Valley transit tire leasing request for quote RFQ VT18-002

Valley Transit, a department of the City of Appleton, Wisconsin, is seeking qualified vendors to provide a comprehensive tire leasing agreement for its fleet of 31 transit buses through Request for Quote (RFQ) VT18-002. The procurement covers a five-year contract from June 1, 2018, to May 31, 2023, with specific requirements for new radial tires in two primary sizes: 305/70R22.5 Load Range L and LT225/75R16 Load Range E, compatible with buses manufactured by Orion, Arboc, New Flyer, and Glaval. The agency anticipates approximately 5,660,000 annual tire miles, including 40,000 miles for out-of-service operations and approximately 10 damaged tires per year. Vendors must submit five complete physical proposal sets and one electronic copy, with pricing structured as a per-tire-mile rate for each tire size and year, plus a per-1/32" replacement rate. The sealed bid is due May 15, 2018, at 2:00 PM at Valley Transit's facility, with written vendor questions having been due April 27, 2018, and award notification projected for May 24, 2018, pending Fox Cities Transit Commission approval.

The contract includes comprehensive responsibilities for the winning contractor, including tire mounting, dismounting, repairs, maintenance supplies, monthly on-site inspections by a tire engineer, and tire disposal. Vendors must provide three municipal references and proof of insurance with a minimum $1,000,000 Commercial General Liability coverage. The procurement is subject to Federal Transit Administration (FTA) compliance requirements and mandated federal clauses, with Valley Transit reserving the right to test alternative tire makes (limited to 5% of tires in service) and to award to one or more vendors or cancel the procurement. While no specific set-aside designations are mentioned, vendors must comply with nondiscrimination and civil rights requirements. The RFQ does not specify a precise budget range, but the comprehensive nature of the tire leasing agreement suggests a significant multi-year contract value covering tire procurement, maintenance, and replacement for a 31-bus transit fleet.