This pedestrian improvement project generally consists of clearing & grubbing, storm drain installation, curb & gutter, 10' sidewalk, retaining wall construction, lighting and camera installation, fence installation, minor paving, signing, and minor pavement marking. The work will be done within Norfolk Southern Railroad (NS) right of way and must comply with NS requirements for right of entry, insurance, and other items specified in the attached NS Agreement. Proposal packages received after the stated time will not be accepted. The City of Duluth reserves the right, with or without notice or cause, to accept any bid regardless of the amount thereof; to reject any bid, any number of bids or all bids; to negotiate with any bidder for a reduction or alteration in its bid; to waive or insist upon formal requirements; to reject all bids and to call for additional bids upon the same or different Invitation to Bid and/or Plans and Specifications; to be sole judge, in its discretion, of all questions as to whether or not a bid complies with the Request for Proposal, the Plans or the Specifications, and as to the qualifications of a bidder to perform the Contract. Questions must be submitted in writing to the City Engineer at engineer@duluthga.net. The deadline for questions shall be Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at 5:00 PM. No questions received after this deadline will be addressed. Insurance and Bonding Company must be licensed to do business by the Georgia Secretary of State, authorized to do business in Georgia by The Georgia Insurance Department, listed in the Department of Treasury's Publication of Companies holding Certificates of Authority as Acceptable Surety on Federal Bonds and as acceptable reinsuring companies. The bid bond, payment bond, and performance bond must have an A.M. Best rating of A-5 or higher. Individuals, firms and businesses seeking an award of a City of Duluth contract may not initiate or continue any verbal or written communications regarding a solicitation with any City officer, elected official, employee or other City representative without permission of the City Clerk named in the solicitation between the date of the issuance of the solicitation and the date of the final contract award by the Duluth City Council. Violations will be reviewed by the City Clerk. If determined that such communication has compromised the competitive process, the offer submitted by the individual, firm or business may be disqualified from consideration for award. Award will be made to the responsive contractor with the highest scoring proposal. The City of Duluth reserves the right to reject any or all proposal packages, to waive technicalities, and to make an award as deemed in its best interest. Where the City provides forms for bid schedule and bond submissions, these forms must be used without exception. Any deducts to the bid must be itemized by the line-item number in the bid schedule or the City will apply the deduct as it deems appropriate. No Proposer may withdraw his proposal package within ninety (90) days after the actual date of the opening thereof.