Chains, Lifting, Tire and Transport Chains and Accessories

The Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (DAS) has issued a solicitation (ITB #23PSX0064) for the procurement of chains, specifically lifting, tire, and transport chains and accessories for the Department of Transportation. The contract will support equipment used in snow and ice plow trucks, wheel loaders, and load bearing and lifting applications. The procurement will be conducted through a two-phase reverse auction process managed by EASiBuy, LLC, with Phase 1 document submissions due on April 28, 2023, and the reverse auction pricing phase scheduled for May 10, 2023. Vendor questions will be accepted from April 11 to April 19, 2023, with responses posted by April 21, 2023. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsible qualified respondent based on multiple evaluation criteria, including pricing, conformity to specifications, past performance, financial responsibility, and delivery terms. Bidders must submit an authorized distributor letter and sign the EASiBuy Terms & Agreement document with their submission. The contract will replace the previous contract 17PSX0246 in part or in total, with delivery terms specified as FOB Destination.

The solicitation does not indicate specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, though some versions of the document note that micro-businesses and veteran-owned micro-businesses may be eligible for preference. The contract includes a mandatory extension provision that allows political subdivisions, schools, and not-for-profit organizations in Connecticut to utilize the contract pricing and terms. While the estimated total contract value is not explicitly stated, the solicitation suggests that quantities will be determined through individual purchase orders, with no guaranteed minimum purchase amounts. Vendors will be required to pay a transaction fee to EASiBuy, LLC for participation in the reverse auction process. The successful contractor must comply with various state contracting requirements, including nondiscrimination provisions, consulting agreement disclosures, and campaign contribution certifications. The State of Connecticut is exempt from excise, transportation, and sales taxes, and these taxes must not be included in bid pricing.