State - equipment rental w/operator district 8

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Purchases, is requesting bids on equipment rental services with operators for District 8 (Somerset District Office) under RFB 605 2700000127, with bids due October 19, 2026 (extended from October 15 via Addendum 1). Kentucky resident bidders receive reciprocal preference consideration in scoring.

The scope encompasses 33 line items of heavy equipment and specialized attachments for highway maintenance and emergency operations: track excavators, hydraulic breakers, tree mulching attachments, dump trucks, articulated trucks, tractors, light plants, skid steers, cold planers, road wideners, vibratory rollers, milling machines, wheel loaders, flaggers, large excavators, 55-ton hydraulic cranes, motor graders, escort trucks, and tree trimmers. Equipment quantities range from 5 to 6,000 hours, priced on an hourly basis including operator services, all maintenance, fuel, and lubrication. Vendors must guarantee a specific response time in calendar days; for emergency work, mobilization within 24 to 48 hours of notification qualifies for $750 emergency mobilization fees, while failure to respond within 72 hours may result in contract cancellation. All equipment must be delivered with a fully qualified operator and comply with a minimum 8-hour work order guarantee. Vendors must submit manufacturer and model numbers, equipment specifications, and proof of insurance including Commercial General Liability ($1,000,000 per occurrence, $2,000,000 aggregate), applicable Automobile Liability, and Kentucky Workers Compensation.

The contract period runs December 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027, with four optional one-year renewal periods. Award uses best-value scoring: 95 points for price (lowest bidder receives maximum) and 5 points for response time. Price increases are prohibited during the first 12 months; thereafter, 30-day written notice with industry-wide justification is required. Electronic bids must be submitted through the Kentucky Vendor Self Service portal with 24-48 hours pre-registration. Questions were due September 24, 2026. The tentative award date is October 15, 2026, with public bid reading via conference line at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date.