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

The Louisiana Department of State, under Secretary of State Nancy Landry, has issued a solicitation for drayage (hauling) services specifically targeting the transportation of voting machines and election-related materials for Richland Parish. The procurement involves the round-trip hauling of approximately fifty-nine (59) AVC "Advantage" electronic voting machines, precinct registers, and related election supplies between warehouses, polling places, demonstration sites, and commissioner training locations. Bid packages became available on October 22, 2025, with proposals due by November 25, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. CST. The primary contract term spans January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026, with potential renewal options for two additional twelve-month periods, not exceeding thirty-six months total. Bidders must submit a price per voting machine for round-trip hauling and provide a bid guaranty of five percent of the total bid amount through a bond, certified check, or money order. Evaluation criteria include pricing, insurance requirements, and the contractor's ability to meet logistical transportation needs for election equipment.

The contract includes specific restrictions limiting contractors to a maximum of 1,000 voting machines or four parishes, whichever threshold is reached first. Contractors must provide comprehensive insurance coverage, including Workers' Compensation Insurance (minimum $100,000 per person), Public Liability Insurance ($100,000 per person), Bodily Injury Liability Insurance ($300,000 per occurrence), Property Damage Liability Insurance ($50,000 per occurrence), and Auto Liability Insurance ($500,000 combined single limits). Additionally, contractors must submit a performance bond or irrevocable bank letter of credit equal to 1.5 times the contract price. The contract's financial execution remains contingent upon legislative appropriation of sufficient funds. Invoicing procedures allow for payment within thirty days of receiving the drayman's invoice, with potential deductions for machine damage resulting from contractor negligence. While no specific disadvantaged enterprise set-asides are mentioned, the procurement appears open to qualified transportation and logistics providers capable of meeting the stringent insurance and operational requirements.