Joseph State Airport AWOS Replacement

The Oregon Department of Aviation is soliciting bids through an Invitation to Bid (ITB) process for the replacement of an Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS) at Joseph State Airport located approximately 1.5 miles southwest of Joseph, Oregon. The scope of work includes complete demolition of the existing AWOS system and installation of a new FAA-approved AWOS-III P/T system, encompassing sensor installation on the existing beacon tower, ground-level sensors on existing foundations, and associated electrical equipment, along with mobilization, temporary traffic control, safety plan compliance documentation, and foreign object debris prevention controls. Key deliverables include operation and maintenance manuals, as-built drawings, a three-day on-site training session for the owner's maintenance technician, manufacturer-recommended spare components, and a one-year maintenance agreement commencing from FAA commissioning. The project must be completed within 45 continuous calendar days from the Notice to Proceed with substantial completion required within that timeframe and final completion within 15 calendar days thereafter, with liquidated damages assessed at $1,500 per calendar day for failure to meet the substantial completion deadline. Bids must be submitted through the OregonBuys electronic procurement system by May 7, 2026, at 2:30 PM Pacific Standard Time, with public opening immediately following submission; a voluntary pre-bid conference is scheduled for April 23, 2026, at 2:30 PM via Microsoft Teams. Required qualifications include demonstrated financial responsibility, past experience with similar AWOS installation projects, and ability to comply with FAA Advisory Circulars, prevailing wage requirements under both Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries standards for Wallowa County Region 13 and federal Davis-Bacon Act requirements, with contractors required to pay the higher of the two wage scales.

This procurement is subject to prevailing wage requirements, federal Davis-Bacon Act compliance, civil rights compliance under Title VI, Buy American preference provisions for airport improvement projects, and Equal Employment Opportunity requirements; however, no specific set-asides for disadvantaged business enterprises or minority-owned businesses are explicitly identified in the contract documents. The contractor must perform at least 25 percent of the total contract work with its own organization and may engage subcontractors only with prior approval, and must maintain $1,000,000 in combined single-limit general liability and property damage insurance naming the Owner as an additional insured along with Workers' Compensation insurance in accordance with Oregon Revised Statutes. The project does not involve integration with new infrastructure, as work focuses on replacing existing AWOS equipment while preserving the existing tower, beacon foundation, electrical infrastructure, and security features; all work must comply with existing FAA standards and operational safety protocols to maintain continued public access and air traffic operations on Runway 15-33. Bid security equal to 10 percent of the total bid amount is required, and the awarded contractor must furnish performance and payment bonds each equal to 100 percent of the contract price with 5 percent retainage withheld from progress payments. The project cost estimate for bonding purposes ranges from $237,000 to $266,000, with the final contract price to be determined through competitive bidding and award contingent upon the Oregon Department of Aviation's receipt of sufficient funding from State and Federal sources through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP No. 3-41-0092-017-2026).