RFB-605-2600000654-3 | Helicopter Tug

The Kentucky Department of Aviation, through the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Division of Purchases, is soliciting a single Helicopter Tug under solicitation number RFB-605-2600000654-3, with bids due by July 9, 2026. The procurement is state-run and governed by Kentucky regulations rather than federal acquisition rules, with no FAR clauses applied; instead, internal sections and state statutes such as KRS 45A, KAR 200:5:330, and KAR 200:5:311 dictate contract terms. The equipment must be new, of the latest model year, and delivered in first-class condition to any Commonwealth facility in Kentucky under F.O.B. Destination Freight Prepaid terms, with the vendor responsible for all shipping costs and claims. Evaluation is based on a trade-off approach where price carries 95% weight, scored inversely against the lowest bid, while delivery time accounts for 5 points based on the shortest proposed lead time. Bids are disqualified if the vendor lacks a U.S. bank account, fails to meet the required insurance thresholds—a $1 million automobile liability policy and $1 million/$2 million commercial general liability policy with an AM Best-rated insurer of B+ or higher—or cannot verify Kentucky residency or qualified bidder status through notarized affidavits. Contractors must comply with state ethics rules prohibiting gifts over $25 to state employees, lobbying restrictions from the past decade, and boycott prohibitions, while also adhering to tax, wage, safety, unemployment, and workers’ compensation laws. The contract prohibits subcontractors from operating outside these requirements and mandates that all insurance include Kentucky Transportation Cabinet as an additional insured. Proposals must be submitted electronically before the deadline via the KY e-Procurement website, with no paper or external terms accepted. Additional requirements include certification of compliance with the CIO-126 Artificial Intelligence Policy and adherence to recycling standards under 200 KAR 5:330. The award will be made based on the most advantageous proposal, with no price ceiling or estimated value disclosed, and the contract is subject to termination for default, convenience, or lack of appropriation. All legal disputes must be resolved in Franklin County, Kentucky courts.