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

The Louisiana Secretary of State has issued a Notice of Invitation to Bid for drayage services in West Carroll Parish, seeking a contractor to handle the transportation and delivery of voting machines and related election materials. The procurement specifically involves hauling fifty-two (52) AVC "Advantage" voting machines across twenty-three (23) precincts, with transportation between storage warehouses and polling locations. Sealed bids are due on November 25, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. CST, with public bid opening at the State Archives Building in Baton Rouge. The initial contract term will run from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026, with potential for two optional twelve-month renewals, not to exceed thirty-six months total. Bidders must submit a bid guaranty equal to five percent of the total bid amount and demonstrate comprehensive insurance coverage, including workers' compensation, public liability, bodily injury liability, property damage liability, and auto liability insurance. Contractors must use only enclosed trucks or trailers and strictly comply with Louisiana's voting machine handling and chain-of-custody procedures as specified in the Louisiana Administrative Code and Election Code.

The procurement includes specific restrictions on bidder participation, limiting contractors to no more than 1,000 voting machines or four parishes combined. Contractors whose previous contracts have been canceled for cause become ineligible to bid in that parish for three years. A performance bond equal to 1.5 times the contract price is required prior to contract execution, and successful bidders will be notified of award within ten days of bid opening. Payment terms stipulate that contract prices will be paid within thirty days of invoice receipt, contingent upon successful completion of services with no damage to voting machines. While no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are mentioned, the contract appears open to qualified transportation and logistics providers capable of meeting stringent handling and insurance requirements. The contract does not specify a precise budget range, but the scope suggests a moderate-sized procurement focused on precise, secure transportation of critical election infrastructure. Potential bidders must demonstrate significant operational capabilities in secure transportation and strict adherence to election equipment handling protocols.