About The champion newspaper. (Decatur, GA) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (July 3, 2014)
www.championnewspaper.com The Champion Legal Sec ion, Thursday, July 3, 2014 Page 3C the mandatory pre-bid conference shall be rejected as non-responsive. All attendees of the pre-bid confer ence will be required to register. Proper registration means that the attendee has signed his or her name to the official roster and lis ted the name and address of the company he or she represents on the official roster no later than the designated start time of the pre-bid conference. Bidders are advised to register early as no attendee will be allowed to register after the advert ised start time of the pre-bid confer ence. Bidders are advised to register early as anyone arriving afterl0:15 а. m. will not be allowed to participate in the bid process. Mandatory Site Visit All prospective bidders are required to visit the Project site. A mandatory Project site visit is scheduled immedi ately following the pre-bid meeting. All bids must be submitted on the bid form provided by DCSD. The bid form can be found on the DeKalb County School District’s (DCSD) website, Click on the link to access the forms www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/solicita tions/ Receipt of Bid Package Public Opening Bids must be submitted in a sealed envelope correctly addressed and completed as shown below. Solicitation Number: ITB 14-752-043 (Rebid) Project Number: Not Applicable Project Title: Cross Keys High School Track Replacement Bid Deadline: Thursday, July 10, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. Opening Date: Thursday, July 10, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. Bidder’s Name: Address to: Joshua Williams, Interim Chief Operations Officer DeKalb County School District 1780 Montreal Road Tucker, GA 30084 Bids received after Bid Deadline or by facsimile will not be accepted. Bid Submission A complete bid submission includes the following: 1. Bid Form 2. Bid Bond 3. Subcontractor Listing 4. Corporate Certificate, Entity Certi ficate or Partnership Certificate (as applicable) 5. Non Collusion Affidavit of Prime Bidder б. Non Collusion Affidavits of Sub contractors 7. Bidder’s Qualification Statement (ONLY for Bidders not Prequalified as of December 1,2012 and listed at: http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/www/do cuments/solicitations/prequalified- vendors/general-contractor-recom- mendations.pdf 8. Preliminary Schedule Form of Contract Fixed Price Narrow Scope Agree ment If awarded the subject contract, the bidders will be required to sign the above-referenced agreement. A copy of the contract form is provided with this ITB. BASIS OF AWARD The contract, if awarded, will be on a lump sum basis by Base Bid. Bid Prices Bid prices will be held firm and re main open for acceptance for sixty (60) days from the time and date of the bid opening, except as expressly provided by law. Bid Security As security, the bid must be accom panied by a BID BOND, in the form required by DCSD for an amount not less than five percent (5%) of the bid if the bid is $100,000 or more (includ ing the base bid plus any possible combination of alternates that could result in an award of $100,000 or more). PERMITS The successful contractor shall ob tain all federal, state and local per mits required for the Project, if any. RIGHTS OF WAY AND EASE MENTS All rights of way and easements anti cipated for the Project, if any, have been obtained. Performance and Payment Bonds Performance and Payment Bonds from a surety satisfactory to DCSD must be furnished by the bidder awarded the contract in an amount not less than 100 percent (100%) of the contract price if the contract price is $100,000 or more. Bid Contact Joshua Williams, Interim COO with procedural questions at dcsd-ops-bid- questions@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us or by fax at 678-676-1475. All questions must be in writing. The deadline for questions is Wednes day, July 2, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. with the final addendum to post no later than Monday, July 7, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive technicalities and in formalities. 040-359087 6/12,6/19.7/3WG ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS DEKALB COUNTY, GEORGIA INVITATION NUMBER 14-100398 Sealed Bids will be received by DeKalb County, Georgia, in the De partment of Purchasing and Contract ing, The Maloof Center, 2nd Floor, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30030, until 3:00 p.m. on 15th day of July, 2014, at which time and place they will be publicly opened and read aloud, for furnish ing all labor, materials, equipment, and all things necessary pursuant to Drawings, Specifications, conditions, etc., for ++ITB No. 14-100398-Water Meter Installation (“the Project”).+ + ONE ORIGINAL BID AND TWO IDENTICAL COPIES MUST BE SUBMITTED ON THE DATE AND AT THE TIME AND PLACE PRE SCRIBED ABOVE. Contract Documents, Drawings, and Specifications for this Work are on file and open for inspection at AGC Builders Exchange, 1940 The Ex change SE, Suite 300, Atlanta, Geor gia 30339 (or at the AGC of Georgia I nternet Plan Room at www.agcga.org); National Associ ation of Minority Contractors - At lanta Chapter, 4251 East Side Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30034; Reed Con struction Data, 30 Technology Park way South, Suite 100, Norcross, GA 30092; and the Department of Pur chasing and Contracting, The Maloof Center, 2nd Floor, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30030. A complete set of documents may be obtained from The Department of Watershed Management, 1580 Roadhaven Drive, Stone Mountain, Georgia 30083. A non-refundable payment of $20 is required for a complete set of said Bid documents. Bids will be con sidered only from experienced and well-equipped contractors. A MANDATORY PRE-BID CONFER ENCE A mandatory pre-bid conference will be held at 10:00 a.m. on the 17th day of June, 2014 at 330 West Ponce de Leon Avenue, Decatur, Georgia 30030 - First Floor, Confer ence Room A on the 17th day of June, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. at The Clark Harrison Building in Conference Room A located at 330 West Ponce de Leon avenue, Decatur, Georgia 30030 . Bidders are required to at tend and participate in the pre-bid conference and site visit. For informa tion regarding the pre-bid conference and site visit, please contact Kim berly Lyons, Contract Administrator at 404-371-6242 and klyons@dekalb- countyga.gov. QUESTIONS All questions concerning the Project and requests for interpretation of the Contract may be asked and answered at the pre-bid conference; however, oral answers are not au thoritative. Questions must be sub mitted to the Department of Purchas ing and Contracting in writing by one of the following methods: in person at the Maloof Center, 2nd Floor, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30030, via email to contractsreview@dekalbcountyga.go v, or via facsimile to 404-371-6327, no later than close of business on June 24, 2014. Questions and re quests for interpretation received by the Department of Purchasing and Contracting after this date will not re ceive a response or be the subject of addenda. No Bid may be revoked or withdrawn until sixty (60) days after the time set for opening the Bids. THE COUNTY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY AND ALL BIDS, TO WAIVE INFORMALITIES IN BIDDING, AND TO READVERT ISE. This 12th day of June, 2014. 040-359090 6/12,6/19.7/3WG ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS DEKALB COUNTY, GEORGIA INVITATION NUMBER 14-100399 Sealed Bids will be received by DeKalb County, Georgia, in the De partment of Purchasing and Contract ing, The Maloof Center, 2nd Floor, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30030, until 3:00 p.m. on the 15th day of July, 2014, at which time and place they will be publicly opened and read aloud, for furnish ing all labor, materials, equipment, and all things necessary pursuant to Drawings, Specifications, conditions, etc., for ++Road Resurfacing for Public Works under the 2014 Loc al Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) in DeKalb County, Georgia, (“the Project”). 14- 100399++ ONE ORIGINAL BID AND TWO IDENTICAL COPIES MUST BE SUBMITTED ON THE DATE AND AT THE TIME AND PLACE PRE SCRIBED ABOVE. Contract Documents, Drawings, and Specifications for this Work are on file and open for inspection at AGC Builders Exchange, 1940 The Ex change SE, Suite 300, Atlanta, Geor gia 30339 (or at the AGC of Georgia I nternet Plan Room at www.agcga.org); National Associ ation of Minority Contractors - At lanta Chapter, 4251 East Side Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30034; Reed Con struction Data, 30 Technology Park way South, Suite 100, Norcross, GA 30092; and the Department of Pur chasing and Contracting, The Maloof Center, 2nd Floor, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30030. A complete set of documents may be obtained from Toni Scott or Shena Taylor in the Department of Public Works, Roads and Drainage Division located at 729 Camp Road, Decatur, Georgia 30032. A non-refundable payment of $20.00 is required for a complete set of said Bid documents. Bids will be con sidered only from experienced and well-equipped contractors. PRE-BID CONFERENCE A pre-bid conference will be held at 10:00 a.m. on the 17th day of June, 2014 at the Clark Harrison Building, Conference Room A, located at 330 W. Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur, Georgia 30030. Bidders are strongly encouraged to attend and participate in the pre-bid conference. For inform ation regarding the pre-bid confer ence, please contact Kimberly Lyons, Contract Administrator at 404-371- 6242 or klyons@dekalbcountyga.gov. QUESTIONS All questions concerning the Project and requests for interpretation of the Contract shall be may be asked and answered at the pre-bid conference; however, oral answers are not au thoritative. Questions must be sub mitted to the Acting Chief Procure ment Officer of the Department of Purchasing and Contracting, the Ma loof Center, 2nd Floor, 1300 Com merce Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30030, in writing no later than close of business on June 24, 2014. Ques tions and requests for interpretation received by Acting Chief Procure ment Officer of the Department of Purchasing and Contracting after this date will not receive a response or be the subject of addenda. Submit writ ten questions to fax number 404-371- 6327 or email klyons@dekalb- countyga.gov. No Bid may be revoked or withdrawn until sixty (60) days after the time set for opening the Bids. THE COUNTY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY AND ALL BIDS, TO WAIVE INFORMALITIES IN BIDDING, AND TO READVERT ISE. This 12th day of June, 2014. 040-359656 6/19,6/26,7/3,7/10,7/17JH ADVERTISEMENT FOR SEALED PROPOSALS GENERAL CONTRACTOR Sealed Proposals will be received by the DeKalb County Board of Educa tion (the “Owner”) at the Sam A. Moss Service Center, 1780 Montreal Road, Tucker, Georgia 30084, until 2:00 p.m. local time on Thursday, July 31, 2014 for General Contractor services for ++RFP No. 14-752-044 Project No. 514-422 Southwest DeKalb HS Renovations 5100 and 5200 Hall.++ The Owner shall not consider late proposals. Scope of Services To provide General Contractor ser vices for the construction (Site, Bldg, and Systems) of the Owner’s Con struction Projects at Southwest DeKalb HS Renovations -5100 and 5200 Halls as specified per the Pro posal Documents. Request for Proposal (“RFP”) docu ments will be available Thursday, June 19, 2014, and may be obtained from the DeKalb County Board of Education website at http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/soli citations. Plans and Specifications are available electronically in PDF format and can be emailed to pro spective Respondents free of charge by submitting a request to Belinda_Quillet@fc.dekalb.k12.ga. us. Except as expressly provided in, or permitted by, the Proposal Doc uments, from the date of issuance of the RFP until final Owner action of approval of contract award, the Contractor submitting a Proposal shall not initiate any communica tion or discussion concerning the Project, the RFP or the Contractor’s Proposal or any part thereof with any employee, agent, or representative of the Owner. Any violation of this restriction may result in the rejection of the Contractor’s Proposal. The Architect has developed draw ings and specifications for permitting purposes. The Architect has submit ted this permit package to the appro priate government authority to start the review process for: • General Building Permit Once the General Contractor has been given a Notice to Proceed, it becomes the General Contractors re sponsibility to obtain the required per mits. All/any additional permits are fully the General Contractor’s responsibility to obtain. Drawings for this purpose will be provided by the Architect to the General Contractor. The Architect will assist the General Contractor as ne cessary and/or required by the per mitting authority. The Owner reserves the right to re ject any or all proposals, and to waive technicalities and informalities. A mandatory Pre-Proposal Confer ence will be held in the Stokes Con ference Room at the Sam A. Moss Service Center, 1780 Montreal Road, Tucker, Georgia 30084 at 10:00 a.m. local time on Tuesday, July 1, 2014. A mandatory site visit will take place immediately after the Pre- Proposal Conference. 040-359701 6/26,7/3WG Invitation to Bid: DeKalb County Government requests Certified In ternal Auditors and Government Cer tified Audit Professionals qualified to conduct audits to submit bids for ++Professional Auditing Services (ITB No. 14-100415++). To review a copy of the ITB, please contact: DeKalb County Department of Purchasing and Contracting, 2nd Floor, The Maloof Center, 1300 Com merce Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30030 (telephone number (404) 371-7051), or for a free and downloadable copy of the ITB, visit our website at www.dekalbcountyga.gov/pur- chasing/index.html. Sealed Bids will be received at the above address un til 3:00 p.m. on July 10, 2014, at which time and place they will be publicly opened and read aloud. No pre-bid conference or site visit will be held. Questions: All questions concerning the ITB must be submitted to the De partment of Purchasing and Contract ing in writing by one of the following methods: in person at the Maloof Center, 2nd Floor, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30030, via email to contractsreview@dekalb- countyga.gov, or via facsimile to 404-371-6327, no later than 5:00 p.m. on July 7, 2014. Questions and requests for interpretation received by the Department of Purchasing and Contracting after this date may not receive a response or be the subject of addenda. Addenda: Addenda may be issued in response to changes in the ITB. It is the responsibility of the bidder to en sure awareness of all addenda is sued for this solicitation. Please ac knowledge the addenda and submit to the Department of Purchasing and Contracting as requested. Bidder may call the Purchasing and Con tracting representative to verify the number of addenda prior to submis sion. Addenda issued for this project may be found on DeKalb County’s website, http://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/pu rchasing/pc-formal-bids-&- rfps.html. LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS ENTER PRISE ORDINANCE: It is the object ive of the Chief Executive Officer and Board of Commissioners of DeKalb County to provide maximum practic able opportunity for all businesses to participate in the performance of gov ernment contracts, including Local Small Business Enterprises (LSBE), Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and Women Business Enterprises (WBE). The County’s Schedule of Local Small Business Enterprise Par ticipation, Minority Business Enter prise and Women Business Enter prise Opportunity Tracking Form (Ex hibit A) and Letter of Intent to Per form as a Subcontractor or Provide Materials or Services (Exhibit B) are included in the ITB, along with sample report forms (Exhibit C). The current DeKalb County List of Certi fied Vendors may be found on the County’s website at http://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/pu rchasing. For details concerning DeKalb County’s Local Small Busi ness Enterprise Ordinance, contact the Department of Purchasing and Contracting, Contract Compliance Di vision at contract@dekalb- countyga.gov or 404.371.4795. No bid may be revoked or withdrawn until sixty (60) days after the time set for opening the bids. The County re serves the right to reject any and all bids, to waive informalities, and to re advertise. This 26th day of June, 2014. Scott M. Callan, CPSM Acting Chief Procurement Officer Department of Purchasing and Contracting 040-359702 6/26.7/3WG Invitation to Bid: DeKalb County Government requests individuals and firms with experience in marketing and instruction of workshops to sub mit bids for ++Marketing and Instruc tion of Jobseeker Workshops - (ITB No. 14-100416++). To review a copy of the ITB, please contact: DeKalb County Department of Purchasing and Contracting, 2nd Floor, The Maloof Center, 1300 Com merce Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30030 (telephone number (404) 371-7051), or for a free and downloadable copy of the ITB, visit our website at www.dekalbcountyga.gov/pur- chasing/index.html. Sealed Bids will be received at the above address un til 3:00 p.m. on July 10, 2014, at which time and place they will be publicly opened and read aloud. No pre-bid conference or site visit will be held. Questions: All questions concerning the ITB must be submitted to the De partment of Purchasing and Contract ing in writing by one of the following methods: in person at the Maloof Center, 2nd Floor, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30030, via email to contractsreview@dekalb- countyga.gov, or via facsimile to 404-371-6327, no later than 12:00 p.m. on July 1, 2014. Questions and requests for interpretation received by the Department of Purchasing and Contracting after this date may not receive a response or be the subject of addenda. Addenda: Addenda may be issued in response to changes in the ITB. It is the responsibility of the bidder to en sure awareness of all addenda is sued for this solicitation. Please ac knowledge the addenda and submit to the Department of Purchasing and Contracting as requested. Bidder may call the Purchasing and Con tracting representative to verify the number of addenda prior to submis sion. Addenda issued for this project may be found on DeKalb County’s website, http://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/pu rchasing/pc-formal-bids-&- rfps.html. LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS ENTER PRISE ORDINANCE: It is the object ive of the Chief Executive Officer and Board of Commissioners of DeKalb County to provide maximum practic able opportunity for all businesses to participate in the performance of gov ernment contracts, including Local Small Business Enterprises (LSBE), Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and Women Business Enterprises (WBE). The County’s Schedule of Local Small Business Enterprise Par ticipation, Minority Business Enter prise and Women Business Enter prise Opportunity Tracking Form (Ex hibit A) and Letter of Intent to Per form as a Subcontractor or Provide Materials or Services (Exhibit B) are included in the ITB, along with sample report forms (Exhibit C). The current DeKalb County List of Certi fied Vendors may be found on the County’s website at http://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/pu rchasing. For details concerning DeKalb County’s Local Small Busi ness Enterprise Ordinance, contact the Department of Purchasing and Contracting, Contract Compliance Di vision at contract@dekalb- countyga.gov or 404.371.4795. No bid may be revoked or withdrawn until sixty (60) days after the time set for opening the bids. The County re serves the right to reject any and all bids, to waive informalities, and to re advertise. This 26th day of June, 2014. Scott M. Callan, CPSM Acting Chief Procurement Officer Department of Purchasing and Contracting 040-359703 6/26,7/3,7/10WG Request for Proposals: DeKalb County Government requests quali fied individuals and firms with experi ence in project management, prelim inary design and construction man agement of facility demolition and fin ished drinking water storage, pump ing, and conveyance systems to sub mit proposals for the ++Professional Engineering and Design Services for Public Works (RFP No. 14- 500317 ++). Requests for Proposals are available on DeKalb County’s website, http://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/pu rchasing/index.html. For a copy of the Request for Proposals, please contact: DeKalb County Department of Purchasing and Contracting, The Maloof Second Floor, 1300 Com merce Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30030 (telephone number 404-371-2707). Proposals will be received at the above address until 3:00 p.m. on Au gust 5, 2014. A pre-proposal conference will be held at 9:30 a.m. on the 15th day of July, 2014 at the Decatur Library Auditorium, 215 Sycamore Street, Decatur, GA 30030. Bidders are strongly encouraged to attend and participate in the pre-proposal confer ence. For information regarding the pre-proposal conference, please con tact Kimberly Chambers at 404-371- 3641 or email: kchambers@dekalb- countyga.gov. Questions: All questions concerning the Project and requests for interpret ation of the Contract may be asked and answered at the pre-bid confer ence; however, oral answers are not authoritative. Questions must be sub mitted to the Department of Purchas ing and Contracting in writing by one of the following methods: in person at the Maloof Center, 2nd Floor, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30030, via email to contracts- review@dekalbcountyga.gov, or via facsimile to 404-371-6327, no later than close of business on July 22, 2014. Questions and requests for interpretation received by the Depart ment of Purchasing and Contracting after this date will not receive a re sponse or be the subject of addenda. Addenda: All addenda issued for this project may be found on DeKalb County’s website, www.co.dekalb.ga.us/purchasing/d efault.html. Local Small Business Enterprise Program: It is the objective of the Chief Execut ive Officer and Board of Commission ers of DeKalb County to provide max imum practicable opportunity for all businesses to participate in the per formance of government contracts, including Local Small Business Enter prises (LSBE), Minority Business En terprises (MBE) and Women Busi ness Enterprises (WBE). The County’s Schedule of Local Small Business Enterprise Participation, Minority Business Enterprise and Women Business Enterprise Op portunity Tracking Form (Exhibit A) and Letter of Intent to Perform as a Subcontractor or Provide Ma terials or Services (Exhibit B) are included in the Invitation to Bid, along with sample report forms (Exhibit C). The current DeKalb County List of Certified Vendors is included as Ex hibit D. For details relative to DeKalb County’s Local Small Business Enter prise Ordinance, contact the Con tract Compliance Division at con- tract@dekalbcountyga.gov or 404.371.4795. Business License Contractor shall submit with their pro posal, a copy of their valid company business license. If the Contractor is a Georgia corporation, Contractor shall submit a valid county or city business license. If the Contractor is not a Georgia corporation, Contract or shall submit a certificate of author ity to transact business in the state of Georgia and a copy of their valid business license issued by their home jurisdiction. If Contractor holds a professional certification which is li censed by the state of Georgia, then Contractor shall submit a copy of their valid professional license. Any li cense submitted in response to this requirement shall be maintained by the Contractor for the duration of the contract. The County reserves the right to re ject any and all proposals, to waive informalities, and to readvertise. This 26th day of June, 2014. DEKALB COUNTY, GEORGIA By: Scott M. Callan, CPSM, Acting Chief Procurement Officer Department of Purchasing and Con tracting 040-359775 7/3,7/10,7/17JH INVITATION TO BID The City of Decatur will receive bids for the ++Oakhurst Streetscape Im- provements++ until 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 5, 2014, in the City Manager's Office at Decatur City Hall, 509 North McDonough Street, Dec atur, Georgia 30030, at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. Bids are to be submitted on a proper form furnished by the City and shall be addressed to the City Manager, City Hall, Decatur, Georgia, sealed, dated and enclosed in an envelope appropriately marked on the outside "Proposal for Oakhurst Streetscape Improvements," marked with the name of the bidder and date and hour of opening, and mailed or de livered to reach the designated office on or before the above stipulated date and time. No bids will be accep ted after the 2:00 PM deadline. Those received late will be returned unopened. No extension of the bid ding period will be made. Bidding documents may be obtained online at www.decaturga.com/re- questforproposals. Bidding documents also may be ob tained at Imaging Technologies, 640 10th Street, NW Atlanta, GA 30318, Ph. 404-873-5911, for the actual cost of printing (non-refundable). Plans will also be available for review at F.W. Dodge Room, 4170 Ashford- Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, GA 30319. A mandatory pre-bid conference for interested bidders will be held at Dec atur City Hall, on July 17, 2014, at 10:00 A.M. Bidders must attend this pre-bid conference in order for their submittal to be considered. A site vis it will occur after the meeting for those interested. The scope of the work includes side walks, milling and repaving of streets, crosswalks, new curbs, drainage structures, handicap ramps, roadway striping, planting and lights. Contract, if awarded, will be on a lump sum basis. No bid may be withdrawn for a period of 60 days after time has been called on the date of opening. Bids must be accompanied by a bid bond in an amount not less than 5% of the base bid. A 100% performance bond and a 100% payment bond will be re quired by of the successful bidder in the combined amount equal to 200% of the contract price. Georgia Department of Transporta tion Standard Specifications 2013 Edition and applicable Supplemental Specifications and Special provi sions shall apply to this project. Attention is called to the fact that this project is funded through the U.S. Department of Transportation. All bid ders must be pre-qualified with the Georgia Department of Transporta tion if bid amount exceeds $2,000,000.00. Bidders submitting bids $2,000,000 or less shall be pre qualified or registered subcontractors with GDOT. The contractor must en sure that all employees and applic ants for employment are not discrim inated against because of their gender, race, color, genetic informa tion, religion, national origin, political affiliation, age, handicapped status, sexual orientation, sexual preference, or gender identity and expression. The provisions of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program shall apply. The DBE goal for this Project is 12%. The Owner reserves the right to re ject any or all bids and to waive tech nicalities and informalities. If the con tract is awarded, it will be awarded to the lowest reliable bidder whose pro posal shall have met all the pre scribed requirements. Bids may be held by the City for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days from the date of the opening of the bids for the purpose of reviewing the bids and investigating the qualifica tions of the bidders, including invest igating the financial stability of the
