Brush Chippers with Options

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) Division of Purchases issued a Request for Bid (RFB) on behalf of the Department of Highways for a master agreement contract to supply brush chippers with options. This procurement is for the Elliott County jurisdiction and requires vendors to supply three standard brush chippers (Bandit 200XP or approved equivalent), two large-type drum brush chippers (Bandit 15XP or approved equivalent), and one trailer electrical plug and brakes system conforming to SAE J560B standards with 7-pole male and female connectors. All equipment must be new, first-quality items delivered to the KYTC Division of Equipment's Receiving Shop in Frankfort, Kentucky, and must be pre-serviced to manufacturer specifications, arrive in first-class operating condition, and include one day of training for safety, operation, and preventative maintenance, plus one extra set of chipper blades per unit and comprehensive manuals. The evaluation criteria allocates 95 points to price (with the lowest bidder receiving maximum points) and 5 points to delivery time, for a total of 100 points, with bidders required to provide specific calendar day delivery commitments rather than vague language. Sealed bids were due on May 12, 2020 at 10:00 AM EST via US Mail, UPS, FedEx, or email to KYTC.Bids@ky.gov, with written questions due by May 4, 2020 at 4:00 PM EST and Commonwealth responses provided by May 5, 2020 at 4:00 PM EST. The tentative award date was May 22, 2020, with the initial contract period of one year followed by four optional one-year renewal periods available with written approval of both the vendor and KYTC Division of Purchases. Vendors failing to meet contracted delivery dates will incur a 1% per day deduction from invoices, and pricing is firm for the first 12 months with only one price increase permitted thereafter based on industry-wide price changes with 30 days' written notice and supporting documentation.

Kentucky resident bidders receive reciprocal preference, and qualified bidders including Kentucky Correctional Industries, Kentucky Industries for the Blind, and nonprofit agencies serving individuals with severe disabilities receive additional preference points. The contract specifies that only the Division of Equipment will utilize this agreement, and the vendor is responsible for all freight charges on an F.O.B. Destination Freight Prepaid basis. The RFB document does not identify any incumbent vendors, current contractors, or listed award values or budget ranges. The solicitation emphasizes that the Commonwealth will award the contract based on best value using a ranking approach with the measurable criteria outlined above, ensuring that both cost-effectiveness and reliable delivery performance are weighted appropriately in the vendor selection process.