Variable Message Boards

The Washington State Department of Enterprise Services is conducting a competitive solicitation for Purchasing Agreements covering Variable Message Boards, which will be available to eligible purchasers in Washington and Oregon. The procurement encompasses multiple types of traffic signage equipment, specifically including Truck Mounted Arrow Boards, Truck Mounted 2-Line and 3-Line Matrix Boards, and Trailer Mounted Full-Matrix and Line-Matrix Message Boards. Potential vendors must register with Washington's Electronic Business Solution (WEBS) eprocurement site to access complete bidding documents. The solicitation includes a structured timeline with key dates: a pre-bid conference on May 15, 2024 via Microsoft Teams, a Q&A period from May 24-30, 2024, and a bid submission deadline of June 10, 2024. Vendors are required to submit all questions and concerns in writing to the Procurement Coordinator at DESContractsTeamCedar@des.wa.gov, with responses to be provided during the designated Q&A period.

The solicitation references Executive Order 18-03 and includes statutory preferences for PCB-Free Products, Products in Packaging, and Mercury Free Products. While no specific inclusion plan requirements are mentioned, the procurement appears open to a broad range of vendors who can meet the technical specifications for variable message board equipment. The document indicates that vendors not registered in WEBS will not receive updates or amendments to the solicitation, which could serve as a potential barrier to entry. The procurement covers several commodity codes related to signs and traffic signals, suggesting a technical complexity that may require vendors to demonstrate specific capabilities in traffic management and signage technology. Although specific award values or budget ranges are not explicitly stated in the available documentation, the comprehensive nature of the solicitation implies a significant procurement opportunity for qualified vendors in the traffic signage and messaging equipment sector.