Transmission kits (voith to allison)

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is requesting bids on transmission conversion kits (Voith to Allison) for El Dorado 40-foot buses under Invitation for Bid DR145475, with bids and pre-qualifications due November 3, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. via email to bids@metro.net. This is a federally funded, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract with zero Disadvantaged Business Enterprise participation goal due to insufficient DBE availability.

The procurement covers 554 Allison B400R transmission kits (manufacturer part number E018056, Metro part number 200226) for 1505–1799 series El Dorado buses manufactured 2019–2022. Each kit is a complete, ready-for-installation assembly with six forward speeds, one reverse speed, 300 horsepower, and 925 pound-feet torque rating. Deliveries must occur in shipments of no more than 17 units unless Metro authorizes otherwise: 204 units in Year 1 (February 2027–January 2028), 204 units in Year 2, and 146 units in Year 3 (through October 2028), with estimated monthly consumption of 4 units. The contractor must deliver to LACMTA's Division 30 Central Maintenance Facility at 470 Bauchet Street, Los Angeles, California 90012, Monday–Friday, 5:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m. (advance 24-hour notice required). The contractor shall provide one set of maintenance and parts manuals (hard copy and PDF) for every 50 kits, qualified technical staff for initial installation and troubleshooting, and a minimum three-year warranty from in-service date, with all freight costs for warranty returns borne by the contractor. The contract price includes all taxes, transportation, freight, packaging, handling, storage, insurance, and delivery. Bidder payment terms must specify a minimum of 10 days; default payment is NET 30 from receipt of undisputed invoices, or within 15 days for certified DBE or LACMTA-certified Small Business Enterprise prime contractors.

Pre-qualification is mandatory for bids exceeding $500,000. A mandatory virtual pre-bid conference is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on October 13, 2026. Written questions are due October 19, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., and requests for approved-equals submissions are due October 27, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Award will be made to the lowest-priced responsive and responsible bidder; LACMTA reserves the right to award on an item-by-item basis, aggregate of items, or total bid as deemed in its best interest. The contract term is 36 months with no options. The contractor must maintain commercial general liability insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence and comply with federal requirements including 49 CFR Part 26 (DBE), 49 CFR Part 655 (alcohol and drug prevention), and 49 CFR Part 20 (federal lobbying restrictions). Bidders must submit a certified check, cashier's check, or bid bond of at least 10 percent of total bid price, which Metro will retain if the bidder fails to execute the contract or provide required bonds and certifications. All goods must be delivered within the 36-month contract term. If transmission failures exceed 20 percent of total kits delivered, Metro may require the contractor to repair or replace all failed units and implement a corrective action program, potentially resulting in contract termination. All kit contents and subcomponents must be new.