Portage County Patrol/Tactical Rifles

Portage County, Wisconsin, through its Purchasing Department, has issued a Request for Bid (RFB #2017-29) for the procurement of patrol/tactical rifles for the Portage County Sheriff's Office. The bid specifically seeks 52 semi-automatic M4/M16/AR15 style carbines chambered in 5.56mm NATO, each requiring a full-auto rated suppressor and comprehensive tactical components including mil-spec receivers, match-grade barrels, enhanced trigger groups, and free-float rails. The solicitation includes optional trade-in provisions for 30 semi-automatic and 6 fully-automatic Bushmaster AR15 rifles currently in the county's inventory. Bidders must be original manufacturers or authorized distributors licensed to sell firearms in Wisconsin, with a minimum of five years of firearms sales experience and three verifiable references from comparable institutions within the past two years. The bid requires contractors to honor the manufacturer's standard warranty, preferably with lifetime or limited lifetime coverage. Key deadlines include a bid submission deadline of May 23, 2017, at 2:00 PM, with a public bid opening at 1462 Strongs Ave, Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Questions were accepted through May 11, 2017, and bidders must provide on-site product demonstrations within seven calendar days of request at no expense to the County.

The contract does not specify specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. Bidders must be able to manage all ATF approvals and provide F.O.B. destination freight included in the quoted price. Pricing must remain firm for 60 days after bid opening and is subject to governmental discounts, with the County exempt from federal excise and Wisconsin sales taxes. The existing rifle inventory consists of Bushmaster XM15-E2S rifles, with semi-automatic models featuring 16-inch barrels and approximately 10,000 rounds fired, and fully automatic rifles with 12-inch barrels and 10,000 to 15,000 rounds fired, all serviced by certified armorers in 2016 or 2017. While a specific award value is not explicitly stated, the procurement involves 52 tactical rifles with optional trade-in components. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder meeting all specifications, with delivery required within 90 calendar days of purchase order receipt. The contract is governed by Wisconsin law and includes standard terms addressing insurance, nondiscrimination, safety compliance, and public records obligations.