The City of Bangor has opened a public RFP for one heavy duty four-wheel drive backhoe/loader and will trade in a 2021 John Deere 310SL. [S1]
Specifying engineers should note the procurement is built around an ownership-cost life cycle model rather than lowest first cost, and a trade-in unit is named. That means vendors must price guaranteed buy-back, post a Fulfillment Bond equal to that buy-back, and support 60 days or less from award to delivery of a serviced, ready-to-run unit to the Fleet Maintenance Facility at 481 Maine Avenue, Bangor, Maine. [S1]
What happened
The Purchasing Department of the City of Bangor, Maine, has issued a public Request for Proposals titled Backhoe/Loader (Life Cycle Costing), Bid No. P26-28, with an issue date of January 9, 2026. The bid cover identifies the Purchasing Department at 73 Harlow Street, Bangor, Maine 04401, phone 207-992-4282, and the source PDF is 14 pages. [S1]
The document is a life cycle or total cost bidding procedure. The City states it intends to trade in one 2021 John Deere 310SL. The successful proposer is required to post a Fulfillment Bond in the amount of the guaranteed buy-back, and the cost of that bond must be reflected in the price quoted on the bid form. [S1]
Equipment scope and dates given
Quantity is one heavy duty four-wheel drive backhoe/loader, most current model year or unsold prior year model, FOB destination 481 Maine Avenue, Bangor, Maine. The unit must be thoroughly inspected, serviced, and ready for use upon delivery to the Fleet Maintenance Facility no later than 60 days from the date of award. [S1]
Written questions are due to [email protected] by 4:30 PM on Friday, January 23, 2026. The City will issue responses via addendum on or before 4:30 PM on Friday, January 30, 2026. Sealed or emailed proposals are due by 2:00 PM, Wednesday, February 4, 2026, and will be publicly opened at the same time in the Paul Bunyan Room on the first floor near the side elevator at 73 Harlow Street, Bangor, Maine. [S1]
What it means for backhoe/loader specifying
Award will be based on one or more of the following, in this stated order: ownership cost of the equipment offered per the life cycle or total cost, quality and performance of the equipment offered, availability of the equipment, and qualifications of the proposer and prior history or experience with the equipment offered. Lowest first cost is not the primary criterion. [S1]
Proposers may not withdraw their proposal for ninety days from the date of opening, and all proposals are subject to acceptance by the City during that period. The City reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, waive informalities, accept a higher cost proposal, and negotiate with the successful proposer. A tabulation of received proposals will be posted at www.bangormaine.gov/bidtabs. [S1]
How to check the primary source
The full 14-page RFP, including the life cycle cost worksheet and bid form pages six through thirteen, is available at the source URL on the City of Bangor Document Center. Bidders are responsible for monitoring www.bangormaine.gov/bids/proposals for addenda and are strongly encouraged to register as vendors at www.bangormaine.gov/vendorregistration to receive notifications of new addenda. All questions must be directed in writing to [email protected], and proposals may be emailed to the same address or hand delivered or mailed to Customer Service, 73 Harlow Street, Bangor, ME 04401, with the envelope or subject line clearly marked Proposal No. P26-28: Backhoe/Loader (Life Cycle Costing). [S1]
Primary notice: Industry news.
Product encyclopedia: Backhoe Loader.