7 Passenger Accessible Vehicle

The State of Maine Division of Purchases and Maine Department of Transportation is requesting bids for a 7-passenger accessible low-floor minivan under RFQ-17A-10080200000000000108, with proposals due October 1, 2010. The base vehicle must be a current model year extended-length Dodge Grand Caravan SE or approved equal, meeting detailed technical specifications for ADA compliance and accessibility.

The vehicle must seat a minimum of seven ambulatory passengers plus two wheelchair positions, with a V-6 OHV engine (minimum 3.3L displacement), 4-speed overdrive automatic transmission, power-assisted 4-wheel disc anti-lock brakes, and power steering with tilt and telescoping adjustment. The lowered-floor assembly must achieve minimum 6-inch ground clearance unloaded and 5 inches loaded, with a hinged manually-operated aluminum fold-up wheelchair ramp. The base vehicle must have completed Altoona Test protocol (four-year, 100,000-mile cycle) and be fully ADA-compliant. Exterior dimensions include minimum 202-inch length, 76-inch width, and 61-inch interior height. The vehicle body manufacturer must hold ISO 9001:2000 certification for design and manufacture of customized buses and multipurpose passenger vehicles.

The conversion warranty covers rust-through damage to metal components for seven years or 70,000 miles (whichever occurs first); all other conversion components carry 36-month or 36,000-mile warranty. The manufacturer must provide integrated warranty, service, and parts coverage from a single distribution network capable of supporting maintenance in deployment areas. Evaluation criteria include lowest responsive bid as the primary factor, with best-value considerations encompassing specification compliance, equipment standardization, past performance, dealer support, warranty coverage, and potential resale value. Delivery is designated to Augusta, Maine. The bidder bears all costs associated with vehicle manufacture, delivery, and a four-day, three-night factory pre-delivery inspection by Maine Department of Transportation personnel, with at least 70 percent of ordered vehicles ready for inspection.