Benton PUD Padmount Switchgear PME-11 & 12 (26-21-15)
Benton County PUD No. 1
This bid set was run through DeadFront.AI's specification analyzer. Below is the auto-generated bid brief, the highest-risk provisions we flagged, and the submittal count — the same output an estimator gets inside the app.
Bid Brief
This is a supply/equipment procurement (not a construction bid) for padmount switchgear — no construction labor, prevailing wage, or pre-bid meeting requirements apply here.
BID LOGISTICS
- Due date/time: Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at 3:00 PM PST
- Submission location: Public Utility District No. 1 of Benton County, Procurement Department, 2721 W. 10th Avenue, Kennewick, WA 99336 (mail to PO Box 6270, Kennewick, WA 99336, Attn: Procurement Dept, Bid #26-21-15)
- Format: SEALED bids required. No electronic submission format specified. District assumes NO responsibility for bids not physically received by deadline — no postmark/courier exception.
- Mandatory pre-bid meeting: Not found in documents (none referenced — this is a materials bid, not construction)
- Bid bond: Certified/cashier's check OR Bid Bond, not less than 5% of bid amount, corporate Surety licensed in WA (RCW 54.04.080)
- Performance bond: 100% of contract price required from successful bidder, before contract becomes binding on District
- Prevailing wage/union/certified payroll: Not found in documents
- Required bid packet contents: Completed Bid Schedule (unit price, total, tariff disclosure per item); tariff classification/duty rate/country-of-origin disclosure if tariff charged; delivery schedule; warranty statement; Firm Price YES/NO declaration (with pricing methodology/index if not firm); exceptions to Exhibit A (Specs) YES/NO; exceptions to Exhibit B (Sample Contract/Bond) YES/NO; addenda acknowledgment; manufacturer/country of origin; supplier name, address, email, phone; signature block with title/date; WA Contractor's Registration No.; Tax ID No.
- Questions/RFIs: Submit to cp@bentonpud.org; extension requests due July 21, 2026 by 3:00 PM PST; Addendum issued July 22, 2026
PROJECT SCOPE Supply of padmount deadfront switchgear for Benton PUD: 6 units of PME-11 (15kV, #65162R1-S399) and 2 units of PME-12 (15kV, #65172R1-E397), both per BPUD Spec #2011-01, with 3093 end fittings and stainless steel nameplates. This is equipment procurement, not installation.
CRITICAL DEADLINES & MILESTONES
- Bid issued: July 15, 2026
- Extension request deadline: July 21, 2026, 3:00 PM PST
- Addendum issued: July 22, 2026
- Bid due: August 5, 2026, 3:00 PM PST
- Bid award date: August 25, 2026
- Contract execution + performance bond due: within 10 days of award notification (or 5% bid bond forfeited)
HIGH-RISK ITEMS & UNUSUAL TERMS
- No post-bid corrections allowed — any error in your bid is locked in once submitted
- District has sole discretion to deem modifications/exceptions "material" and reject bid as non-responsive
- Undisclosed tariffs are non-reimbursable — must disclose tariff classification, duty rate, and country-of-origin at bid time or eat the cost later
- District can split line items between vendors based on delivery speed — don't assume full award of quantity bid
- Broad right to reject any/all bids with no stated criteria
- Bidder pays own legal costs to protect confidential info from public records disclosure
KEY FINANCIAL TERMS
- Payment due within 30 days of acceptance or valid invoice, whichever is later
- Pricing must exclude Federal Excise Tax; WA State Sales Tax applies but excluded from bid price
- 5% bid bond forfeited as liquidated damages if contract/bond not executed within 10 days of award notice
- Firm pricing preferred; tariff cost adjustments only negotiable in good faith if tied to documented regulatory/law changes — general market/supply chain issues don't qualify
OWNER-FURNISHED vs CONTRACTOR-FURNISHED Not found in documents — this bid is 100% contractor/vendor-furnished equipment (switchgear units); no owner-furnished materials referenced.
Top risk items
Highest-scored provisions flagged in the spec set. Full rationale and in-PDF citations are available in the app.
| Risk | Section | Excerpt |
|---|---|---|
| 95 | 26 21 15 — Sealed Bid Submission | Sealed bids must be received by 3:00 PM PST on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at which time they will be publicly opened and read for the purchase of Padmount Switchgear – PME-11&12. |
| 85 | General Instructions to Bidder — Bid Delivery Requirements | Sealed bids must be received at the District's Procurement Department by the time and date specified in the Call for Bids. The District assumes no responsibility for bids not… |
| 80 | General Instructions to Bidder — Liquidated Damages for Bond Failure | In the event the successful bidder fails to furnish an approved Performance Bond and sign the contract within ten (10) days after notification by the District, an amount equal to… |
| 80 | Exhibit B — PERFORMANCE BOND | The Contractor and surety shall indemnify and save harmless the District, its officers, and agents, from any and all claims, actions or damage of every kind and description… |
| 80 | Special Instructions to Bidder — Award Purchase Order Tariff Terms | Any tariff charges not disclosed at the time of award will not be eligible for reimbursement under this purchase order. Pricing will be considered fixed and not subject to… |
| 75 | Special Instructions to Bidder — Tariff Price Adjustment Limitations | If tariff charges are included in the unit price, such charges will be considered fixed for the duration of the purchase order and shall not be subject to adjustment after award,… |
| 70 | Special Instructions to Bidder — Confidentiality Protection Burden | In the event the District receives a public records request or other legal process requesting disclosure of information submitted by bidder, the District's sole obligation shall… |
| 70 | General Instructions to Bidder — Bid Conformance | All bids shall conform to the technical specifications and contract terms specified within the bid package. When submitting the bid, the contractor must clearly specify any… |
Source: agency's published bid documents. View source documents
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