SECTION 0030   INVITATION FOR BID   CAMBRIDGE RAILS TO TRAILS WASHINGTON ST. TO WOODS RD. DORCHESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND   SEALED BIDS for the CAMBRIDGE RAILS TO TRAILS PROJECT will be received at the Dorchester County Council Office BID BOX, 501 Court Lane, Room 108, Cambridge, Maryland 21613 until 10:00 a.m. on the date specified below for Bid Opening, at which time and place they will be publicly opened and read aloud. The Dorchester County Council hereby notifies all bidders that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement; bidders will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this notice and will not be subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex or national origin in consideration for an award.   County: Dorchester   Cost of Plans: N/A   Contract: Cambridge Rails to Trails Project Plans and specifications will be emailed upon request or can be downloaded from Maryland's Eastern Shore, Dorchester County Maryland Bid Opening Date: 10:30AM. prevailing time, Wednesday, February 11, 2026. Bid Opening will be held at the Dorchester County Council Office, 501 Court Lane, Room 110, Cambridge, Maryland 21613. Contact: Stephanie Newcomb at 410-228-2920 or snewcomb@dorchestermd.gov.   Pre-Bid Conference: A Pre-Bid Conference will be held on Wednesday, January 14 at 10:30 am. This Conference will be held at the Dorchester County Council Office, 501 Court Lane, Room 110, Cambridge, Maryland 21613.   All work is to be completed by August 28, 2026, and all invoices must be received no later than September 25, 2026.   Project specifications may be obtained from the Dorchester County Department of Public Works 5435 Handley Road, Cambridge, MD 21613, (410-228-2920).   All proposals must be submitted upon the included PROPOSAL form, must give the price in figures for each item of the proposed work and must be signed by the bidder with his name and address. Each proposal must be enclosed in a sealed envelope marked, " CAMBRIDGE RAILS TO TRAILS". Proposals made on any other than the attached form will not be considered. Changes in the wording of the proposal, additions, deletions or limiting provisions may render the proposal informal and may cause for its rejection.   A bid security totaling at least five percent (5%) of the bid amount will be required on contracts of $10,000 or more. Acceptable forms of security for bid guaranty shall be:   (1) A bond in a form satisfactory to the County underwritten by a company licensed to issue bonds in this State; (2) A bank certified check, bank cashier’s check, bank treasurer’s check or cash; (3) Pledge of security backed by the full faith and full credit of the United States government or binds issued by the State of Maryland.   Surety shall be made payable to the “County Council of Dorchester County, Maryland”. This bid security is a Proposal Guarantee (which is understood will be forfeited in the event the contract is not executed, if awarded to the signer of this affidavit).   The project standards and procedures are in conformance with the MDOT Corridor Manual which can be referenced at https://www.mdot.maryland.gov/OPCP/Rail_Info_Manual_SIGNED_2_21_05.pdf.   In accordance with State Finance and Procurement Title 13 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, no performance or payment bonds are required for bids less than $100,000.00. The anticipated cost of the project is over $100,000.00 and as such performance and payment bonds will be required.   The Contractor, in performing the work furnished by this contract or furnishing the services provided herein, shall not discriminate against any person seeking employment with or employed by him because of race, creed, color or national origin.   DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY - SAFETY REQUIREMENTS GENERAL ORDER - CONSTRUCTION   Under provisions contained in the Maryland Occupational Safety Law, Article 89, Sections 28-48, Annotated Code of Maryland, 1957b Edition, the employer shall furnish and maintain employment and a place of employment which shall be reasonably safe for employees. To this end, the Department of Labor and Industry has adopted the American Standard Safety Code for Building Construction, A10.2-1944 which contains minimum standards having a full force and effect of law, and provides for criminal penalties, fines and imprisonment for failure to comply. These standards must be observed and maintained throughout the entire construction project. This General Order shall remain effective as construction progresses and until such time as this project is completed.   The County reserves the right to reject any and all bids, waive formalities, informalities and technicalities therein, and to take whatever bid they determine to be in the best interest of the County considering the lowest or best bid, quality of goods and work, time of delivery or completion, responsibility of bidders being considered, previous experience of bidders, or any other factors they deem appropriate.   George L. Pfeffer, Jr., President Dorchester County Council 1/11/2026, 1/15/2026