RFP-01A-202604075 | Remote Off-Grid Cashless Payment Kiosk

The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry – Bureau of Public Lands in Maine is seeking bids for the installation, setup, and ongoing service of remote off-grid cashless payment kiosks to replace outdated Iron Ranger fee collection systems in state parks, beginning with a test deployment at Quoddy Head State Park. The solicitation, issued under RFP-01A-202604075 and classified under NAICS code 811210, requires bidders to deliver fully autonomous, environmentally resilient payment terminals capable of year-round operation under harsh Maine weather conditions including wind, snow, and hail. The system must process credit and debit card payments without physical cash handling, with all transactional and operational data owned exclusively by the State of Maine and prohibited from being stored outside the Continental United States without prior written approval. Bidders must ensure full PCI DSS compliance, including point-to-point encryption of cardholder data throughout every stage of processing, and must provide a comprehensive list of all payment devices and supporting technologies with evidence of their inclusion on the PCI SSC approved device list. The contract is structured with an initial performance period from July 1, 2026, through October 15, 2028, and includes two optional renewal periods extending through October 15, 2031. Bidders must submit a complete proposal in four distinct files through the Vendor Self Service System, including certifications of responsible bidder status, organizational qualifications, technical capabilities, and detailed cost proposals for kiosk hardware (with both hardwired and solar power options), communication equipment, installation, training, and annual service fees. Proposals are evaluated on a weighted scale: 50% for proposed services, 25% for organizational experience, and 25% for cost. The awarded bidder must act as an independent contractor, not as an agent of the State, assume full liability for payment data security, and collect annual service fees exclusively as a percentage or fixed amount deducted directly from collected revenue, with no invoicing permitted. Insurance requirements include general and professional liability coverage documented on standard ACORD forms, and all IT systems must meet the State’s Digital Accessibility Policy. Failure to meet eligibility requirements in Appendix I results in automatic disqualification, and submissions must remain binding for 180 days after bid opening, with all documentation limited to 15MB per file and no external links or encrypted files permitted. Payment to the vendor will occur on a net 30 basis upon submission