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

The Louisiana Secretary of State has issued a Notice of Invitation to Bid (Solicitation Number 2026-22) for drayage services involving voting machine transportation in Grant Parish. The procurement specifically requires round-trip hauling of approximately 67 AVC "Advantage" voting machines serving 32 precincts. Sealed bids are due November 25, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. CST, with a public bid opening scheduled the same day at the Archives Auditorium in Baton Rouge. Bidders must submit a 5% bid guaranty and acknowledge mandatory pre-bid video training for safe machine handling. The contract term spans January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026, with potential renewal options for two additional 12-month periods. Evaluation criteria include responsiveness, responsibility, and submission of required insurance documentation, including workers' compensation insurance of at least $100,000 per person, public liability insurance of $100,000 per person, and auto liability insurance of $500,000 combined single limits per occurrence.

The solicitation imposes strict requirements on contractors, including use of only enclosed trucks or trailers with individual machine covers and proper moving straps. Contractors are prohibited from repairing damaged machines and will be invoiced for any repair costs. There are aggregate limitations on bidding, with contractors restricted to 1,000 voting machines or four parishes. If a contract is cancelled for cause, the contractor becomes ineligible to bid in that parish for three years. Performance bonds equal to 1.5 times the contract price are required. The bid price will be expressed as a per-machine round-trip cost and will vary based on election type and actual machines used. Warehouse precinct machines are excluded unless prior approval is obtained. While no specific set-aside designations are mentioned, the comprehensive insurance and bonding requirements suggest a preference for established transportation and logistics providers with significant operational capabilities.