Heavy Duty Wheel Loaders for MN Army National Guard

The Minnesota Army National Guard is seeking to acquire three brand-new Heavy Duty Wheel Loaders for the Facility Management Office at Camp Ripley Training Center in Little Falls, Minnesota, through a Request for Quotation issued as a combined synopsis/solicitation under FAR 12.202. This acquisition is designated as a 100% Total Small Business Set-Aside with an active SBA Non-Manufacturer Rule waiver in place for NAICS code 333120, Construction Machinery Manufacturing, and is restricted to small businesses including HUBZone and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business entities. The requirement is structured as a Brand Name or Equal procurement, using the Caterpillar 950 Series as the baseline model, with strict technical specifications including a 6-cylinder diesel engine producing 195–230 horsepower, EPA Tier 4 Final emissions compliance, a 24V electrical system, hydraulic quick-coupler compatible with Caterpillar Fusion style couplers, a 3.5–4.0 cubic yard bucket, 23.5 x 25 L3 bias tires on 3-piece rims, and mandatory safety features such as a backup camera and LED working lights. Delivery must be FOB Destination to the specified location at Camp Ripley, and the quotation must include operator and maintenance manuals, basic operator training upon delivery, a full factory-limited warranty, a preventative maintenance package covering 2,000 to 3,000 hours, and telematics software active for at least three years. All offers must be submitted electronically to Contracting Officer Eric A. Ahlgren by 10:00 AM Central Time on July 8, 2026, and must include the Unique Entity Identifier, Taxpayer Identification Number, and full compliance with representations and certifications in SAM.gov. Proposals are required in three volumes: Volume I detailing technical capability and delivery schedule, Volume II providing relevant past performance with contact details and dollar value, and Volume III containing a firm-fixed-price quotation inclusive of all transportation costs to the delivery point. Technical capability is evaluated as a pass/fail criterion based on compliance with the Statement of Work’s minimum salient characteristics; failure to meet these renders the proposal ineligible. Price accounts for 50% of the evaluation, while a combination of delivery schedule, warranty and maintenance plan, value-added enhancements, and past performance collectively carry roughly equal weight as price. The award is contingent upon the availability of fiscal year 20