Item#40, Forestry Truck with Chip Body

The State of Maine's Central Fleet Management division is soliciting bids for one forestry truck with chip body, Item #40, with bids due October 1, 2009. Awards will be made to the lowest responsible bidder offering the best value, considering quality, conformity with specifications, delivery date, and ultimate cost. The State reserves the right to award to in-state bidders or those offering Maine-produced commodities when price, quality, and availability are equal.

The scope requires a new 2009 or 2010 model year diesel forestry truck with automatic transmission, air conditioning, and a custom-built chip body. The truck engine must deliver a minimum of 210 horsepower diesel with sufficient torque to sustain 65 mph fully loaded with an 8,000-pound trailer; transmission must be Allison 3000 series automatic with PTO. The chip body is 14 feet long, 92 inches wide, with 72-inch interior height, constructed of galvaneal and steel plating, equipped with a PTO-driven dump hoist, 270-degree swing tailgate, and full-width stainless steel toolboxes. All electrical connections must be sealed with heat shrink and protected with heavy-duty wire loom; no Scotch-Lok connectors are permitted. Bidders must provide payload calculations for the completed vehicle and must include all installation costs.

Environmental and safety requirements include California-certified engines where applicable, the lowest emission-rated vehicle available, mercury-free headlamps and convenience lighting switches, and lead-free wheel weights with preference for liquid balancer tire treatment. Warranty terms in months and miles, roadside assistance availability, and price-firm dates must be stated.

Bidders must submit a General Vehicle Specifications form and Technical Specification Sheet electronically. All questions must be submitted in writing to Terry L. DeMarche, Procurement and Contracting Manager, at terry.l.demerchant@maine.gov or fax 207-624-5086. Evaluation incorporates life cycle costing and fuel economy calculations based on U.S. Department of Energy city ratings over 100,000 miles. The State is exempt from Federal and Maine sales taxes; all transportation charges shall be prepaid and borne by the contractor.