Hauling of Voting Machines for Beauregard Parish - Advertisement Change of Link to view Drayage Bid Packets

The Louisiana Secretary of State's Office is soliciting bids for a drayage contract to transport voting machines and related election materials in Beauregard Parish. The procurement involves round-trip transportation of approximately 89 AVC "Advantage" voting machines from warehouse storage to 37 polling precincts, including delivery of precinct registers and "Vote Here" signs. The contract covers services for all regular and special elections, demonstrations, commissioner training schools, and emergency election day deliveries. Sealed bids were due on November 25, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. CST, with a public opening at the State Archives Building in Baton Rouge. The contract term runs from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026, with potential renewal options for two additional 12-month periods. Bidding is conducted on a per-machine, round-trip basis, with compensation varying based on actual machines hauled during each election or demonstration. Contractors must provide a five percent bid guaranty and meet specific transportation requirements, including using enclosed trucks or trailers exclusively.

The contract has several important restrictions and qualifications for potential bidders. Award is limited to one contractor per jurisdiction, with an aggregate cap of 1,000 voting machines or four parishes maximum. Successful contractors must maintain comprehensive insurance coverage, including workers' compensation, public liability, bodily injury liability, property damage liability, and auto liability insurance. A performance bond equal to 1.5 times the contract price is required. Contractors are fully liable for any damage to voting machines, which are valued at approximately $6,000 per unit and weigh around 265 pounds each. Private election services and voting machine demonstrations are compensated at double the standard rate, with a guaranteed minimum of three machines. The contract is subject to legislative appropriation and funding availability, with award notification to be provided to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder within ten days of bid opening.