During the Request for Bid Period, from publication of the notice of a Request for Bids to the making of a Bid Decision, and during any related Protest Period, Bidders are prohibited from contacting, by any means, whether orally, telephonically, electronically or in writing, any member of the Board, any County Employee, including the County Manager, the County Attorney, or the Commission Auditor, any member of the designated Evaluation Committee or any agent of the County regarding the Request for Bids in any respect, with the exception of (i) inquiries may be submitted to the Purchasing Department or other County Employees or agents if specifically provided in the Request for Bids (ii) pre-Bid conferences provided for in the request package; and (iii) formal presentations by Bidders to the designated Evaluation Committee or to the Board or any committee thereof specifically contemplated in the Request for Bids. For information concerning procedures for responding to this RFP, contact Jessica Loos, Purchasing Department, (904) 284-6388 or by email: purchasing@claycountygov.com. The County reserves the right to waive formalities in any response, to reject any or all responses with or without cause, to waive technical and non-technical or non-material defects in the solicitation or submittal of any responses, including the lack of availability of adequate funds, regulatory agency requirements, to make award in part or completely, and/or to accept the response that, in its judgment, will be in the best interest of the County. Bid proposals in which the prices obviously are unbalanced will be rejected. Prospective bidders are notified that the failure to include within the sealed bid envelope a proper bid bond or other security approved under the countys purchasing policy, if required for this request,will result in rejection of the bid and shall, as well as the failure to file a written notice of protest and to file a written petition initiating a formal protest proceeding within the times and in the manner prescribed in chapter 8, section I of the countys purchasing policy shall, constitute a waiver of the right to protest the bid request, any addendum thereto, or the bid decision, as applicable, and to initiate a formal protest proceeding under the purchasing policy. The countys purchasing policy can be viewed at the countys website by following the appropriate links from the homepage address set forth above. If a prospective bidder is in doubt whether this request requires a bid bond, such prospective bidder is solely responsible for making appropriate inquiry. A person or affiliate who has been placed on the convicted vendor list following a conviction for a public entity crime may not submit a bid on a contract to provide any goods or services to a public entity, may not submit a bid on a contract with a public entity for the construction or repair of a public building or public work, may not submit bids on leases of real property to a public entity, may not be awarded or perform work as a contractor, supplier, subcontractor, or consultant under a contract with any public entity, and may not transact business with any public entity in excess of the threshold amount provided in section 287.017, florida statutes, for category two for a period of 36 months from the date of being placed on the convicted vendor list
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