Tires Leasing for Heavy-Duty Transit Buses

Madison County Mass Transit District is soliciting qualified vendors to provide tire leasing services for its heavy-duty transit bus fleet through Invitation for Bid No. 26-1-20700R1, with a bid deadline of March 17, 2026, at 2:00 PM CDT. The procurement covers a three-year base term contract with two optional one-year renewal periods, commencing upon contract execution with an anticipated award date of April 9, 2026. The scope of work requires contractors to provide new, tubeless, commercial-line transit bus tires on a mileage-based, all-inclusive lease arrangement for a fleet consisting of 42 Gillig 30-foot buses requiring 275/70R22.5 tires (Load Range J, 18 Ply minimum) and 28 Gillig 40-foot buses requiring 305/70R22.5 tires (Load Range L, 20 Ply minimum), with estimated annual usage of 52,000 miles and 42,000 miles per unit respectively. Contractors must deliver a minimum of 30 tires of each size within 30 days of contract award to the facility at 1 Transit Way, Gate C, Pontoon Beach, Illinois 62040, maintain a minimum inventory of 35 spare unmounted tires of each size, and assume full responsibility for physical removal and disposal of all unserviceable tires through licensed scrap tire haulers with reconciliation every 60 days. Optional services may include tire dismounting, mounting, balancing, repair services, and tire pickup/delivery, with all repairs performed using industry-standard methods excluding tire plugs and requiring dynamic balancing. Minimum qualifications require bidders to demonstrate at least two years of documented experience providing tire supply and leasing services for commercial or transit fleets, preferably for public agencies operating heavy-duty vehicles, and all bids must be submitted electronically through the Bonfire portal with required submittals including the Solicitation and Offer Form, Bid Price Form, Buy America Certification, Federal Tax Liability and Recent Felony Convictions Certification, Lobbying Certification, References (minimum three from the last five years), and Supplemental Requested Information identifying proposed project management personnel. The deadline for written questions is March 3, 2026, with addenda to be issued by March 10, 2026; site tours are available upon request by contacting Justin Dixon, Director of Maintenance, at (618) 797-4600 ext. 2213. Award will be made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder based on total bid price, evaluated as a firm fixed unit price contract with potential economic price adjustments no more than once every six months based on manufacturer suggested retail prices, capped at five percent annual upward adjustments unless otherwise approved in writing.

This procurement offers preference to vendors certified as Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) by the Illinois Unified Certification Program, with a zero percent DBE goal established for the contract. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the solicitation documents. The contract is federally funded through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), making it subject to comprehensive federal and state compliance requirements including Buy America provisions for manufactured products, federal civil rights and nondiscrimination laws, debarment verification through www.sam.gov, clean air and water pollution control standards, Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, and Illinois Prevailing Wage Act requirements. Contractors must maintain general liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate, automobile liability coverage of $1,000,000 per accident, workers' compensation at statutory limits with $500,000 employers' liability coverage, and cyber liability insurance of $500,000 with 48-hour breach notification requirements. Payment terms specify invoices submitted by the 10th of the following month after service completion, with payment due within 45 days for Madison County Transit purchases or 30 days for Agency for Community Transit, Inc. (ACT) purchases. While the specific award value is not disclosed in the solicitation documents, the contract pricing shall be mileage-based and calculated monthly on actual fleet mileage provided, with all associated costs including labor, materials, overhead, storage, shipping, taxes, and profit included in the stated unit prices.