Zorn Light-Weight Deflectometer with additional components

The State of Michigan Department of Transportation issued Request for Proposal No. 180000002216 on April 17, 2018, with a deadline for proposal submission by 3:00 p.m. Eastern on April 23, 2018. This solicitation seeks the procurement of two units of the Zorn Light Weight Deflectometer Model ZFG 3.0 GPS, specialized soil testing devices essential for geotechnical services. Each unit must be equipped with a loading device featuring a 10 kg drop weight, 300mm loading plate, electronic LCD readout, leather case, SD card storage, thermal printer with case, Windows software, GPS capability, user manual, and two air cargo cases with wheels. Delivery is required within 30 calendar days of order to the Michigan Department of Transportation's Geotechnical Services Section in Lansing, Michigan. The evaluation criteria emphasize best value, defined as meeting minimum point thresholds while providing the best combination of factors and lowest price, with consideration given to qualified disabled veteran (QDV) status, prior performance, overall economic impact to Michigan, and total cost of ownership. Bidders must submit complete responses through the SIGMA VSS electronic portal, including a cover page, vendor questions worksheet, statement of work, and pricing schedules. The State reserves the right to conduct on-site facility visits, require oral presentations, conduct interviews and reference checks, and request additional price concessions during evaluation. The contractor must provide up to one full day of onsite training at an MDOT-specified location, establish toll-free customer service and technical support lines available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST, and describe warranty coverage, recall procedures, delivery program options, and transportation methods. Proposals are binding for 180 calendar days from submission.

This procurement contains no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, though the State will consider qualified disabled veteran status as an evaluation factor. Bidders must certify compliance with various requirements including non-use of abusive labor practices, Michigan business tax filings, Iran Linked Business restrictions, Clean Corporate Citizen status, and convict labor compliance. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the solicitation materials. All pricing must be submitted in a modifiable format such as Microsoft Word or Excel and must be comprehensive, including all one-time charges, setup fees, shipping and handling, palletizing costs, and any other charges the contractor may assess. Contractors are encouraged to offer quick payment discount terms and must certify that pricing was developed independently. Bids on alternate brand or manufacturer lines will not be considered, as the specification is limited to Zorn Light Weight Deflectometer devices. While no specific budget range is disclosed in the available documents, contracts exceeding $500,000 will require State Administrative Board approval. The solicitation manager is Dave Gauthier, reachable at 517-322-5710 or GauthierD@michigan.gov.