Att G - Q & A State Response.xlsx

Question & Inquiry Form

Per the Main Document on Page 35, the MBE and/or WBE is Not applicable for this solicitation.

All past QPA’s for Mobility Vans, as well as current QPA 44253, included terms for annual price increases, however, there are no provisions or terms in the bid documents related to price increases. RFP 20-005 (QPA 44253) included the annual price increase terms on Attachment D Cost Proposal.

We are confident that no bidder would accept a multi-year contract without price increase provisions and could result in bidders choosing not to bid. We request the bid and awarded contract include terms for a 2 component annual price increase as follows:

1: Body portion price increase based on Producer Price Index Series ID WPU1413 / Truck and Bus Bodies. This does not include the chassis portion of the base vehicle price.

2. Chassis portion price increase based on OEM chassis invoice pricing. The chassis portion of the vehicle does not include any mark up costs, and a chassis increase would only be for the actual chassis cost increase from the last model year to the new model year.

C39 C40 Optional Side Entry Folding Ramps 30" x 45" folding ramp 30" x 62" folding ramp 31" x 57" Ramp Note that this corresponds with Q&A No.42.

These 3 ramps are no longer available and we request that these options be deleted.

There is one optional side entry ramp available which is the 30" x 57" Swing Away Ramp .

Please see PDF Q&A No.9 Small Delete Lift 14 Passenger Floor Plan.

We request changing Cell C45 to:

Please approve:

"Large" Cell C71

C72

C73 Body Length : 270" Overall Length and 26" minimum hip to knee room

Body Length: 285" Overall Length and 34" minimum hip to knee room.

12 Ambulatory 2 W/C Bus Body Size

Please consider that these 3 options have "morphed" over the last two QPAs 15273 & 44253 into what they are today, and could be greatly simplified to one option The listed body lengths of 270" & 285" are specific to pre-COVID body sizes which no longer exist. The QPA 44253 offered 279" & 291", and in addition, QPA 44253 moved solely to the 291" mid contract. Any shorter body length creates very tight spacing between the wheel well and rear wall for the larger retractors.

Please see PDF Q&A No.12 Medium 291 inch 12+2 Floor Plan.

Lastly, please note that these are currently categorized as an alternate body size "Large Transit", which is very confusing to purchasers. QPA Transit operators who are familiar with this size refer to these as a Medium Transit Vehicle. We request the following revisions:

Cell C71 / request this be deleted (see Cell 73 requested revision below):

Body Length: 270" Overall Length and 26" minimum hip to knee room.

Cell C72 / request this be deleted (see Cell 73 requested revision below):

Body Length: 285" Overall Length and 34" minimum hip to knee room.

Cell C73 / request to add bold underlined text as follows :

12 Ambulatory/ 2 W/C Bus Body Size (Medium Transit Vehicle): In lieu of the standard body size. Minimum 156 inch wheelbase. This passenger body size vehicle will incorporate all specifications, dimensions and standard items listed (except floor plans) for the standard body size. Floor plans for the 12 ambulatory/2 wheelchair bus body size will be determined by Respondent and purchaser prior to issuing the purchase order. 291" minimum Body length and 33" minimum hip to knee room (Option Must be Available)

Please see PDF Q&A No.13 Ford Transit Cutaway Optional 138 WB 6+2 We request the following optional chassis size and floor plan be added as follows:

Please see PDF Q&A No.16 Plascore Honeycomb Thermoplastic.

We request the spec be revised to, or approved, for the following:

The rear door shall include a lock warning system that will activate a light and buzzer in the driver’s area to alert the driver that the door is locked whenever the ignition is in the run position. The door lock warning system shall be independent from the rear emergency exit door ajar warning. The second paragraph in red is a new specification that was never a previous QPA requirement and we do not believe it is needed. Considering a Chrysler OEM van equipped with speed activated automatic lock controls and impact sensing unlock, this change is not recommended or even feasible. We believe only the first paragraph in blue (which has been the spec for the last two QPA’s 15272 & 44253), in conjunction with the Chrysler automatic lock controls, is best practice for the LFMV.

It is not reader friendly to fit the complete details in this Q&A cell. For a complete explanation please see PDF Q&A No.17 LFMV Lift Gate Lock Warning.

Please see PDF Q&A No.18 LFMV Inflatable Spare Tire.

We request the spec to revised to the inflatable spare, or approve as acceptable.

When the in-floor ramp is deployed, it shall provide a minimum usable width of 30” and a slope of 12.5 degrees (maximum). We request the length of the ramp be added that allows the slope of 12.5 degrees, as follows:

When the in-floor ramp is deployed, it shall provide a minimum usable width of 30”, length of 63.5" and a slope of 12.5 degrees (maximum).

To match what QPA 44253 customers have and are used to, we recommend the spec be changed to the Rosco STS4750B which uses a rear view mirror with 7" monitor that replaces the Ford OEM rear view mirror.

… with four (4) speakers (two driver area, two behind driver area, two rear). The spec calls for (4), but also 2, 2 & 2 a total of 6. For buses this size, 6 is more than needed. Specifying 5 where the driver area utilizes the Ford OEM speaker in the driver door is the most common configuration.

3rd block from the bottom, last sentence:

The Respondent shall undercoat the entire underside of the vehicle body including undersides of fenders and Undercoating shall not be applied to those areas of the OEM chassis where undercoating is not recommended. Ford does not include the chassis front fenders as areas that are not recommended to undercoat. Some operators prefer to have them undercoated.

Punched aluminum is a better option as it allows for a safer step because it self drains water, melting snow and ice. The diamond plate does not.

We request the spec be revised to Punched Aluminum Self Draining Running Board, or at least approved.

We request the state confirms this change is required.

B69, C69, D69 24, 41, 57

27, 44, 60, 61 Mobility Aid Positions. As specified in B56, C56, D56 : Each mobility aid position shall be at least 30 inches wide and 48 inches deep.

As specified in B69, C69, D69 the 2nd blocks, 30 inches by 48 inches, and in the 5th blocks, they specify multiple larger dimensions to meet WC18. We suggest the references to 30 inches by 48 inches be removed and the specs be revised so all dimensions correspond with the larger WC18 dimensions. INDOT has removed the references to 30 inches by 48 inches in sections B56, C56 and D56.

In the 2nd block of this section for all three vehicle typies, the specification now reads "Each mobility aid position shall comply with WC18 recommendations."

40 Attachment M Specifications, Terms & Conditions B58, C58, D58 24, 41, 58 In the 3rd block Driver Stanchion As Specified: One vertical stanchion shall be mounted at the rear of the driver's seat next to the aisle.

Entrance Stanchion

OEM Warranty for chassis – 3 years/36,000 miles OEM warranty for transmission Please note that Ford has increased their Power Train warranty to purchasers with a valid FIN (Fleet Identification Number), and all QPA purchasers qualify for a FIN. The normal Power Train warranty without a valid FIN is 5 Year / 60,000 Miles. Ford has a 3 part warranty, as follows :

Basic Warranty 3 Year / 36,000 Mile Power Train with valid FIN / 5 Year / 100,000 Mile or 4,000 Engine Hours, whichever comes first.

Corrosion Perforation 5 Year / Unlimited Mileage

For proposed floor plans, notes and detail, please see 3 page PDF Q&A No.37 Ford Transit Cutaway Wheelbase 138 to 156 The 8+2 floor plan on the 138" wheelbase does not allow the required 52" minimum WC18 QRT 360 spacing. The 138" WB also does not allow the required foldaway seat on the rear driver side position enough space to meet the minimum 26" hip to knee on the driver side. Both the WC18 spacing and required foldaway can be met on the longer wheel base. The longer wheel base also allows the passenger capacity to be increased from 8+2 to 9+2.

We request the wheel base specification be revised to 156".

If the 156" becomes a requirement, we also suggest the passenger capacity on the either be increased to 9+2, or include an option to add 1 single rigid seat.

We suggest changing page 63 to:

QRT Deluxe model Q-8100-A1-L with L-Track Fittings and Q8-6325-A Standard Lap & Shoulder Belt Assembly

Is a bid bond required, and if yes, please confirm it is for 5%.

Also, if it is required, we need to understand what dollar amount the percentage will be based on. The awarded QPA will be a product offering where actual dollar amount and percentage are impossible to predict, so a percentage based on contract price does not seem to apply here. On Attachment D Cost Proposal, Cell G23, this is the only part of any RFP documents that has a "Total Bid Price", however, this is simply the total base vehicle prices for 4 vehicles, 1 of each type, so we do not believe this applies. Section A. Record Retention (Access to Record and Reports) should read as follows:

a. Record Retention. The Contractor will retain, and will require its subcontractors of all tiers to retain, complete and readily accessible records related in whole or in part to the contract, including, but not limited to, data, documents, reports, statistics, leases, subcontracts, arrangements, other third-party Contracts of any type, and supporting materials related to those records.

INDOT does not require a bid bond for this solicitation.

Prime Contractor As used in Attachments A and A1…

Attach D 6

Cell G23 States: "Total Bid Amount: The amount that the Respondent proposes on Attachment D that represents their total, all-inclusive price." To document the 10/29/25 Pre-Proposal Teams conference, bidders were told that the Total Bid Amount is on Attachment D Cost Proposal / Mobility Vans sheet / Cell G23.

Please confirm.

Will this be required, and if yes, please clarify what is needed.

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Both the Arboc and Braun vehicles have proven that they have a place in a fleet such as yours. They offer the Public Sector marketplace innovative products designed to meet or exceed your client’s need and they also meet or exceed all federal and state regulatory requirements including Buy America, Altoona Testing and FMVSS regulations.

We appreciate the opportunity to offer these products for your consideration during this procurement. Additional information is attached and more is available if needed. INDOT is not currently interested in the Braun Promaster or the Arboc Spirit low floor vans for the following reasons:

1. They're more expensive.

2. More expensive vehicles means our subrecipients need to raise evem more local match.

3. INDOT has looked into low floor vehicles before and determined they are not suitable for the needs of our subrecipients.