Transport Truck Customization

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Transport Truck Customization, targeting the fabrication and modification of twenty-nine 2025 Freightliner M2106 Class 8 transport trucks for the Florida Forest Service. The procurement seeks a contractor to provide comprehensive services including project management, logistic coordination, fabrication, sandblasting, undercoating, and painting of these vehicles. Specific technical requirements mandate precise customization according to detailed CAD drawings, including specialized welding techniques, electrical system configurations, hydraulic plumbing specifications, and specific finishing work involving water tanks, toolboxes, striping, and decaling. Respondents must be NTEA Certified Body Builders with a minimum of five years documented body fabrication experience and ensure all welders are certified by the American Welding Society. The evaluation will utilize a 150-point scoring system, with points allocated across mileage radius (10 points), price response (20 points), technical response (80 points), and facility review (40 points). Proposals are due by August 26, 2025, at 5:00 PM ET, with a public proposal opening via teleconference on August 27, 2025, and the top three ranked respondents required to provide an on-site facility tour.

The solicitation indicates potential preference for certified minority business enterprises, drug-free workplace programs, and veteran business enterprises in the event of tied scores. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the procurement will be priced on a per-unit basis and must comprehensively cover all identified technical requirements. Contractors must be prepared to pick up chassis and deliver finished trucks to the Lake City Central Shop in Lake City, Florida, completing all work at their own facility. During the truck fabrication process, vendors will be required to exercise the vehicles every two weeks by starting, idling, and driving them for approximately 30 minutes at speeds over 30 miles per hour. The initial contract term is one year, with potential renewals for up to three additional one-year periods. Vendors must supply all materials, including paint, primer, steel, hydraulic pumps, wiring, bus bars, hoses, rams, reflective striping, and decaling, using USA-sourced metal and adhering to specific paint color designations. The comprehensive nature of the contract suggests a complex, specialized procurement targeting experienced transportation equipment fabrication firms with robust technical capabilities.