Bids shall be submitted upon the blank bid forms provided with the drawings and general conditions and scope of work and must be accompanied by Bid Guaranty in the amount of five (5) percent of the total amount of the bid. The Bid Guaranty may be by certified check or bid bond made payable to The City of Lumberton, MS. Said guarantee to be forfeited, as liquidated damages, and not penalty, by a bidder who may be awarded the contract, but who fails to carry out the terms of the proposal and execute the contract and within the time specified. The Bid must also be accompanied by proof of the Bidder's registration with the U.S. Government's System for Award Management (SAM) by providing its Unique Entity ID (UEI) number. Bids may be held by The City of Lumberton, MS for a period not to exceed 30 days from the date of the bid opening for the purpose of evaluating bids prior to award of the contract. The City of Lumberton, MS reserves the right to reject any and all bids, and to waive any informalities in the bids received. Bids on the project must be received on or before the time specified above and no bid may be withdrawn after the scheduled closing time and date for the receipt of bids. All bids submitted must comply with the requirements of Chapter 3, Title 31 (Sections 31-3-1, et seq.) of Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended, and the performance of any contract awarded shall be bonded in accordance with Chapter 5, Title 31, of the Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended. The city encourages Minority-Owned Business Enterprises (MBE's) and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (WBE's) to bid on this contract as primes contractors and also encourages MBE's and WBE's to make inquiries regarding potential subcontracting opportunities, equipment, material and/or supply needs. The City of Lumberton is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and hereby notifies all bidders will be afforded the full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual preference, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status in consideration for an award. Any contract or contracts awarded under this advertisement for bids are expected to be funded in part by anticipated funds from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality through the Mississippi Municipality and County Water Infrastructure Grant Program (MCWI).