Agricultural equipment lease

The South Carolina Department of Corrections issued Solicitation 5400026357 for an Agricultural Equipment Lease for the Wateree Farm Agricultural Division, seeking to procure eight new 2023 John Deere 6135E Cab Tractors and four new 2023 John Deere H310 MSL Loaders. The tractors must meet specific requirements, including a 135 horsepower diesel engine, 1,200 annual engine-hour usage capacity, and Category 2 rear hitch capability for 30-inch row spacing. The loaders must feature mechanical self-leveling with maximum lift heights of 3,855 millimeters and be compatible with the specified tractor models. This is a one-year lease with options to renew for two additional years, not exceeding a total three-year term. The bid opening date was initially January 9, 2024, but was amended to January 18, 2024, at 10:00 AM, with sealed offers to be submitted to the SC Department of Corrections Purchasing Branch in Columbia, SC. Delivery must occur within thirty days of purchase order receipt at the Wateree River Farm in Rembert, South Carolina, and the vendor will be responsible for all repairs during the lease term.

The solicitation allows for preference claims for in-state vendors, United States end-product providers, and resident vendors who meet specific statutory requirements under Section 11-35-1524 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. Vendors must be registered with the state and obtain a vendor number prior to submitting an offer. The contract was awarded to Sparrow & Kennedy Tractor Company of Manning, South Carolina, under the provision of SC Procurement Code 11-35-1520(10), which permitted waiver of the notice of intended award due to receiving only one response. The initial contract amount is $181,632.00, with a total potential contract value of $544,896.00 over the full three-year period. The unit pricing breaks down to $20,854.00 per tractor and $3,700.00 per loader. All equipment must be new with manufacturer warranties in effect for the initial year and all renewal periods, and the lease is not a buyout arrangement - equipment will be returned at the end of the lease period.