Transmission Line Installation - LETA

The State of Louisiana Office of State Procurement, procuring on behalf of the Louisiana Educational Television Authority (LETA), is requesting bids for transmission line installation at a WLPB television facility in Baton Rouge, with bids due November 5, 2026, and mandatory jobsite visits required before bid submission.

A jobsite verification form or signed agency letter confirming an on-site inspection is mandatory and must accompany the bid; failure to submit either document results in automatic bid elimination. Vendors must contact Steve Ringo at (225) 252-7886 to schedule the site visit. The facility is located at 6677 River Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70820.

The scope encompasses transmission line installation, tower repair, and antenna installation at a 990-foot tower. The attached tower inspection report dated August 18, 2025, documents structural deficiencies including loose and improperly routed flexible transmission lines, missing hangers across multiple sections, bent and damaged horizontal members, damaged diagonal members, improperly secured Kellum grips, rust on safety climb cable systems, and missing safety climb system components. The project requires installation of a cascade antenna assembly (4,400 pounds) manufactured by Electronics Research Inc., with comprehensive mechanical and electrical specifications including torque requirements, plumbing tolerances within 0.1 degrees from vertical, and detailed hardware and grounding specifications.

Bids must be submitted as lump-sum amounts and are good for 30 days following opening. Bid security of 5 percent is required for bids of $50,000 or above. Upon award, the contractor must execute Performance and Labor and Materials Payment Bonds, each equal to 100 percent of the contract amount, from surety or insurance companies with A.M. Best ratings of A-:VI or higher. The contract and bonds must be recorded with the Clerk of Court in East Baton Rouge Parish before payment processing.

Liquidated damages of $100 per day apply for completion delays. Insurance requirements include Workers' Compensation ($1,000,000 minimum per accident), Commercial General Liability ($1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate), Automobile Liability ($1,000,000 combined single limit), Builder's Risk equal to the full contract amount, and flood coverage at 10 percent of contract cost. Progress payments of 90 percent are made monthly, with the remaining 10 percent paid 45 days after recordation of acceptance. Written questions are due October 22, 2026, with responses by October 29, 2026. Bid opening is November 5, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time at the Office of State Procurement, Baton Rouge.