11th Air Force Arctic Training Vehicle

The 11th Air Force at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is in need of a new extreme-terrain vehicle to support their Arctic Resiliency Training Program. The vehicle they have researched, and obtained a quote for is the Argo Aurora 950 8X8. However, this solicitation is being issues as a brand name or equal requirement and the true need is to acquire a vehicle that must be able to navigate the challenging Arctic terrain, including snow, ice, and traversing water.

It must be an 8X8 with the option for a track kit, capable of transporting up to six passengers and able to tow up to 1,800 lbs, and have a snowplow attachment. The responsibility falls on the vendor submitting the offer to outline each aspect of their offered vehicle and how it is equal to the brand name product if they choose to submit a different brand and vehicle. The Government reserves the right to consider the quotation as an unresponsive offer if the vendor fails to include this detail in their quotation.

This is a brand name or equal requirement and any vehicle that meets the true need shall be considered acceptable, and therefore we welcome all interested suppliers in submitting their products and all-terrain vehicle capabilities for consideration. The vendor submitting the quotation bears all responsibility in providing all detail outlining how the product being offered is equal to the Brand Name vehicle if choosing to offer other than the Brand Name vehicle.

The Government will take it under consideration, but reserves the right for any clarifications and/or discussions necessary to determine if the product equals the Brand Name vehicle after reviewing the requested details. Another factor we would like all interested vendors to consider is their knowledge of logistically delivering to and within the State of Alaska as the delivery will be expected to either be to a local destination within Anchorage where the vehicle(s) may be picked up, or to the base.

Therefore, as part of your submission, we request you include any and all experience logistically operating to and/or within Alaska. Additionally, any vendor submitting a quotation shall also provide along with their quotation, a letter or certificate from the vehicle manufacturer that the product being offered is being purchased from either themselves or an authorized reseller if the vendor submitting the quotation is not an authorized reseller themselves.

The Government will not accept any product that is a knock off of the manufactured product being offered that meets the Government's needs, and the Government will also not accept any product being offered that was modified to mimic another product or obtained through any means other than purchased from the manufacturer of the product or their authorized resellers.

The Government reserves the right to consider failure to provide this letter or certificate as an unresponsive quotation and remove that bidder's quotation from consideration for the contract award.