(Published in the Brainerd Dispatch, April 4, 11, 18, 2021, 3t.

(Published in the Brainerd Dispatch, April 4, 11, 18, 2021, 3t.)
NOTICE OF PROPOSALS
PROPOSAL ACCEPTANCE CLOSES MAY 3, 2021
at 10:00 A.M.
CITY OF BRAINERD, CROW WING COUNTY, MINNESOTA
Sealed proposals marked "Brainerd & Crow Wing County Service Operation" will be received at the Office of City Administrator, 501 Laurel St., Brainerd, MN 56401, until 10:00 a.m., local time, May 3, 2021, at which time they will be opened and documented as received, cataloged for all required submittals, and prepared for review. Solicitation is for the operating services to the City of Brainerd and Crow Wing County, Minnesota, for the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2024 in accordance with the specifications on same.
Proposal evaluation will occur May 6, 2021 and may be considered by the Brainerd City Council at their regular meeting on May 17, 2021. The Brainerd City Council reserves the right to review the proposals later, if necessary, to allow for further consideration and proposer presentations prior to acting.
Brainerd & Crow Wing Public Transit System is a citywide/countywide public transit service subsidized with state and federal public transit dollars, which utilizes small chassis cut-away buses to transport passengers. The proposer understands that the Transit System belongs to The City of Brainerd and Crow Wing County, and the proposal presented is for the operation of the transit system.
Specifications and proposal forms may be obtained, at no cost, from the City of Brainerd website located at www.ci.brainerd.mn.us . All proposals must be submitted on the proposal forms furnished. The contact person for all communication involving the RFP is:
Transit Coordinator
501 Laurel Street
Brainerd, MN 56401
218-454-3413
astone@ci.brainerd.mn.us
Other Brainerd & Crow Wing Transit System personnel or its representatives are not allowed to discuss the RFP with anyone, including potential responders, before the RFP submission deadline.
All proposals shall be sealed with the proposer's name and address clearly identified on the outside of packet. The Brainerd & Crow Wing Transit System does not require a proposal guaranty, cash deposit, and/or proposal bond for this RFP.
The FTA is or will be providing federal assistance for this project in an estimated expected amount of $671,612; the Federal Assistance Listing number is 20.509.
Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) Special Provisions: The Mn/DOT Office of EEO/Contract Management has assigned a Race/Gender Neutral DBE goal to this project. Bidders are directed to read the Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE) Special Provision race/gender neutral goal in Attachment 3. The Disadvantage Business Enterprise Special Provisions explains how to comply with the DBE requirements.
The City of Brainerd reserves the right to select the most advantageous offer by evaluation and comparing factors in addition to cost or price such that a recipient may acquire technical superiority even if it must pay a premium price. A 'premium" is the difference between the price of the lowest priced proposal and the one that the recipient believes offers the best value.
By Order of the City Council, City of Brainerd
March 15th, 2021
Jennifer Bergman - City Administrator