Tire Lease

The City of Madison, Wisconsin, through Metro Transit, is soliciting bids for a comprehensive tire lease contract for its public transit fleet. The Request for Bids (RFB #14060-0-2025-BG) seeks a two-year fixed-rate contract with potential two-year extensions, covering approximately 182 buses of Gillig and New Flyer models. The procurement requires new, original tread tubeless radial tires in two specific sizes: 305/70R22.5 and 315/80R22.5, with an anticipated annual fleet mileage of 7,600,000 miles. The contract demands extensive tire management services, including annual fleet inspections by a tire engineer, comprehensive record-keeping, tire monitoring, and mileage tracking. Bidders must provide detailed tire engineering data, demonstrating compatibility with BRT station operations and ability to safely sustain speeds up to 70 MPH. Key dates include a question submission deadline of August 19, 2025, and a final bid submission deadline of August 28, 2025, at 2:00 PM CST. Evaluation criteria will focus on tire quality, performance characteristics, and the contractor's ability to provide comprehensive tire management services.

The solicitation does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. While no incumbent vendors are directly identified, the contract suggests a sophisticated procurement process requiring technical expertise in tire engineering and fleet management. The contract term spans potentially six years (initial two-year period with two optional two-year extensions), providing significant stability for the selected vendor. Although specific budget ranges are not detailed in the provided documents, the comprehensive nature of the tire lease suggests a substantial contract value commensurate with managing tires for a fleet of 182 buses operating nearly 7.6 million miles annually. The tire lease agreement includes provisions for potential tire purchases or contract extensions at the conclusion of the initial term, offering flexibility for both the city and the selected contractor. The procurement appears to prioritize long-term partnership and comprehensive tire management over merely supplying replacement tires.