Solicitations are open to all business firms actively engaged in providing the materials, equipment, and services specified and inferred. Active engagement will be verified via references. These General Instruction Regarding Solicitation for Contracted Services apply to all solicitations for contracted services by the City of Wheaton and shall be incorporated as part of the written and signed Agreement with the successful Bidder along with any addenda items which are issued, unless otherwise specified. If a Bid Bond (preferred), an original shall be submitted with the bid. If in the form of a certified check or a bank cashier's check made payable to the City of Wheaton. Checks will be retained by the City until an award is fully executed, at which time the checks will be promptly returned to the unsuccessful Bidders. When specifically requested by the City, Bidder shall provide a Bid Bond / Bid Deposit of 10% of the full Contract price. NOTE: for solicitations involving IDOT specifications and special provisions, this amount supersedes any amount specified by the Illinois Department of Transportation's Bureau of Local Roads and Streets ("BLRS") Special Provisions for Bidding Requirements and Conditions for Contract Proposals as may be incorporated on IDOT Form BLR 12200 and as may otherwise be incorporated as a special provision in the contract documents. Maintenance Bond IS Required. The successful Bidder shall be required to furnish a Maintenance Bond equal to ten percent (10%) of the final contract price for the faithful performance of the Bidder's obligation to maintain and keep in good repair, the work herein contracted to be done and performed for one (1) year from the date of final acceptance by the City. The City reserves the right to accept or reject any offer in which the Bidder names a total price for all the work without breaking down requested material costs, labor costs, and/or overhead and profit. All questions, either administrative or technical, shall be submitted via email to Tina Walters at twalters@wheaton.il.us no later than October 16, 2023, at 11:00 am (CST) a) Except as otherwise stated, Bidders will be awarded within ninety (90) days from the opening date. b) Award is based on the lowest responsive responsible offer; offering the lowest life-cycle cost; providing the best overall value to the City; and deemed most advantageous to the City, price and other factors considered. c) When there is a Base Bid and Alternates, the low bidder shall be the lowest responsible and responsive bid submitted for the best combinations for the City. If all Bids and Alternate exceed the project budget, the City reserves the right to award to the bidder presenting the best alternatives for the City. d) When there is a Base Bid and Options, the low bidder shall be the lowest responsible and responsive bid submitted for the best combinations for the City. e) The City reserves the right to award by item, part or portion of an item, group of items, in the aggregate, or to reject any and all offers in whole or in part according to the best interests of the City. f) Bidder may restrict its offer to consideration in the aggregate by so stating on the proposal form but must name a unit price on each item. g) The successful Bidder shall be required to enter into a Contract with the City of Wheaton covering all matters set forth in the solicitation document, and addenda. Insurance: a) The successful Bidder, if awarded by Agreement, shall be required to carry insurance acceptable to the City. b) Contemporaneous with the successful Bidder's execution of an Agreement with the City, the successful Bidder shall provide certificates of insurance with endorsements, including those of subcontractors, and waivers of subrogation all in accordance with the Special. Provisions for Insurance Coverage of Construction Services (Agreement Exhibit C), and shall list the City of Wheaton as an additional primary insured under the Bidder's general liability insurance policy. c) The Bidder's obligation to purchase stated insurance cannot be waived by the City's action or inaction