Single source - king air mission seating

The Florida State Guard, operating under Leon County jurisdiction, is seeking to procure eight mission seating units for its King Air B350ER search and rescue aircraft through a single source procurement (PUR 7776). The procurement was posted on January 23, 2026, with a deadline for submission of information on February 16, 2026. The mission seating units are specialized components designed and manufactured by Aviation Fabricators (AvFab), the sole identified vendor capable of providing these systems. The primary objective is to ensure mission readiness by obtaining compatible, airworthy seating that integrates seamlessly with the existing King Air B350ER aircraft. Required qualifications for the vendor include the proprietary engineering data and technical expertise necessary to maintain airworthiness certification and system compatibility. The justification for single source selection emphasizes that alternative vendors would face prohibitive costs and time delays associated with reverse engineering the specialized seating systems, while AvFab's direct involvement ensures technical compatibility, maintains airworthiness continuity, and avoids significant expenses related to aircraft transportation and fuel. Interested parties may submit inquiries or protests regarding this procurement to Terence Blakely at FSGPurchasing@floridastateguard.fl.gov or (850) 624-5753.

This procurement is being pursued as a single source acquisition under Sections 120.57(3) and 287.057(3) of the Florida Statutes, with the posting remaining available for a minimum of 15 business days to allow prospective vendors an opportunity to submit information regarding their capability to supply the requested commodities. Aviation Fabricators (AvFab) has been identified as the sole source vendor and is the exclusive designer and manufacturer of the mission seating for the King Air B350ER aircraft. The procurement has received approval from John Conner (Purchasing Director, Department of Military Services), Sean Anderson (General Counsel, Division of the Florida State Guard), and Edward Bouza (Budget Officer, Division of the Florida State Guard). The estimated total contract value is $110,189.00 for the eight mission seating units. Protests regarding this single source designation may be filed within the timeframe specified in Florida Statutes through mail or email to the agency contact. No set-asides or restrictions on organizational types are noted in the procurement documentation, though the single source nature of this acquisition effectively limits competition to Aviation Fabricators.