Coalinga-Avenal Safety Rest Area Northbound

The State of California Department of Rehabilitation is issuing an informal competitive solicitation (RFQ #03-0815E) for vending machine equipment at the Coalinga-Avenal Safety Rest Area Northbound on Interstate 5 North in Coalinga, California. The procurement seeks four categories of vending machines: one hot drink coffee vending machine (USI Geneva Evoke Coffee model), one combo snack and beverage vending machine (AMS Chilled Combo Outsider), one drink vending machine (Vendo Live Display 721 V2), and two snack vending machines (AMS Sensit 3 Outsider). All equipment must be newly manufactured to specific technical specifications, including dimensions not exceeding 72 inches in height and 38 inches in depth, operation on 120V/4A electrical power, and compliance with ADA accessibility standards, Underwriters Laboratories standards, California Appliance Efficiency Regulations, and EPA/DOE Energy Star Version 3.0 requirements for refrigerated units. Required specifications include latest Cantaloupe credit card readers (G11 or newer), MEI bill recyclers and coin mechanisms, hardened steel hasps with stainless steel T-handles, hardened steel puck locks, and additional Plexiglass security layers. All eight vending machines must feature black front facing and operate on a one key-alike system. Contractors must be either the manufacturer or a factory-authorized supplier with demonstrated technical expertise, maintained inventory of finished products or spare parts, and full technical assistance and repair capabilities. Delivery, installation, leveling, strapping, programming, testing, and onsite end-user training must be completed within 35 calendar days of order receipt, and contractors must remove eight existing vending machines either through trade-in credit or transportation to a recycling facility with documentation provided to the department. The award will be made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder meeting all administrative and technical requirements. Questions must be submitted no later than three business days prior to the April 10, 2026 deadline, and quotes are due by April 10, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., submitted via U.S. Mail, email, or fax to Jim Abad at Jim.Abad@dor.ca.gov or (916) 558-5699.

This solicitation includes set-aside considerations for disadvantaged businesses, with small business preference and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) advertising requirements applicable to the administrative purchase, although the DVBE incentive has been waived. Bidders must comply with multiple compliance certifications, including the Bidder Declaration Form GSPD-05-105, the Darfur Contracting Act Certification, post-consumer recycled content certification, Payee Data Record STD Form 204, California seller's permit documentation, federal debarment status certification, and Russia sanctions compliance attestation. Optional Target Area Contract Preference Act (TACPA) forms are available for California-based companies. Bidders must certify non-debarment status and confirm they do not appear on the state's top 500 tax delinquency lists. All subcontractors must be identified within ten days of selection and must comply with state procurement and delivery requirements. Pricing submissions must separately itemize freight charges (FOB Destination), setup costs including programming and training, installation and labor charges with hourly rates, trade-in or removal of existing machines, and warranty information, with warranties required to cover all manufacturers' warranties and guarantees, including free parts and labor for 90 days following original installation. No specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the solicitation documents; pricing will be evaluated competitively among responsive bidders.