12, 13, 15, 17, 19-Passenger Cutaway Buses

The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) has issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB) MDT-314590-KM for a multi-year contract to procure multiple passenger cutaway buses with varying passenger capacities, specifically 12, 13, 15, 17, and 19-passenger configurations. The solicitation requires detailed specifications for each bus type, including comprehensive technical details such as make, model, year, body type, ceiling height, floor type, chassis specifications, gross vehicle weight, wheelbase, vehicle length, and seat configurations for ambulatory and wheelchair passengers. Bidders must provide specifications for each bus type and include lift/ramp details, along with Options Ancillary Equipment Pricing and a copy of the STURAA (Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocations Assistance Act) test. The procurement process opened on March 7, 2022, at 2:00 PM MST and is scheduled to close on May 26, 2022, at 2:00 PM MDT, with actual orders to be executed through purchase orders under the resulting agreement. Vendors must also upload signed Federal Certifications and comply with specified commodity codes for mass transportation, specialized, and urban mass transportation vehicles.

While the solicitation documents do not explicitly outline specific set-aside designations or disadvantaged enterprise requirements, the procurement appears to be a standard competitive bidding process open to qualified vehicle manufacturers and dealers. The contract will establish pricing for bus deliveries across eight different districts, suggesting a comprehensive statewide procurement strategy. Although specific budget ranges are not detailed in the provided documentation, the multi-year contract and multiple bus configurations indicate a potentially significant procurement value. The solicitation uses US Dollars for all transactions and requires vendors to provide comprehensive technical specifications and pricing for various bus configurations. Bidders will need to demonstrate technical capability, compliance with federal transportation regulations, and the ability to meet the detailed specifications for each passenger bus type specified in the invitation.