The "Work" consists of the Project as more specifically described in the contract drawings and specifications and shall include all incidental work necessary or customarily done for the completion of the Project. The term "bidding documents" shall include the Advertisement for Bids, these Instructions, the bid forms, bond forms, contract forms and other Contract Documents bound herewith, and shall include the Drawings, the Specifications, and all Addenda issued prior to receipt of bids. The term "Contract Documents" shall mean the Contract entered into between the Owner and the successful bidder, including all documents enumerated as Contract Documents in the Agreement between Owner and Contractor, and all Modifications (as defined in the Contract) issued after execution of the Contract. The terms "Addenda" and "Addendum" shall mean written documents and/or drawings issued by the Owner prior to execution of the Contract which supplement, modify, correct, explain or interpret the bidding documents. Bid Deposits shall be submitted in the amount of 5% of the bid price. The Bid Deposit shall be made payable to the Town of Winchester and shall be either in the form of cash, certified check, treasurer's or cashier's check issued by a responsible bank or trust company, or a bid bond issued by a surety licensed to do business in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and shall be conditioned upon the faithful performance by the principal of the agreement contained in the bid. The Town of Winchester reserves the right to reject or approve a surety. The Bid Deposits of the three (3) lowest responsible and eligible bidders shall be retained until the execution and delivery of the Contract. The contract will be awarded to the bidder deemed by the Town of Winchester to be the lowest responsible and eligible bidder. Selection of the successful bidder will be based upon bidder qualifications, including evidence of past performance on similar projects and bid price. The Contract award is subject to the availability of funding. The successful general bidder will be required to furnish a Performance Bond and a Labor and Materials Bond, each of which shall be in the amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the contract price. The Town of Winchester reserves the right to reject any bid which, in its judgment, fails to meet the requirements of this Advertisement for Bids or which is incomplete, conditional, or obscure, or which contains additions or irregularities, or in which errors occur in addition to the foregoing. The Town of Winchester also reserves the right to reject any and all proposals if it deems such rejection(s) to be in the best interest of the Town. The Town of Winchester further reserves the right to waive any minor discrepancies or informalities, to permit a bidder to clarify discrepancies or to conduct discussions with all qualified bidders in any manner necessary to serve the best interests of the Town. Any fees or other expenses of the bidders associated with this Advertisement for Bid process are solely the responsibility of the bidders. The Project value is estimated to be $1,300,000. Prevailing Wages, as determined under M.G.L. c. 149, 26 27H shall apply on this project. Materials, equipment and supplies used on this project are exempt from sales tax to the extent provided by M.G.L. c. 64H, 6(f). The date of commencement of the Contract shall be approximately September 5, 2023, unless otherwise fixed in a Notice to Proceed from the Owner and to substantially complete all work for the Base Bid, exclusive warranty inspections, within 300 consecutive days of the date fixed in the "Notice to Proceed" and complete the warranty inspection within five (5) calendar days of the commencement of warranty inspection. Time is of the essence for the completion of this project. Additionally, All work shown on the drawings to install the hydrant on the corner of Wendell St & Arbor Lane must be complete by November 15, 2023.