Lawn Care Services (TCAT Shelbyville)

Lawn Care Services

Lawn Care Services

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

The Tennessee Board of Regents System of Higher Education established by T. C. A. 49-8-101 is (hereinafter "System", "System Office" or "TBR") is among the largest System of higher education in the Nation. The System is composed of 13 community colleges, 24 colleges of applied technology, and the System Office. Tennessee College of Applied Technology Shelbyville (hereinafter "Institution" or "TCAT Shelbyville") is located in Shelby County, Tennessee.

The System seeks to promote and ensure equal opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability status, age or status as a protected veteran and shall fully comply with Executive Order 11246, as amended, and all other applicable federal and state equal opportunity laws.

1.2 Statement of Procurement Purpose

The System Office has issued this Request for Quote (RFQ) to define the Institution's minimum service requirements. Through this RFQ, the Institution seeks to procure necessary Lawn Care Services at the most favorable, competitive prices and to give ALL qualified businesses the opportunity to do business with the Institution. Vendors must complete the Tax Ownership Ethnicity Form (See Attachment D for form and classification definitions). In addition, all small, minority, women and service-disabled veteran owned businesses are strongly encouraged to register with the State of Tennessee Go-BID to attain official certification. The Institution shall work with the successful Proposer and the Go-BID Office regarding registration/certification.

The Institution intends to secure a contract for Lawn Care Services as further defined in RFQ Requirements.

1.3 Scope of Services

TBR requests quotations from bidders who can service TBR as identified in Attachment B, Scope of Work.

The Successful Bidder shall be required to execute an Agreement with TBR. A Sample Pro Forma Contract is provided as Attachment A, which substantially represents the contract that the Successful Bidder will be required to sign. Any exceptions to the attached Agreement must be provided in the Bidders RFQ Response. Failure of the Successful Bidder and TBR to agree to final contract terms will be cause for rejection of the Successful Bidder's RFQ Response and TBR reserves the right to begin discussion with the next lowest bid that meets the RFQ requirements.

1.4 General Information

Each Bid Response to this RFQ must include a signed copy of Attachment C, D, E and F. Bids may be delivered by mail or electronically via email ():

Physical Submission: Electronic Submission:

Tennessee Board of Regents Email: procurement.travel@tbr.edu 1 Bridgestone Park Subj. Line: "Bid for RFQ-TBR 26-0029" 3rd Floor, Attn RFQ-TBR 26-0029 (Purchasing) Nashville, TN 37214

Invoice billing shall occur monthly.

Campus hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

The Institution point of contact:

Natalie Austin

2905 US 231 N

Shelbyville, TN 37160

Email: natalie.austin@tcatshelbyville.edu

Phone:931-685-5013

The following TBR holiday schedule will be observed for 2025 calendar year:

January 1, 2026 - New Year's Day January 19, 2026 - Martin Luther King Day May 25, 2026 - Memorial Day

June 19, 2026- Juneteenth Day July 3, 2026 - Independence Day-Administrative Closing day September 7, 2026 - Labor Day November 26-27, 2026, Thanksgiving Day & One Administrative Closing Day December 24-31, 2026, Christmas Eve and Day and Five Administrative Closing Days

1.5 Mandatory Requirements

The successful Bidder shall only propose for assignment to TBR, those persons who have passed a criminal background check acceptable to the Institution.

The successful Bidder shall only propose for assignment to TBR, those persons physically able to perform the required duties (e.g., walking, standing, working various shifts, etc.).

The successful Bidder shall only propose for assignment to TBR, those persons able to use equipment related to the performance of their duties.

The successful Bidder shall have a procedure and management process in place to ensure that the necessary number of employees are present to complete the required duties.

The successful Bidder shall establish and implement procedures and practices to ensure that all keys/access cards provided by the Institution are not lost, misplaced, or used by unauthorized persons. No keys issued to the Bidder shall be duplicated. The successful Bidder shall report the loss of keys/access cards to the Institution within 24 hours. In the event any keys/access cards are lost by Bidder personnel, the Bidder will be assessed a $50.00 to $200.00 reduction per key from the invoice.

To assist with the efficient operation of the Institution and to ensure the safety and well-being of those at the Institution, rules of conduct are in force. The Institution reserves the right to request employees be replaced and removed from campus at the discretion of the Institution. Violations include, but are not limited to:

Unauthorized use and/or possession of intoxicating beverages, narcotics or drugs on Institution premises.

Threatening, intimidating or harassing others on Institution property.

Carrying weapons on Institution premises, unless specifically preauthorized to do so (e.g., employees of Public Safety).

Behaving in an overtly discourteous, abusive or disrespectful manner towards employees or students of the Institution.

Stealing, unauthorized removal, use, loss, damage or destruction of property belonging to the Institution, its visitors, students and employees.

Insurance: The Contractor shall maintain a commercial general liability policy. The commercial general liability policy shall provide coverage which includes, but is not limited to, bodily injury, personal injury, death, property damage and medical claims, with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence, $3,000,000 in the aggregate. The Contractor shall maintain workers' compensation coverage, or a self-insured program as required under Tennessee law. The Contractor shall deliver to the Institution both certificates of insurance no later than the effective date of the Contract. If any policy providing insurance required by the Contract is cancelled prior to the policy expiration date, the Contractor, upon receiving a notice of cancellation, shall give immediate notice to the Institution.

The enumeration in the Contract of the kinds and amounts of liability insurance shall not abridge, diminish or affect the Contractor's legal responsibilities arising out of or resulting from the services under this Contract.

Bidder's employees should wear bidder's logoed shirt or uniform with a badge displayed at all times while on the campus.

Bidder's employees are to abide by Institution's COVID-19 policies, which may include wearing a cloth mask while in buildings.

1.6 Questions and Resulting Contract

All questions related to this RFQ must be submitted in writing by 4/1/2026 to procurement.travel@tbr.edu. No questions will be entertained after the submittal deadline.

The attached Pro Forma Contract, Attachment A, shall be the resulting Contract executed for this solicitation.

1.7 Bidder's Pricing Quotation

Bidders are required to provide its pricing in the format requested. See Attachment C. Any other cost submission shall make the RFQ non-responsive and TBR may reject it.

CONTRACT

BY AND BETWEEN

TENNESSEE BOARD OF REGENTS

AND

[CONTRACTOR NAME]

This Contract is entered into this __ day of ________, 20__ by and between [INSTITUTION NAME] (hereinafter referred to as the "Institution") and [CONTRACTOR LEGAL ENTITY NAME], (hereinafter referred to as the "Contractor"), is for the purpose of providing [SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE SERVICE], as further defined in the "SCOPE OF SERVICES".

The Contractor is [AN INDIVIDUAL / A FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION / A NONPROFIT CORPORATION / A SPECIAL PURPOSE CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION / A FRATERNAL OR PATRIOTIC ORGANIZATION / A PARTNERSHIP / A JOINT VENTURE / A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY] with its principal location being:

[ADDRESS]

The Contractor's place of incorporation or organization is [STATE OF ].

A. SCOPE OF SERVICES:

A.1. Lawn Care Services

B. CONTRACT TERM:

B.1. Contract Term. This Contract shall be effective for the period commencing on 5/1/2026 and ending on 4/30/2027 The Institution shall have no obligation for services rendered by the Contractor which are not performed within the specified period.

B.2. Term Extension. The Institution reserves the right to extend this Contract for an additional period or periods of time representing increments of no more than one year and a total contract term of no more than five years, provided that the Institution notifies the Contractor in writing of its intention to do so at least thirty (30) days prior to the Contract expiration date. An extension of the term of this Contract will be effected through an amendment to the Contract. If the extension of the Contract necessitates additional funding beyond that which was included in the original Contract, the increase in the Institution's maximum liability will also be effected through an amendment to the Contract and shall be based upon rates provided for in the original Contract.

C. PAYMENT TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

C.1. Maximum Liability. In no event shall the maximum liability of the Institution under this Contract exceed [WRITTEN DOLLAR AMOUNT] [$NUMBER AMOUNT]. The Service Rates in Section C.3 include, but are not limited to, all applicable taxes, fees, overheads, and all other direct and indirect costs incurred or to be incurred by the Contractor. The maximum liability represents available funds for payment to the Contractor and does not guarantee payment of any such funds to the Contractor under this Contract unless the Institution requests work and the Contractor performs the work.

C.2. Compensation Firm. The Service Rates and the Maximum Liability of the Institution under this Contract are firm for the duration of the Contract and are not subject to escalation for any reason unless this Contract is amended.

C.3. Payment Methodology. The Contractor shall be compensated based on the Service Rates herein for units of service authorized by the Institution in a total amount not to exceed the Contract Maximum Liability established in Section C.1. The Contractor's compensation shall be contingent upon the satisfactory completion of units of service or project milestones listed below. The Contractor shall be compensated based upon the following Service Rates:

The Contractor shall submit monthly invoices, in form and substance acceptable to the Institution with all of the necessary supporting documentation, prior to any payment. Such invoices shall be submitted for completed units of service or project milestones for the amount stipulated.

C.4. Travel Compensation. [PICK ONE OF THESE OPTIONS]

The Contractor shall not be compensated or reimbursed for travel, meals, or lodging.

[OR]

Compensation to the Contractor for travel, meals and/or lodging in connection to work performed under this Contract shall be in the amount of actual cost to the Contractor, subject to the maximum amounts and limitations specified in the State Comprehensive Travel Regulations and pursuant to TBR Travel Policy, as they may be amended from time to time.

C.5. Payment of Invoice. The payment of an invoice by the Institution shall not prejudice the Institution's right to object to or question any invoice or matter in relation thereto. Such payment by the Institution shall neither be construed as acceptance of any part of the work or service provided nor as an approval of any of the amounts invoiced therein.

To ensure payment is made in a timely manner, the Contractor shall submit ALL invoices for the Institution's System Office and the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs) electronically to . Contractor agrees that no payment shall be made until the Contractor is officially registered through the Institution's Vendor Portal and provide all registration information requirements.

C.6. Invoice Reductions. The Contractor's invoice shall be subject to reduction for amounts included in any invoice or payment theretofore made which are determined by the Institution, on the basis of audits conducted in accordance with the terms of this Contract, not to constitute proper remuneration for compensable services.

C.7. Deductions. The Institution reserves the right to deduct from amounts which are or shall become due and payable to the Contractor under this or any Contract between the Contractor and the Institution any amounts which are or shall become due and payable to the Institution by the Contractor.

C.8. Retention of Final Payment. An amount of [WRITTEN DOLLAR AMOUNT] [$NUMBER AMOUNT], representing [WRITTEN NUMBER] percent [NUMBER %] of the maximum total compensation payable under this Contract, shall be withheld by the Institution until [WRITTEN NUMBER] [NUMBER] days after final completion of the services to be performed by the Contractor under this Contract. [THIS MAY BE DELETED IF NOT APPLICABLE]

D. STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

D.1. Required Approvals. The Institution is not bound by this Contract until it is approved by the appropriate officials in accordance with applicable Tennessee laws and regulations.

D.2. Modification and Amendment. This Contract may be modified only by a written amendment executed by all parties hereto and approved by the appropriate officials in accordance with applicable Tennessee state laws and regulations.

D.3. Ethnicity. This Contract shall not be executed until the Contractor has completed the Minority/Ethnicity Form.

D.4. Termination for Convenience. The Institution may terminate this Contract, in whole or in part, without cause for any reason. Termination under this Section D. 4 shall not be deemed a Breach of Contract by the Institution. The Institution shall give the Contractor at least [WRITTEN NUMBER] [NUMBER] days written notice before the effective termination date. The Contractor shall be entitled to receive compensation for satisfactory, authorized service completed as of the termination date, but in no event shall the Institution be liable to the Contractor for compensation for any service which has not been rendered. Upon such termination, the Contractor shall have no right to any actual general, special, incidental, consequential, or any other damages whatsoever of any description or amount based upon such termination.

D.5. Termination for Cause. If the Contractor fails to perform its obligations under this Contract in a timely or proper manner, or if the Contractor violates any term of this Contract, the Institution shall have the right to immediately terminate the Contract and withhold payments in excess of fair compensation for completed services; provided, however, Institution shall have the option to give Contractor written notice and a specified period of time in which to cure. Notwithstanding the above, the Contractor shall not be relieved of liability to the Institution for damages sustained by virtue of any breach of this Contract by the Contractor.

D.6. Subcontracting. The Contractor shall not assign this Contract or enter into a subcontract for any of the services performed under this Contract without obtaining the prior written approval of the Institution. If such subcontracts are approved by the Institution, they shall contain, at a minimum, sections of this Contract pertaining to "Conflicts of Interest" and "Nondiscrimination". Notwithstanding any use of approved subcontractors, the Contractor shall be the prime contractor and shall be responsible for all work performed.

D.7. Conflicts of Interest. The Contractor warrants that no part of the total Contract amount shall be paid directly or indirectly to an employee or official of the State of as wages, compensation, or gifts in exchange for acting as an officer, agent, employee, subcontractor, or consultant to the Contractor in connection with any work contemplated or performed relative to this Contract.

D.8. Nondiscrimination. The Contractor hereby agrees, warrants, and assures that no person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination in the performance of this Contract or in the employment practices of the Contractor on the grounds of disability, age, race, color, religion, sex, veteran status, national origin, or any other classification protected by Federal, or State constitutional or statutory law. The Contractor shall, upon request, show proof of such nondiscrimination and shall post in conspicuous places, available to all employees and applicants, notices of nondiscrimination.

D.9. Records. The Contractor shall maintain documentation for all charges against the Institution under this Contract. The books, records, and documents of the Contractor, insofar as they relate to work performed or money received under this Contract, shall be maintained for a period of five (5) full years from the date of the final payment and shall be subject to audit at any reasonable time and upon reasonable notice by the Institution, the Comptroller of the Treasury, or their duly appointed representatives. The financial statements shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

D.10. Monitoring. The Contractor's activities conducted and records maintained pursuant to this Contract shall be subject to monitoring and evaluation by the Institution, the Comptroller of the Treasury, or their duly appointed representatives.

D.11. Progress Reports. The Contractor shall submit brief, periodic, progress reports to the Institution as requested. [OR SPECIFY TIME PERIOD - MONTHLY, QUARTERLY, SEMI-ANNUALLY, ANNUALLY, ETC.]

D.12. Strict Performance. Failure by any party to this Contract to insist in any one or more cases upon the strict performance of any of the terms, covenants, conditions, or provisions of this Contract shall not be construed as a waiver or relinquishment of any such term, covenant, condition, or provision. No term or condition of this Contract shall be held to be waived, modified, or deleted except by a written amendment signed by the parties hereto.

D.13. Independent Contractor. The parties hereto, in the performance of this Contract, shall not act as employees, partners, joint venturers, or associates of one another. It is expressly acknowledged by the parties hereto that the parties are independent contracting entities and that nothing in this Contract shall be construed to create an employer/employee relationship or to allow either to exercise control or direction over the manner or method by which the other transacts its business affairs or provides its usual services. The employees or agents of one party shall not be deemed or construed to be the employees or agents of the other party for any purpose whatsoever.

The Contractor, being an independent contractor and not an employee of the Institution, agrees to carry public liability insurance, issued by a carrier licensed to do business in the State of Tennessee, in the amount of at least one million dollars per occurrence, with an endorsement naming the Institution as an additional insured under the policy, and any other forms of insurance required by law, including, but not limited to workers compensation insurance. The Contractor shall provide proof of all insurance required under this section prior to execution of this Contract. Contractor shall pay applicable taxes incident to this Contract.

[If the contract calls for the Contractor to do work on the property of the Institution or to do acts on behalf of the Institution that have any risk of injury to others, choose the second option]

D.14. Institution Liability. The Institution shall have no liability except as specifically provided in this Contract.

D.15. Force Majeure. The obligations of the parties to this Contract are subject to prevention by causes beyond the parties' control that could not be avoided by the exercise of due care including, but not limited to, acts of God, riots, wars, epidemics or any other similar cause.

D.16. State and Federal Compliance. The Contractor shall comply with all applicable State and Federal laws and regulations, including Institution policies and guidelines in the performance of this Contract.

D.17. Governing Law. This Contract shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of . The Contractor agrees that it will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Tennessee Claims Commission in actions that may arise under this Contract. The Contractor acknowledges and agrees that any rights or claims against the Institution or its employees hereunder, and any remedies arising therefrom, shall be subject to and limited to those rights and remedies, if any, available under Tennessee Code Annotated, Sections 9-8-101 through 9-8-407.

D.18. Severability. If any terms or conditions of this Contract are held to be invalid or unenforceable as a matter of law, the other terms and conditions hereof shall not be affected thereby and shall remain in full force and effect. To this end, the terms and conditions of this Contract are declared severable.

D.19. Headings. Section headings of this Contract are for reference purposes only and shall not be construed as part of this Contract.

E. ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

E.1. Communications and Contacts.

The Institution: Natalie Austin 2905 US 231 N

Shelbyville, TN 37160 931-685-5013 Natalie.austin@tcatshelbyville.edu The Contractor: [NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTOR CONTACT PERSON] [CONTRACTOR NAME] [ADDRESS] [TELEPHONE NUMBER] [FACSIMILE NUMBER] All instructions, notices, consents, demands, or other communications shall be sent in a manner that verifies proof of delivery. Any communication by facsimile transmission shall also be sent by mail on the same date as the facsimile transmission. All communications which relate to any changes to the Contract shall not be considered effective until agreed to, in writing, by both parties.

E.2. Subject to Funds Availability. The Contract is subject to the appropriation and availability of State and/or Federal funds. In the event that the funds are not appropriated or are otherwise unavailable, the Institution reserves the right to terminate the Contract upon written notice to the Contractor. Termination under this Section E.2 shall not be deemed a breach of Contract by the Institution. Upon receipt of the written notice, the Contractor shall cease all work associated with the Contract. Should such an event occur, the Contractor shall be entitled to compensation for all satisfactory and authorized services completed as of the termination date. Upon such termination, the Contractor shall have no right to recover from the Institution any actual, general, special, incidental, consequential, or any other damages whatsoever of any description or amount.

E.3. Breach. A party shall be deemed to have breached the Contract if any of the following occurs (However, this list is not exclusive: failure to perform in accordance with any term or provision of the Contract; partial performance of any term or provision of the Contract; any act prohibited or restricted by the Contract; or, violation of any warranty. For purposes of this Contract, these items shall hereinafter be referred to as a "Breach."

a. Contractor Breach- Institution shall notify Contractor in writing of a Breach.

(1) In event of a Breach by Contractor, the Institution shall have available the remedy of actual damages and any other remedy available at law or equity.

(2) Liquidated Damages- [INCLUDE THIS SECTION ONLY IF APPLICABLE AND ADD ATTACHMENT AS DESCRIBED BELOW] In the event of a Breach, the Institution may assess Liquidated Damages. The Institution shall notify the Contractor of amounts to be assessed as Liquidated Damages. The parties agree that due to the complicated nature of the Contractor's obligations under this Contract it would be difficult to specifically designate a monetary amount for a Breach by Contractor as the amounts are likely to be uncertain and not easily proven. Contractor hereby represents and covenants it has carefully reviewed the Liquidated Damages provisions contained in the above referenced, Attachment [NUMBER] and agrees that the amounts represent a reasonable relationship between the amount and what might reasonably be expected in the event of Breach, and are a reasonable estimate of the damages that would occur from a Breach. It is hereby agreed between the parties that the Liquidated Damages represent solely the damages and injuries sustained by the Institution in losing the benefit of the bargain with Contractor and do not include any injury or damage sustained by a third party. The Contractor agrees that the liquidated damage amount is in addition to any amounts Contractor may owe the Institution pursuant to the indemnity provision or other section of this Contract. The Institution may continue to withhold the Liquidated Damages or a portion thereof until the Contractor cures the Breach, the Institution exercises its option to declare a Partial Default, or the Institution terminates the Contract. The Institution is not obligated to assess Liquidated Damages before availing itself of any other remedy. The Institution may choose to discontinue Liquidated Damages and avail itself of any other remedy available under this Contract or at law or in equity; provided, however, Contractor shall receive a credit for Liquidated Damages previously withheld except in the event of a Partial Default.

(3) Partial Default- In the event of a Breach, the Institution may declare a Partial Default. In which case, the Institution shall provide the Contractor written notice of: (1) the date which Contractor shall terminate providing the service associated with the Breach; and (2) the date the Institution will begin to provide the service associated with the Breach. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Institution may revise the time periods contained in the notice written to the Contractor.

In the event the Institution declares a Partial Default, the Institution may withhold, together with any other damages associated with the Breach, from the amounts due the Contractor the greater of: (1) amounts which would be paid the Contractor to provide the defaulted service; or (2) the cost to the Institution of providing the defaulted service, whether said service is provided by the Institution or a third party. To determine the amount the Contractor is being paid for any particular service, the Institution shall be entitled to receive within five (5) days of any request, pertinent material from Contractor. The Institution shall make the final and binding determination of the amount. Upon Partial Default, the Contractor shall have no right to recover from the Institution any actual, general, special, incidental, consequential, or any other damages whatsoever of any description or amount. Contractor agrees to cooperate fully with the Institution in the event a Partial Default is declared.

b. Institution Breach- In the event of a Breach of contract by the Institution, the Contractor shall notify the Institution in writing within 30 days of any Breach of contract by the Institution. The notice shall contain a description of the Breach. In the event of Breach by the Institution, the Contractor may avail itself of any remedy available in the Claims Commission; provided, however, failure by the Contractor to give the Institution written notice and opportunity to cure as described herein operates as a waiver of the Institution's Breach. Failure by the Contractor to file a claim before the Claims Commission within one (1) year of the written notice of Breach shall operate as a waiver of the claim in its entirety. It is agreed by the parties this provision establishes a contractual period of limitations for any claim brought by the Contractor.

E.4. Copyrights and Patents/Institution Ownership of Work Products. Contractor grants Institution a world-wide, perpetual, non-exclusive, irrevocable, fully paid up license to use any proprietary software products delivered under this Contract. The Institution shall have royalty-free and unlimited rights to use, disclose, reproduce, or publish, for any purpose whatsoever, as well as share in any financial benefits derived from the commercial exploitation of all work products created, designed, developed, or derived from the services provided under this Contract. The Institution shall have the right to copy, distribute, modify and use any training materials delivered under this Contract for internal purposes only.

The Contractor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Institution as well as its officers, agents, and employees from and against any and all claims or suits which may be brought against the Institution for infringement of any third party's intellectual property rights, including but not limited to, any alleged patent or copyright violations. The Institution shall give the Contractor written notice of any such claim or suit and full right and opportunity to conduct the Contractor's own defense thereof. In any such action brought against the Institution, the Contractor shall take all reasonable steps to secure a license for Institution to continue to use the alleged infringing product or, in the alternative, shall find or develop a reasonable, non-infringing alternative to satisfy the requirements of this Contract.

The Contractor further agrees that it shall be liable for the reasonable fees of attorneys for the Institution in the event such service is necessitated to enforce the obligations of the Contractor to the Institution.

E.5. Insurance. The Contractor shall maintain a commercial general liability policy. The commercial general liability policy shall provide coverage which includes, but is not limited to, bodily injury, personal injury, death, property damage and medical claims, with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence, $3,000,000 in the aggregate. The Contractor shall maintain workers' compensation coverage or a self-insured program as required under Tennessee law. The Contractor shall deliver to the Institution both certificates of insurance no later than the effective date of the Contract. If any policy providing insurance required by the Contract is cancelled prior to the policy expiration date, the Contractor, upon receiving a notice of cancellation, shall give immediate notice to the Institution.

The enumeration in the Contract of the kinds and amounts of liability insurance shall not abridge, diminish or affect the Contractor's legal responsibilities arising out of or resulting from the services under this Contract.

E.6. Performance Bond. [ADD ONLY IF APPLICABLE] Contractor shall furnish a performance bond in the amount equal to [WRITTEN DOLLAR AMOUNT] ($[NUMBER AMOUNT]), guaranteeing full and faithful performance of all undertakings and obligations under this Contract for the initial Contract term and all extensions thereof. The bond shall be in the manner and form prescribed by the Institution, must be issued through a company licensed to issue such a bond in the State of .

The Contractor shall provide the bond to the Institution no later than the effective date of this Contract. Failure to provide the performance bond prior to the deadline as required shall result in contract termination. In lieu of a performance bond, a surety deposit, in the sum of [WRITTEN DOLLAR AMOUNT] [$NUMBER DOLLAR AMOUNT], may be substituted if approved by the Institution prior to its submittal.

E.7. Competitive Procurements. If this Contract provides for reimbursement of the cost of goods, materials, supplies, equipment, or services, such procurements shall be made on a competitive basis, when practical.

E.8. Inventory/Equipment Control. [CHOOSE ONE]

The Contractor agrees to be responsible and accountable for the maintenance, management, and inventory of all property purchased totally or in part with funds provided under this Contract. The Contractor shall maintain a perpetual inventory system for all equipment purchased with funds provided under this Contract and shall submit an inventory control report with the required progress reports.

The Contractor shall notify the Institution, in writing, of any equipment loss describing reason(s) for the loss. Should the equipment be destroyed, lost, or stolen, the Contractor shall be responsible to the Institution for the pro rata amount of the residual value at the time of loss based upon the Institution's original contribution to the purchase price.

Upon completion or cancellation of this Contract, all equipment purchased with funds provided under this Contract shall be returned to the Institution.

[OR]

No equipment shall be purchased under this Contract.

E.9. Institution Furnished Property. The Contractor shall be responsible for the correct use, maintenance, and protection of all articles of nonexpendable, tangible, personal property furnished by the Institution for the Contractor's temporary use under this Contract. Upon termination of this Contract, all property furnished shall be returned to the Institution in good order and condition as when received, reasonable use and wear thereof excepted. Should the property be destroyed, lost, or stolen, the Contractor shall be responsible to the Institution for the residual value of the property at the time of loss.

E.10. Contract Documents. Included in this Contract by reference are the following documents: a. This Contract document and its attachments b. The Request for Proposal and its associated amendments c. The Contractor's Proposal In the event of a discrepancy or ambiguity regarding the interpretation of this Contract, these documents shall govern in order of precedence as listed above.

E.11. Prohibited Advertising. The Contractor shall not refer to this Contract or the Contractor's relationship with the Institution hereunder in commercial advertising in such a manner as to state or imply that the Contractor or the Contractor's services are endorsed.

E.12. Hold Harmless. The Contractor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Institution as well as its officers, agents, and employees from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, and causes of action which may arise, accrue, or result to any person (including Institution), firm, corporation, or other entity which may be injured or damaged as a result of acts, omissions, or negligence on the part of the Contractor, its employees, or any person acting for or on its or their behalf relating to this Contract. The Contractor further agrees it shall be liable for the reasonable cost of attorneys for the Institution in the event such service is necessitated to enforce the terms of this Contract or otherwise enforce the obligations of the Contractor to the Institution.

In the event of any such suit or claim, the Institution shall give the Contractor written notice of any such claim or suit, and the Contractor shall have full right and obligation to conduct the Contractor's own defense thereof and shall provide all assistance required by the Institution in the Institution's defense. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to accord to the Contractor, through its attorney(s), the right to represent the Institution in any legal matter, such rights being governed by Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 8-6-106.

E.13. Debarment and Suspension. The Contractor certifies, to the best of its knowledge and belief, that it and its principals:

a. are not presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from covered transactions by any Federal or state department or agency;

b. have not within a three (3) year period preceding this Contract been convicted of, or had a civil judgment rendered against them from commission of fraud, or a criminal offence in connection with obtaining attempting to obtain, or performing a public (Federal, State, or Local) transaction or grant under a public transaction; violation of Federal or State antitrust statutes or commission of embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification, or destruction of records, making false statements, or receiving stolen property;

c. are not presently indicted for or otherwise criminally or civilly charged by a government entity (Federal, State, or Local) with commission of any of the offenses listed in section b. of this certification; and

d. have not within a three (3) year period preceding this Contract had one or more public transactions (Federal, State, or Local) terminated for cause or default.

E.14. ProhibitiononHiringIllegalImmigrants. T.C.A. 12-3-309 prohibits State entities from contracting to acquire goods or services from any person who knowingly utilize the service of illegal immigrants in the performance of a contract or who knowingly utilize the services of any subcontractor, if permitted under the contract, who will utilize the services of illegal immigrants in the performance of the contract. By signing this Contract, the Contactor attests, certifies, warrants, and assures that the Contractor shall not knowingly utilize the services of illegal immigrants in the performance of the Contract and will not knowingly utilize the services of any subcontractor, if permitted under the Contract, who will utilize the services of illegal immigrants in the performance of the Contract.

If Contractor is discovered to have breached the Attestation, the Commissioner of Finance and Administration shall declare that the Contractor shall be prohibited from contracting or submitting a bid to any Tennessee Board of Regents institution or any other state entity for a period of one (1) year from the date of discovery of the breach. Contractor may appeal the one (1) year by utilizing an appeals process in the Rules of Finance and Administration, Chapter 0620.

E.15. Red Flags and Identity Theft. (Include only if applicable) The Contractor shall have policies and procedures in place to detect relevant Red Flags, as that term is defined in Federal Trade Commission regulations, that may arise in the performance of the Contractor's activities under the Contract or review the Institution's Red Flags identity theft program and report any Red Flags to Institution.

E.16. Sales and Use Tax. The Contractor attests that it has registered with, or have received an exemption from, the Department of Revenue for the collection of Tennessee sales and use tax. This registration requirement is a material requirement of this Contract. The Contractor shall comply, and shall require any subcontractor to comply, with all laws and regulations governing the remittance of sales and use taxes on the sale of goods and services made by the Contractor, or the Contractor's subcontractor.

E.17. Data Privacy and Security.

Data Privacy. "Personal Information" means information provided to Contractor by or at the direction of Institution, or to which access was provided to Contractor by or at the direction of Institution, in the course of Contractor's performance under this Contract that: (i) identifies or can be used to identify an individual (including , without limitation , names, signatures, addresses, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses and other unique identifiers); or (ii) can be used to authenticate an individual (including, without limitation, employee identification numbers, government-issued identification numbers, passwords or PINs, financial account numbers, credit report information, biometric or health data, answers to security questions and other personal identifiers.

Contractor represents and warrants that its collection, access, use, storage, disposal and disclosure of Personal Information complies with all applicable international, federal and state privacy and data protection laws, including without limitation, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act ("GLBA"); the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act ("HIPAA");the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act ("FERPA") of 1974 (20 U.S.C.1232g), the FTC's Red Flag Rules, as amended, together with regulations promulgated thereunder. Contractor represents and warrants that Contractor will use the Personal Information only for the purposes authorized by this Agreement and will not sell or share the Personal Information with any other person or entity.

Some Personal Information provided by Institution to Contractor is subject to FERPA. Contractor acknowledges that its improper disclosure or re-disclosure of Personal Information covered by FERPA may, under certain circumstances, result in Contractor's exclusion from eligibility to contract with Customer for at least five (5) years and agrees to become a "school official" as defined in the applicable Federal Regulations for the purposes of this Contract.

With respect to any processing of personal data of persons located in, or personal data obtained from within, the European Union (EU), Contractor certifies that it will comply with all applicable laws or regulations related to acceptance, transmission, and/or storage of such personal data as defined by and in accordance with the EU's General Data Protection Regulations ("GDPR"). Contractor will only act on the written instruction of the Institution and will assist the Institution in compliance with GDPR in relation to the security of processing, the notification of personal data breaches, data protection impact assessments, answering data subjects' requests, and allowing data subjects to exercise their rights under the GDPR. Contractor consents to audits and inspections as necessary to ensure compliance with these provisions.

Data Security. Contractor represents and warrants that Contractor will maintain compliance with the SSAE 16 standard, and shall undertake any audits and risk assessments Contractor deems necessary to maintain compliance with SSAE16.

Incident Response. "Security Incident" means any reasonably suspected breach of information security, unauthorized access to any System, server or database, or any other unauthorized access, use, or disclosure of Personal Information or Highly-Sensitive Personal Information occurring on Systems under Contractor's control. Contractor shall: (i) provide Institution with the name and contact information for an employee of Contractor who shall serve as Customer's primary security contact and shall be available to assist Customer twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week as a contact in resolving obligations associated with a Security Incident; (ii) notify Institution of a Security Incident as soon as practicable, but no later than forty eight (48) hours after Contractor becomes aware of it, except where disclosure is prohibited by law; and (iii) notify Institution of any such Security Incident by email to with a copy by e-mail to Contractor's primary business contact at the Institution.

Contractor shall use best efforts to immediately mitigate or resolve any Security Incident, at Contractor's expense and in accordance with applicable privacy rights, laws, regulations and standards. Contractor shall reimburse Institution for actual costs incurred by Institution in responding to, and mitigating damages caused by, any Security Incident, including all costs of notice and/or remediation incurred under all applicable laws as a result of the Security Incident.

Return of Personal Information. At any time during the term of this Contract, at the Institution's written request or upon the termination or expiration of this Contract, Contractor shall return to the Institution all copies, whether in written, electronic or other form or media, of Confidential, Highly-Sensitive, or Personal Information in its possession, or at Customer's direction, securely dispose of all such copies.

The Contractor shall provide and retain timely, accurate, and comprehensive information such as records and reports that allow TBR to monitor risks. The inventory of reports should include SOC 1, SOC 2, and reports for data breaches.

E.18. Contractor Reporting. The Contractor shall assist with the Institution's state and federal reporting requirements by providing, as requested, a quarterly report of participation in the performance of this Contract by small business enterprises and businesses owned by minorities, women, service-disabled veterans, and persons with disabilities. Such reports shall be provided to the Institution in form and substance as required by the Institution.

E.19. Iran Divestment Act. The requirements of Tenn. Code Ann. 12-12-101 et.seq., addressing contracting with persons with investment activities in Iran, shall be a material provision of this Contract. The Contractor agrees, under penalty of perjury, that to the best of its knowledge and belief that it is not on the list created pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. 12-12-106.

E.20. Boycott of Israel. The Contractor certifies that is not currently engaged in and will not for the duration of the contract engage in, a boycott of Israel as defined by Tenn. Code Ann. 12-4-119. This provision shall not apply to contracts with a total potential value of less than two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) or to contractors with less than ten (10) employees.

E.21. Service and Software Accessibility Standards. The Contractor warrants and represents that the service and software, including any updates, provided to the Institution will meet the accessibility standards set forth in WCAG 2.1 AA (also known as ISO standard, ISO/IEC 40500:2012), EPub 3 and Section 508 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act. To the extent that the products fail to meet the WCAG 2.1 AA, EPub 3 and Section 508 standards, the Contractor will provide Institution with a fully completed Accessibility Statement and Conformance and Remediation forms. The Contractor shall indemnify and hold the Institution harmless in the event of claims arising from inaccessibility related to the Contractor's product and/or services.

E.22. Click-Wrap Agreements. The Contractor agrees that click-wrap agreements shall not be binding upon the Institution. No employee has the actual or apparent authority to enter into click-wrap agreements on behalf of the Institution without the approval of the Institution's Procurement and/or Contracts Office. No employee has the authority to modify, amend, or supplement this Contract through a click-wrap agreement. This Contract can only be modified, amended, or supplemented under these terms through a written amendment in accordance with the Institution's and TBR's procedures, policies, and guidelines.

E.23. Binding Contract. The Contractor fully understands that this Contract is not binding except and until all appropriate State officials' approvals and signatures have been obtained, and the fully executed document returned to the Contractor.

ATTACHMENT B

SCOPE OF WORK

Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Shelbyville solicits Quotations from Bidders who can provide Lawn Care Services meeting the below requirements/specifications.

Bidders must schedule a mandatory onsite evaluation with Michael Pierce

(931) 580-1358 or .

TCAT Shelbyville

2905 US 231 N

Shelbyville, TN 37160

Mowing Area (approx. 5-6 acres)

Bush Hogging Area (approx. 4-5 acres)

The Bidder shall provide lawn care and bush hogging services. The need for services can vary depending on the weather, and the Institution shall determine service schedule as conditions require. All bids must be submitted in a per event cost format. Payment shall be monthly for services rendered. Invoices will be turned in once a month to the fiscal office for payment.

1. Mowing

Mowing/Trimming/Blowing within the designated red circled area. (Weekly)

The bidder shall cut grass and associated trimming beginning in April and ending in October; weather dependent, weekly unless weather dictates otherwise. The Institution reserves the right to move mowing to a longer rotation during slow growing periods or shorter rotation during heavy growing periods.

Weekly mowing (mowing season):

Mowing of all turf areas within the designated red circled areas

String trimming/weed eating around buildings, sidewalks, curbs, signage, light poles, fencing and landscaping

Edging of sidewalks, curbs, and landscaped beds

Blowing oof all grass clippings and debris from sidewalks, entrances, curbs, and parking lots

Limb and debris pickup

Weed pulling and/or spraying in landscaped beds and around buildings (herbicide use must comply with all applicable regulations)

Bush Hogging (Twice Annually)

Bush hogging of the 4-5 acre field identified in yellow

Service to occur twice per year (anticipated late spring and early fall)

Removal or proper management of excessive debris as needed

Overhead view of campus:

Marked aerial identifying mowing and bush hog areas:

Area circled in RED: Weekly mowing and maintenance (approx. 5-6 acres)

Area circled in YELLOW: Bush hog area twice per year (approx. 4-5 acres)

ATTACHMENT C

Bidder's Pricing Quotation

Note: The final contract rates to be added upon contract award.

Pricing shall reflect the total cost of providing all services as specified in Attachment B (Scope Of Work).

Bidders must schedule a mandatory onsite evaluation with Michael Pierce

(931) 580-1358 or .

Bidder shall propose a cost per event pricing structure (i.e., cost per each service performed as defined, for each line item, for years one through five).

The Institution reserves the right to request additional documentation and Bid clarification.

Detailed Scope of Work as Outlined in Attachment B.

Signature _______________________________________

Authorized Signature for Bidder

Acknowledges Mandatory Requirements in Section 1.5

Printed Name ____________________________________

Date ____________________________________________

ATTACHMENT D

To comply with reporting regulations required by the State of Tennessee and the United States federal income tax laws, it is necessary that the following information be provided prior to the issuance of any contract.

This form must be completed in full.

*Minority Ownership Clarification:

"Minority owned business" means a business that is a continuing, independent, for profit business which performs a commercially useful function, and is at least fifty-one percent (51%) owned and controlled by one (1) or more minority individuals who are impeded from normal entry into the economic mainstream because of past practices of discrimination based on race or ethnic background.

"Minority" means a person who is a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States and who is:

a) African American (a person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa);

b) Hispanic (a person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race);

c) Asian American (a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands); or

d) Native American (a person having origins in any of the original peoples of North America).

**Woman-Owned Business Clarification:

A "woman-owned business" means a woman owned business that is a continuing, independent, for profit business which performs a commercially useful function, and is at least fifty-one percent (51%) owned and controlled by one or more women; or, in the case of any publicly owned business, at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the stock of which is owned and controlled by one (1) or more women and whose management and daily business operations are under the control of one (1) or more women.

***Small Business Ownership Clarification:

A "small business" means a business that is independently owned and operated for profit, is not dominant in its field of operation and is not an affiliate or subsidiary of a business dominant in its field of operation.

The State of TN, GO-BID Certification Program establishes small business guidelines on industry size standards. The criteria guidelines are required to be met in order for a business to be considered small. The annual receipts or number of employees indicates the maximum allowed for a small business concern and its affiliates to be considered small.

****Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (SDVBE) Clarification

Tennessee Service-Disabled Veteran owned mean any person who served honorably on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States with at least a twenty percent (20%) disability that is service-connected meaning that such disability was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty in the active military, naval or air service. "Tennessee service disabled veteran owned business" means a service-disabled veteran owned business that is a continuing, independent, for profit business located in the state of Tennessee that performs a commercially useful function.

Tennessee Service-Disabled Veteran owned means a service-disabled owned business that is a continuing, independent, for profit business located in the state of Tennessee that performs a commercially useful function, and

is at least fifty-one percent (51%) owned and controlled by one (1) or more service-disabled owned veterans;

In the case of a business solely owned by (1) service-disabled veteran and such person's spouse, is at least fifty percent (50) owned and controlled by the service-disabled veteran; or

In the case of any publicly owned business, at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the stock of which is owned and controlled by one (1) or more service-disabled veteran and whose management and daily business operations are under the control of one (1) or more service-disabled veteran.

*****Persons with Disabilities, Disabled Business Enterprise (DSBE)

Business owned by persons with disabilities" means a business owned by a person with a disability that is a continuing, independent, for-profit business that performs a commercially useful function, and is at least fifty-one percent (51%) owned and controlled by one (1) or more persons with a disability; or, in the case of any publicly-owned business, at least fifty one percent (51%) of the stock of which is owned and controlled by one (1) or more persons with a disability and whose management and daily business operations are under the control of one (1) or more persons with a disability:

Person with a disability" means an individual who meets at least one (1) of the following:

(A) Has been diagnosed as having a physical or mental disability resulting in marked and severe functional limitations that is expected to last no less than twelve (12) months;

(B) Is eligible to receive social security disability insurance (SSDI); or

(C) Is eligible to receive supplemental security income (SSI) and has a disability as defined in subdivision (A)

ATTACHMENT E

TENNESSEE BOARD OF REGENTS

REQUEST FOR QUOTATION

Bid subject to the RFQ Terms and Conditions provided and bid must be received by:

Date/Time: Due Date 04/15/2026, 3:00pm Central Time

Attn: Jennie Schuller, Procurement and Contracts

(615) 366-4411 procurement.travel@tbr.edu

Unless otherwise requested, quote on each item separately. Unit prices shall be shown. If unable to furnish items as specified, submit a complete descriptive specification of substituted items offered. The Tennessee Board of Regents is exempt from state, federal, and local taxes; do not include taxes in quotation. Quote F.O.B., Tennessee Board of Regents, Nashville, Tennessee. Minimum terms: Net 30 days. Prepayment not allowed. Quotation must be typewritten or in ink.

THIS IS NOT AN ORDER

The bidder offers and agrees that these prices ___ will be extended ___ will not be extended to other state institutions of higher education and bidder ___ will ___ will not agree to honor pricing provided herein for a period of one (1) year from date of award of this bid if accepted within _____ days of bid opening date (above). It is preferred that vendors hold pricing for a year so that other institutions may utilize the procurement if institutional funds are available. (Please initial appropriate affirmations above)

__________________________________ ____________________________________________

(Print Name of Bidding Firm) (Print Name of Contact Person)

__________________________________ _____________________________________________

(Address) (Phone Number)

__________________________________ _____________________________________________

(City, State, Zip) (Email Address)

__________________________________ _____________________________________________

(Authorized Signature) (Date)

ATTACHMENT F

Request for Vendor Registration

All Bidders are encouraged to complete the TBR Total Supplier Management (TSM) vendor registration process with Institution and become a registered vendor. Although vendor registration with the Institution is not required to submit a bid, a resulting contract and/or PO from this RFQ process cannot be finalized without the successful Proposer being registered with the institution.

In addition to the above, the Institution will work with Proposers and the State of Tennessee GO-BID Certification Program (GO-BID) to allow Proposers to obtain official state certification. For information regarding staff of the GO-BID available to assist minority-owned, woman-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, businesses owned by persons with disabilities, and small businesses, as well as general, public information relating to this RFP, visit:

For assistance with this process, Bidders can contact .

Click on URL link below to register your company in our TSM vendor system.

If you have completed the TSM vendor registration process or if you have previously registered in the TBR TSM vendor registration system, please enter your Supplier ID #____________

If you have not completed the TSM vendor registration process, please check here _________.

Is Parent company located outside of the United States: Yes__________ No ____________

If Yes, what country is the Parent company located: __________________________

ATTACHMENT G

REQUEST FOR QUOTATION STANDARD PURCHASING TERMS & CONDITIONS

1. PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION OF BID.

Failure to examine any drawings, specifications, or instructions will be at the bidder's risk.

BID SUBMITTAL / SIGNATURE: Bid shall give the full name and business address of the bidder. If the bidder is a corporation, the name shall be stated as it is in the corporate charter. Bids must be signed in ink by the bidder's authorized agent. Unsigned bids will be rejected. Bids are to be sealed and the outside of the envelope is to reference the bid number. The person signing the bid must show his title, and if requested by the institution, must furnish satisfactory proof of his or her authority to bind his or her company in contract. Bidder understands that by submitting a bid with an authorized signature, it shall constitute an offer to the institution. Bids must be typewritten or in ink; otherwise they may not be considered. Purchase orders will be issued to the firm name appearing on the bid.

Bids are to be received in the location designated on the bid no later than the specified date and time. Late bids will NOT be opened or considered.

No erasures permitted. Errors may be crossed out and corrections printed in ink or typewritten adjacent to error and must be initialed in ink by person signing bid.

Discounts other than "Time" or "Cash" offered should be deducted from the unit price.

Specifications: Reference to available specifications shall be sufficient to make the terms of the specifications binding on the bidder. The use of the name of a manufacturer, or any special brand or make in describing an item does not restrict the bidder to that manufacturer or specific article, unless specifically stated. Comparable products of other manufacturers will be considered if proof of compatibility is contained in the bid. Bidders are required to notify the Institution's RFQ Coordinator whenever specifications/procedures are not perceived to be fair and open. All suggestions or objections shall be made in writing and received by the RFQ Coordinator at least three (3) working days prior to the bid opening. The articles on which the bids are submitted must be equal or superior to that specified. Informative and Descriptive Literature: The bidder must show brand or trade names of the articles bid, when applicable. It shall be the responsibility of the vendor, including vendors whose product is referenced, to furnish with the bid such specifications, catalog pages, brochures or other data as will provide an adequate basis for determining the quality and functional capabilities of the product offered. Failure to provide this data may be considered valid justification for rejection of bid.

Samples: Samples of items when called for, must be furnished free of expense, and if not destroyed will, upon vendor's request within ten (10) days of bid opening, be returned at the bidder's expense. Each sample must be labeled with the bidder's name, manufacturer's brand name and number, bid number and item reference.

Time of Performance: The number of calendar days in which delivery is to be made after receipt of order shall be stated in the bid and may be a factor in making an award, price notwithstanding. If no delivery time is stated in the bid, bidder agrees that delivery is to be made within two weeks (10 business days) of order.

Transportation and delivery charges should be included in the price and be fully prepaid by the vendor to the destination specified in the bid. Bid prices shall include delivery of all items F.O.B. destination.

New materials and supplies must be delivered unless otherwise specifically stated in the bid.

Alternate/multiple bids will not be considered unless specifically called for in the bid.

Bond requirements. The institution reserves the right to require that the selected vendor post a performance and/or payment bond in such amount as deemed reasonable by the institution. Any bond requirement should be included in the bid, itemized separately.

Only original bids submitted on bid forms furnished by the Institution will be considered, except that the Institution reserves the right to consider telephone, faxed or electronically submitted bids for purchases totaling less than $25,000 if such request is received five (5) calendar days prior to the deadline and an original is submitted within five (5) days after the deadline.

By signing this bid where indicated, the bidder agrees to strictly abide by all state and federal statutes and regulations. The bidder further certifies that this bid is made without collusion or fraud.

Failure to Bid/Error in Bid. Failure to bid without advising the Institution that future invitations for bids are desirable may result in removal from Institution's bidders' list covering this category of items. In case of error in the extension of prices in the bid, the unit price will govern. Late bids will NOT be opened or considered. Bidders are cautioned to verify their bids before submission, as amendments received after the bid deadline will not be considered. No bid shall be altered, amended or withdrawn after opening. After bid opening, a bidder may withdraw a bid only when there is obvious clerical error such as a misplaced decimal point, or when enforcement of the bid would impose unconscionable hardship due to an error in the bid resulting in a quotation substantially below the other bids received. Bid withdrawals will be considered only upon written request of the bidder.

2. INSPECTION. All bids will be publicly opened and are subject to public inspection after the award. Bidders may be present at bid opening.

3. ACCEPTANCE AND AWARD. The Institution reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive any informality in bids and, unless otherwise specified by the bidder to accept any item in the bid. Action to reject all bids shall be taken for unreasonably high prices, errors in the bid documents, cessation of need, unavailability of funds, or any other reason approved by the Tennessee Board of Regents.

a Contracts and purchases will be made with the lowest, responsible, qualified bidder. The quality of the articles to be supplied, their conformity with the specifications, their suitability to the requirements of the Institution, cash discount offered and the delivery terms will be taken into consideration.

b. The Institution reserves the right to order up to 10% more or less than the quantity listed in the bid.

c. If a bidder fails to state a time within which a bid must be accepted, it is understood and agreed that the Institution shall have sixty (60) days to accept.

d. A written purchase order mailed or otherwise furnished, to the successful bidder within the time period specified in the bid results in a binding contract without further action by either party. The contract may not be assigned without written Institution consent.

e. If the appropriate space is marked on the bid, other state institutions of higher education may purchase off the contract during the same period as the Institution.

4. DISCOUNT PERIOD. Time in connection with discount offered will be computed from the date of delivery at destination, or from the date correct invoices are received, whichever is later.

5. DEFAULT OF SELECTED VENDOR. In case of vendor default, the Institution may procure the articles or services from other sources and hold the defaulting vendor responsible for any resulting cost.

6. INSPECTION OF PURCHASES. Articles received which are not equivalent will not be accepted and will be picked up by the vendor or returned to vendor, shipping charges collect. Institution shall have a reasonable period in which to inspect and accept or reject materials without liability. If necessity requires Institution to use nonconforming materials, an appropriate reduction in payment may be made.

7. TAXES. Institution is tax exempt; do not include taxes in quotation. Vendors making improvements or additions to, or performing repair work on real property for Institution are liable for any applicable sales or use tax on tangible personal property used in connection with the contract or furnished to vendors by the state for use under the contract.

8. NONDISCRIMINATION. The Institution and bidder agree to comply with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Executive Order 11,246, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the related regulations to each. Each party assures that it will not discriminate against any individual including, but not limited to employees or applicants for employment and/or students, because of race, religion, creed, color, sex, age, disability, veteran status or national origin.

9. PROHIBITIONS/NO VENDOR CONTRACT FORM/TENNESSEE LAW/AUDIT. Acceptance of gifts from vendors is prohibited. TCA 12-3-106. Bidding by state employees is prohibited. TCA 12-4-103. The bidder warrants that no part of the total contract amount shall be paid directly or indirectly to any officer or employee of the State of Tennessee. The contract documents for purchase under this bid request shall consist of the successful bidder's bid and the Institution's purchase order. Bidders may not require any other written contract terms or conditions, nor may any other terms and conditions be imposed by means of subsequent documents, such as invoices, warranty agreements, license agreements, etc. Should the bidder request exceptions to terms and conditions and/or those proposed by the bidder vary from the bid and TBR Policies and Guidelines, Institution may render the bid unresponsive and subject the bid to rejection. The contract shall be governed by Tennessee law. For all awards other than for a firm, fixed price, vendor shall maintain books and records for a period of three (3) years from final payment, and these records shall be subject to audit by the State.

10. PURCHASING POLICIES/BID PROTESTS. This bid request and any award made hereunder are subject to the policies and guidelines of the Tennessee Board of Regents (www.tbr.state.tn.us) and Institution (available upon request). Bid protest procedures are available at:

http://www.tbr.state.tn.us/policies_guidelines/business_policies/4-02-10-00.htm

11. PROHIBITION ON HIRING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. T.C.A. 12-3-309 prohibits State entities from contracting to acquire goods and/or services from any person who knowingly utilizes the service of illegal immigrants in the performance of the contract and by signing this Contract, the Contactor attests that the Contractor shall not knowingly utilize the goods and/or services of illegal immigrants in the performance of the Contract and will not knowingly utilize the goods and/or services of any subcontractor, if permitted under the Contract, who will utilize the goods and/or services of illegal immigrants in the performance of the Contract. The Contractor hereby attests, certifies, warrants, and assures that the Contractor shall not knowingly utilize the goods and/or services of an illegal immigrant in the performance of this Contract and shall not knowingly utilize the goods and/or services of any subcontractor who will utilize the goods and/or services of an illegal immigrant in the performance of this Contract.

12. SALES AND USE TAX. Before the Purchase Order/Contract resulting from this RFQ is signed, the apparent successful bidder must be registered with the Department of Revenue for the collection of Tennessee sales and use tax. The State shall not approve a contract unless the Proposer provides proof of such registration. The foregoing is a mandatory requirement of an award of a contract pursuant to this solicitation.

13. IRAN DIVESTMENT ACT. By submission of this Bid, each Bidder and each person signing on behalf of any Bidder certifies, and in the case of a joint bid each party thereto certifies as to its own organization, under penalty of perjury, that to the best of its knowledge and belief that each Bidder is not on the list created pursuant to 12-12-106.