Deliver one signed paper original and one PDF copy on a USB drive in a sealed envelope to the Dubuque County Sheriff's Office 770 Iowa Street Dubuque Iowa 52001. Mark the envelope "SEALED RFP – NORTH ELEVATOR CAB AND SLING REPLACEMENT – [DCSO-2601]" and include the bidder's name, address, and contact person. Actual receipt by the stated deadline is required; a postmark is insufficient. Email and fax bids are not accepted. If copies differ, the signed paper original controls. For mailed bids, enclose the sealed bid envelope in an outer mailing envelope addressed to the Auditor. Registered mail is recommended; timely receipt remains the bidder's responsibility.
Include bid security of 5% of the total base bid, payable to Dubuque County, in a separate inner envelope marked BID SECURITY. Acceptable forms are a cashier's check or bid bond from a corporate surety authorized in Iowa and acceptable to the County. The successful bidder must furnish a performance and payment bond for 100% of the contract amount before work begins. Include bond premiums in the price.
Late proposals will be returned unopened. A bidder may withdraw or replace its proposal by signed written notice actually received by the Auditor before the deadline. Replacements must follow the sealed submission requirements. Proposals remain firm for 60 calendar days after opening, extendable only by written agreement. Unapproved conditions, exclusions, substitutions, or supplier terms that alter material requirements may cause rejection.
The Auditor or authorized public officer will publicly open timely proposals and announce bidder names and prices at the listed time and place. The County will document responsiveness and responsibility and present an award recommendation to the Board. The County may reject all proposals and may waive only immaterial irregularities consistent with law. It will not use post-opening negotiations to change the competitive basis of award.
Qualifications and evaluation criteria. Responsiveness means timely compliance with the scope, forms, pricing, security, and contract requirements. Responsibility includes lawful licensing, technical capability, staffing, financial ability, relevant performance, and ability to meet the stated schedule. These are qualification checks, not weighted scores. No percentage local preference is applied to this solicitation above $50,000; any legally required nonresident reciprocal preference will be applied.