Concrete Testing Equipment

The Commonwealth of Kentucky, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), Division of Purchases, is soliciting competitive bids through a Request for Bid (RFB 605 2400000209) for a master agreement contract to supply concrete testing equipment to the Division of Materials. The solicitation encompasses 20 line items of concrete testing apparatus and supplies conforming to ASTM standards, including concrete air meter kits (5 units), portable slump test sets (1 unit), tamping rods in various sizes (15 units total), thermometers (24 units total), strike-off bars (16 units total), scoops (14 units total), unit weight buckets, digital bench scales, mold stripping tools, pad caps, rubber mallets, portable scales with carrying cases, and related testing equipment. Electronic bids must be submitted through the Kentucky Vendor Self Service website (https://vss.ky.gov) by 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time on November 9, 2023, with a tentative award date of November 15, 2023. The initial contract period extends from award through November 30, 2024, with four optional one-year renewal periods available subject to mutual written approval. All pricing must be quoted on an F.O.B. Destination, Freight Prepaid and Allowed basis, with vendors assuming full responsibility for shipment and freight charges. Award will be determined using a best-value approach with scoring based 95 percent on price and 5 percent on delivery time, and vendors must guarantee delivery within a specified number of calendar days after receipt of delivery orders, with late deliveries resulting in a 1 percent daily deduction from invoices.

The Commonwealth will apply reciprocal preferences for Kentucky resident bidders and qualified bidder preferences, including a 20 percent preference for Kentucky Correctional Industries and a 15 percent preference for qualified nonprofits serving individuals with disabilities, in accordance with KRS 45A.490-494 and 200 KAR 5:410. All bidders must be registered in the Commonwealth's eProcurement System prior to bid submission, and vendors claiming Kentucky resident bidder status must submit a required affidavit, while nonresident bidders must provide a certificate of authority to transact business in Kentucky. All bids must remain valid for a minimum of ninety calendar days after the closing date, and price increases are not permitted during the first twelve months of the contract, with only one increase allowed thereafter based on industry-wide price changes requiring thirty days' notice. Vendors must also submit a notarized Annual Affidavit for Bidders, Offerors and Contractors, confirming compliance with Kentucky campaign finance laws under KRS 45A.110 and 45A.115 prior to contract award. No incumbent vendor information or specific budget allocation is provided in the available solicitation documents; however, the contract will serve the KYTC Department of Highways, Division of Materials with shipments authorized only upon official delivery orders.