Questions shall be received, in writing, until October 13th at 5:00pm; no questions may be submitted after this date. Questions will be answered via addendum no later than October 17th. The City of Rockford, in conjunction with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Four Rivers Sanitation Authority, is hereby requesting bids from interested firms to implement various lab-packing and collection services in connection with its household hazardous waste collection program. The specifications to follow describe the minimum acceptable service. Control of the Work. With respect to Vendor's own work, the City shall not have contractual, operational, and/or supervisory control over and/or charge of the work and shall not be responsible for construction means, methods, techniques, sequences, procedures, and programs in connection with the awarded vendor's work, since these are solely the vendor's responsibility under the agreement. The City shall not be responsible for the awarded vendor's failure to carry out the work in accordance with the agreement's terms and conditions. The City shall not have control over and/or charge of acts or omissions of the awarded vendor, its subcontractors, and/or their agents or employees, or any other person performing portions of the work not directly employed by the awarded vendor. The awarded vendor shall be considered to be an "independent contractor" pursuant to Illinois law. 12. Bid Bond. When required on the cover sheet, a bid bond for not less than five (5) percent of the bid amount must accompany all bids as a guarantee that if the bid is accepted, the bidder will execute and file the proper contract. A bank cashier's check, bank draft, or certified check equal to the amount specified is acceptable in lieu of a bid bond. Bid bonds of the two lowest firms will be retained until the contract is awarded. 13. Performance and Payment Bond. When required by the specifications herein, the awarded vendor shall furnish a performance and payment bond equal to the amount of the contract, acceptable to the City, within fourteen (14) calendar days after notification of contract award. Failure to furnish the required bond within the time specified may be cause for rejection of the bid and any bid deposit may be retained by the City as liquidated damages and not as a penalty. Acceptance of Merchandise at Delivery. The City of Rockford reserves the right to refuse acceptance of delivered merchandise that differs substantially from the specifications in the invitation to bid or as otherwise permitted by Illinois law. If the City becomes aware of violation of any Form 2 Form 2 2 of 12 laws, ordinances, rules and regulations on the part of Vendor or subcontractor, it reserves the right to reject any bid, cancel any contract, and pursue any other legal remedies deemed necessary. The City of Rockford reserves the right to terminate the contract in its entirety or in portions, upon written notice to Vendor for convenience, if the Rockford City Council does not appropriate sufficient funds to complete the contract, or in the event of default by Vendor. D