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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIFB 2026138-01 Tax Bills & Mailers FINALINVITATION FOR BIDS Notice is hereby given that sealed bids will be received by the Franklin County Controller’s Office, Franklin County Administration Building, 272 North Second Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201 for the PRINTING AND MAILING OF Municipal, County & Per Capita Tax Bills until 4:00 P.M. prevailing time on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. All bids so received will be publicly opened and read on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 11:00 AM prevailing time at the Franklin County Commissioners’ Office, 272 North Second Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201. Specifications, instructions and bid forms will be furnished by the Franklin County Procurement Office upon request at 272 North Second Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201, or by calling (717) 261-3890. The Franklin County Commissioners reserve the right to reject any or all bids and to waive any or all defects, errors, omissions, irregularities or informalities in any bid. Awards shall be made only to responsible bidders that possess the potential to perform successfully under the terms and conditions of this procurement. Consideration shall be given to such matters as bidder integrity, compliance with public policy, record of past performance and financial and technical resources when determining responsibility. FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Dean A. Horst, Chairman John T. Flannery Robert G. Ziobrowski LEGAL AD PRINTING AND MAILING OF COUNTY TAX BILLS & PER CAPITA TAX BILLS Proof of Publication Requested Please Publish – January 14, 2026 & January 20, 2026 REQUEST FOR BID PRINTING AND MAILING OF MUNICPAL, COUNTY & PER CAPITA TAX BILLS FOR THE FRANKLIN COUNTY TAX OFFICE COUNTY OF FRANKLIN, PENNSYLVANIA RFB# 2026138-01 County of Franklin, PA 272 North Second Street Chambersburg, PA 17201 INTRODUCTION 1. GENERAL INFORMATION. The County of Franklin, PA (“County”) is requesting bids from qualified vendors to provide Printing and Mailing of County/Municipal Tax Bills and Per Capita Tax Bills for 2026. 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE GOVERNMENT. The County of Franklin, PA was incorporated on September 9, 1784. The County is a fourth-class county with a population of 155,932 (2022 Census). It operates under a three-member elected Board of Commissioners. The County provides service to its citizens such as judicial administration, human services, public safety, public works, economic development and general administration. The Franklin County Tax office is comprised of tax assessment and tax claim functions. The assessment office values all real estate and improvements in the county and creates tax bills for the County, municipal governments and school districts. Tax claim collects all delinquent real estate taxes that are levied by the County, municipality or school district. 3. TIME REQUIREMENTS Request for Bid Issued Wednesday January 14, 2026 Questions & Answers Due by Wednesday January 21, 2026 at 4:00 PM Due Date for Bids Tuesday January 27, 2026 4:00 PM Bid Opening Wednesday January 28, 2024 10:00 AM Anticipated Award Wednesday February 4, 2026 INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS 1. PREPARATION OF BID 1.1 Bids shall be addressed to and will be received by the Franklin County Controller’s Office, Franklin County Administration Building, 272 North Second Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201 until 4:00 PM prevailing time on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. All bids so received will be publicly opened and read at the Franklin County Commissioners on Wednesday January 28, 2026 at 10:00 AM at their offices at 272 North Second Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201. 1.2 Bids shall be enclosed in sealed opaque envelopes. Bids shall be identified by disclosing on the face of the envelope the name of the project, “PRINTING AND MAILING OF MUNICPAL, COUNTY & PER CAPITA TAX BILLS” and the name of the bidder. 1.3 Attention is directed to the Bid Form in the Bidding Documents. This form must be used to submit a bid. Failure to fill out, execute and submit this form as specified is sufficient reason for rejection. 1.4 Bids must be signed by an owner, partner, member or in the case of a corporation, by the President or Vice President. 1.5 All applicable blank spaces in the bid shall be filled in clearly where indicated, either typed or written in ink. Altering and/or changing any part of this bid will be sufficient reason for rejection. 1.6 Where so indicated by the makeup of the Bid Form, sums shall be expressed in both words and figures, and in the case of discrepancy between the town, the written amount shall govern. 1.7 The owner reserves the rights to award the contracts to the other than lowest bidder if, in its opinion, the products included within such bids are not equal to the standard established for such projects in the specifications. 2. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 2.1 The Contractor shall pay for and provide all materials, labor and transportation and other services necessary for the proper completion of the work. 2.2 The Contractor shall comply with all rules, regulations, laws, etc. of any public or private authority bearing on the performance of their work. 2.3 Unless otherwise provided, the Contractor shall secure and pay for all permits and governmental fees, licenses and inspections necessary for the proper completion of the work. 2.4 If the Contractor performs any work knowing it to be contrary to such laws, rules and regulations, etc. and without such notice to the owner, he shall assume full responsibility therefore and shall bear all costs attributable thereto. 3. QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD 3.1 Questions will be accepted until Wednesday January 21, 2026 at 4:00 PM via email to procurement@franklincountypa.gov. Answers will be posted in a timely fashion at https://www.franklincountypa.gov/current-solicitation-opportunities/. 4. AWARD AND EXECUTION OF THE CONTRACT 4.1 When the bid has been accepted by the Owner, notification of such acceptance will be mailed to the successful bidder, at the address designated by the bidder on the BID FORM. 4.2 The award will be for 2026. The agreement will begin upon execution and end December 31, 2026. 5. WITHDRAWAL OF BIDS 5.1 Bids may not be modified, withdrawn or cancelled by the bidder for thirty (30) days after the time designated for the receipt of bids. 6. RIGHT TO REJECT BIDS 6.1 The owner reserves the right in its discretion to reject any or all bids and to waive irregularities or information in any bid and to award contracts on an item by item basis. Awards shall be made only to responsible bidders that possess the potential ability to perform successfully under the terms and conditions of this procurement. Consideration shall be given to such matters as bidder integrity, compliance with public policy, record of past performance, and financial and technical resources when determining responsibility. 7. TIME OF COMPLETION 7.1 The County Tax Bills and Per Capita Tax Bills must be mailed per the dates detailed in the specification section of this document. 8. EXEMPTION FROM FEDERAL EXCISE AND PENNSYLVANIA SALES TAX 8.1 The County of Franklin, PA is exempt from Federal Excise Taxes and Pennsylvania Sales Taxes as a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Prices as shown in the bid shall exclude such Federal and State Taxes. 9. PROTECTION BY VENDOR 9.1 The vendor agrees to indemnify and save harmless the County of Franklin, PA, its representatives, employees and agents, from all claims, demands, actions, suits and liabilities arising from the Vendor’s own fault or negligence or through the negligence or fault of the manufacturer of goods and reasonable attorney fees incurred by the county in response to such claims, demands, actions or liabilities, provided it ultimately determined that such claims result from the vendor’s or manufacturer’s fault or negligence. 9.2 The vendor shall not assign or otherwise transfer any of its responsibilities or obligations under the contract to any other person or entity without prior written consent of the county. 10. NONDISCRIMATION CLAUSE 10.1 Franklin County assures that no person shall be excluded from participating in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, creed, color, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or in violation of the Pennsylvania Hunan Relations Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, handicap or disability, or in violation of any applicable local, state, or federal laws. With advance notification, accommodations may be provided for those with special needs to language, speech, sight or hearing. If you have a request for a special need, wish to file a complaint, or desire additional information please contact the Risk Department at (717) 261-3819 or riskmgt@franklincountypa.gov. 11. CONTRACT PROVISIONS 11.1 After Franklin County makes its selection, it shall proceed to negotiate a contract based on the bid and scope of work for the project. If the County is unable to negotiate a satisfactory contract with the most highly qualified bidder, the County shall formally end negotiations with that bidder and being to negotiate with the second most highly qualified bidder. Negotiations shall continue in this sequence until a contract is agreed upon. 11.2 The performance of this contract shall be in accordance with all Federal, State and local laws as may be applicable. Any contract between Franklin County and the awarded bidder shall be subject to the rules and regulations of any agencies where funding is being requested. Franklin County reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, and to waive irregularities. Additionally, in the event that Franklin County procures grant funding assistance, the contract shall contain all necessary provisions of that grant award contract. 11.3 The contract between the County and the selected bidder will include the following non- negotiable contact provisions 11.3.1 Indemnification of the County. 11.3.2 Non-Indemnification of the contractor. 11.3.3 Forum Selection (Franklin County, PA Court of Common Pleas). 11.3.4 Choice of law (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania). 11.3.5 Termination for convenience/termination for cause by the County. 11.3.6 Work-for-Hire Transfer of Copyrights/Intellectual Property. 11.3.7 County ownership of the instruments of service/deliverables. 11.3.8 Prevailing party attorneys’ fees. 11.3.9 Nondiscrimination. 11.3.10 Suspension and debarment. 11.3.11 Release of liability in favor of the County. 11.3.12 Non-release of liability of the contractor. 11.3.13 Insurance Coverage and County status as an additional insured. 11.3.14 Terms of payment and invoicing, including 45-day payment period. 11.3.15 Data security, confidentiality, and use of County data and information. 11.3.16 Any and all federal and state provisions required as a result of grant funding. 11.4 The County reserves the right to request additional contract provisions it deems necessary as needed to protect the best interest of the County. BID SPECIFICATIONS COUNTY/MUNICIPAL TAX BILLS The work to be done by the printer consists of receiving the data file from Franklin County Tax Services, merging the data into the specified tax bill, producing the required number of each type of tax bills and mailing them by the dates and methods detailed below in this section. *All quantities are estimates only, and may be increased or decreased in accordance with actual requirements. There are no guaranteed minimums. The successful bidder will receive a data file from the County within 5 days of award. The bills must be mailed by March 1, 2026. A proof is required before mailing of the merged data file by February 13 in PDF format. The duplicate file of the completed bills should be emailed to the Director of Tax Services by March 1, 2026 year in PDF format. The County/Municipal Tax Bills consist of 3 items. Item 1: County/Municipal Tax Bill Quantity: Approximately 71,000* Quality: Commercial Flat Size: 8.5” x 11” Finish Size: 8.5” x 5.5” Paper Weight Basis 28# per 500 sheets (pressured sealed stock) Paper Color: white paper Ink color: black ink Pressure Sealed Perforate: In the center of the 11” length on the fold (bifold) Horizontal – Bottom tab is ½” Vertical – Side tabs are ½” each form the right and left sides Fold: 5 ½” down from the top. To be mailed by March 1, 2026 directly to the tax payers via presorted** first-class mail. The printer shall ensure presort** mail is completed to ensure the best postage rate is obtained. ** The printer must ensure that presort is stopped before changing any mailing addresses. The law is specific that the address on the mailer shall match the office record. Posting forwards or changes are not acceptable. Item 2: Copies of the County/Municipal Tax Bills Quantity: Approximately 8,000* Flat Size: 8.5” x 11” Paper Weight Basis 20# per 500 sheets Paper Color: white paper Ink color: black ink Not Pressure Sealed Perforate: In the center of the 11” length on the fold but kept flat These copies of the bills shall be sorted by tax collector and in bill number order with #1 on top. To be mailed by February 20, 2026 by a delivery service with tracking such as UPS or Fed-Ex to the Franklin County Tax Office at 272 North Second Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201. It is also acceptable for the successful bidder to deliver these via their own company vehicle. (Not this is not the Franklin County Area Tax Bureau). Item 3: Blank County/Municipal Tax Bills Quantity: Approximately 200* Flat Size: 8.5” x 11” Paper Weight Basis 20# per 500 sheets Paper Color: white paper Ink color: black ink Not Pressure Sealed Perforate: In the center of the 11” length on the fold but kept flat To be mailed by February 20, 2026 by a delivery service with tracking such as UPS or Fed-Ex to the Franklin County Tax Office at 272 North Second Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201. It is also acceptable for the successful bidder to deliver these via their own company vehicle. (Not this is not the Franklin County Area Tax Bureau). Examples of the County/Municipal Tax bills are shown in Attachment I. BID SPECIFICATIONS PER CAPITA TAX BILLS The work to be done by the printer consists of receiving the data file from Franklin County Tax Services, merging the data into the tax bill, producing the required number of tax bills and mailing them by the dates and methods detailed below in this section. *All quantities are estimates only, and may be increased or decreased in accordance with actual requirements. There are no guaranteed minimums. The successful bidder will receive a data file from the County within 5 days of award. The bills must be mailed by March 1, 2026. A proof is requested before mailing of the merged data file by February 13 in PDF format. The duplicate file of completed bills should be emailed to the Director of Tax Services by March 1, 2026 in PDF format. The Per Capita Tax Bills consist of 3 items. Item 1: Per Capita Tax Bill Quantity: Approximately 1,500* Quality: Commercial Flat Size: 8.5” x 11” Finish Size: 8.5” x 5.5” Paper Weight Basis 28# per 500 sheets (pressured sealed stock) Paper Color: white paper Ink color: black ink Pressure Sealed Perforate: In the center of the 11” length on the fold (bifold) Horizontal – Bottom tab is ½” Vertical – Side tabs are ½” each form the right and left sides Fold: 5 ½” down from the top. To be mailed by March 1, 2026 directly to the tax payers via presorted** first-class mail. The printer shall ensure presort** mail is completed to ensure the best postage rate is obtained. ** The printer must ensure that presort is stopped before changing any mailing addresses. The law is specific that the address on the mailer shall match the office record. Posting forwards or changes are not acceptable. Item 2: Copies of the Per Capita Tax Bills Quantity: Approximately 300* Flat Size: 8.5” x 11” Paper Weight Basis 20# per 500 sheets Paper Color: white paper Ink color: black ink Not Pressure Sealed Perforate: In the center of the 11” length on the fold but kept flat These copies of the bills shall be sorted by tax collector and in bill number order with #1 on top. To be mailed by February 20, 2026 by a delivery service with tracking such as UPS or Fed-Ex to the Franklin County Tax Office at 272 North Second Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201. It is also acceptable for the successful bidder to deliver these via their own company vehicle. (Not this is not the Franklin County Area Tax Bureau). Item 3: Blank Per Capita Tax Bills Quantity: Approximately 200* Flat Size: 8.5” x 11” Paper Weight Basis 20# per 500 sheets Paper Color: white paper Ink color: black ink Not Pressure Sealed Perforate: In the center of the 11” length on the fold but kept flat To be mailed by February 20, 2026 by a delivery service with tracking such as UPS or Fed-Ex to the Franklin County Tax Office at 272 North Second Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201. It is also acceptable for the successful bidder to deliver these via their own company vehicle. (Not this is not the Franklin County Area Tax Bureau). Examples of the Per Capita Tax Bill are shown in Attachment II. GENERAL Should the selected printer find discrepancies or omissions in the specifications or should any printer have doubt as to the meaning of said specifications, said printer should notify County Procurement at procurement@franklincountypa.gov before January 21, 2026 at 4:00 PM Responses will be posted in a timely fashion at https://www.franklincountypa.gov/current-solicitation-opportunities/. The Board of County Commissioners reserve the right to accept any bid which in their judgement may prove to be in the best interest of the taxpayer, and also reserves the right to waive any informalities in, or reject any or all bids. BID FORM PRINTING AND MAILING OF MUNICPAL, COUNTY AND PER CAPITA TAX BILLS To: Franklin County Controller’s Office Franklin County Administration Building 272 North Second Street Chambersburg, PA 17201 The undersigned, having carefully examined the specifications and instructions to bidders, and being familiar with the various requirements concerning the work, agree to furnish all materials and preform all work necessary in strict accordance with the Contract Documents for the consideration in the following amount: Description QTY Cost per Total County/Municipal Tax Bills – Pressure Sealed – 2026 71,000 Mailing – Presorted First Class Postage – 2026 71,000 Copies of County/Municipal Tax Bills – Flat – 2026 8,000 , Shipping/Delivery of Copies of County/Municipal Tax Bills – 2026 1 Blanks of County/Municipal Tax Bills – Flat - 2026 200 Shipping/Delivery of Blanks of County/Municipal Tax Bills – 2026 1 Other – Please specify TOTAL FOR COUNTY/MUNICIPAL TAX BILLS - 2026 Per Capita Tax Bills – Pressure Sealed – 2026 1500 Mailing – Presorted First Class Postage – 2026 1500 Copies of Per Capita Tax Bills – Flat – 2026 300 Shipping/Delivery of Copies of Per Capita Tax Bills – 2026 1 Blanks of Per Capita Tax Bills – Flat - 2026 200 Shipping/Delivery of Blanks of Per Capita Tax Bills – 2026 1 Other – Please specify TOTAL FOR PER CAPITA TAX BILLS - 2026 GRAND TOTAL - 2026 Notice of acceptance, or request for additional information, may be addressed to the undersigned at the address set forth below. The undersigned hereby declares that this bid is made without connection with any other person or persons making a bid for the same work and is without collusion or fraud. Submitted by:________________________________ (Type Name) Signed by: __________________________________ Title: ______________________________________ Address: ___________________________________ Phone: ____________________________________ Date: _____________________________________ SIGNATURES When the respondent is an individual: ___________________________________________ _______________________________________ Witness Respondent When the respondent is a partnership: ___________________________________________ _______________________________________ Respondent SEAL ___________________________________________ _______________________________________ Respondent SEAL When the respondent is an LLC. ___________________________________________ Member When the respondent is a corporation: CORPORATE SEAL BY: ATTEST: ____________________________________________ __________________________________________ President Secretary (Corporate Seal) The ______________________ is a Corporation organized and existing under the laws of _____________________________. BID CHECKLIST Bis Forms – 1 copy _____ ATTACHMENT I Samples of County/Municipal Tax Bill County Municipal Tax Bill Sample (not to scale) Blank of County/Municipal Tax Bill Sample (not to scale) ATTACHMENT II Samples of Per Capita Tax Bill Per Capita Tax Bill Sample (not to scale) Blank of Per Capita Tax Bill Sample (not to scale)