Robotic total stations, GPS rovers

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) has issued a Best Value Bid Solicitation for the procurement of advanced surveying equipment, specifically seeking one robotic total station, five GNSS rovers, and seven data collectors. The solicitation requires new equipment from qualified manufacturers or authorized distributors with proven experience in robotic surveying technology. Key deliverables include the equipment itself, comprehensive manufacturer documentation in printed and electronic formats, on-site training for 14 personnel, annual equipment cleaning and calibration services, and a five-year system maintenance plan following the initial warranty period. The procurement will evaluate proposals based on a weighted criteria: 60% cost, 20% service/maintenance/repair methodology, 10% service personnel and locations, and 10% customer training program. Proposals were due on March 16, 2021 at 2:30 PM, with the initial contract term estimated to run from March 22, 2021, through March 21, 2022, and potential automatic one-year renewals thereafter. All equipment must be delivered within 30 days of purchase order receipt at SCDOT Headquarters in Columbia, South Carolina.

The solicitation includes South Carolina resident vendor and end-product preferences that must be claimed by line item. Offerors are required to maintain current South Carolina vendor registration and comply with state procurement regulations, ethics requirements, and certification standards. While no specific disadvantaged enterprise set-asides are explicitly mentioned, vendors must acknowledge and comply with the Iran Divestment Act List requirements. The solicitation does not specify a precise contract value or budget range, though pricing must be submitted for each line item including equipment, services, training, and warranty extensions. The procurement allows for quantity adjustments based on cost proposals and available funding. All prospective bidders must register as a South Carolina vendor and submit offers under their full legal business name, identifying their entity type and state of incorporation. The procurement will be awarded to one responsive and responsible offeror offering the best overall value to the state, with the final award notification date extended to March 31, 2021.