University of Wisconsin-Platteville is accepting bids for Education Robots for the Industrial Studies Department

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville, through its Purchasing Services Department, is conducting a competitive sealed bid procurement to acquire multiple educational robots for the Industrial Studies Department. The solicitation requires vendors to provide complete robot carts/cells with six-axis industrial robots, integrated vision systems, electric conveyor platforms, and comprehensive educational software packages. Each robot system must include installation, instructor trainer packages, offline 3D simulation capabilities, educational portable computers, and smart tablet teach pendants. The procurement specifies a robust educational technology solution that includes an online learning management system with one license per student, 3D simulation software seats for forty students, and comprehensive curriculum covering programming, hardware operation, safety protocols, job creation, path programming, and fault recovery. Bid questions were due by January 15, 2020, with answers posted by January 17, 2020, and final bids were due on January 30, 2020 at 3:00 PM to Lewis Bettinger at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Purchasing Office.

The procurement includes provisions for Certified Minority Business Enterprises, which are eligible for a five percent bid preference under Wisconsin Statutes s. 16.75(3m). Bidders must have been in business for at least five years with similar project experience, maintain a permanent business location, and be original manufacturers, authorized distributors, or dealers with service and repair capabilities. The contract requires a standard one-year manufacturer equipment warranty, with vendors maintaining commercial liability insurance of at least one million dollars and workers' compensation insurance. Delivery will be FOB destination with freight prepaid, and the University reserves the right to conduct vendor demonstrations and review financial stability. While no specific robot quantity was predetermined, the award will be made to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder meeting all specifications, with budget considerations influencing the final quantity. The State of Wisconsin qualifies for governmental and educational discounts, and all quoted prices must reflect these potential reductions.