Bus Line Inspections

The Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA) is requesting quotes for bus line inspection and post-delivery Buy America audit services related to Gillig's manufacture of eight low-floor, hybrid BRT-style buses (four 35-foot and four 40-foot units), with quotes due October 16, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

LAVTA requires a minimum of five years of experience providing transit vehicle inspection services for public transit agencies and successful completion of at least three projects within the last five years involving bus line inspections, in-plant manufacturing inspections, FTA post-delivery audits, Buy America compliance verification, or related procurement support services. The proposed Project Manager must have a minimum of five years managing transit vehicle inspection or compliance projects with FTA procurement knowledge. The proposed Lead Inspector must have a minimum of five years performing transit bus production line or equivalent manufacturing quality assurance inspections with direct heavy-duty transit bus experience and familiarity with Buy America compliance and post-delivery audit requirements.

On-site inspection services will be performed at Gillig's manufacturing facility in Livermore, California. Production is scheduled to begin December 16, 2026, with tentative completion January 15, 2027. The vendor must maintain continuous on-site inspector coverage throughout manufacturing. Deliverables include weekly or daily reports, FTA-required post-delivery Buy America audits with certifications and configuration audits, FMVSS certifications, post-delivery Buy America checklists, inspection communication records, and inspection booklets. Invoicing occurs upon project completion.

The vendor must quote a fixed fee per bus with separate pricing for 35-foot and 40-foot units, inclusive of all labor, expenses, and overhead. LAVTA will not reimburse additional expenses including travel or labor costs. The successful vendor will receive a purchase order effective on or before November 20, 2026. Award is made to the lowest responsive and responsible quote. Professional liability insurance with minimum $1 million per claim or occurrence and $1 million annual aggregate is required. Questions are due October 2, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time.