Active SLED Opportunity · MARYLAND · WICOMICO COUNTY
AI Summary
Wicomico County seeks bids for a Master Contract to provide licensed tree trimming and removal services on an on-call basis for county properties. The contract runs from August 2026 to July 2027 with renewal options. Emergency response and compliance with regulations are required. Bids due July 24, 2026.
The County is seeking bids from qualified Vendors to contract for Master Contract to provide Tree Trimming & Removal Services in accordance with the terms and conditions and specifications set forth in this solicitation.
Bid Documents will be prepared simply and economically, providing straightforward and concise description of the Vendor’s capabilities to satisfy the requirements of the Bid Documents. Emphasis should be on completeness and clarity of content. Elaborate brochures and other representations beyond that sufficient to present a complete and effective Bid Document are neither required nor desired.
1. Wicomico County is subject to the Maryland Public Information Act and may be required to release bid submissions in accordance with the Act.
2. Any materials the Vendor deems to be proprietary or copyrighted must be marked as such; however, the material may still be subject to analysis under the Maryland Public Information Act.
a. The Vendor may invoke proprietary information or trade secret protection for submission of any data/material by (1) identifying the data/material in a written description, (2) clearly marking the data/material as proprietary, and (3) providing a written statement detailing the reasons why protection is necessary. The County reserves the right to ask for additional clarification prior to establishing protection.
| Release Project Date: | July 10, 2026 |
| Question Submission Deadline: | July 17, 2026, 12:00pm |
| Response Submission Deadline: | July 24, 2026, 2:30pm |
1. It is understood that, except as otherwise specifically stated in the Bid Documents, the Successful Vendor will provide and pay for all materials, labor, tools, equipment, water, light, power, transportation, supervision, temporary construction of any nature, and all other services and facilities of any nature whatsoever necessary to execute, complete, and deliver the Work within the specified time.
2. Materials and equipment will be so stored as to insure the preservation of their quality and fitness for the Work. Stored materials and equipment to be incorporated in the Work will be located so as to facilitate prompt inspection.
3. Manufactured articles, materials, and equipment will be applied, installed, connected, erected, used, cleaned and conditioned as directed by the manufacturer.
4. Materials, supplies, and equipment will be in accordance with samples submitted by the Successful Vendor and approved by the County.
Professional firms or individuals that submit a bid for award of a contract (“Contract”) are referred to as vendors (“Vendors”) in this document. The Vendor that is awarded the Contract is herein referred to as the (“Successful Vendor”).
1. A written award by the County to the Successful Vendor in the form of a Purchase Order or other contract document will result in a binding Contract without further action by either party. If the Successful Vendor fails or refuses to sign and deliver the Contract and the required insurance documentation, the County will have the right to award to the next responsible and responsive Vendor. Contract will be executed by the Successful Vendor within fourteen (14) calendar days of receipt of the Contract.
2. Bid Documents and Contracts issued by the County will bind the Vendor to applicable conditions and requirements herein set forth, unless otherwise specified in the Bid Documents, and are subject to all federal, state, and municipal laws, rules, regulations, and limitations.
3. County personal property taxes (“Taxes”) must be on a current basis; if any such Taxes are delinquent, they must be paid before award of Contract. Failure to pay will result in the award of Contract to another Vendor.
4. The County reserves the right to engage in individual discussions and interviews with those Vendors deemed fully qualified, responsible, suitable and professionally competent to provide the required Goods and/or Services should the project size warrant it. Vendors will be encouraged to elaborate on their qualifications, performance data, and staff expertise.
5. The County intends to award to the lowest Responsive and Responsible Vendor meeting the specifications.
6. If it is in the best interest of the County, awards may be made to multiple vendors to ensure availability at all times.
The Successful Vendor agrees to retain all books, records, and other documents relative to the awarded Contract for five (5) years after final payment, or until audited. The County, its authorized agents, and/or State auditors will have full access to and the right to examine any of said materials during said period.
Bidders shall submit all inquiries regarding this bid via the e-Procurement Portal, located at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/wicomicocounty. Please note the deadline for submitting inquiries. All answers to inquiries will be posted on the e-Procurement Portal. Bidders may also click “Follow” on this bid to receive an email notification when answers are posted. It is the responsibility of the bidder to check the website for answers to inquiries.
1. Complete all bid submission requirements in the Vendor Bid section.
2. Each Bid submission will be certified by the person(s) legally authorized to bind the Vendor to a contract, using the legal name of the signer. Bid Documents submitted by an agent will have a current Power of Attorney attached certifying the agent’s authority to bind the Vendor.
3. Vendor will supply all information and submittals required by the Bid Documents to constitute a proper and responsible completed Bid Document package.
4. Any ambiguity in the Bid Documents as a result of omission, error, lack of clarity, or non compliance by the Vendor with specifications, instructions, and/or all conditions of bidding will be construed in the light most favorable to the County.
1. Successful Vendor will be responsible for initiating, maintaining, and supervising all safety precautions and programs in connection with the Work. Successful Vendor will take all necessary precautions and programs in connection with the Work. Successful Vendor will take all necessary precautions for the safety of, and will provide the necessary protection to prevent damage, injury, or loss to all employees on the Work and other persons who may be affected thereby, all the Work and all materials or equipment to be incorporated therein, whether in storage on off the site, and other property at the site or adjacent thereto, including trees, shrubs, lawns, walks, pavements, roadways, structures, and utilities not designated for removal, relocation or replacement in the course of construction.
2. Successful Vendor will comply with all applicable laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, and orders of any public body having jurisdiction. Successful Vendor will erect and maintain, as require by the conditions and progress of the Work, all necessary safeguards for safety and protection. Successful Vendor will notify owners of adjacent utilities when progress of the Work may affect them. The Successful Vendor will remedy all damage, injury, or loss to any property caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, by Successful Vendor, any Subcontractor, or anyone directly or indirectly employed by any of them or anyone for whose acts any of them be liable.
3. In emergencies affecting the safety of persons or the Work or property at the site or adjacent thereto, the Successful Vendor, without special instruction or authorization from the County, will act to prevent threatened damage, injury, or loss. Successful Vendor will give the County prompt Written Notice of any significant changes in the Work or deviations from the Bid Documents caused thereby, and a Change Order will thereupon be issued covering the changes and deviations involved.
The County reserves the right to inspect all operations and to withhold payment for any goods not performed or not performed in accordance with the specifications in this Bid Document.
Errors, omissions, or mistakes in performance will be corrected at no cost to the County. Failure to do so will be cause for withholding of payment for that Goods and/or Services. In addition, if deficiencies are not corrected in a timely manner, the County may characterize the Successful Vendor as uncooperative, which may jeopardize future project order solicitations.
1. Submit Electronic Responses via the e-Procurement Portal https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/wicomicocounty.
2. Bids are due Friday, July 24, 2026, 2:30 pm, and will be opened at the time listed in the e-Procurement Portal.
3. Vendors, or their authorized agents, are expected to fully inform themselves as to the conditions, requirements, and specifications before submitting Bid Documents; failure to do so will be at the Vendor’s own risk.
4. A fully executed Affidavit of Qualification to Bid will be uploaded with each Bid Submission.
5. MINORITY VENDORS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE.
6. All Vendor submitted Bid Documents will be valid for a minimum of sixty (60) days from the date of Bid Document opening.
1. The Successful Vendor shall provide, erect, and maintain all necessary barricades, sufficient red lights, flares, danger signals and signs, provide a sufficient number of watchmen, and take all necessary precautions for the protection of the work and safety of the public.
A Bid Document may not be modified, withdrawn, or cancelled by the Vendor during the stipulated time period following the time and date designated for the receipt of Bid Documents, and each Vendor so agrees in submitting Bid Documents.
1. The Contract may be cancelled or annulled by the County in whole or in part by written notice of default to the Successful Vendor upon non-performance, violation of Contract terms, delivery failure, bankruptcy or insolvency, any violation of state or local laws, or the making of an assignment for the benefit of creditors. An award may then be made to the next most highly rated Vendor, or when time is of the essence, similar commodities and/or service may be purchased on the open market. In either event, the defaulting Vendor (or his surety) will be liable to the County for cost to the County in excess of the defaulted Contract price.
2. If a representative or warranty of either Party to the Contract is false or misleading in any material respect, or if either Party breaches a material provision of the Contract (“Cause”), the non-breaching Party will give the other Party written notice of such cause. If such Cause is not remedied within fifteen (15) calendar days (“Cure Period”) after receipt of such notice, (unless, with respect to those Causes which cannot be reasonably corrected or remedied within the Cure Period, the breaching Party will have commenced to correct or remedy the same within such Cure Period and thereafter will proceed with all due diligence to correct or remedy the same), the Party giving notice will have the right to terminate this Contract upon the expiration of the Cure Period.
1. The Successful Vendor shall have all necessary licenses required to do the work and give all notices and obtain and pay all necessary permits required by local laws and regulations for building.
2. State and Federal permits (if applicable) to undertake work have been obtained by the County and accompany these specifications.
1. Unless otherwise specified, the Contract will be awarded to the most RESPONSIBLE and RESPONSIVE Vendor complying with the provisions of the Bid Documents, provided the Bid price is reasonable, does not exceed the funds available, and it is in the best interest of the County to accept it. The County reserves the right to reject the Bid Documents of any Vendor who has previously failed to perform properly in any way or complete on time contracts of a similar nature; or a Bid Document from a Vendor who, investigation shows, is not in a position to perform the Contract; or Bid Documents from any person, firm, or corporation which is in arrears or in default to the County for any debt or contract.
2. Completed Bid Documents from Vendors debarred from doing business with the State of Maryland or the Federal Government will not be accepted.
3. In determining a Vendor’s RESPONSIBILITY, the County may consider the following qualifications, in addition to price:
a. Ability, capacity, and skill to provide the commodities or services required within the specified time, including future maintenance and service, and including current financial statement or other evidence of pecuniary resources and necessary facilities.
b. Character, integrity, reputation, experience, and efficiency.
c. Quality of past performance on previous or existing contracts, including a list of current and past contracts and other evidence of performance ability.
d. Previous and existing compliance with laws and ordinances relating to contracts with the County and to the Vendor’s employment practices.
e. Evidence of adequate insurance to comply with Contract terms and conditions.
f. Statement of current work load and capacity to perform/provide the Goods and/or Services.
g. Explanation of methods to be used in fulfilling the Contract.
h. The Vendor, if requested, will be prepared to supply evidence of its qualifications, listed above, and its capacity to provide/perform the Goods and/or Services; such evidence to be supplied within a specified time and to the satisfaction of the County.
4. In determining a Vendor’s RESPONSIVENESS, the County will consider whether the Bid Document conforms in all material respects to the Bid Documents. The County reserves the right to waive any irregularities that may be in its best interest to do so.
5. The County will have the right to reject any and all Bid Documents, where applicable to accept in whole or in part, to add or delete quantities, to waive any informalities or irregularities in the Bid Document received, to reject a Bid Document not accompanied by required Bid security or other data required by the Bid Documents, and to accept or reject any Bid Document which deviates from specifications when in the best interest of the County. Irrespective of any of the foregoing, the County will have the right to award the Contract in its own best interests.
1. The Successful Vendor shall maintain, at all times during the progress of work, a competent and experienced supervisor who shall represent the Successful Vendor, and all directions given to him shall be binding. Important decisions of any directions, if requested by the supervisor, shall be confirmed in writing.
2. Supervision by the County or its representative does not relieve the Successful Vendor of responsibility for defective work executed under the direct control of the Successful Vendor. Responsibility for defective work rests upon the Successful Vendor, whether discovered by the County prior to final payment or subsequent thereto.
1. The Vendor certifies that his/her Bid is made without any previous understanding, agreement, or connection with any person, firm, or corporation making a Bid Document for the same project; without prior knowledge of competitive prices; and is in all respects fair, without outside control, collusion, fraud, or otherwise illegal action.
2. Upon signing the Bid Document, Vendor certifies that no member of the governing body of the County, or members of his/her immediate family, including spouse, parents or children, or any other officer or employee of the County, or any member or employee of a Commission, Board, or Corporation controlled or appointed by the Executive or Council has received or has been promised, directly or indirectly, any financial benefit, related to this Bid Document and subsequent Contract.
1. In buying products directly from a Vendor, Wicomico County is exempt from being directly charged Federal excise and Maryland sales tax. A copy of an exemption certificate shall be furnished upon request.
2. According to the Office of the Comptroller of Maryland, a Contractor is responsible for paying sales tax on his/her purchases relating to any projects or services and should incorporate it into their bid.
3. Contractors cannot use the County tax exemption to buy materials or products used on County projects.
1. The Vendor must comply with the laws regarding conducting business in the State of Maryland. All Vendors shall provide a copy Certificate of Status from the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation, evidencing the Vendor is in good standing with the State of Maryland. See https://sdatcert1.resiusa.org/certificate_net/ for information on obtaining the Certificate of Status. Certificates of status are not available for trade names, name reservations, government agencies, sole proprietorships, and some other accounts as these are not legal entities and thus are not required for these categories of Vendors. For more information on the Certificate of Status please see http://www.dat.state.md.us/sdatweb/COSinfo.html.
2. Wicomico County reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to extend the date this documentation must be provided. The Vendor’s inability to provide this documentation could result in the bid being rejected.
3. All Vendors who wish to bid on County projects and contracts need to register as a bidder at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/wicomicocounty.
1. Upon completion of the items within a given location as specified and before monthly estimates will be paid, the construction area and all other areas occupied by the Successful Vendor during the construction of said Contract shall be cleaned of all surplus and discarded materials, bracing, forms, rubbish, and temporary structures that were placed there by the Successful Vendor.
2. Disposal of the aforementioned shall be the responsibility of the Successful Vendor.
1. The County, without invalidating the contract, may order extra work or make changes by altering, adding, or deducting from the work with the contract sum being adjusted accordingly.
2. All such work shall be executed under the conditions of the original contract, except that any claim for the extension of time caused thereby shall be adjusted at the time of ordering such change.
3. The value of any such extra work or change shall be determined in one or more of the following ways:
a. By estimate and acceptance of lump sum.
b. By unit prices named in the contract or subsequently agreed upon.
1. NO CLAIMS may be made by anyone that the scope of the project or that the Vendor’s Goods and/or Services have been changed (requiring changes to the amount of compensation to the Vendor or other adjustments to the Contract) UNLESS such changes or adjustments have been made by an approved WRITTEN AMENDMENT (Change Order) to the Contract signed by the Purchasing Agent (and the County Council, if required), prior to additional Goods and/or Services being initiated. Extra Goods and/or Services performed without prior, approved, written authority will be considered as unauthorized and at the expense of the Vendor. Payment will not be made by the County.
2. NO ORAL conversations, agreements, discussions, or suggestions, which involve changes to the scope of the Contract, made by anyone including any County employee, will be honored or valid. No written agreements or changes to the scope of the Contract made by anyone other than the Purchasing Agent (with County Council approval, if required) will be honored or valid.
3. If any Change Order in the Goods and/or Services results in a reduction in the Goods and/or Services, the Vendor will neither have, nor assert any claim for, nor be entitled to any additional compensation for damages or for loss of anticipated profits on Goods and/or Services that are eliminated.
The proposed descriptive literature fully describing the product bid is what is intended to be included as the price. Failure to do so may be cause for rejection of the bid. Any items, systems or devices supplied in this bid that are proprietary in nature relative to maintenance, repair, servicing or updating must be disclosed on the bid form.
Before a Vendor submits the Bid Documents it will need to become fully informed as to the extent and character of the Goods and/or Services required and are expected to completely familiarize themselves with the requirements of this Bid Document’s specifications. Failure to do so will not relieve the Vendor of the responsibility to fully perform in accordance therewith. No consideration will be granted for any alleged misunderstanding of the material to be furnished or the Services to be performed, it being understood that the submission of a Bid Document is an agreement with all of the items and conditions referred to herein.
1. The Work contemplated under this Contract shall be considered as continuous and be completed within the timeframe(s) stated in General Conditions Section.
2. The Successful Vendor will be allowed to work eight (8) hours per day, Monday through Friday, except for holidays, 52 weeks per year.
3. The Successful Vendor will not be permitted to work on holidays observed by Wicomico County or the State of Maryland or on Sundays unless otherwise authorized in writing.
4. In case of an emergency which may require that work be done on Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays, the Successful Vendor shall request permission of the County to do so. If, in the opinion of the County, the emergency is bona fide, permission may be granted to the Successful Vendor to work such hours as may be determined are necessary by the County. Also, if in the opinion of the County a bona fide emergency exists, the Successful Vendor may be directed to work such hours as may be necessary whether or not the Successful Vendor requests permission to do so.
5. The Successful Vendor shall pay the County for all costs incurred for inspection services required for work permitted during holidays, weekends or in excess of eight (8) hours per day.
1. No oral statements of any person will modify or otherwise affect or interpret the meaning of the Contract specifications, or the terms, conditions, or other portions of the Contract. All modifications and every request for any interpretation must be addressed to the Wicomico County’s Purchasing Agent and to be given consideration, must be received no later than the last day for questions listed in the project timeline.
2. Any and all interpretations, corrections, revisions, and amendments will be issued by the Purchasing Agent to all holders of Bid Documents in the form of written addenda. Vendors are cautioned that any oral statements made by any County employee that materially change any portion of the Bid Documents will not be relied upon unless subsequently ratified by a formal written amendment to the Bid Document.
3. All addenda will be issued so as to be received at least five (5) calendar days prior to the time set for receipt of Bid Documents, and will become part of the Contract and will be acknowledged in the electronic bid submission. Failure of any Vendor to receive any such addenda will not relieve said Vendor from any obligation under the Bid Document as submitted.
4. Vendors are cautioned to refrain from including in their Bid Document any substitutions, which are not confirmed by written addenda.
5. The Wicomico County Purchasing Agent reserves the right to postpone the Bid Document opening for any major changes occurring in the 5-day interim which would otherwise necessitate an Addendum.
1. Any exceptions or substitutions to the specifications requested should be marked in the bid document submission.
2. An exception to the specifications may not necessarily disqualify the bid. The County will determine if the exception is an essential deviation or a minor item.
3. In the case of a minor deviation, the County maintains the option to award to that Vendor if it determines the performance is not adversely affected by the exception.
1. If the Successful Vendor shall fail to start and complete the project within the time frame stated above, the County shall assess liquidated damages in the amounts listed below per calendar day for each and every day the Successful Vendor fails to complete the contract.
| Amount of Contract | Liquidated Damages per Day |
| Less than $10,000 | $100.00 |
| $10,000 or less than $100,000 | $250.00 |
| $100,000 or less than $500,000 | $750.00 |
| $500,000 or more $1,000.00 | $1000.00 |
Or will be based on actual cost to the County, whichever is greater.
2. The designated County project manager reserves the option to extend the scheduled completion date or waive the liquidated damages clause in its entirety if he is of the opinion that extenuating circumstances deemed such action appropriate.
1. Wicomico County may authorize, upon request, any governmental entity (hereafter Authorized User) within the County to purchase items under the contract awarded pursuant to this bid solicitation.
2. All purchase orders issued against the contract by an authorized User shall be honored by the Contractor in accordance with all terms and conditions of this contract.
3. The issuance of a purchase order by an Authorized User pursuant to this provision shall constitute an express assumption of all contractual obligations, covenants, conditions and terms of the contract. A breach of the contract by any particular Authorized User shall neither constitute nor be deemed a breach of the contract as a whole which shall remain in full force and effect, and shall not affect the validity of the contract nor the obligations of the Contractor thereunder respecting the County.
4. The County specifically and expressly disclaims any and all liability for any breach by an authorized User other than the County and each such Authorized User and Contractor guarantee to save the County, its officers, agents and employees harmless from any liability that may be or is imposed by the Authorized User’s failure to perform in accordance with its obligations under the contract.
1. The Successful Vendor will promptly remove from the premises all Work rejected by the County for failure to comply with the Bid Documents, whether incorporated in the construction or not, and the Successful Vendor will promptly replace and re-execute the Work in accordance with the Bid Documents and without expense to the County and will bear the expense of making good all Work of other Vendors destroyed or damaged by such removal or replacement.
2. All removal and replacement Work will be done at the Successful Vendor’s expense. If the Successful Vendor does not act to remove such rejected Work within ten (10) days after receipt of Written Notice, the County may remove such Work and store the materials at the expense of the Successful Vendor.
1. It is a condition of this contract, and shall be made a condition of each sub-contract entered into pursuant to this contract, that the Successful Vendor and any sub-contractor shall not require any laborer or mechanic employed in performance of the contract to work in surroundings or under working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to his health or safety, as determined under construction safety and health standards (Title 29, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1926, formerly Part 1518, as revised from time to time, promulgated by the United States Secretary of Labor, in accordance with Section 107 of the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standard Act.) (83 Stat. 96).
2. Failure of Wicomico County to inform the Successful Vendor of safety violations will not release the Successful Vendor of his responsibilities.
All items shall be delivered F.O.B. destination and delivery costs and charges included in the bid unless otherwise stated in the specifications or bid form.
1. If required by the General Conditions or Terms and Conditions, the Successful Vendor shall provide the County with Certificates of Insurance within ten (10) calendar days of bid award notification evidencing the required coverage.
2. Successful Vendor must provide Certificates of Insurance before commencing work in connection with the Contract.
1. Bid Documents must be accompanied by a Bid Bond if the Vendor’s total Bid amount exceeds $100,000, payable to the County for five (5%) percent of the total amount of the bid. After the analysis of the Bid Documents the County will return Bid Bonds to all Vendors except the three (3) lowest Responsive and Responsible Vendors. After execution of the Contract, and receipt, execution, and approval of the Successful Vendor’s Payment and Performance bond, the Bid Bonds will be returned. A certified check may be used in lieu of a Bid Bond.
2. The County, at its discretion, may consider a Vendor in default if the Vendor fails to execute the Contract, in which the County will retain said Bid Bond.
1. The Successful Vendor will be required to provide the County with a Performance Bond and Payment Bond, if the total Contract amount exceeds $100,000, each in the amount of one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, with a corporate surety approved by the County for the faithful performance of the Contract.
2. The Successful Vendor will within fourteen (14) calendar days after the receipt of the Contract furnish the County with a Performance Bond and Payment Bond in penal sums equal to the amount of the Contract Price, conditioned upon the performance by the Successful Vendor of all undertakings, covenants, terms, conditions, and agreements of the Bid Documents, and upon the prompt payment by the Successful Vendor to all persons supplying labor and materials in the prosecution of the Work provided by the Bid Document. Such Bonds will be executed by the Successful Vendor and corporate bonding company licensed to transact such business in the state in which the Work is to be performed and named on the current list of "Surety Companies Acceptable on Federal Bonds" as published in the Circular Number 570. The expense of these Bonds will be borne by the Successful Vendor. If at any time a surety on any such Bond is declared bankrupt or loses its right to do business in the State of Maryland OR IS REMOVED FROM THE LIST OF SURETY COMPANIES ACCEPTED ON FEDERAL BONDS, Successful Vendor will within ten (10) calendar days after notice from the County TO DO SO, SUBSTITUTE AN ACCEPTABLE Bond(s) in such form and sum and signed by such other surety or sureties as may be satisfactory to the County.
1. If some characteristic of the bid requires that the bid must be reviewed by the County Council, the award can be expected within 30 calendar days after County Council approval.
2. Bid tabulations will be posted on the e-Procurement Portal. Bid tabulations will be posted as soon as reasonably possible after the Bid opening.
(See Section I, "Qualification" for more information.)
Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.
Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.
Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.
This one of three references required for which the Vendor has provided Goods/Services similar to those requested in the Bid Document within the last 12-36 months. Include
in the space below.
This one of three references required for which the Vendor has provided Goods/Services similar to those requested in the Bid Document within the last 12-36 months. Include
in the space below.
This one of three references required for which the Vendor has provided Goods/Services similar to those requested in the Bid Document within the last 12-36 months. Include
in the space below.
Except as listed below, or on separate sheets attached in "Additional Documents", the enclosed Completed Bid Document covers all items as specified. (If none, write NONE)
Ex. Engineering
Yes means that a bid bond will be required for this project.
Ex. 2
Ex. January 1, 2025- December 31, 2025
SLED stands for State, Local, and Education. These are solicitations issued by state governments, counties, cities, school districts, utilities, and higher education institutions — as opposed to federal agencies.
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