Iridium Satellite Phone Services

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), specifically the Office of Emergency Management, is conducting a competitive procurement for Iridium Satellite Phone Services through Solicitation RFQ - 2025 0609. The procurement seeks a provider to supply services for twenty-three (23) WSDOT-owned Iridium phones, with the primary objective of establishing a resilient communication system during emergency situations when primary land lines and cellular networks are inoperable. The solicitation requires bidders to meet seven mandatory pass/fail qualifications, including using the Iridium Satellite Network, retaining current state and local phone numbers, offering statewide coverage, providing direct customer service, offering equipment training, maintaining 24/7/365 emergency services, and demonstrating experience with specific satellite phone models. The competitive solicitation was posted on June 9th, 2025, with a pre-bid conference scheduled for June 16th, 2025, at 11:00 AM Pacific Time. Bid submissions are due by July 24th, 2025, with an anticipated contract award date of August 18th, 2025. The initial contract term is two years, with potential extensions for up to two additional two-year terms, and will be evaluated based on responsiveness, qualifications, and pricing through a pass/fail approach.

The procurement includes voluntary diversity goals, targeting 10% Minority-Owned Businesses, 6% Women-Owned Businesses, 5% Veteran-Owned Businesses, and 5% Washington Small Businesses. Bidders are encouraged to develop comprehensive outreach strategies for diverse business inclusion, though participation is not mandatory for contract award. The solicitation is open to businesses registered in Washington's Electronic Business Solution (WEBS) and requires compliance with state public records regulations. The estimated annual contract value is approximately $24,000 for servicing the 23 Iridium phones, though WSDOT does not guarantee minimum purchases. Bidders must maintain various insurance coverages, including commercial general liability, cyber liability, workers' compensation, and professional liability insurance. The contract will be subject to an annual economic adjustment based on the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor and Statistics indices, with pricing restrictions ensuring that rates do not exceed those offered to other governmental entities. Subcontractor participation will be tracked through the Access Equity system managed by the Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises.