SV-Tower Climbing Service

The City of Austin Technology Services-Mobile Radio Communications is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP 6400 PLS3020) for qualified tower climbing, repair, and inspection services under the Competitive Sealed Proposals process governed by Texas Local Government Code Chapters 252 and 271. The procurement seeks contractors to provide comprehensive tower maintenance services including climbing, repair, inspection, dismantling, coax and hardline installation, antenna services, microwave equipment repair, grounding and lightning protection, and new system installations on structures ranging from 20 to 450 feet in height, with occasional work on commercial broadcast towers up to 1,000 feet located primarily within Travis County and neighboring counties. Contractors must maintain 24/7 availability, respond to normal service calls within 48 hours during business hours (6:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday) and emergency calls within four hours outside those times, and arrive fully equipped with necessary tools, equipment, and parts. Required qualifications include National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) certifications (TTT-1, TTT-2, A&L, ARC), Competent Tower Climber/Rescuer training, OSHA-compliant fall protection training, rescue training for tower emergencies, and 100 percent tie-off fall protection compliance. The contract includes an initial term of twelve months with four optional twelve-month renewal periods. Evaluation criteria comprise Company Qualifications, Experience and Technical Approach (40 points maximum), Safety Record and Performance including Total Recordable Incident Rates and Lost Time Injury Rates (30 points maximum), and Price (10 points maximum), with optional Local Business and Small Business preferences providing up to 10 points each. Proposals are due May 28, 2026 at 2:00 PM CT with offer opening at 3:00 PM CT the same day; questions must be submitted five business days prior to the due date, and a non-mandatory pre-offer conference is scheduled for May 13, 2026 at 9:00 AM CT via Microsoft Teams.

The solicitation does not designate set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises; however, the City offers optional Local Business and Small Business preferences that may provide up to 10 points each based on total proposal value aggregates. Contractors must comply with the City's Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE) Procurement Program, including utilization of certified M/WBE firms or demonstrated Good Faith Efforts when using subcontractors, though no subcontracting goals were assigned due to insufficient subcontracting opportunities. All employees must meet living wage requirements of $22.05 per hour and comply with wage theft ordinance provisions, with mandatory training completion required within 30 days of contract award. No incumbent contractor information or existing infrastructure integration requirements are specified in the solicitation documents. The pricing structure encompasses three categories: hourly labor rates for normal business hours (estimated 1,200 annual hours) and after-hours services (estimated 105 annual hours), emergency service call-out fees and round-trip drive-time charges (estimated 36 annual incidents), and a materials markup not exceeding 15 percent based on an estimated annual material spend of $100,000. The annual spend amount is stated as an estimate only and not guaranteed, with the City reserving the right to award a single contract or multiple contracts based on overall low cost or by individual line items as deemed advantageous. All pricing proposals must be all-inclusive with no separate charges for administrative costs, overhead, per diem, shipping, transportation, travel time, fuel surcharges, mileage, or stop fees, except for one reimbursable round-trip flat fee per three-member crew.