Bituminous Oil

Portage County, Wisconsin is seeking bids to establish a contract for the procurement and application of bituminous oil on county roads through a Request for Bid (RFB) issued by its Purchasing Department. The procurement encompasses multiple bituminous materials including CRS-2 (estimated 250,000 gallons), CRS-2P, HFRS-2, HFRS-2P, CSS-1, and CRS-2Pd Fog Seal or equivalent products. Bidders must submit original and one copy of required materials by 2:00 PM on March 19, 2024, to the Portage County Purchasing Department, with a public bid opening to follow. Prospective contractors must demonstrate five years of experience in applying bituminous oil, provide three references from comparable-sized institutions served in the past five years, and maintain certificates of insurance with minimum $1,000,000 liability coverage. Key evaluation criteria include lowest and most advantageous unit price from a responsive, responsible bidder meeting all specifications, with potential for multiple awards. The preferred service dates are July 8-19, 2024, with the contract term extending from the award date through December 31, 2024. Written questions regarding specifications must be submitted by 2:00 PM on March 7, 2024, to Christopher Schultz, Procurement Director.

The solicitation does not explicitly outline set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. All distributors must have a minimum of 400 hours of operating experience, and the successful bidder will be required to provide performance and payment bonds, each equal to 100 percent of the project price including materials and labor. Materials must conform to State of Wisconsin Specification Section 455 and be delivered FOB to destination with freight prepaid. The county is exempt from federal excise and Wisconsin sales taxes (CES number ES 43251), and the awarded contractor must hold firm prices for the entire contract period, with any adjustment requests requiring supporting documentation of industry-wide increases. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the estimated volume of 250,000 gallons of CRS-2 suggests a substantial procurement value. An on-site foreman is required during operations, and the county will seek to establish a contract that ensures reliable and high-quality bituminous oil application for road maintenance purposes.