158 HP Articulated 4 Wheel Drive Loader

The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, located in Winnebago County, is soliciting bids for a 158 HP Articulated 4 Wheel Drive Loader to support its Biogas Program. The procurement is specifically for a new loader that will primarily operate indoors within a 10,000-square-foot mixing lobby and fermentation chambers, handling organic waste residuals, with secondary use for campus snow removal. The loader must meet precise technical specifications, including a high-lift Z-bar linkage with quick-coupler compatibility, a minimum 3.5 cubic yard bucket with scale and tally system, full power-shift automatic transmission, and a fully enclosed cab with roll-over and falling-object protection structures. Potential bidders were required to submit written questions by July 19, 2022, with sealed bids due on July 29, 2022, at 2:00 PM CDT. Award notification was estimated for August 2022, with a contract start date of December 2022. Bidders must submit two hard copies of completed bids to UW Oshkosh Facilities Management - Purchasing, with electronic submissions accepted at fm-bids@uwosh.edu if received before the deadline.

The procurement offers potential price preferences for Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) or Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses (DVB), with a 5% price preference available under Wisconsin Statutes. Bidders must have been in the business of providing articulated 4-wheel drive loaders for at least three years and provide three client references from comparable institutions served in the past three years. The successful vendor must provide the manufacturer's standard warranty (minimum one year), maintain commercial liability insurance of at least $1,000,000, retain manufacturer-trained personnel with a minimum of three years' experience, and provide on-site training. Delivery must be FOB Destination and Installed, with all delivery and installation charges covered by the contractor. While no specific budget range is mentioned, the university will make the award to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder. Payment terms are set at Net 30 days upon equipment acceptance, and the university explicitly states it will not be liable for any costs incurred by bidders in responding to the Request for Bid.