KET - Transmissions and Broadcast Equipment

The Commonwealth of Kentucky, on behalf of Kentucky Educational Television (KET), issued Request for Bid (RFB) 758 1900000535 to procure transmissions and broadcast equipment for use across KET's 16 statewide transmitter sites and studios located in Lexington, Frankfort, and Louisville, Kentucky. The procurement was driven by KET's participation in the FCC Repack project, a federally mandated initiative, as well as the agency's ongoing equipment replacement needs. The solicitation was divided into two groups: Group 1 for Moseley broadcast equipment and microwave radios, and Group 2 for Burk remote control equipment, with contracts to be awarded by group. Group 1 deliverables include DTV Link A 8 and DTV Link A 13 High Frequency Terminal units for duplex operation, waveguide filter assemblies, DVB-ASI option cards, and commissioning support services. Group 2 deliverables encompass Burk ARC Plus Touch IP-based broadcast remote control units, SNMP Plus alarm managers, Plus-X integrated input units, Plus-X 600 input/output units, and AutoPilot ARC Plus monitoring and control software with custom user interface and automatic logging capabilities. Awards were to be made on a best value basis using 110 total evaluation points distributed as follows: Price (90 points), Delivery (10 points), and Warranty (10 points). The bid opening was originally scheduled for March 14, 2019, at 1:30 p.m., but was extended to March 18, 2019, at 1:30 p.m. ET; written questions from vendors were due by March 7, 2019, at 12:00 p.m. ET. Bids were required to be submitted in person to the Finance Office of Procurement Services in Frankfort, Kentucky, with online bidding prohibited.

Kentucky resident bidders were eligible for reciprocal preference, and qualified bidders including Kentucky Correctional Industries, Kentucky Industries for the Blind, and certain nonprofit agencies serving individuals with severe disabilities received preference equal to 15 or 20 percent of maximum points awarded. The solicitation specified that Moseley Associates equipment must be used for microwave radios to match existing equipment installed in 70 percent of KET's microwave network, and Burk Technologies equipment was required for remote control systems to align with existing installations at 100 percent of transmitter sites and the Network Center Master Control, ensuring integration with KET's existing infrastructure. All proposed pricing was required to remain valid for a minimum of 60 calendar days after the bid due date, with quotations submitted on an F.O.B. Destination Freight Prepaid and Allowed basis, excluding federal excise tax and Kentucky sales or use tax. The initial contract period was one year from the date of award, with the option to extend for four additional one-year periods with written approval from all parties, and delivery delays would result in one percent deductions per day from vendor invoices. All bidders were required to submit executed Annual Affidavits certifying compliance with Kentucky state laws regarding campaign finance, tax registration, state tax obligations, and trade restrictions. No specific contract value or budget range was disclosed in the solicitation documents.