Auto pilot and Avionics upgrade

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Purchases, acting on behalf of the Capital City Airport Division, issued a Request for Bid for a one-time autopilot and avionics upgrade contract for a 1978 Piper PA 31-350 aircraft. The scope of work requires vendors to furnish and install a comprehensive suite of Garmin avionics systems, including a G600 TXi display, GTN 750 TXi navigation system, GI 275 ADAHRS units, S-Tec 3100 autopilot system, GWX 75 radar with 10-inch dish, Flight Stream 510, GMA 35 audio panel, TXi Engine Information System with CIES digital fuel senders, and associated components, along with removal of existing legacy King and Bendix equipment across three instrument and avionics panels with new powder-coated panels. All work must be completed within 18 weeks of aircraft delivery, with liquidated damages of one percent per day assessed for delays beyond the completion deadline, excluding Commonwealth-caused delays or force majeure events. Bidders must meet two mandatory pass/fail requirements: installation facility location must be within 400 nautical miles of Capital City Airport in Frankfort, Kentucky, and bidders must be Garmin and Federal Aviation Administration-approved repair and installation avionics facilities with proof of certification required prior to award. A mandatory site visit was held on March 24, 2022, at 84 Airport Road, Frankfort, Kentucky. The bid closing date was April 12, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time, with a tentative award date of April 26, 2022. Evaluation is based on best value using price as the primary criterion with 100 points available, with the lowest responsive and responsible bidder receiving maximum points. Vendors must maintain comprehensive aviation commercial general liability insurance with limits of $10,000,000 per occurrence, hangarkeepers liability coverage of $2,000,000 to $10,000,000 per non-owned aircraft, and workers' compensation insurance, naming the Commonwealth as an additional insured for ten years after work completion.

Kentucky resident bidders are eligible to receive reciprocal preference in evaluation under KRS 45A.490-494, and qualified bidders including Kentucky Correctional Industries, Kentucky Industries for the Blind, and nonprofit organizations serving individuals with severe disabilities receive additional scoring preferences of either 20 percent or 15 percent of maximum points as applicable. All bidders must be registered in the Commonwealth eProcurement system and submit sealed bids electronically through the Kentucky Vendor Self Service platform only; emailed and hand-delivered bids are not accepted. Bidders must comply with Kentucky campaign finance laws, maintain current sales and use tax registration with the Kentucky Department of Revenue, remain non-delinquent on state taxes and fees, and submit a notarized Annual Affidavit confirming compliance with these requirements and non-involvement in boycotts of entities in jurisdictions with which Kentucky maintains open trade. Pricing must include all costs associated with parts, shipping, and labor, with partial payments permitted upon equipment receipt and full payment required within 30 working days of invoice submission, subject to one percent monthly penalties for late payments. No incumbent vendors or current contractors were identified in the solicitation documents. The specific contract award value was not disclosed in the available documentation, though all associated costs including parts, shipping, and 18 weeks of labor for a comprehensive avionics upgrade to a multi-engine aircraft would typically represent a substantial procurement.