ADA Wheelchair Lift Van Conversion

The California Department of General Services Procurement Division, on behalf of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), is soliciting bids for wheelchair lift van conversion services through Invitation for Bid (IFB) #38047 for Business Unit 5225. The solicitation seeks the conversion of Ford Transit XL vans to ADA-compliant wheelchair-accessible paratransit transport units capable of safely transporting two wheelchair-bound inmates, two ambulatory inmates, one custody staff driver, and one custody staff front passenger. Conversions must include rear-door-mounted power wheelchair lifts meeting specifications for either Braun Century Series model #NDCC-2 or Ricon titanium type lifts, flat vinyl flooring with marine-grade plywood subfloors, and all electrical and structural modifications compliant with ADA Section 49 CFR Part 38, California Vehicle Code, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, and American Society of Mechanical Engineers standards. The base procurement includes 40 units with an optional purchase line item for 10 additional units, and all work must be completed within one year of Purchase Order execution with delivery to California State Prison Solano in Vacaville, California. Bidders must submit written responses to ota@dgs.com by May 4, 2026, at 2:00 PM Pacific Time, with the deadline for submitting questions set for April 15, 2026; submissions must include completed cost worksheets, technical drawings with minimum seven specified views, narrative responses addressing socioeconomic certifications and GenAI usage, warranty facility information within 100 miles of the delivery location, and various compliance certifications including Iran Contracting Act, Darfur Contracting Act, and California Civil Rights Laws certifications. Award will be made on an "All or None" basis by line item to the responsive and responsible bidder offering the lowest cost, with pricing quoted F.O.B. Destination, Freight Prepaid, and all costs inclusive to two decimal places. The contractor must demonstrate financial resources and relevant experience in vehicle conversion work, establish a factory-authorized service and parts center within California capable of housing a minimum of three units simultaneously, maintain a minimum of seven van units in active conversion at any time, submit to a mandatory preconstruction conference within 15 calendar days of Purchase Order execution, and provide a one-year warranty beginning on the in-service date with all warranty repairs performed at contractor expense.

The solicitation offers multiple socioeconomic preference programs including a 5 percent small business preference, Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) incentive participation with waived minimum requirements, and Target Area Contract Preference Act (TACPA) preference options, with total preference and incentive benefits capped at 15 percent of the lowest net bid amount or $100,000, whichever is less. Bidders must provide Secretary of State Business Entity Numbers and California Department of Tax and Fee Administration Retailer's Seller Permit numbers and must certify compliance with all applicable socioeconomic program requirements and Commercially Useful Function standards. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the solicitation materials. The State reserves the right to select the payment method, including outright purchase, financing through GS $Mart, or operating lease through Lease $Mart, and maintains the authority to select procurement method at time of award. The contractor must carry comprehensive insurance coverage including $1,000,000 per occurrence commercial general liability and $1,000,000 combined single limits automobile liability, with the State named as additional insured, and bailee's legal liability equal to the replacement value of State-owned property in the contractor's care. The State reserves 10 percent of the bid amount for unanticipated tasks, and pricing for optional quantities must remain established within 12 months of the original award date with optional unit pricing not exceeding 10 percent above the initial bid price. While specific budget amounts or award values are not disclosed in the solicitation documents, the contract encompasses conversion costs for a base quantity of 40 units with optional expansion to 50 total units.