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

The Louisiana Secretary of State's office is seeking bids for a drayage contract to transport voting machines and related election materials in Winn Parish for the 2026 election cycle. The procurement involves hauling approximately sixty (60) AVC "Advantage" voting machines between storage warehouses and thirty-one (31) polling places, with additional responsibilities including delivery of precinct registers, "Vote Here" signs, and related election supplies. Bidders must use enclosed trucks or enclosed trailers, with tarps and open truck coverings explicitly prohibited. The contract requires delivery and setup of voting machines between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. the day before an election, with return to warehouse by 8:00 p.m. on the second day following the election. Sealed bids must be received by November 25, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. CST, with bid opening occurring at the Archives Auditorium in Baton Rouge. The initial contract term runs from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026, with potential renewals for two additional twelve-month periods. Bidders must submit a 5% bid guaranty and will be compensated per voting machine hauled round trip at the rate specified in the bid.

The contract includes stringent insurance requirements, mandating Workers' Compensation insurance ($100,000 minimum 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). A performance bond of 1.5 times the contract price must be provided. There are significant restrictions on bidder participation: the successful vendor will be limited to contracting for parishes with an aggregate total of no more than 1,000 voting machines or four parishes, whichever limit is reached first. Additionally, contractors face potential three-year bidding disqualification if a contract is canceled for cause. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder within ten days of the bid opening, with the successful bidder expected to demonstrate robust logistical capabilities and strict adherence to election equipment transportation protocols. While no specific set-aside designations are mentioned, the comprehensive insurance and performance requirements suggest a need for experienced and financially stable contractors.