LED Red/White Obstruction Lighting System for KRNE-TV Tower

The State of Nebraska, through the Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Materiel Division, State Purchasing Bureau (SPB), issued an Invitation to Bid (ITB) Number 6755 OF for a one-time procurement of an LED red/white obstruction lighting system for the KRNE-TV tower located in Cherry County. The solicitation specifically requires the supply and delivery of a new lighting system, complete installation, disassembly and removal of the existing system, and associated freight. Bidders must provide detailed unit pricing for hardware, installation, disassembly/removal, and transportation, with the State reserving the right to award to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. Technical requirements include specific qualifications for the installation crew and compliance with FAA lighting standards, with a pending FAA determination regarding lighting requirements. The bid opening was scheduled for January 27, 2023, at 2:00 PM Central Time, with electronic submissions accepted via ShareFile and a Zoom meeting option provided. A structural analysis report indicated that tower reinforcement of outer guy anchors and guy wire tension adjustments would be necessary before equipment installation.

The solicitation did not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions on bidder types, though bidders must be authorized to conduct business in Nebraska and comply with registration requirements. Four vendors submitted bids for the project: AFCOMM, LLC DBA SLATERCOM-WCD, PRECISION COMMUNICATIONS LLC, DRAKE LIGHTING, and NATIONAL TOWER CONTROLS, with bid prices ranging from $156,375.00 to $229,370.00. Payment terms varied among bidders, with net 30-45 days offered by AFCOMM and net 30 days by DRAKE LIGHTING, while PRECISION COMMUNICATIONS suggested net 90-120 days. The State explicitly noted that the resulting contract would not be exclusive, maintaining the right to contract for similar goods from alternative sources. Delivery timelines were not consistently specified, with PRECISION COMMUNICATIONS indicating a 90-120 day delivery window. Notably, the State ultimately rejected all initial bids, intending to re-solicit the project as a service rather than a commodity procurement.