Mini Excavator

Emanuel County Schools in Swainsboro, Georgia is soliciting competitive bids for the purchase of one new compact hydraulic mini excavator designated for use by the school system's Maintenance Department. The procurement is formalized through an Invitation to Bid (ITB) process with a deadline of April 3, 2026, following the posting date of March 24, 2026. The mini excavator must be new and unused, either a current or prior year production model, with specifications including a 3-4 ton compact excavator class weighing between 7,500 and 10,000 pounds, a diesel EPA-compliant engine with minimum 20 horsepower, a minimum digging depth of 9 feet, two-speed travel capability, rubber tracks, a fully enclosed cab with factory-installed heating and air conditioning, ROPS/FOPS certified operator protection, a hydraulic thumb, and a quick coupler. The equipment will support school system maintenance operations including trenching, drainage repairs, utility work, light grading, and general construction support. Delivery must be FOB to the Emanuel County Schools Maintenance Department at 115 Tiger Trail, Swainsboro, Georgia 30401, with all freight and setup charges included in the delivered price. Bidders are required to provide the manufacturer and model, complete specifications, warranty information, delivery timeline, service dealer location, and total delivered price, with warranty coverage mandated at minimum 24 months and/or 2,000 hours whichever occurs first, along with local service contact information and parts availability details. Award criteria include price, compliance with specifications, availability of local service within approximately 100 miles of Swainsboro, delivery timeline, warranty coverage, and suitability for school maintenance operations, with vendors also required to provide delivery, pre-delivery inspection, setup, and basic operator orientation.

The ITB document does not specify set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to particular categories of organizations such as disadvantaged enterprises, suggesting the procurement is open to all qualified vendors. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the solicitation materials. Optional equipment pricing is requested separately for items including angle blade, additional buckets, extended warranty options, and equipment trailers, allowing bidders to provide pricing flexibility. Funding for the purchase may derive from ESPLOST (Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) or FY26 maintenance fund equipment allocations; however, no specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the available documentation. Emanuel County Schools reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids and to award based on the best interest of the school system.