The vendor is required to provide legal process services on a statewide and out of state basis for the county.
- The successful bidder must possess knowledge of the applicable service of process provisions under state law including, but not limited to, the following: civil practice law and rules; surrogate’s court procedure act; family court act; mental hygiene law; social services law; real property tax law; and real property actions and proceedings law; estates, powers and trust law.
- Awarded contractor must have the ability to serve papers in non-adjacent counties in other states with reasonable diligence.
- Affidavits of service must be provided promptly after service as directed by each authorizing department
- The ability to verify addresses, when necessary, provide affidavits of due diligence when necessary and give testimony at any hearing to determine the propriety of service of process at no additional charge.
- Contractor must have fax and email capabilities.
- All costs for mailing, faxing, copying, etc. will not be reimbursed separately.
- There must be only one (1) service of process charge for multiple papers delivered to the same person unless these papers require multiple affidavits, in which case, if filing the affidavits, a charge of one half (1/2) the rate will be made for the second and each additional affidavit.
- For each additional paper served on another party at the same address and at the same time, the service of process charge must be one-half (1/2) the rate.
- The county of typically spends between $25,000.00-$35,000.00 a year on process service.
- Process of service fees:
• Process service fees must be an all-inclusive fee, per person served and not based on the number of locations visited or the number of visits to each location required for service
- In-hand service
• Hand the papers to the person and keep making attempts until you find the person and serve him/her.
- Standard and basic service
• Must be defined as service occurring within four (4) calendar days and not more than seven (7) calendar days, including the day received. Saturday must be used for calculating days for billing.
• Substituted service (i.e., suitable age and discretion) is acceptable if authorized by requesting department.
- Rush service
• Rush service will be service occurring within three (3) calendar days from the date of receipt. contractor must be available to pick-up a rush service from the county office requesting the service or receive via email within a maximum of one (1) hour.
• Saturday must be used for calculating days for billing.
- Immediate and same day service
• Immediate same day service will be defined as service occurring within same calendar days including the date of receipt.
• Contractor must be available to pick-up an immediate and same day service from the county office requesting the service or receive via email within a maximum of one (1) hour.
- Handling fee
• A nominal fee in the amount of $25.00 may be charged for an attempt of service on a bad, incorrect or changed address.
• Quantities listed on the bid table for this service are based upon the annual average, however they can be greater or less than specified
- Flat fee for service at a hospital and psychiatric facility which includes wait time
• A flat fee should be provided for any process service to be carried out at a hospital or psychiatric facility that may involve wait time for patient access.
- Contract Period/Term: 4 years