Water-Sewer Improvements Project. Each bid shall be accompanied by a Cashier's Check, Certified Check, or solvent bank or a Bidder's Bond issued by a Surety Company licensed to operate in the State of Mississippi, in the amount of five (5%) of the total bid, payable to Clarke County as bid security. Bidders shall also submit a current financial statement, if requested by the County. The successful bidder will be required to furnish a Performance Bond and a Payment bond each in the amount of one hundred percent (100%) of the contract amount. Bidders must be qualified under Mississippi Law and show a Certificate of Responsibility issued by the Mississippi State Board of Public Contractors establishing the bidder's classification as to the value and type of construction on which the bidder is authorized to bid. Each Bidder shall write their Certificate of Responsibility Number on the outside of the sealed envelope containing the proposal. No bidder may withdraw his bid within 90 days after the actual date of the opening thereof. The attention of bidders is directed to the Contract Provisions governing selection and employment of labor. Minimum wage rates for Federal-Aid projects have been predetermined by the Secretary of Labor and are subject to Public Law 87-581 Work Hours Act of 1962, as set forth in the Contract Provisions. The award of this contract will be contingent upon the Contractor satisfying the DBE/WBE Requirements. Clarke County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women's Business Enterprises will be afforded 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. Awarding public contracts to non-resident Bidders will be on the same basis as the non-resident Bidder's state awards contracts to Mississippi Contractors bidding under similar circumstances. In order to ensure that Mississippi's so-called Golden Rule is followed state law requires a non-resident bidder to attach to his bid a copy of his resident state's current laws pertaining to such state's treatment of resident contractors. The award, if made, will be to the lowest and best qualified bidder. The Board intends to accept the lowest and best bid and reserves the right to reject any and/or all bids. Contract Time as Advertised shall be 80 Working Days from the effective date shown in the Notice to Proceed. The Board intends to accept the lowest and best bid and reserves the right to reject any and/or all bids. Contract Time as Advertised shall be 80 Working Days from the effective date shown in the Notice to Proceed. Clarke County reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive any informalities or irregularities therein. Bidders are hereby notified that any proposal accompanied by letter qualifying in any manner the condition under which the proposal is tendered will be considered an irregular bid, and such proposals will not be considered in making the award.