D7 Modular Cone Penetrometer System

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) District 7 is conducting a procurement for a D7 Modular Cone Penetrometer System through an Invitation for Bid (IFB) with solicitation number 26-494DOT-FINAD-B-49174, targeting Edwards County. The procurement seeks to acquire a newly manufactured hydraulically powered 20-ton Cone Penetrometer Testing (CPT) system with comprehensive accessories, including two 10.0 cm2 Hogentogler equivalent SCPTU cones, 150 feet of push rod, a data acquisition system, a rugged field laptop, and associated software. The system will be used for obtaining geotechnical site information for culverts, traffic signal/sign foundations, slope stability investigations, and limited access bridge foundations, with specific requirements to meet new seismic design standards by obtaining site-specific shear wave velocities. Bids must be submitted electronically through the BidBuy platform by October 21, 2025, with all required documents uploaded, including Vendor Disclosure and Offer to the State of Illinois forms. The state intends to award to the lowest priced responsive and responsible bidder, with bids required to remain firm for 180 days from opening. Evaluation criteria will focus on meeting all specified technical and operational requirements, with mandatory on-site training within 15 days of delivery and a minimum 12-month full coverage warranty.

The procurement includes provisions for domestic product preference, prioritizing products manufactured in the United States, subject to exceptions related to quantity, price, quality, and public interest. Vendors must have an active and unexpired registration in the Illinois Procurement Gateway and complete comprehensive vendor disclosure forms, including certifications of compliance with state regulations and ethical standards. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are explicitly mentioned, but the procurement encourages potential employment tax credits for vendors hiring qualified veterans and ex-offenders. While no specific incumbent vendors are listed, the contract has an initial term of 24 months with a maximum total term not exceeding 10 years. A mandatory $15 administrative fee applies for contracts over $1,000, and vendors must provide comprehensive documentation including service repair manuals, operators' manuals, and parts lists. The contract does not specify a precise dollar amount, but vendors must provide a newly manufactured system that is not remanufactured, reconditioned, or previously owned, with the total payments to be determined and entered prior to contract execution.