Programmable Logic Controller Services for Lift Bridges

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation, Bureau of Bridge Maintenance, is issuing a Request for Proposal for Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) services for lift bridge inspection, maintenance, and repair. The procurement seeks a qualified contractor to provide comprehensive PLC services for the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge and Memorial Bridge in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, over a three-year contract period from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029. Key deliverables include maintenance, repairs, and system upgrades to control systems featuring Allen Bradley Controllogix controllers, Allen Bradley Ethernet networks, Cimplicity SCADA systems, Intellect HMI software, position encoders, limit switches, and Controllogix driver software. The contractor must provide 24/7 emergency repair availability with response times of four hours for critical deficiencies and completion within 48 hours of notification. Bidders must demonstrate a minimum of 10 years of relevant PLC lift bridge experience and provide references. The evaluation criteria allocate 60 points to the technical proposal—comprised of 30 points for lift bridge PLC experience, 20 points for specific experience with the listed systems, and 10 points for references—with the remaining 40 points allocated to the price proposal. The vendor inquiry period ends February 6, 2026 at 4:00 PM, final agency responses to inquiries are due February 13, 2026 at 4:00 PM, and proposals must be submitted by February 20, 2026 at 2:00 PM.

The RFP does not indicate any set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to specific organization types or disadvantaged enterprises. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the documentation. The contractor must ensure compatibility and integration with existing infrastructure, including the specified Allen Bradley and Cimplicity systems already installed on the lift bridges. Compensation is structured on an actual-cost basis with maximum hourly labor rates established by the contractor (at time-and-a-half for emergency work outside regular hours), materials at actual cost plus 15 percent markup, mileage reimbursement at the IRS standard rate, equipment rental per the Rental Rate Blue Book, and subcontractor costs plus 10 percent markup. The contract has a not-to-exceed value of $75,000 ($25,000 per fiscal year). Parts not exceeding $3,500 per bridge repair are approved without written authorization; parts exceeding this threshold require written approval from the Bureau Administrator. The contract is non-exclusive and contingent upon Governor and Executive Council approval and continued appropriation of funding, with the contractor required to comply with OSHA standards, United States Coast Guard requirements, and the Department's Environmental Policy.