UTA Oil Sample Testing

The Utah Transit Authority is soliciting a Request for Information (RFI) from qualified laboratory service providers to establish a proactive maintenance program centered on professional oil analysis, wear particle analysis, and lubricant condition monitoring services. The procuring agency seeks to maximize equipment reliability and identify potential failures before they occur across UTA's diverse fleet, which includes multiple engine types (Cummins ISL, L9, X12, ISLG, L9N, and Ford 7.3 Gas engines) and transmissions (Voith and Allison). Respondents must demonstrate capabilities in routine analysis services including spectrometric analysis, viscosity testing, water content measurement, acid/base number determination, and soot and fuel dilution analysis, as well as advanced diagnostics such as analytical ferrography, particle counting, and oxidation/nitration monitoring. Required qualifications include ISO 17025 accreditation, specified instrumentation capabilities, sophisticated water detection methods, data analysis and trend analysis support for the identified equipment types, wear limit establishment expertise, and availability for monthly meetings with UTA staff. The RFI requires submissions through the Bonfire portal, with questions due by April 30, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. local time and responses due by May 15, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. local time. Respondents should provide only general cost estimates and ballpark pricing; detailed pricing documentation will disqualify technical evaluators and potentially contaminate future procurements. Oil sampling will commence at 12,000-mile inspection intervals for diesel engines following completion of the five-year extended powertrain warranty, with buses having a useful life of 16 years and paratransit vans at 5 years.

No set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types are specified in the RFI documentation. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified, nor are there existing infrastructure or technology integration requirements noted. Respondents should also be prepared to address laboratory capabilities for limited testing of antifreeze and fuel, as well as employee training offerings to UTA staff. This RFI is non-binding and does not commit UTA to issue a formal Request for Proposal or reimburse any expenses incurred by respondents during the information-gathering process. All responses will be considered public records under the State of Utah Records Access Management Act, and UTA reserves the right to conduct interviews or request clarifications from respondents for market research purposes. No specific award value or budget range is disclosed in the RFI.