CNC Plasma Cutting Machine

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Purchases, on behalf of the Division of Equipment, is issuing a Request for Bid (RFB) for the procurement of one new CNC plasma cutting machine system. The solicitation seeks a complete machine with a 5-foot by 10-foot cutting area, capable of piercing and cutting up to 1-inch steel, powered by a 460V 125-amp plasma source with 120V single-phase, 60Hz table requirements. The system must include a CNC motion control system, CNC software package with file transfer capability, Quick Cam Fabrication Nesting Package, electric Plateguard 55-gallon drum, and be constructed of 3/16-inch steel weighing a minimum of 6,000 pounds, with the Flexcut 125 or Torchmate 5100 provided as reference examples. Deliverables include delivery, complete installation, setup by the vendor (with the Transportation Cabinet responsible only for offloading and placement), and one full day of on-site training. Award will be determined on a best-value basis allocating 95 points to price and 5 points to delivery time, with the lowest-priced conforming bid receiving maximum points; delivery must be specified in specific calendar days with a 1 percent daily penalty applied for delays beyond the contracted delivery date. The final bid closing date is October 28, 2025, at 1:30 PM Eastern Time, with a public bid reading scheduled for 3:00 PM Eastern Time the same day and a tentative award date of November 3, 2025. All bids must be submitted electronically through the Kentucky Vendor Self Service eProcurement System at https://vss.ky.gov, with vendors required to register at least 24-48 hours prior to submission; actual bid prices and delivery times must be entered on an attached bid sheet rather than in the system itself.

Kentucky resident bidders are eligible for reciprocal preference in accordance with KRS 45A.490-494, and qualified bidders including Kentucky Correctional Industries, Kentucky Industries for the Blind, and nonprofits serving individuals with severe disabilities receive preferential scoring of 15 to 20 percent of maximum points. The Commonwealth currently operates a 2012 Torchmate Model S2 Plasma Water Table (5 x 10) in fair condition (VIN #228130, original cost $44,054.45) that the awarded vendor must remove upon installation of the new system; bidders may submit a trade-in valuation as a separate line item, which will be deducted from the new machine price to determine the total scoring price. All bidders must submit required affidavits affirming compliance with Kentucky campaign finance laws and resident status (if applicable), provide equipment specifications and product literature, and complete vendor registration in the eProcurement system; vendor past performance in the last 12 months may be considered, and vendors with poor performance records may be deemed non-responsible and ineligible for award. Delivery terms are F.O.B. Destination Freight Prepaid and Allowed, with the vendor bearing all shipping and freight costs and responsibility; payment will be made within thirty working days of receipt of goods and invoice. No specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the solicitation documents.