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

The Louisiana Secretary of State is seeking a drayage contract for voting machine transportation in Vernon Parish, soliciting bids for the hauling of approximately 123 AVC "Advantage" voting machines across 73 precincts. The procurement involves comprehensive transportation services, including delivery to and from warehouse storage and polling places, with a primary contract term from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026. Bidders must submit sealed proposals by November 25, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. CST, with public bid opening occurring at the Archives Auditorium in Baton Rouge on the same date. Contractors must provide enclosed trucks or trailers, individual machine covers, and adhere to strict delivery schedules, including machine delivery between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. the day before elections and return within 48 hours of poll closing. Key evaluation criteria include lowest responsive and responsible bidder status, with a mandatory 5% bid guaranty and comprehensive insurance requirements including workers' compensation, public liability, bodily injury, property damage, and auto liability coverage.

The contract contains significant restrictions on vendor eligibility, explicitly prohibiting contractors with felony convictions or prior election offenses from bidding. Contractors must provide a performance bond of 1.5 times the contract price and assume full liability for any machine damage caused by negligence. The solicitation allows for potential contract renewals up to two additional 12-month periods, not exceeding 36 months total. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly detailed, pricing will be quoted on a per-voting-machine round-trip basis. The contract includes provisions for immediate disqualification of contractors terminated for cause, with such vendors ineligible to bid in the parish for three years. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises were mentioned in the procurement documents. The contract will be awarded within 10 days of the bid opening, with the successful vendor required to maintain equipment in workable condition and subject to state inspection.