Snow Blower, Heavy Duty, Wheel Loader Attachment

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), Office of Operations Administrative Services, Fleet Division, issued Request for Quotation (RFQ) Bid Number 180000000771 on July 12, 2018, for the one-time purchase of one (1) Snow Blower, Heavy Duty, Wheel Loader Attachment to be delivered to MDOT's Houghton Garage in Calumet, Michigan. The equipment must be a new, latest-model, two-stage snow blower designed for attachment to a 2012 John Deere 624K loader with an operating capacity of 1,800 to 2,000 tons per hour, a cutting width of 114 inches, a complete weight of 9,800 pounds, and a snow casting distance of up to 150 feet; the specification references the Wausau SNOGO Model MP Rotary Snow Blower as an identification reference only and does not restrict bidders to that brand. The procurement includes comprehensive technical specifications requiring a Cummins diesel engine rated at 300 horsepower at 2,200 RPM with Tier IV emission compliance, digital controls with wireless radio remote capability, an LCD instrument panel, three 14-inch diameter serrated augers, a 38-inch diameter second-stage impeller with replaceable T-1 steel blades, a 20-gallon hydraulic system rated for -40 degrees Fahrenheit operation, and a three-section hydraulic loading chute with poly liners. Deliverables include the fully assembled and equipped snow blower attachment delivered within 120 days after receipt of order, two (2) sets of operating and maintenance/service manuals, a minimum three-year warranty covering all components (or manufacturer's warranty, whichever is greater), a minimum of four (4) hours of operator and mechanics training for 6-8 MDOT employees provided at no cost, and technical support and repair services available 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST Monday through Friday. Bidders must be certified authorized distributors or manufacturers to meet mandatory minimum requirements; questions were required by 3:00 p.m. EST on July 17, 2018, with answers posted by 5:00 p.m. EST on July 19, 2018, and proposals were due by 3:00 p.m. EST on July 26, 2018. Evaluation will be conducted on a 100-point technical scale with the following criteria: Schedule A-Statement of Work/Contract Activities (15 points), Schedule A-Training (25 points), Vendor Questionnaire-General Experience with verifiable contacts (25 points), Vendor Questionnaire-State Experience (5 points), and Attachment-Specification C57-0651.18 (30 points); only proposals achieving 80 or more technical points will advance to pricing evaluation, and award will be made to the responsive and responsible bidder offering the best combination of technical factors and price.

No set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are noted in the solicitation documents, and no incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified. The procurement requires bidders to register with the State at http://www.michigan.gov/cpexpress to receive payment via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), which is the State's only disbursement method. Bidders must submit comprehensive pricing on Schedule B inclusive of all costs, including shipping, handling, training fees, and any other potential charges, with all bids submitted F.O.B. Destination with transportation charges prepaid; failure to submit F.O.B. Destination terms will result in disqualification. The contractor must obtain and maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including Commercial General Liability ($1,000,000 each occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate), Umbrella or Excess Liability ($5,000,000 general aggregate), Automobile Liability ($1,000,000 per occurrence), Workers' Compensation, and Property Insurance covering State-owned assets. All undisputed invoices are payable within 45 days of State receipt, with all prices inclusive of taxes, and the contract is effective for this one-time purchase with an anticipated contract begin date of August 17, 2018. Liquidated damages are assessed at 2/10th of 1% per day up to 30 days for late or improper completion of deliverables. While no specific award value or budget range is disclosed in the solicitation documents, the scope of work, equipment specifications, training requirements, and warranty obligations suggest a significant procurement value.