Signal Cable and Wire

The contract solicits Signal Cable and Wire for Metra in Illinois under IFB No. 202216, with a response deadline of June 10, 2026, and a contract ceiling of $4,000,000. The procurement follows a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable methodology, awarding to the lowest compliant bidder without trade-offs between price and technical merit. All items must comply with rigorous technical specifications outlined in METRA’S SIGNAL SPECIFICATIONS SECTION NO. 34 42 41 and adhere to industry standards including ASTM, AREMA, ICEA, and UL, with electrical performance metrics such as maximum surface resistivity of 200,000 megohms and mandatory pass ratings per IEEE-383-1974 and IEEE-1202-1991. Packaging and marking requirements are highly specific: cables must be tightly wound on non-returnable reels with a minimum drum diameter of 14 times the cable diameter, arbor holes accommodating a 2.5-inch spindle, ends sealed against moisture, and reels labeled with manufacturer details, Metra purchase order and project numbers, conductor counts, lengths, and directional rolling instructions. Cable markings must appear every three feet for multi-conductor types and six inches for three-conductor cables, with manufacturing dates and revision levels included. Delivery is FOB Destination, with all shipping and handling costs borne by the vendor, and acceptance occurs at the delivery point in Illinois. The contract mandates compliance with federal funding regulations through the Federal Transit Administration and Illinois Department of Transportation, requiring Buy America certifications for procurements over $150,000, debarment certifications for contracts over $25,000, Title VI nondiscrimination assurances, and adherence to environmental and labor standards including the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act and Child Labor Act. All certifications and affidavits, including those on corruption, lobbying, and price accuracy, must be submitted in fully completed form as listed in Exhibits 1-G through 1-M, though no completed forms are provided in the submission. Invoices must be itemized and sent to Metra’s Accounts Payable department via mail or email, with no electronic invoicing systems like WAWF required. The solicitation is restricted to electronic submission through Metra’s Bonfire portal, with no paper submissions permitted, and no barcoding, MIL-STD, or CAGE code requirements are specified.