NIGP 03509: Aircraft Communications Radio

NIGP 03509 Aircraft Communications Radio, an Item code, covers maintenance, repair, and purchase of aviation communication equipment that state and local governments—primarily county sheriffs' departments, cities with police and fire aviation units, airport authorities, and regional transit authorities—procure to support law enforcement helicopters, emergency response aircraft, and air traffic control operations. Recent solicitations show state and local buyers purchasing everything from complete VHF/UHF transceiver systems and emergency locator transmitters to flight helmets with integrated communications, as well as contracting for on-site maintenance and repair services that meet FAA and FCC compliance standards and often require OEM certifications and rapid-response service windows.

County governments dominate recent activity under this code, with the County of Orange, California posting multiple IFBs for maintenance and repair of aviation communication devices and communications service monitors; Chatham County, Georgia issued an ITB for a Technisonic TDFM-9100 aviation radio with accessories; and the County of Orange Sheriff-Coroner again issued an IFB for communications service monitors for the Countywide Coordinated Communications System. City procurement is represented by the City of Phoenix, which issued an RFQ for Gentex Alpha Eagle flight helmets and repair services for Police and Fire Department helicopter crews, with Arizona location and OEM-distributor status as material qualifications. Airport authorities appear as well—Peachtree City Airport Authority (serving Atlanta Regional Airport-Falcon Field in Georgia) issued an IFB for air traffic control tower communications and weather system installation and commissioning, requiring bidders to demonstrate prior installation experience at three locations within five years and compliance with FAA Advisory Circular 90-93A and the Federal Contract Tower Minimum Equipment List. Geographic activity concentrates in California, Georgia, and Arizona in recent months, with scattered activity in Texas. Representative opportunities include the County of Orange Sheriff-Coroner's IFB for maintenance and repair of various aviation communication devices (due September 30, 2026, with response via electronic eProcurement Portal), the City of Phoenix RFQ for flight helmets, accessories, and repair services (due July 6, 2026, with non-mandatory pre-offer conference June 15, 2026), and Peachtree City Airport Authority's IFB for air traffic control tower communications and weather system supply and installation (due September 17, 2026, with non-mandatory pre-bid conference August 26, 2026).