Forklifts

The Washington State Department of Enterprise Services, in collaboration with the Oregon Cooperative Purchasing Program, is soliciting bids for a comprehensive forklift procurement and maintenance contract covering nine distinct forklift categories: Electric Motor Rider, Electric Motor Narrow Aisle, Electric Motor Narrow Aisle Walkie, Electric Motor Hand, Internal Combustion Cushion Tire, Internal Combustion Pneumatic Tire, Heavy Duty Internal Combustion Pneumatic Tire, Rough Terrain, and Telehandler Forklifts. The solicitation encompasses both equipment procurement and associated maintenance services, with a goal of establishing cooperative purchasing agreements for eligible purchasers across Washington and Oregon. Bidders must provide detailed pricing, maintenance plans, warranty options, and technical specifications for each forklift category, with up to four contract awards possible per category. Key evaluation criteria include cost (650 points), non-cost factors (250 points), compliance with Executive Order 18-03 (50 points), and use of recycled motor oil (50 points). Critical dates include a pre-bid conference on January 8, 2025, questions due by February 10, 2025, bid submissions due February 24, 2025, with an anticipated contract award on April 16, 2025. The initial contract term is 24 months, with potential extensions up to 72 months based on performance metrics.

The procurement includes specific provisions for diverse business enterprises, with opportunities for Washington Small Businesses and Certified Veteran-Owned Businesses to demonstrate their qualifications. Bidders must provide comprehensive company information, including Washington State UBI number, taxpayer identification, OMWBE certification status, and self-certification as a small business. The contract requires a 1.25% Vendor Management Fee on all sales, quarterly reporting, and acceptance of various payment methods including credit cards. Eligible purchasers include Washington state agencies, higher education institutions, Oregon Cooperative Purchasing Program members, and other qualified public entities across 39 counties and numerous cities and census-designated places. Historical annual sales under previous contracts were approximately $1.5 million, suggesting a similar budget range for this procurement. Contractors must maintain substantial insurance coverage, including $2 million per occurrence and $4 million aggregate commercial general liability insurance, and demonstrate capabilities for statewide service and support.