The City of Bismarck is calling for interested qualified persons to submit sealed bids for one City of Bismarck Class E Alcohol License (“on” and/or “off” sale, beer only). A minimum bid of $30,000.00 is required. This is a new license and may be sited as allowed by City Ordinance and as approved by the Bismarck City Commission. Sealed bids must be delivered to the office of the City Administrator, 221 North 5th Street, Bismarck, North Dakota, 58501, before 3:00 PM on October 6, 2023. The mailing address is: Bismarck City Administration, PO Box 5503, Bismarck, North Dakota, 58506-5503. Bids will be opened at 4:00 PM on October 6, 2023, at the Office of the City Administrator, 221 North 5th Street, Bismarck, North Dakota. Interested persons must meet all of the requirements of City Ordinance Chapter 5-01 in order to be awarded a City of Bismarck Alcohol License. The award will be based on the highest qualified bid. Award and issuance of a license and approval of a site are subject to Bismarck City Commission approval. Bids must be submitted on a form provided by the City of Bismarck.

Each bid must be on the form contained in this package and must be accompanied by an application fee of $200 in the form of a certified check or money order payable to the City of Bismarck. The application fee shall be non-refundable to the highest bidder for each license but shall be refundable to unsuccessful bidders.

Each bidder shall bid in their own name on their own behalf or in an official capacity as an employee or owner of a company. Each bidder agrees to honor their bid for a period of 60 days after the opening date. The City of Bismarck reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

The award shall be based upon the highest amount bid and subject to that bidder’s ability to meet the requirements for licensure under City Ordinance Chapter 5-01. The successful bidder shall apply for an alcohol license pursuant to City Ordinance 5-01-06. If a bidder/applicant is not awarded a license, their bid shall be rejected, and the next highest bid shall be awarded the license subject to that bidder’s ability to meet the requirements for licensure under City Ordinance Chapter 5-01.

A request for site approval may be submitted with the application. Each successful bidder awarded a license must gain site approval and begin operations within one year of the license issuance. Only persons intending to conduct operations under the license are invited to submit bids. A successful bidder may not transfer a license issued pursuant to this sale to another person without first having begun operations as defined in City Ordinance 5-01-09(10).

Upon issuance of each license, the successful bidder shall pay the full amount of the bid and the pro-rated annual fee. Ordinances relevant to this process are attached to these instructions. If you have further questions, please consult the City Ordinances or contact the City Attorney’s Office at 355-1340.