Large Equipment Tulare District, IFB 25-0053

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), Animal Health and Food Safety Services Division is seeking a contractor to provide large rental equipment, vehicles, haulers, and water trucks to support emergency response crews addressing Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreaks across multiple California counties. The Invitation for Bid (IFB) 25-0053 covers counties including San Benito, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, Kern, and Inyo. Required equipment includes heavy equipment with operators (25-ton excavators, skid steers, bucket loaders), small equipment (light towers, heaters, pressure washers), vehicles with operators (pilot cars, all-terrain vehicles), forklifts, haulers, and water trucks in various sizes. Contractors must be capable of delivering equipment within 48 hours of CDFA's request and provide operators who can follow environmental and biosafety protocols. The bid release date is October 9, 2025, with written questions due by October 16, 2025, and completed bids required by 2:00 PM PT on October 29, 2025. The contract term runs from November 10, 2025, or upon final approval through June 30, 2028, with no renewal options.

The solicitation includes a 3% Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) participation goal, with potential bidders able to claim a DVBE incentive that could reduce their bid price during evaluation. Contractors will be reimbursed for travel costs at California Department of Human Resources rates and must include labor rights and benefits in their proposals. The contract is contingent and will only be activated in the event of an HPAI outbreak in the specified counties. Pricing for the contract is detailed in Attachment 1, which includes a comprehensive rate sheet for equipment rentals with county-specific tax rates ranging from 7.25% to 9.25%. While a specific budget range is not explicitly stated, the contract allows for flexible equipment and service deployment based on emergency response needs. The total bid will be calculated based on combined costs of equipment rentals, travel, hotel, per diem expenses, and miscellaneous costs, with the total serving as the basis for bid comparison.