5-22-12 (Shepard Bros) APPROVED EQUALS.doc

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

New Question posted for Solicitation: RFQ 17D 12050800000000000969

SHEPARD BROS., INC.

REQUESTS FOR APPROVED EQUALS/EXCEPTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS

SEC.

1.2

SUBJECT:

REQUEST:

Shepard Bros., Inc. respectfully requests that the Maine DOT accept that ISO certification be in place prior to delivery and payment of the vehicles. Coach & Equipment is currently in the final stages of ISO certification and have actively solicited ISO auditors to come in and complete the process. Coach & Equipment anticipates ISO certification to be complete within the next 60 days. Shepard Bros., Inc. can and will submit documentation supporting Coach & Equipments ISO efforts as well as their current quality program. There are very well respected and high quality transit bus manufactures that started the process of ISO certification and terminated the process because they did not see the value in it. Maine transit systems, in the very recent past, have accepted profuct from said manufactures and consider them high quality vehicles.

Question Date: 2012-05-22

COMMENTS:

Must be ISO certified as specification states.

APPROVED ()

DENIED (X)

CLARIFICATION ( )

SEC.

18.1

SUBJECT:

REQUEST:

Shepard Bros., Inc. respectfully requests that the Maine DOT clarify if plywood can be used as a structural part of the sidewall, roof, or rear body construction. Please clarify if a detailed drawing and/or description of the rear wall construction is to be included with bid documentation.

Question Date: 2012-05-22

COMMENTS:

Most body manufacturers gave documentation of compliance with regulations, test results and/or standards. In the case of FMVSS, a statement from the manufacturer has always been acceptable. Must meet FMVSS 220-221. In the case of equipment we request document from third party tester.

APPROVED ()

DENIED (X)

CLARIFICATION ( )

SEC.

18.3

SUBJECT:

Floor Framing

REQUEST:

Shepard Bros., Inc. respectfully requests that the Maine DOT accept a floor framing method as “Z” members in lieu of “C” channel. The Coach and Equipment floor structure is built using 50,000 psi high tensil strength/low alloy steel in the form of a “Z” member. This floor has been tested in transits most challenging terrain with great success. Coach & Equipment also had an FEI (Finite Element Analysis) from a 3rd party consultant firm. The firm recommended this strength and for of steel floor construction.

Question Date: 2012-05-22

COMMENTS:

Please provide a better description of what size steel. Most body manufacturers gave documentation of compliance with regulations, test results and/or standards. In the case of FMVSS, a statement from the manufacturer has always been acceptable. Must meet FMVSS 220-221. In the case of equipment we request document from third party tester.

APPROVED ()

DENIED ( )

CLARIFICATION (X)

SEC.

18.6

SUBJECT:

Roof

REQUEST:

Shepard Bros., Inc. respectfully requests that the Maine DOT clarify what is meant by “front to back”. Should the roof framing be identical to the sidewall, as specified in section 18.5, extend all the way forward of the sidewall and passenger compartment and above the driver seat or will a roof construction terminating at the passenger compartment, leaving the area above the driver exposed, be accepted. Extending the roof structure forward of the passenger compartment and above the driver is a common construction practice used in building activity and school buses. The cutaway bus market does not, as standard, extend the roof structure over the driver and in many instances only uses a cosmetic fiberglass header with minimal steel structure over the driver. The cosmetic header will tie into the roof structure behind the driver.

Question Date: 2012-05-22

COMMENTS:

No different than standard market. Most body manufacturers gave documentation of compliance with regulations, test results and/or standards. In the case of FMVSS, a statement from the manufacturer has always been acceptable. Must meet FMVSS 220-221. In the case of equipment we request document from third party tester.

APPROVED (X)

DENIED ( )

CLARIFICATION ( )

SEC.

18.8

SUBJECT:

REQUEST:

Shepard Bros., Inc. respectfully requests that the Maine DOT provide a recommended construction process or a performance requirement for the sidewalls and rear cap being attached to the floor structure. The chassis OEM only makes a recommendation on how the floor be attached to the chassis frame rails. Does the MaineDOT require the vehicle body be mounted to the floor structure to resist shear to the greatest extent? Does the MaineDOT require that the sidewalls be mounted to the floor structure at a point below the floor rather than on top of the floor? Mounting the sidewalls and rear cap below the floor may add additional resistance to shearing during a side or rear impact.

Question Date: 2012-05-22

COMMENTS:

Most body manufacturers gave documentation of compliance with regulations, test results and/or standards. In the case of FMVSS, a statement from the manufacturer has always been acceptable. Must meet FMVSS Roll Over Certification 220-221. In the case of equipment we request document from third party tester.

APPROVED ()

DENIED ( )

CLARIFICATION (X)