RIDOT: Extra Heavy Duty Truck with Utility Body

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT), specifically its Highway Maintenance Department, is soliciting bids for twenty-four (24) extra heavy-duty trucks with eight-foot utility bodies. These trucks must be the latest current model with a ten thousand Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), complete with standard equipment, special tools, and warranties. Bidders are required to submit printed literature and detailed specifications for the proposed equipment. The solicitation was posted on December 22, 2025, with proposals due on January 19, 2026, at 1:00 PM EST. A mandatory pre-bid meeting is scheduled for January 7, 2026, at 2:00 PM EST at RIDOT Maintenance Headquarters in Warwick, Rhode Island. Vendors must submit proposals electronically through Ocean State Procures, with a vendor question and answer period ending on January 12, 2026, at 5:00 PM EST. The procurement will be conducted with Free On Board (FOB) Destination delivery terms, and the State reserves the right to make one or multiple awards or reject any bids at its discretion.

The solicitation includes specific requirements for minority and women-owned business participation, mandating a minimum of fifteen percent (15%) of the contract dollar value be awarded to Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and Women Business Enterprises (WBE). Vendors must register with Ocean State Procures and complete a mandatory Vendor Certification Questionnaire, which includes ownership disclosures and compliance certifications regarding debarment, environmental violations, political contributions, and Iran investment activities. Insurance requirements are substantial, including general liability insurance with $1,000,000 per occurrence, workers' compensation insurance of $100,000 per accident, and automobile liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence. Starting January 1, 2026, a 0.33% contract administrative fee will be withheld from vendor invoices to support procurement technology and related costs. While a specific budget range is not explicitly stated, the procurement involves twenty-four trucks, suggesting a potentially significant contract value for the successful bidder(s).