Janesville Transit Mileage Tire Leasing Program

The City of Janesville and its Transit System (JTS) have issued an Invitation for Bids (IFB JTS-IFB-2024-01) for a Mileage Tire Leasing Program to support its fleet of 18 buses operating approximately 485,000 miles annually. The procurement seeks a contractor to supply radial, tubeless, heavy-duty tires in size 315/80R22.5 for Gillig 35-foot and 40-foot diesel low-floor buses, with specific technical requirements including 12.3-inch tread width, 27/32-inch tread depth, 20-ply construction, and 158/156L load range. Bidders must meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and Tire and Rim Association standards, and provide comprehensive tire management services including delivery, replacement inventory within 30 days, repair materials and labor, and tire disposal. Key procurement dates include a March 21, 2024 deadline for questions, with answers posted by March 25, 2024, and a bid submission deadline of March 29, 2024 at 12:00 PM. The contract term is three years (April 2024 through March 31, 2027) with two optional one-year renewal periods, and pricing will be quoted as a six-wheel mileage rate per tire mile.

The solicitation does not explicitly mention set-aside designations for disadvantaged businesses or specific restrictions on respondent types. The contractor must maintain comprehensive insurance, including workers' compensation, general liability ($1 million per occurrence), and automobile liability ($5 million), and comply with Federal Transit Administration requirements and civil rights provisions. While no specific incumbent vendor is identified, the tire leasing program requires the selected contractor to retain tire ownership until full payment and manage all aspects of tire provisioning and maintenance. The City reserves the right to terminate the contract for convenience with 30 days' notice or for default, with a base tire mileage expectancy of 55,000 miles. Though no precise award value is specified, the procurement covers tire leasing for a full transit fleet of 18 buses operating nearly half a million miles annually, suggesting a substantial multi-year contract value. Tires damaged through abuse, accidents, or fire will be reimbursed based on remaining mileage, with specific valuation criteria outlined in the solicitation.