Nuclear Density Meters Maintenance and Repairs

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Purchases, issued Request for Bid 22-191 on October 12, 2021, seeking a qualified vendor to provide comprehensive maintenance, repair, calibration, and replacement services for nuclear density meters (including Humboldt, Instrotek, and Troxler models) located at 13 KYTC district offices throughout Kentucky. The vendor must deliver ISO/IEC 17025 3 Block Calibration services, routine maintenance including mechanical inspection, cleaning, lubrication, battery checks, leak testing, and scraper ring replacement, replacement nuclear density meters that comply with ASTM D6938, D2950, C1040 and AASHTO T310 and T355 standards with specified features including digital backlit keypads, dual measurement modes, depth measurement capability from 12 inches to 2 inches, and onboard data storage for minimum 50 tests with 12-month warranty, and hourly labor charges for repairs requiring written Cabinet approval and estimates before work commences. The vendor must handle all shipping arrangements using qualified hazardous materials carriers, with KYTC reimbursing inbound shipping costs while the vendor covers return shipping and disposal costs in accordance with applicable nuclear waste regulations. Evaluation of bids will be based on best value using a ranking approach with 95 points allocated to price (with the lowest-priced conforming bid receiving maximum points and other bidders scored proportionally) and 5 points allocated to response time in calendar days. Electronic bids are due by November 5, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time through the Kentucky eProcurement system, with a public bid reading scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time the same day and a tentative award date of November 19, 2021. The contract shall be for an initial period of one year with four optional one-year renewal periods, during which the Commonwealth reserves the right to renegotiate terms and conditions.

Reciprocal preference applies to Kentucky resident bidders as defined by KRS 45A.494, and qualified bidders including Kentucky Correctional Industries, Kentucky Industries for the Blind, and qualified nonprofit agencies receive preferences of 20 and 15 percent respectively. The vendor must maintain Contractor's General Liability Insurance with $1,000,000 per occurrence limits and Kentucky worker's compensation insurance, with an ACORD Certificate naming the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet as certificate holder and additional insured within ten days of award notice. All bidders must comply with the Commonwealth's Annual Affidavit requirements, certifying compliance with Kentucky campaign finance laws, sales and use tax registration, state tax compliance, and boycott prohibition statutes. Late delivery will result in a 1 percent daily deduction from invoices for each day the vendor fails to meet contracted delivery dates, except for delays caused by factors outside the vendor's control. Price increases are not permitted during the first twelve months; only one price increase based on industry-wide changes is allowed thereafter with thirty days' written notice and supporting documentation. No specific budget range or incumbent vendor information is disclosed in the solicitation documents. All bids must be submitted electronically through the Kentucky eProcurement system, and vendors must register in the Commonwealth eProcurement System, allowing 24 to 48 hours for registration completion before bid submission.