REBID Powered Stock Straightening Machine

The Illinois Department of Transportation is conducting a rebid for a Powered Stock Straightening Machine (Contract No. 26-494DOT-FINAD-B-50140) to modernize the Central Sign Shop's operations, which has relied on outdated equipment since 1979. This Invitation for Bid (IFB) procurement seeks a newly manufactured powered stock straightening machine capable of straightening and restoring aluminum sign blanks for reuse, with the machine accommodating material widths up to 50 inches, thickness ranging from 0.080 to 0.125 inches, and operating speeds between 10 and 65 feet per minute. The successful vendor must be an established manufacturer or authorized dealer and must provide complete delivery, installation, setup, utility connections, site preparation, assembly in compliance with state and local codes, and removal of the existing unit at the Illinois Department of Transportation facility in Springfield. The equipment must be newly manufactured (not remanufactured or reconditioned), feature a minimum of eight upper rollers and nine lower rollers each 1.25 inches in diameter or larger, include a reinforced steel cabinet with central operator control panel compatible with 208-volt, 3-phase electrical service, and come with a one-year manufacturer's warranty covering non-conformities and defects. The vendor must also provide qualified factory or dealer personnel for instructional training covering operation, routine service, and maintenance, along with descriptive literature, specification compliance documentation, warranty information, and operator and service manuals. A non-mandatory pre-submission conference is scheduled for January 13, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the Central Sign Shop located at 1135 West Reynolds, Springfield, Illinois 62702 (contact: Rickey Davis, 217-782-5277), with bids due by January 23, 2026, and all bids remaining firm for 180 days from opening. The State will award the contract to the lowest-priced responsive and responsible bidder, with preference given to products manufactured in the United States unless unavailable in reasonable quantities, priced more than 12% higher than comparable foreign alternatives, or substantially lower in quality.

This procurement includes a Business Enterprise Program (BEP) utilization goal of 2% for businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities, requiring all responsive bids to submit a completed BEP Utilization Plan detailing how the 2% goal will be met through self-performance if the bidder is BEP-certified, identification of BEP-certified subcontractors, or demonstration of good faith efforts with a waiver request. All vendors must be registered in the Illinois Procurement Gateway (IPG) and submit either an IPG Active Registered Vendor Disclosure (Forms B, version 26.1) or a standard Vendor Disclosure (Forms A), along with an Offer to the State of Illinois form, the contract documents, and the BEP Utilization Plan through the BidBuy electronic bidding system. Required bidder qualifications include certification that the vendor has not assisted State employees in preparing solicitation documents, disclosure of any registered lobbyists or agents if the contract value exceeds $100,000 annually, identification of current and pending contracts with State agencies for for-profit entities with contracts valued over $100,000, and certification that no forced labor or procurement laundering of apparel will occur under the contract. No bid bond or performance bond is required, though a $15 administrative fee is required from any awarded bidder with a contract value of $1,000 or more, to be deducted from the first payment by the Illinois Comptroller. The contract has an initial term of 12 months commencing upon execution with a maximum total term not to exceed ten years, though no specific award value or budget range is disclosed in the available procurement documents, and the resulting contract may be partially or wholly funded with federal funds, with the percentage and dollar amount to be disclosed upon notice of award.