Dynamic Friction Tester (DFT) for the TxDOT Materials and Tests Division (MTD)

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Materials and Tests Division (MTD) is seeking a single Dynamic Friction Tester (DFT) through Solicitation No. 601440000046921, with the procurement covering Travis County and Austin City jurisdictions. The DFT must comply with ASTM E-1911-98 standards for measuring paved surface frictional properties, be Windows 10 compatible, and meet specific dimensional requirements of 460mm depth, 505mm width, and 305mm height. The vendor must deliver and install the unit at 6230 E. Stassney Lane in Austin within 30 days of delivery, provide ten sets of rubber sliders, and conduct up to two hours of training for four TxDOT personnel on safety, operation, and maintenance. Key procurement dates include questions due by December 23, 2024, TxDOT responses by December 30, 2024, and bid submissions due January 3, 2025, at 3:00 PM Central Time, with a tentative award date of January 13, 2025. The evaluation criteria will focus on the lowest price and the respondent's ability to meet the detailed technical specifications, with a required minimum 12-month warranty from equipment acceptance.

The solicitation does not include specific set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises, though it does provide preference categories for tie-breaking scenarios, including preferences for Texas-produced supplies, USA-produced equipment, products from economically depressed areas, and goods produced by service-disabled Texas veteran-owned businesses. Additional preference categories cover products from persons with disabilities, vendors meeting air quality standards, recycled materials, and energy-efficient products. Vendors must be registered on the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Centralized Master Bidders List and provide a Certificate of Insurance Form 1950 with minimum coverage of $600,000 in Commercial General Liability and appropriate Commercial Automobile Insurance. The solicitation also offers an Early Payment Program through Oxygen Finance Americas, Inc., allowing vendors to receive expedited payments in exchange for cash discounts. While no specific total contract value is indicated, the procurement is for a single unit of specialized testing equipment, suggesting a relatively modest but precise procurement scope focused on technical specifications and performance requirements.