FY17 4610 Public Safety Battery & Rectfiers DTRP011-17-

The State of Colorado Governor's Office of Information Technology issued RFP 2017-196 on March 8, 2017, seeking an enterprise agreement for the procurement of batteries and rectifiers to support the Digital Trunked Radio System (DTRS), which operates approximately 228 microwave sites across the state supporting public safety communications. The primary deliverables include 452 Enersys PowerSafe V batteries (12V 125Ah) and ElTek Trilogy rectifier systems with Master Smartpack 2 controllers and Flatpack2 HE rectifiers, with distribution to three locations: Denver Radio Shop (136 batteries), Grand Junction Radio Shop (196 batteries), and Pueblo Radio Shop (120 batteries). Battery specifications must include thin plate pure lead technology, maximum dimensions of 22.1" x 4.13" x 12.4", an 8-hour discharge rate of 126 Ah or better, UL recognition, ISO 9001 and 14001 certification, NEBS compliance, and flame arrestors. Rectifiers must feature 19"/6RU configuration with 8 rectifier positions, operating temperature capability from -40°C to +45°C with efficiency exceeding 96.5%, and position auto-placement capabilities for remote site identification. The contract will be available for use by all Executive Branch state agencies, institutions of higher education, and political subdivisions within Colorado for up to five years. Evaluation criteria prioritize technical requirements and experience/management qualifications over cost, with equipment pricing to remain firm for the first two years and subject to negotiation in years three through five based on raw material and freight costs. The written inquiry deadline was March 1, 2017 at 5:00 PM Mountain Time, with a bid submission deadline of March 13, 2017, and an estimated Notice of Award on April 1, 2017.

The solicitation does not specify disadvantaged business enterprise set-asides or restrictions on respondent types; however, all offerors must be authorized manufacturers, distributors, or resellers at the time of bid submission and must register with ColoradoVSS, provide a Federal Employer Identification Number, comply with E-Verify requirements, and maintain appropriate insurance coverage. Prior procurement records indicate competitive bidding with vendors such as OSI Batteries and Battery Systems submitting responses in previous solicitations for similar battery equipment. The State is exempt from federal excise taxes and state sales taxes, and all equipment must be shipped FOB destination to the three specified Colorado locations with no additional freight charges. Historical bid data from a related 2015 procurement (DQ 2015001203) for 400 Enersys PowerSafe V batteries showed competitive unit pricing ranging from approximately $344.95 to $431.99 per unit, suggesting a potential contract value range for this 452-unit battery requirement between $155,000 and $195,000, though the rectifier equipment costs and final award will depend on vendor proposals submitted. The State reserves the right to award to one or multiple vendors and requires the awarded offeror to execute the contract within forty-five calendar days of notification, with the initial contract period running from April 30, 2017 through March 31, 2018.