RFP# 7136-26-ELD - LP&L Electric Utility Structures UAV Imagery Services

Lubbock Power & Light is requesting proposals for visual and thermal UAV imagery review services for its electric utility structures across a five-year maintenance cycle, with proposals due September 10, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. CST via the Bonfire Portal and a non-mandatory pre-proposal conference on August 26, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. CST via Microsoft Teams.

The scope covers approximately 75,000 structures annually—58,871 distribution poles and 2,213 transmission poles, including 1,136 transmission poles with distribution underbuilds. LP&L will deliver monthly inspection packages of roughly 11,600 distribution structures and 443 transmission structures. The successful offeror must employ qualified journeyman linemen or electrical engineers to visually and thermally inspect radiometric imagery supplied by LP&L (captured with Skydio X10 UAS platforms in JPEG format at 3–4 RGB images per distribution structure, 6–10 per transmission structure, and 3–4 thermal images per applicable structure focused primarily on transmission lines), identify electrical and structural anomalies, classify defects on a severity scale A–E, and deliver comprehensive reports with image links, geolocation assignments, and annotated bounding box graphics within 2–3 weeks of receipt. The offeror must develop and host a secure cloud-based portal enabling LP&L to remotely upload and access imagery and provide capability to export data in nonproprietary formats for migration into LP&L's ARC GIS asset management system. AI-assisted review tools are permitted if subject to appropriate quality assurance and control. A signed Non-Disclosure Agreement is required before receiving site maps and location files.

The initial contract term is three years with an optional two-year extension. LP&L reserves the right to cancel at any time. Evaluation is weighted Cost (35%), Technical Approach & Methodology (25%), Qualifications & Relevant Utility Experience (20%), Quality of Deliverables, Data Management & Integration (10%), and Project Schedule & Capacity (10%). Offerors must provide unit pricing per structure for four categories: distribution structures, transmission structures, transmission structures with distribution underbuild, and infrared/thermal inspections; pricing cannot be based on KML files, route miles, or geographic areas. Proposers must carry Commercial General Liability ($1 million occurrence / $2 million aggregate), Cyber Liability ($1 million), and Technology Errors and Omissions ($1 million), with the City of Lubbock named additional insured on a primary and non-contributory basis. The anticipated award date is October 20, 2026.