Eq Rental Offset Drill w/Operator D5 STATE

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Division of Purchases is requesting bids for equipment rental of one modified rotary drill with operator to install railroad rails in Highway District 5, with bids due July 24, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Kentucky resident bidders receive reciprocal preference, and qualified bidders including Kentucky Correctional Industries or nonprofit agencies serving individuals with severe disabilities receive preference equal to 15–20% of maximum available points.

The scope is drilling 7" to 10" diameter holes in soil and rock and installing department-furnished steel railroad rails up to 40 feet in length (weighing 130–140 lbs per linear yard). The drill rig must be truck or track-mounted with a 130 HP or greater motor, minimum 16,000 lbs pull-down pressure, and 300 CFM or greater air compressor, capable of drilling offset a minimum of five feet from the carrier edge on a 15% slope. The vendor must maintain a minimum production rate of 800 linear feet of installed rails per 8-hour workday; failure to meet this rate incurs $500 per day in liquidated damages. The estimated scope is 9,000 linear feet of installed railroad rails.

The initial contract period runs August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027, with four optional one-year renewal periods. Payment is calculated on actual field-measured length of installed rails, due within 30 working days of invoice receipt and service acceptance; a 1% monthly penalty applies to undisputed amounts unpaid after 30 working days. Liquidated damages of $1,000 per day apply if work does not begin within the vendor's guaranteed response time; late completion incurs 1% daily deductions from invoice value.

Evaluation is 95 points for pricing (lowest bidder receives maximum points) and 5 points for response time (vendors must guarantee a specific response time in calendar days). The vendor must provide Commercial General Liability Insurance ($1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate), Automobile Liability Insurance ($1,000,000 per occurrence combined single limit), and Kentucky Workers Compensation Insurance. All mobilization, demobilization, site support labor, miscellaneous equipment, supplies, fuel, and maintenance are the vendor's responsibility. Bids must be submitted electronically through the Kentucky Vendor Self Service system; vendors must pre-register at least 24–48 hours before closing. The tentative award date is August 10, 2026.