Award Recommendation and Evaluation Synopsis.pdf

Michigan.gov/MiProcurement

AWARD RECOMMENDATION

Notice of Intent to Award Number: 260000000668 Notice of Intent to Award Date: July 22, 2026

The Michigan Department of Transportation, Purchasing Unit has completed the evaluation of Request for Proposal (RFP) 260000002268 Cone Penetrometer Test Sounding Unit, Truck Mounted and has recommended award to Applied Research Associates, Inc. in the amount of $1,011,529.00, pending State Administrative Board approval. More information on the State Administrative Board can be found at: State Administrative Board.

Bidders who were not recommended for the award are encouraged to schedule a debriefing session with the Solicitation Manager. The debriefing session will provide the bidder with the State’s rationale on why the bidder was not recommended for the award.

The Solicitation Manager may be contacted as follows:

Ruth Thole, Solicitation Manager TholeR@michigan.gov 517-335-4972

Background Information:

The purpose of the RFP was to solicit responses for a one-time buy of a Cone Penetrometer Test (CPT) equipment with direct push systems mounted on a 6 x 4 truck chassis.

Contractor must provide the truck chassis.

Bidders:

The RFP was posted on SIGMA VSS on June 26, 2026, for 20 days. The following bidder submitted a proposal by the published due date of July 16, 2026.

Bidder Address, City, State, Zip Code SDVOB* GDBE**

Applied Research Associates, Inc.

250 Beanville Rd.

Randolph, VT 05060 No No

*SDVOB: Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Business **GDBE: Geographically Disadvantaged Business Enterprise https://www.michigan.gov/dtmb/policies/state-ad-board

EVALUATION SYNOPSIS

I. Evaluation Process A Responsible Vendor is a vendor that demonstrates it has the ability to successfully perform the duties identified by the solicitation. A Responsive proposal is one that is submitted in accordance with the solicitation instructions and meets all mandatory requirements identified in the solicitation.

Proposal Instructions, Mandatory Minimum Requirements Bidder must be a certified authorized distributor or manufacturer of the offered truck mounted CPT Sounding Unit.

Proposal Instructions, Evaluation Process Proposals will be evaluated on a PASS/FAIL basis based on the following criteria:

Criteria

1. Bidder is the manufacturer or has provided documentation that Bidder is an authorized distributor of the offered CPT truck.

2. Confidential Treatment Form (CTF) is completed and signed.

3. Responses to Vendor Questions are complete and acceptable.

4. Standard Contract Terms are accepted (Vendor Questions Worksheet, Question 6).

5. Responses on Schedule A are complete and acceptable.

6. Schedule B is complete.

7. Responses on Attachment 1 – Product Specification are complete and offered specifications are acceptable.

8. If proposing an alternate to the preferred make/model, product literature for the offered alternate is attached and show supporting data for the performance and design specifications and is acceptable.

PASS/FAIL – contract award to lowest price PASS bidder. The full evaluation process is stated in the RFP Proposal Instructions.

II. Evaluation Method Responses to this solicitation were reviewed by the Solicitation Manager, Ruth Thole, in collaboration with Program Manager Erin Reincke and Engineer Manager Erron Peuse.

III. Evaluation Results The evaluators reviewed the solicitation responses and made the following determinations related to the published mandatory minimum requirements and evaluation criteria.

Criteria

Applied Research

Associates

Bidder is the manufacturer or has provided documentation that Bidder is an authorized distributor of the offered CPT truck. Pass

Confidential Treatment Form (CTF) is completed and signed. Pass

Responses to Vendor Questions are complete and acceptable. Pass

Standard Contract Terms are accepted (Vendor Questions Worksheet, Question 6). Pass

Responses on Schedule A are complete and acceptable. Pass

Schedule B is complete. Pass

Responses on Attachment 1 – Product Specification are complete and offered specifications are acceptable. Pass

If proposing an alternate to the preferred make/model, product literature for the offered alternate is attached and show supporting data for the performance and design specifications and is acceptable.

N/A

PROPOSAL DETERMINATION PASS

IV. Pricing Summary Pricing was evaluated for the bidder who received a PASS rating and is summarized below:

Applied Research Associates, Inc. Bid Price: $1,011,529.00

V. Award Recommendation:

Award Recommendation is made to the responsive and responsible bidder who receives a PASS rating and offers the lowest price to the State of Michigan. Low price is determined by the bidder who meets the requirements and offers the lowest overall price as demonstrated by its proposal.

Award Recommendation is made to Applied Research Associates, Inc. in the amount of $1,011,529.00.