2023 or Current Production Year Ford Transit XLT Rear Lift All Wheel Drive (AWD) Transit Vans

The State of Nebraska, Department of Administrative Services, Materiel Division, State Purchasing Bureau issued Invitation to Bid (ITB) Number 6764 OF to procure 50 units of 2023 or Current Production Year Ford Transit XLT Rear Lift All Wheel Drive (AWD) Transit Vans for the Nebraska Department of Transportation. The solicitation seeks transit vans with specific technical requirements including specific chassis configurations, auxiliary systems, emergency equipment, interior and exterior features, and warranty specifications. The initial contract period is one year with the option to renew for four additional one-year periods when mutually agreeable. The bid opening date was originally set for March 9, 2023, at 2:00 pm Central Time, with an intent to award the contract to Masters Transportation, Inc. Evaluation criteria included compliance with detailed vehicle specifications, with the state indicating that major deviations from the technical requirements would not be accepted. Optional line items included configurations for Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard child restraint systems, removal of ambulatory passenger seats, and integrated child seat options.

The solicitation included federal compliance requirements, particularly emphasizing Buy America provisions, bus testing standards, and disadvantaged business enterprise participation guidelines. No specific set-aside designations were explicitly stated, though the ITB noted that Nebraska contractors would be given preference in accordance with state statutes. Masters Transportation, Inc. was the sole bidder, with a unit price of $84,657 per vehicle, bringing the total potential contract value to approximately $4,232,850 for the 50 vehicles. The procurement is funded through federal sources, requiring compliance with applicable federal regulations. The vehicle configurations allow flexibility for wheelchair accessibility, with example seating arrangements demonstrating the ability to accommodate one or two wheelchair passengers alongside ambulatory seating. No incumbent vendor information was provided, and the solicitation focused specifically on procuring new transit vans to meet the state's transportation needs.