts as required by the Bidding Documents, furnished by the bidder and which are used by the bidder, (or the bidder's permitted Subcontractors) in performing the Work. No bidder may withdraw his Bid within sixty (60) days after the actual opening date of the Bid. It is the bidder's responsibility to determine if sales or use taxes are required to be paid on the Work and to what extent. If sales and/or use taxes are payable in connection with the Work, all such taxes must be included in the Bid. The OWNER encourages bids by qualified minority and/or woman owned business enterprises (MBE, WBE) and also encourages the use of qualified minority and/or woman owned businesses as Subcontractors.