Fire Fighting Apparatus

The Town of Southbury, Connecticut is issuing a sealed bid solicitation for the procurement of fire fighting apparatus through the Southbury Volunteer Firemen's Association. The procurement calls for the supply and delivery of two identical new, current-year pumper vehicles equipped with permanently mounted fire pumps rated at a minimum of 1,750 gallons per minute (with 2,000 GPM preferred), 1,000-gallon water tanks, and hose bodies designed for structural fire suppression and emergency response operations. All apparatus must comply with NFPA 1900 (2024 Edition) and all applicable federal and state motor vehicle safety standards. Bidders are required to have been established and in continuous business for a minimum of 25 years with a brick-and-mortar service location capable of warranty work in Connecticut, New York, or Massachusetts. Key technical modifications specified in Addendum 1 include a parabolic spring suspension system for rear axle operations, an increased torque rating of 1,650 foot-pounds at 1,200 RPM (maintaining 450 horsepower at 2,100 RPM), and a new 2.5-inch discharge outlet on the top left side of the front bumper controlled from the operator's panel. Sealed bids are due by 2:00 p.m. EST on December 17, 2025, at the Office of the First Selectman, 501 Main Street South, Southbury, Connecticut 06488, with all bid submissions requiring one hard copy and a flash drive containing the complete bid package. A vendor question and answer period is available from October 29, 2025 at 3:00 PM EDT through November 12, 2025 at 3:00 PM EST, with inquiries directed to svfarescue@gmail.com. Bidders must sign and return Addendum No. 1 with their proposals as a mandatory requirement for bid acceptance, and bid prices must remain effective for 45 calendar days from bid opening.

The solicitation is open to all vendors without stated set-asides or restrictions for disadvantaged or minority-owned business enterprises. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available documentation. Bidders must provide a bid bond equal to 10 percent of the proposed bid price, and the selected bidder must provide proof of comprehensive insurance coverage including product liability and facility insurance of $5,000,000 or greater, general liability coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, automobile liability of $1,000,000, professional liability of $500,000 per occurrence and $1,000,000 aggregate, and workers' compensation as defined by Connecticut General Statutes. Bid prices shall include all labor, materials, equipment, and associated costs necessary to complete the apparatus in full compliance with specifications and shall not include local, state, or federal taxes; an $8,000 contingency line item is included for unforeseen equipment mounting expenses. The apparatus includes comprehensive warranty requirements consisting of a two-year general warranty, a 30-year stainless steel body warranty, and component-specific warranties ranging from five to ten years. No estimated total value or budget range is provided in the available documentation, and the contract term and delivery timeline will be negotiated with the selected bidder upon award. The Town reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to award based on its determination of the bidder deemed in the best interest of Southbury.