Variable Message Boards

This is a statewide competitive solicitation issued by the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services, in collaboration with the State of Oregon, for the establishment of Cooperative Purchasing Agreements for the purchase of Variable Message Boards. The solicitation covers 11 separate contract categories for truck-mounted and trailer-mounted Variable Message Boards, including 2-line, 3-line, LED arrow, and full matrix boards. The Department intends to award up to one Statewide Contract, up to two Standard Contracts per category, and up to one Reserved Contract per category for Washington Small Businesses and Certified Veteran-Owned Businesses. Key deadlines include a pre-bid conference on May 15, 2024, a question and answer period, and a bid submission deadline of June 10, 2024, with an anticipated contract award date of August 1, 2024. The resulting Cooperative Purchasing Agreements will be available for use by Washington state agencies, Oregon Cooperative Purchasing Program members, and other eligible purchasers for a contract term of up to 49 months.

The solicitation includes pricing and evaluation criteria, with a preference for bidders who do not require mandatory individual arbitration clauses, as well as statutory preferences for PCB-free and mercury-free products. Historical sales data indicates annual total sales of approximately $1.3 million for Variable Message Boards among eligible purchasers. The solicitation encourages the participation of small, diverse, and veteran-owned businesses in the procurement process, with set-asides for Washington Small Businesses and Certified Veteran-Owned Businesses. The current contract has no incumbent vendor, and the budget range is not specified.