Sign shop Horizontal applicator system

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Sign Shop is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the one-time purchase of a horizontal laminator for extruded aluminum (RFP No. 240000002770). The equipment will be used to apply 3M reflective sheeting to extruded aluminum planks in compliance with specifications for Type I highway sign fabrication. The laminator must be a new, current production model capable of accommodating substrate dimensions up to 12 inches wide, 120 inches long, and 1.5 inches thick, with key features including an energy-efficient motor, top unwind station with airbrakes, single handwheel nip adjustment with digital indicator, hydraulic safety air cylinder, safety pull cords at infeed and outfeed, and Lexan clear guards on the nip. The equipment must support substrate thickness between 0.02 and 1.50 inches with minimum film application width of 8 inches and maximum width up to 10 feet, operate on 120 VAC single-phase 60 Hz electrical power with 80 psig minimum pneumatic pressure, and function in ambient temperatures between 38 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The machine must stand 70 inches high from foot pads to top with 35-inch depth and feature an integrated electric cabinet that is UL and CE compliant; optional infeed and outfeed conveyors with 400-pound capacity and motorized systems are available. Deliverables include the fully assembled, serviced, tested, and ready-for-operation equipment with two sets of manuals, shipping, and delivery fees included in a single line-item price, along with a one-year warranty or the manufacturer's warranty, whichever is greater, beginning when MDOT places the equipment in service. The bidders' question deadline is Monday, April 14, 2025, with answers to be posted by Wednesday, April 16, 2025, and the proposal submission deadline is Monday, April 21, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with an anticipated contract begin date of Monday, May 5, 2025. Evaluation criteria include manufacturer certification, completed Confidential Treatment Form, acceptable vendor question responses, acceptance of standard contract terms, complete Schedule A responses, complete pricing on Schedule B, acceptable product specifications per Attachment 1, and submission of product literature, with award going to the responsive and responsible bidder with the lowest price who meets all mandatory minimum requirements.

Bidders must be either the manufacturer or an authorized dealer with manufacturer documentation, and no set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are specified in the solicitation documents. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified, and no existing infrastructure or technology integration requirements are noted. Payment will be made via Electronic Funds Transfer within 45 calendar days of invoice receipt or final acceptance of deliverables. The contract is subject to State Administrative Board approval, as the estimated value meets or exceeds $250,000, though the specific budget range or anticipated award value is not disclosed in the available documentation. No site visits or bidders' conferences are scheduled for this procurement.