Attended Donation Center Collection Services

Agency:	Knox County
State:	Tennessee
Type of Government:	State & Local
NAICS Category:	561440 - Collection Agencies
Posted Date:	Dec 23, 2025
Due Date:	Jan 8, 2026
Solicitation No:	3700
Original Source:	Please Login to View Page
Contact information:	Please Login to View Page
Bid Documents:	Please Login to View Page

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The Procurement Division of Knox County, Tennessee will receive sealed proposals for the provision of Attended

Donation Center Collection Services as specified herein. Proposals must be received by 2:00 p.m. local time on

January 8, 2026. Late proposals will be neither considered nor returned.

Please Deliver Proposals to:

Proposal Number 3700

Knox County Procurement Division

Suite 100, 1000 North Central Street

Knoxville, Tennessee 37917

The Envelope must show the Company Name, Proposal Number, Proposal Name and Proposal Closing Date.

SECTION I PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION

1.1 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Knox County wants requests for additional information routed to Brian Hubbs,

Construction and Contract Specialist, at 865-215-5753. Additional information requests and questions may be

emailed to brian.hubbs@knoxcounty.org. If you have not heard from the Buyer in a reasonable amount of time,

please call for further assistance. Information about the Knox County Procurement Division may be obtained on

the internet at www.knoxcounty.org/procurement.

1.2 ACCEPTANCE: Proposers shall hold their price firm and subject to acceptance by Knox County for a period of

one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of the proposal closing.

1.3 ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS: Knox County will not accept alternate proposals (those not equal to

specifications) unless authorized by the Request for Proposal.

1.4 AUDIT HOTLINE: Knox County has established an Audit Hotline to report potential fraud and waste. To report

potential fraud, waste or abuse, please call 1-866-858-4443 (toll-free). You can also file a report online by

accessing http://www.knoxcounty.org/audit/hotline.php.

Vendors are hereby cautioned that this Audit Hotline does not replace the Award Protest Procedures

found in Section VI, Item M of the Knox County Procurement Regulations.

1.5 AWARD: Award will be made to the most responsive, responsible proposer meeting specifications, and who

presents the product and/or service that is in the best interest of Knox County. Knox County reserves the right to

award this proposal on an all-or-none basis. Knox County also reserves the right to not award this proposal.

Award will be made in accordance with the evaluation criteria specified herein.

1.6 BUSINESS OUTREACH PROGRAM: Knox County has established a Business Outreach, which has the

responsibility of increasing opportunity for small, minority and women owned businesses. This is being

accomplished through community education programs, policy edification, active recruitment of interested

businesses and process re-engineering.

Knox County is committed to ensuring full and equitable participation for all disadvantaged businesses. Knox

County welcomes submittals from those disadvantaged businesses that have an interest in providing goods

and/or services listed herein. In addition, Knox County strongly encourages the inclusion of disadvantaged

businesses by non-disadvantaged contractors who may wish to partner or subcontract portions of this agreement

in order to accomplish the successful delivery of goods and/or services. If you are a disadvantaged business and

would like additional information about our Business Outreach please contact:

Diane Woods, CPPB, Business Outreach Administrator

Knox County Procurement

Telephone: 865-215-5760

Fax: 865-215-5778

E-Mail: diane.woods@knoxcounty.org

1.7 CONFLICT OF INTEREST: Vendors must have read and complied with the "non-conflict of interest" statement

provided in the vendor registration process prior to the closing of this solicitation.

1.8 COPIES: Knox County requires that proposals submitted by hand be one (1) marked as original and two (2)

exact copies. Proposers must submit with their written response an exact electronic version of their

proposal in a single file on a CD-ROM or flash drive format.

1.9 DECLARATIVE STATEMENTS: Any statement or words (e.g.: must, shall, will) are declarative statements and

the proposer must comply with the condition. Failure to comply with any such condition may result in the proposal

being non-responsive and disqualified.

1.10 ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF PROPOSALS: Knox County's Procurement Division will not accept

electronically transmitted proposals. Due to the nature of information requested, all submissions shall be in

written format.

1.11 HOW TO DO BUSINESS: Knox County utilizes a web-based procurement software system, “KnoxBuys.” The

system provides our clients (vendors, County departments and the citizens of Knox County) with a more

enhanced and end-user friendly means of accessing our services. The system allows for on-line vendor

registration and maintenance, electronic receipt of purchase orders, on-line retrieval and submittal of quotes, bids

and proposals for our vendor-clients and on-line requisitioning and receiving for our county departments.

In order for the County to maximize its investment and minimize the cost associated with office operations we

need your help. When doing business with Knox County we are urging you to please go to our website at

www.knoxcounty.org/procurement, register as a vendor in our on-line procurement system, “KnoxBuys”, if you

have not done so and whenever possible to conduct your business with the County through this site. If you have

any questions, please contact the Procurement Division Representative listed in Section 1.1 of this document.

1.12 INCURRED COSTS: Knox County will not be responsible for any costs incurred by the proposer in the

preparation of their proposal.

1.13 MULTIPLE PROPOSALS: Knox County will consider multiple proposals that meet specifications.

1.14 NON-COLLUSION: Proposers, by submitting a signed proposal, certify that the accompanying proposal is not

the result of, or affected by, any unlawful act of collusion with any other person or company engaged in the same

line of business or commerce, or any other fraudulent act punishable under Tennessee or United States law.

1.15 PAYMENT METHOD: Knox County utilizes two (2) methods of placing orders for products. The first is the use of

Purchase Orders. These purchase orders will be issued from the Knox County Procurement Division via the

method selected by the Vendor during registration. The Purchase Order will detail the quantity, specific item(s)

and the contracted price for each item.

The second method is the use of the Knox County Credit Card (VISA). Orders placed on the credit card will list

the same information as the Purchase Order. Vendors will be given the card information and approval to process

the transaction for the requesting department. Vendors must indicate in their proposal if the Vendor will accept

the Knox County Credit Card (VISA) as form of payment. Vendors are prohibited to charge Knox County any type

of merchant fee from their financial institution to accept this type of payment.

1.16 POSSESSION OF WEAPONS: All vendors and their employees and their agents are prohibited from possessing

any weapons on Knox County property without prior written consent from the County. In the case of a vendor

whose Contract requires possession of firearms or other weapons to successfully complete their Contract, vendor

must provide personnel who are bonded to bear said weaponry.

1.17 PROCESSING TIME FOR PAYMENT: Vendors are advised that a minimum of thirty (30) days is required to

process invoices for payment.

1.18 PROOF OF FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS CAPABILITY: Proposers must, upon request, furnish satisfactory

evidence of their ability to furnish products or services in accordance with the terms and conditions of these

specifications. Knox County will make the final determination as to the proposers’ ability.

1.19 PROPOSAL DELIVERY: Knox County requires proposers, when hand delivering proposals, to time and date

stamp the envelope before depositing it in the bid box. Knox County will not be responsible for any lost or

misdirected mail sent by common carrier. Knox County shall also not be responsible for proposals delivered to

addresses other than the one listed at the top of this solicitation. The time clock in the Procurement Division shall

serve as the official record of time.

Proposals must be in a sealed envelope/box prior to entering the Procurement Division office.

Procurement Division personnel are not allowed to see the submittal nor assist in placing documents in

an envelope/box. Additionally, the Procurement Division is not responsible for providing materials (e.g.

envelopes, boxes, tape) for submittals.

1.20 RECYCLING: Knox County, in its continuing efforts to lessen the amount of landfill waste and to further recycling

efforts, requests that proposals:

• Be submitted on recycled paper,

• Not include pages of unnecessary advertising,

• Be made on both sides of each sheet of paper.

1.21 RESTRICTIVE OR AMBIGUOUS SPECIFICATIONS: It is the responsibility of the prospective proposer to

review the entire Request for Proposal (RFP) packet and to notify the Procurement Division if the specifications

are formulated in a manner that would unnecessarily restrict competition.

Any such protest or question regarding the specifications or proposing procedures must be received in the

Procurement Division by 4:30 p.m. local time on December 22, 2026. These requirements also apply to

specifications that are ambiguous.

1.22 SIGNING OF PROPOSALS: In order to be considered all proposals must be signed. Please sign the

original in blue ink. By signing the proposal document, the proposer acknowledges and accepts the terms and

conditions stated in the document.

1.23 TAXES: Knox County purchases are not subject to taxation. Tax exemption certificates will be provided upon

request. Please note, however, that the interest component of any lease payments will not be exempt from

federal taxes.

1.24 TITLE VI OF THE 1964 CIVIL RIGHTS ACT: “Nondiscrimination on Federally Assisted Programs” - “No person in

the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be

denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial

assistance.” 42 U.S.C. section 2000d. It is the policy of Knox County Government that all its services and

activities be administered in conformance with the requirements of Title VI and Title IX.

1.25 UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES: During periods of closure due to unforeseen circumstances in Knox County or

closures at the direction of the Knox County Mayor, the Procurement Division will enact the following procedures

in regards to solicitations and closures:

• If the Mayor closes the Administrative offices prior to the time set for solicitation opening of any business day,

all solicitations due that same day will be moved to the next operational business day.

• Other unforeseen circumstances shall be at the sole discretion of the Procurement Director.

• Knox County shall not be liable for any commercial carrier’s decision regarding deliveries during any

unforeseen circumstances.

1.26 VENDOR REGISTRATION: Prior to the closing of this proposal, ALL PROPOSERS must be registered with the

Procurement Division. A vendor application may be submitted online at www.knoxcounty.org/procurement. Select

the On-Line Vendor Registration link and complete the forms. Vendors must be registered with the Procurement

Division prior to submitting their proposal.

1.27 WAIVING OF INFORMALITIES: Knox County reserves the right to waive minor informalities or technicalities

when it is in the best interest of Knox County.

SECTION II OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES

These terms and conditions shall be part of the Contract. Knox County reserves the right to negotiate other

terms and conditions it deems appropriate and necessary under the circumstances to protect the public’s trust.

2.1 ALTERATIONS OR AMENDMENTS: No alterations, amendments, changes, modifications or additions to this

Contract shall be binding on Knox County without the prior written approval of the County.

2.2 APPROPRIATION: In the event no funds are appropriated by Knox County for the goods or services in any fiscal

year or insufficient funds exist to purchase the goods or services, then the Contract shall expire upon the

expenditure of previously appropriated funds or the end of the current fiscal year, whichever occurs first, with no

further obligations owed to or by either party.

2.3 ASSIGNMENT: Contractor shall not assign or sub-contract this agreement, its obligations or rights hereunder to

any party, company, partnership, incorporation or person without the prior written specific consent of Knox

County.

2.4 BOOKS AND RECORDS: Contractor shall maintain all books, documents, accounting records and other

evidence pertaining to the goods and services provided under this Contract and make such materials available at

its offices at all reasonable times during the Contract period and for five (5) years from the date of the final

payment under this agreement for inspection by County or by any other governmental entity or agency

participating in the funding of this agreement, or any authorized agents thereof; copies of said records to be

furnished, if requested. Such records shall not include those books, documents and accounting records that

represent the Contractor’s costs of manufacturing, acquiring or delivering the products and services governed by

this agreement.

2.5 CHILD LABOR: Contractor agrees that no products or services will be provided or performed under this Contract

that have been manufactured or assembled by child labor.

2.6 COMPLIANCE WITH ALL LAWS: Contractor is assumed to be familiar with and agrees to observe and comply

with all federal, state, and local laws, statutes, ordinances, and regulations in any manner affecting the provision

of goods and/or services, and all instructions and prohibitive orders issued regarding this work and shall obtain all

necessary permits.

2.7 DEFAULT: If Contractor fails to perform or comply with any provision of this Contract or the terms or conditions

of any documents referenced and made a part hereof, Knox County may terminate this Contract, in whole or in

part, and may consider such failure or noncompliance a breach of Contract. Knox County expressly retains all its

rights and remedies provided by law in case of such breach, and no action by Knox County shall constitute a

waiver of any such rights or remedies. In the event of termination for default, Knox County reserves the right to

purchase its requirements elsewhere, with or without competitive bidding.

2.8 GOVERNING LAW; VENUE: This agreement shall be exclusively construed, governed, and controlled by the

Laws of the State of Tennessee without regard to principles of law, including conflicts of law, of any other

jurisdiction, territory, country, and/or province. Any dispute arising out of or relating to this agreement shall

exclusively be brought in the Chancery Court or the Circuit Court of Knox County, Tennessee. Each party

consents to personal jurisdiction thereto and waives any defenses based on personal jurisdiction, venue and

inconvenient forum.

2.9 INCORPORATION: All specifications, drawings, technical information, Request for Proposal, Proposal, Award

and similar items referred to or attached or which are the basis for this Contract are deemed incorporated by

reference as if set out fully herein.

2.10 INDEMNIFICATION/HOLD HARMLESS: Contractor shall indemnify, defend, save and hold harmless Knox

County, its officers, agents and employees from all suits, claims, actions or damages of any nature brought

because of, arising out of, or due to breach of the agreement by Contractor, its subcontractors, suppliers, agents,

or employees or due to any negligent act or occurrence or any omission or commission of Contractor, its

subcontractors, suppliers, agents or employees.

2.11 INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR: Contractor shall acknowledge that it and its employees serve as independent

contractors and that Knox County shall not be responsible for any payment, insurance or incurred liability.

2.12 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE: Warranty periods shall not commence until Knox County inspects and

formally accepts the goods and/or services. The terms, conditions and timing of acceptance shall be determined

by Knox County. Knox County reserves the right to reject any or all items or services not in conformance with

applicable specifications, and Contractor assumes the costs associated with such nonconformance. Acceptance

of goods or services does not constitute a waiver of latent or hidden defects or defects not readily detectable by a

reasonable person under the circumstances.

2.13 IRAN DIVESTMENT ACT: By submission of this RFP, each proposer and each person signing on behalf of any

proposer certifies, and in the case of a joint submittal each party thereto certifies as to its own organization, under

penalty of perjury, that to the best of its knowledge and belief that each proposer is not on the list created

pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated Section 12-12-106. Proposers must submit with their proposals a

completed Exhibit B, Affidavit of Compliance Iran Divestment Act/No Boycott of Israel.

2.14 LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY: In no event shall Knox County be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential,

special or exemplary damages or lost profits, even if Knox County has been advised of the possibility of such

damages.

2.15 NO BOYCOTT OF ISRAEL: Pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated Title 12, Chapter 4, Part 1, by submission

of a response to this solicitation, each proposer and each person signing on behalf of any proposer certifies, and

in the case of a joint response each party thereto certifies as to its own organization, under penalty of perjury, that

to the best of its knowledge and belief that each proposer is not currently engaged in, and will not for the duration

of the contract engage in, a boycott of Israel. Proposers must submit with their proposals a completed Exhibit B,

Affidavit of Compliance Iran Divestment Act/No Boycott of Israel.

2.16 NON-DISCRIMINATION AND NON-CONFLICT STATEMENT: Contractor agrees that no person on the grounds

of handicap, age, race, color, religion, sex national origin or any individual trait or characteristic found to be an

illegal consideration, shall be excluded from participation in, or be denied benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to

discrimination in the performance of this agreement or in the employment practices of Vendor. Contractor shall

upon request show proof of such non-discrimination and shall post in conspicuous places available to all

employees and applicants notices of non-discrimination. Contractor covenants that it complies with the Fair

Wage and Hour Laws, the National Labor Relations Act, and other Federal and State employment laws as

applicable. Contractor covenants that it does not engage in any illegal employment practices.

Contractor covenants that it has no public or private interest and shall not acquire directly or indirectly any

interest, which would conflict in any manner with the provision of its goods or performance of its services.

Contractor warrants that no part of the total Contract amount provided herein shall be paid directly or indirectly to

any officer or employee of Knox County as wages, compensation, or gifts in exchange for acting as officer, agent,

employee, subcontractor or consultant to Contractor in connection with any goods provided or work contemplated

or performed relative to the agreement.

2.17 ORDER OF PRECEDENCE: In the event of inconsistent or conflicting provisions of this Contract and referenced

documents, the following descending order of precedence shall prevail: (1) Contract, (2) Request for Proposal,

(3) Contractor’s Response, (4) Award, (5) Special Terms and Conditions, (6) General Terms and Conditions, (7)

Specifications, (8) Drawings.

2.18 REMEDIES: Knox County shall have all rights and remedies afforded under the U.C.C. and Tennessee law in

contract and in tort, including but not limited to, rejection of goods, rescission, right of set-off, refund, incidental,

consequential and compensatory damages and reasonable attorney’s fees.

2.19 RIGHT TO INSPECT: Knox County reserves the right to make periodic inspections of the manner and means the

service is performed or the goods are supplied.

2.20 SEVERABILITY: If any provision of this Contract is declared illegal, void or unenforceable, the remaining

provisions shall not be affected but shall remain in force and in effect.

2.21 TAX COMPLIANCE: Pursuant to Resolution R-07-1-903 passed by the Commission of Knox County,

Tennessee, Contractor hereby acknowledges, by submission of its proposal and signature that it is current in its

respective Federal, State, County, and City taxes of whatever kind or nature and is not delinquent in any way.

Delinquent status must be disclosed or risk debarment by the Knox County Procurement Division.

This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.

Name of Solicitation	Number	Deadline Due Date	Buyer	Attachments
Attended Donation Center Collection Services	3700	01-08-26	Brian Hubbs (865) 215-5753	Click Here for the Solicitation Click Here for the Addendum I

Attended Donation Center Collection Services

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