Tandem Axle, 18, 000 GVWR Trailer Mounted, Hydro Excavation and Vacuum Type Catch Basin Cleaning Unit

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB #25-494DOT-FINAD-B-45591) for a Tandem Axle, 18,000 GVWR Trailer Mounted, Hydro Excavation and Vacuum Type Catch Basin Cleaning Unit. The procurement seeks a new, manufactured trailer-mounted equipment unit with specific technical requirements, including a water pump system capable of 5 gallons per minute at 3,000 PSI, a minimum 49 horsepower diesel engine, 400-gallon water tank, and 800-gallon debris storage body. The unit must feature a vacuum pickup system with 1,000 CFM minimum airflow, a hydraulic power-operated boom with 170-degree rotation, and wireless controls. Bidders must be established manufacturers or authorized dealers with at least 5 years of equipment production experience. All potential vendors must submit descriptive literature and specifications with their bids, and the winning equipment must come with a minimum 24-month full coverage warranty. Key bid submission requirements include electronic submission through BidBuy, with bids remaining firm for 90 days from opening, and all questions must be submitted in writing by December 31, 2024.

The procurement appears to have no specific small business or disadvantaged enterprise set-aside requirements, though vendors must complete comprehensive vendor disclosure forms documenting business ownership, financial relationships, and legal compliance. The contract was ultimately awarded to Vermeer Sales & Service of Central Illinois, Inc. for $273,662.86, with a 6-month initial term ending June 30, 2025. Only one other bidder, BEC Enterprises, LLC DBA Brown Equipment Company, submitted a higher bid of $331,477.80. Vendors must maintain specific insurance coverage, including $1,000,000 per occurrence in General Commercial Liability and Auto Liability, and comply with state labor requirements mandating 90% Illinois laborers during periods of excessive unemployment. No subcontractors are permitted under the contract, and the equipment must be newly manufactured, with remanufactured or reconditioned units explicitly prohibited. Delivery is required F.O.B. destination during regular work week hours of 8:00 am - 2:00 pm, with 24-hour advance notification to the district.