RFQ 250710-0013.docx

This Request for Quotations (RFQ No. 15A 250716-017) is issued by the State of Maine, Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Office of State Procurement Services, in conjunction with the Department of Veterans and Emergency Management, seeking to procure one Backhoe/Loader, specifically a John Deere 310 P-Tier or equivalent machine for cemetery operations, construction, and municipal maintenance in York County. The solicitation requires bidders to submit detailed technical specifications addressing engine performance, loader and backhoe capabilities, and operator station features, along with comprehensive service support documentation. Quotations must be submitted by Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. local time through the state's e-Procurement system, AdvantageME/Vendor Self Service (VSS). The state will evaluate all bids on a "Best Value" basis, considering the quality of goods, conformity with specifications, delivery date, and overall state interests. Bidders must provide a unit price, estimated delivery days, a bid cover page, responsible bidder form, and service facility information. Notably, vendors must have a service facility located within 150 miles of the Southern Maine Veterans Cemetery in Springvale, Maine, the delivery location.

The successful vendor must provide a minimum 2-year/2,000-hour full machine warranty with payment terms set at net 30. No explicit budget range is stated in the solicitation, and no set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations are specified. The state reserves the right to negotiate the purchase of additional units within six months of the initial award, though the procurement is for a single unit with no guaranteed award, providing the state flexibility in its final purchasing decision. Evaluation will prioritize comprehensive service capabilities, technical specifications alignment, and overall value proposition for the state's operational needs.