Project Description: West Bellfort Trash Clean-Up 35% Small Business Goal Question Deadline 10/13/2023 at 2:00 PM CT. All questions and bid responses to this solicitation must be submitted electronically through METRO's Bonfire hub at electronically. Registration on METRO's Bonfire hub is free. Additionally, submit one (1) Original hardcopy delivered in a sealed envelope to the METRO Procurement Office, 1900 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77002. Digital signatures accepted. The purpose of the conference is to explain the solicitation requirements and answer any questions prospective bidders may have regarding the solicitation. All questions pertaining to this solicitation shall be presented IN WRITING to the above METRO representative during or prior to the briefing. All interested firms are strongly encouraged to attend and have a copy of this IFB readily accessible during the briefing. PERFORMANCE PERIOD: The period of performance under this Contract shall be for Sixty (60) calendar days, unless otherwise extended by METRO. (See Contract Article 'Period of Performance' in Section III). INSURANCE: Each prospective bidder is cautioned to review the Insurance requirements of this solicitation. (See Contract 'Insurance Articles' in Section VI.) LICENSING: When a special license or permit is required by federal, state or local law or ordinance, a bidder must be properly licensed prior to bidding and furnish evidence of such with the bid. SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION GOAL: METRO has adopted a Small Business Enterprise Program to encourage the participation of Small Business enterprises in contracting activities through race-gender neutral means. METRO sets Small Business Participation goals on its contracts. Small Business Participation goals can be satisfied by METRO-certified Small Businesses (SBE), federally-certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE), or a combination of both. All references to Small Businesses in this document include Disadvantaged Business Enterprises. Copies of METRO's Small Business and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Programs can be obtained upon request. AWARD OF CONTRACT 1. Award of a contract, if awarded, will be made to the responsive and responsible bidder offering the lowest bid price and whose bid conforms to the solicitation documents. The lowest price bidder is not guaranteed that it will receive the METRO contract award. 2. A written Notice of Award will be issued to the successful bidder upon being selected for award of a contract and execution of any resultant contract. 3. The successful bidder must provide a current Workers' Compensation Insurance Certificate prior to being awarded the contract. 4. METRO reserves the right to reject any and all bids, to waive any informalities in bids received and the right to reject all nonconforming, unbalanced, non-responsive or conditional bids. Discrepancies between words and figures will be resolved in favor of words. BID EVALUATION 1. Bids will be evaluated on the basis of the Sixty (60) days total extended bid amount for all items as identified on the Bid/Contract Amount Items and Prices. 2. Bidders must bid on all items to be considered for award. Bids submitted for quantities less than specified for each item. will be rejected as non-responsive. 3. A split award will not be made. Bidders must bid on all items and award will be made based on the total aggregate price. 4. Bids containing apparent clerical mistakes such as discrepancy between unit bid price and the price extension or the sum of the extended amounts and the total bid price, or other apparent clerical mistakes, will be resolved by the Contract Administrator in accordance with the 'Errors in Bids' procedures contained in METRO's Procurement Manual in Chapter 4. 5. In the event of tie bids, the successful bidder will be determined by drawing of lots at an open meeting with the tie bidders invited to attend.