Request For Proposals ? Rate Study for Water & Wastewater Service Areas

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Bidders ID:	NBD11618066948279292
Due Date:	Jun 30, 2026
Posted Date:	Jun 5, 2026
Level of Government:	State & Local
State:	Maryland
Agency:	Worcester County
Category:	C - Architect and Engineering Services - Construction
Source:	Members Only

Request For Proposals – Rate Study for Water & Wastewater Service Areas

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Proposal Documents - Rate Study for Water Wastewater Service Areas 051926.pdf

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Worcester County Administration

1 West Market Street, Room 1103

Snow Hill, Maryland 21863

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

PROJECT: Rate Study for Water & Wastewater Service Areas

DEPARTMENT:

Water & Wastewater

NAME:

ADDRESS:

VENDOR:

DATE:

TIME:

PROPOSAL OPENING:

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

2 p.m.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION I: INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3

A. PURPOSE ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 3

B. CLARIFICATION OF TERMS ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 3

C. QUESTIONS AND INQUIRES .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 3

D. FILLING OUT PROPOSAL DOCUMENTS .................................................................................................................................................................... 3

E. SUBMISSION OF PROPOSAL DOCUMENTS ............................................................................................................................................................... 3

F. OPENING OF PROPOSALS ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 4

G. ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF PROPOSALS ...................................................................................................................................................... 4

H. QUALIFICATIONS ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 5

DESCRIPTIVE LITERATURE ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 5

NOTICE TO VENDORS .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5

K. PIGGYBACKING ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5

SECTION II: GENERAL INFORMATION....................................................................................................................................................................................... 6

A. ECONOMY OF PROPOSAL ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 6

B. PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT (PIA) .............................................................................................................................................................................. 6

C. CONTRACT AWARD ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 6

D. AUDIT.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 6

E. NONPERFORMANCE ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6

F. MODIFICATION OR WITHDRAWL OF PROPOSAL ................................................................................................................................................. 6

G. DEFAULT............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 7

H. COLLUSION/FINANCIAL BENEFIT.............................................................................................................................................................................. 7

TAX EXEMPTION ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 7

CONTRACT CHANGES.................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7

K. ADDENDUM ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8

L. EXCEPTIONS/ SUBSTITUTIONS.................................................................................................................................................................................... 8

M. APPROVED EQUALS........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 8

N. DELIVERY.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8

O. INSURANCE ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8

P. PROPOSAL EVALUATION.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 8

SECTION III: GENERAL CONDITIONS ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 9

A. DRAWINGS AND SPECIFICATIONS ............................................................................................................................................................................. 9

B. MATERIALS, SERVICES AND FACILITIES ................................................................................................................................................................ 9

C. INSPECTION AND TESTING .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 9

D. APPROVAL OF SUBSTITUTION OF MATERIALS ..................................................................................................................................................... 9

E. PROTECTION OF WORK, PROPERTY AND PERSONS ............................................................................................................................................ 9

F. BARRICADES, DANGER, WARNING AND DETOUR SIGNS .................................................................................................................................... 9

G. LICENSES AND PERMITS ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 9

H. SUPERVISION.................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9

CLEAN UP .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9

CHANGES IN WORK ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 9

K. TIME FOR COMPLETION............................................................................................................................................................................................... 9

L. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 10

M. CORRECTION OF WORK ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 10

N. CONSTRUCTION SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS ........................................................................................................................................ 10

O. PERFORMANCE AND PAYMENT BONDS ................................................................................................................................................................. 10

P. GUARANTEE ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 10

SECTION IV: PROPOSAL SPECIFICATIONS ............................................................................................................................................................................. 11

A. SCOPE ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11

B. CONTRACT PRICING .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11

C. CONTRACT PERIOD RENEWAL OPTION ................................................................................................................................................................ 11

D. SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11

E. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 12

F. PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE.................................................................................................................................................................................. 12

G. PAYMENT......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12

H. QUESTIONS...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 13

AWARD ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 13

SECTION V: EVALUATION AND SELECTION PROCESS........................................................................................................................................................ 14

FORM OF PROPOSAL ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15

REFERENCES .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 18

EXCEPTIONS ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 19

INDIVIDUAL PRINCIPAL ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 20

VENDOR’S AFFIDAVIT OF QUALIFICATION TO BID.............................................................................................................................................................. 21

NON-COLLUSIVE AFFIDAVIT ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 22

EXHIBIT A .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 23

SECTION I: INTRODUCTION

A. PURPOSE

1. The purpose of this Request for Proposal Document is for Worcester County (“County”) to contract for a

Rate Study for Water & Wastewater Service Areas in conformity with the requirements contained herein

“Proposal Document(s)”.

B. CLARIFICATION OF TERMS

1. Firms or individuals that submit a proposal for award of a contract (“Contract”) are referred to as vendors

“Vendors” in this document. The Vendor that is awarded the Contract is herein referred to as the “Successful

Vendor”.

C. QUESTIONS AND INQUIRES

1. Questions must be addressed in writing to the Worcester County Procurement Officer at

purchasing@worcestermd.gov.

2. The last date/time for questions will be Monday, June 22, 2026, at noon.

3. Addenda are posted on the County website at https://www.co.worcester.md.us/ under County Info: Bid Board: at

https://www.co.worcester.md.us/commissioners/bids at least five calendar days before proposal opening.

4. It is the Vendor’s responsibly to make sure all addenda are acknowledged in their proposal. Failure to do so could

result in the proposal being disqualified.

D. FILLING OUT PROPOSAL DOCUMENTS

1. Use only forms supplied by the County.

2. One unbound original and five bound copies of the proposal form and any required attachments must be

submitted in the solicitation and can be submitted in the same envelope unless otherwise instructed.

3. Proposal Documents should be compiled as follows: (1) Cover letter, (2) Form of Proposal & relevant details

regarding how proposal specifications will be met, (3) References, (4) Exceptions Document and Signed addenda,

if necessary (5) Individual Principal Document, (6) Vendor’s Affidavit of Qualification to Bid, and (7) Non-

Collusive Affidavit

4. Where so indicated by the make-up of the Proposal Documents, sums will be expressed in both words and figures,

and in the case of a discrepancy between the two, the amount written in words will govern. In the event there is a

discrepancy between the unit price and the extended totals, the unit prices will govern.

5. Any interlineation, alteration, or erasure will be initialed by the signer of the Proposal Documents.

6. Each copy of the Proposal Documents will be signed by the person(s) legally authorized to bind the Vendor to a

contract, using the legal name of the signer. Proposal Documents submitted by an agent will have a current

Power of Attorney attached certifying the agent’s authority to bind the Vendor.

7. Vendor will supply all information and submittals required by the Proposal Documents to constitute a proper and

responsible completed Proposal Document package.

8. Any ambiguity in the Proposal Documents as a result of omission, error, lack of clarity or non-compliance by the

Vendor with specifications, instructions, and/or all conditions of bidding will be construed in the light most

favorable to the County.

E. SUBMISSION OF PROPOSAL DOCUMENTS

1. All copies of the Proposal Documents and any other documents required to be submitted with the Proposal

Documents will be enclosed in a sealed envelope. The envelope will be addressed to the Worcester County

Commissioners and will be identified with the project name: RFP- Rate Study for Water & Wastewater

Service Areas and the Vendor’s name and address. If the Proposal Documents are sent by mail, the sealed

envelope will be enclosed in a separate mailing envelope with the notation “SEALED PROPOSAL

DOCUMENTS ENCLOSED” on the face thereof.

2. Proposals must be mailed or hand carried to the Worcester County Administration Office, 1 West Market

Street, Room 1103, Snow Hill, MD 21863, in order to be received prior to the announced proposal deadline.

Proposals received after said time or delivered to the wrong location will be returned to the Vendor unopened.

3. Proposals are due and will be opened at the time listed on the front of this Proposal Document.

4. If you are delivering a proposal in person, please keep in mind to allow time to get through security and into the

Administration Office. It is fully the responsibility of the Vendor to ensure that the proposal is received on time.

5. The County will not speculate as to reasonableness of the postmark, nor will they comment on the apparent failure

of a public carrier to have made prompt delivery of the proposal.

6. Vendors, or their authorized agents, are expected to fully inform themselves as to the conditions, requirements,

and specifications before submitting Proposal Documents; failure to do so will be at the Vendor’s own risk.

7. A fully executed Affidavit of Qualification to Bid will be attached to each Proposal Document.

8. Minority vendors are encouraged to participate.

9. All Vendor submitted Proposal Documents will be valid for a minimum of sixty days from the date of Proposal

Document opening.

10. Electronically mailed proposals are not considered sealed proposals and will not be accepted.

F. OPENING OF PROPOSALS

1. Proposal Documents received on time will be opened publicly. Only the Vendors’ names will be read aloud for

the record.

2. The Contract will be awarded or all Proposal Documents will be rejected within sixty days from the date of the

Proposal Document opening.

G. ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF PROPOSALS

1. Unless otherwise specified, the Contract will be awarded to the most responsible and responsive Vendor

complying with the provisions of the Proposal Documents, provided the proposal does not exceed the funds

available, and it is in the best interest of the County to accept it. The County reserves the right to reject the

Proposal Documents of any Vendor who has previously failed to perform properly in any way or complete on

time contracts of a similar nature; or a Proposal Document from a Vendor who, investigation shows, is not in a

position to perform the Contract; or Proposal Documents from any person, firm, or corporation which is in arrears

or in default to the County for any debt or contract.

2. Completed Proposal Documents from Vendors debarred from doing business with the State of Maryland or the

Federal Government will not be accepted.

3. In determining a Vendor’s responsibility, the County may consider the following qualifications, in addition to

price:

a. Ability, capacity, and skill to provide the commodities or services required within the specified time,

including future maintenance and service, and including current financial statement or other evidence of

pecuniary resources and necessary facilities.

b. Character, integrity, reputation, experience and efficiency.

c. Quality of past performance on previous or existing contracts, including a list of current and past

contracts and other evidence of performance ability.

d. Previous and existing compliance with laws and ordinances relating to contracts with the County and to

the Vendor’s employment practices.

e. Evidence of adequate insurance to comply with Contract terms and conditions.

f. Statement of current workload and capacity to perform/provide the Goods and/or Services.

g. Explanation of methods to be used in fulfilling the Contract.

h. The Vendor, if requested, will be prepared to supply evidence of its qualifications, listed above, and its

capacity to provide/perform the Goods and/or Services; such evidence to be supplied within a specified

time and to the satisfaction of the County.

4. In determining a Vendor’s responsiveness, the County will consider whether the Proposal Document conforms in

all material respects to the Proposal Documents. The County reserves the right to waive any irregularities that

may be in its best interest to do so.

5. The County will have the right to reject any and all Proposal Documents, where applicable to accept in whole or

in part, to add or delete quantities, to waive any informalities or irregularities in the Proposal Document received,

to reject a Proposal Document not accompanied by required Bid security or other data required by the Proposal

Documents, and to accept or reject any Proposal Document which deviates from specifications when in the best

interest of the County. Irrespective of any of the foregoing, the County will have the right to award the Contract

in its own best interests.

H. QUALIFICATIONS

1. The Vendor must be in compliance with the laws regarding conducting business in the State of Maryland.

All Vendors shall provide a copy Certificate of Status from the Maryland Department of Assessments and

Taxation, evidencing the Vendor is in good standing with the State of Maryland. Worcester County reserves the

right, at its sole discretion, to extend the date this documentation must be provided. The Vendor’s inability to

provide this documentation could result in the proposal being rejected.

I. DESCRIPTIVE LITERATURE

1. The proposed descriptive literature fully describing the product bid is what is intended to be included as the price.

Failure to do so may be cause for rejection of the proposal.

2. Any items, systems or devices supplied in this proposal that are proprietary in nature relative to maintenance,

repair, servicing or updating must be disclosed on the proposal form.

J. NOTICE TO VENDORS

1. Before a Vendor submits the Proposal Documents it will need to become fully informed as to the extent and

character of the Goods and/or Services required and are expected to completely familiarize themselves with the

requirements of this Proposal Document’s specifications. Failure to do so will not relieve the Vendor of the

responsibility to fully perform in accordance therewith. No consideration will be granted for any alleged

misunderstanding of the material to be furnished or the Services to be performed, it being understood that the

submission of a Proposal Document is an agreement with all the items and conditions referred to herein.

K. PIGGYBACKING

1. Worcester County may authorize, upon request, any governmental entity (hereafter Authorized User) within the

County to purchase items under the contract awarded pursuant to this proposal solicitation.

2. All purchase orders issued against the contract by an authorized User shall be honored by the Successful Vendor

in accordance with all terms and conditions of this contract.

3. The issuance of a purchase order by an Authorized User pursuant to this provision shall constitute an express

assumption of all contractual obligations, covenants, conditions and terms of the contract. A breach of the

contract by any particular Authorized User shall neither constitute nor be deemed a breach of the contract as a

whole which shall remain in full force and effect, and shall not affect the validity of the contract nor the

obligations of the Successful Vendor thereunder respecting the County.

4. The County specifically and expressly disclaims any and all liability for any breach by an Authorized User other

than the County and each such Authorized User and Successful Vendor guarantee to save the County, its officers,

agents and employees harmless from any liability that may be or is imposed by the Authorized User’s failure to

perform in accordance with its obligations under the contract.

END OF SECTION

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