Hauling of Voting Machines for St John 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 (Number 2026-48) for drayage services in St. John Parish, seeking a contractor to provide hauling and transportation services for election-related materials. The primary procurement involves transporting approximately 90 AVC "Advantage" voting machines, along with precinct registers and "Vote Here" signs, between storage warehouses and polling places. Contractors must deliver and set up machines between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on the day preceding elections and return them to the warehouse within 48 hours of poll closing. Sealed bids are due November 25, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. CST at the Department's Purchasing Office in Baton Rouge. The contract term runs from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026, with options to renew for two additional 12-month periods, not to exceed 36 months total. Bidders must submit a 5 percent bid guaranty and meet specific transportation requirements, including using only enclosed trucks or trailers for machine transportation.

The solicitation does not specify set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. Contractors must provide multiple insurance policies, including Workers' Compensation, Public Liability, Bodily Injury Liability, Property Damage Liability, and Auto Liability, with specific minimum coverage amounts. A performance bond or irrevocable bank letter of credit in the amount of 1.5 times the contract price is required. Additional mandatory documentation includes a Contractor Disclosure of Ownership Form and a No Felony Conviction Employee Certification Affidavit. Each voting machine weighs approximately 265 pounds and is valued at $6,000, with payment determined by the number of machines actually used during each election or demonstration. The contract includes strict liability provisions, with contractors responsible for repair costs resulting from negligence and potential three-year bidding disqualification if the contract is cancelled for cause. While specific award values are not explicitly stated, the comprehensive insurance and bonding requirements suggest a significant financial commitment for the selected contractor.