1−13 A copy of the Joint Venture agreement must be included with the Proposal when submitted. The Joint Venture agreement must clearly identify the entities which comprise the Joint Venture and the Officers of the Joint Venture. The bidder's hard copy Proposal generated from the Quest Lite software must be signed in ink by an authorized signatory of the partnership, joint venture, corporation, or by such other agent of the Contractor legally qualified and acceptable to the State as hereinafter provided. If the Proposal is made by an individual, his/her name and mailing address shall be shown; by a partnership, the name and mailing address of each partnership member shall be shown; as a joint venture, the name and mailing address of each member or officer of the firms represented by the joint venture shall be shown; by a corporation, the name of the corporation and the business address of its corporate office shall be shown. In the case of Partnership and/or Joint Venture, the names and addresses of each member or officer of the partnership or joint venture must be listed in a separate attachment to be included with the submitted proposal. All certification documents are contained within the bid file that is used by the Quest Lite program. By utilizing Quest Lite, bidders are agreeing that they have executed all required certifications enumerated in the Proposal Repor t labeled “DOCUMENT(S)” which is located at the end of the Proposal Form. Failure to comply with the requirements of the Quest Lite software will not enable the bidder to successfully complete the preparation of a bid proposal.
102.06 PROPOSAL GUARANTY . A Proposal will not be accepted or considered unless
accompanied by a guaranty in the form of an original Bid Bond made payable to the State of Rhode Island. Bid bonds must be provided by surety companies licensed and authorized to conduct business in the State of Rhode Island. All surety companies must be listed with the Department of the Treasury, Fiscal Services, Circular 570, (Latest Revision published by the Federal Register). The amount of the Proposal Guaranty shall be as designated in the Notice to Contractors. When the bidder is a joint venture, the Proposal Guaranty must be made out to the name of the Joint Venture and all parties of the Joint Venture must be named in the execution of the Proposal Guaranty made by the same thereon. If there is more than one surety to the Bid Bond, each surety shall be named and execution made by same thereon. Execution of the Bid Bonds will not be considered complete unless accompanied by a certified copy of the power of attorney for the surety's attorney-in-fact.
102.07 Irregular Proposals .
a.Mandatory Reasons for Disqualification in Addition to Others as Set Forth in Those Regulations . The Department will declare a proposal non-responsive and shall disqualify a bidder for any of the following irregularities: 1−14
1.If the Proposal Form is obtained from any party other than the Department. (Proposal Forms are non-transferable.)
2.If the Proposal is on a form other than that generated by the Department of Transportation’s Quest Lite software; or if the form is altered or any part thereof is detached or incomplete;
3.If there are unauthorized additions, unauthorized conditional or alternate bids, or irregularities of any kind which may tend to make the Proposal incomplete, indefinite, or ambiguous as to its meaning;
4.If the bidder adds any provisions reserving the right to accept or reject an award;
5.If the Proposal is not completed using the Quest Lite software;
6.If the Department determines that the low bid is both mathematically and materially unbalanced;
7.If the Proposal is received after the time designated for the opening of bids;
8.If the bidder fails to execute the required certifications enumerated in the Proposal Report labeled “DOCUMENT(S)” located at the end of the Proposal;
9.If the bidder fails to submit an original Bid Bond, properly executed.
10.If compact disk (CD) data files and the hard copy submission do not match, unless such a discrepancy is determined to be the result of an error or malfunction within the Department’s Quest Lite software.
11.If a compact disk (CD) is not submitted; or
12.If the Proposal pages generated by the Quest Lite software have been altered in any way.
b.Other Reasons for Disqualification in Addition to Other Reasons Set Forth in Those Regulations . The Department and the Division of Purchases reserve the right to declare a proposal non-responsive and may disqualify a bidder for any of the following irregularities:
1.If the bidder fails to include at least a minimum amount where required for a particular item;
2.If the Proposal does not contain a "total or gross sum of bid,” written in words and figures, in the space provided;
3.If the Proposal is not properly signed; 1−15
4.If the bidder fails to comply in every detail with the instructions provided in Subsection 102.05; Preparation of Proposal ;
5.If the Proposal is not submitted in a sealed envelope and clearly labeled as to its contents;
6.If the compact disk (CD) containing the bidder’s Proposal is unreadable by the Department of Transportation’s bid proposal software.
102.08 DELIVERY OF PROPOSALS . Proposals shall be submitted in sealed envelopes. The
envelope shall be labeled to clearly indicate its contents. When sent by mail, the sealed Proposal shall be addressed in care of the official in whose office the bids are to be received, all as indicated in the Notice to Contractors. Proposals shall be filed prior to the time and at the place specified in the Notice to Contractors.
102.09 WITHDRAWAL OR REVISION OF PROPOSALS . A bidder may withdraw or revise a
Proposal after it has been deposited with the Division of Purchases, provided the request for such withdrawal or revision is received by the Di vision of Purchases, in writing or by telegram, not later than two (2) hours before the time set for opening proposals. Upon presentation of its written request at the proper time, a bidder's Proposal will be returned unopened. If a Proposal is withdrawn in accordance with this provision, the proposal guaranty shall be returned to the bidder. Whether or not Proposals are opened exactly at the time set for such opening, a Proposal will not be received, nor may any be withdrawn, after the time set for the opening of proposals. The Department reserves the right to revise the Plans, Specifications, other Contract Documents, the Proposal, and bid opening date for any project at any time prior to the time set for opening of Proposals. Such revisions will be made by addendum, duly numbered and dated, and made accessible to bidders through the RIDOA, Division of Purchases’ website known as the R. I. Vendor Information Program (RIVIP) at http://www.purchasing.ri.gov.
102.10 COMBINATION OR CONDITIONAL PROPOSALS . If the Department so elects,
Proposals may be issued for projects in combination or separately, so that Proposals may be submitted either on the combination or on separate units of the combination. The Department and Division of Purchases reserve the right to make awards on combination bids or separate bids to the advantage of the State. No combination of Proposals, other than those as specified by the Department, will be considered. Separate contracts will be written for each individual project included in the combination. Conditional proposals will be considered only when specified in the Special Provisions.
Source: Rhode Island Standard Specifications (Bluebook), 2024 Edition. Pages 27–29 of 826.