ITB 21-024 Air Purification System For Local Buses

The Salem Area Mass Transit District (SAMTD) in Marion County, Oregon, has issued Invitation to Bid (ITB) 21-024 for procuring active air and surface purification systems designed to deactivate COVID-19, bacteria, and other harmful pathogens in their transit bus fleet. The procurement encompasses 107 total purification systems across multiple vehicle types, including 36 systems for 40-foot buses, 28 systems for 35-foot buses, 35 systems for 25-foot paratransit cutaway buses, and 8 systems for minivan-style vehicles. Bidders must provide detailed specifications demonstrating the systems' effectiveness in reducing pathogenic risks within bus environments, with technologies potentially including hydrogen peroxide, reactive oxygen species, or ionization methods that meet OSHA exposure limits. The bid was originally posted on September 24, 2021, with responses due by October 20, 2021, and an anticipated contract award in early November 2021. Vendors must be licensed to do business in Oregon and capable of delivering all systems by the end of January 2022. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder based on comprehensive evaluation of technical capabilities, references, and pricing.

The procurement includes a 2.49% Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation goal, encouraging subcontracting and partnership opportunities with DBE firms. Bidders are required to submit a minimum of three references for similar work performed within the last five years, demonstrating prior experience with comparable air purification technologies. United Safety & Survivability Corporation was ultimately identified as the intended contract recipient, as noted in the December 2, 2021 Notice of Intent to Award. While specific budget details are not explicitly stated, the bid documents require vendors to provide unit and total costs for each system category, with pricing to include wages, supplies, delivery, warranty, profit, and overhead. The contract appears focused on addressing COVID-19 safety measures for public transit, with no mention of incumbent vendors or specific integration requirements beyond ensuring compatibility with existing bus models. Bidders must comprehensively account for all system costs in their submission, with SAMTD noting they are not subject to taxation.