NIGP 28501: Automated Meter Reading Systems (AMR)

NIGP 28501 Automated Meter Reading Systems (AMR), an Item code, covers the supply and integration of cellular and RF-based meter transmission units, data collection equipment, and associated hardware and software that enable remote automated meter reading across water, electric, and gas utility networks. State and local governments are procuring AMR equipment to replace manual meter-reading and drive-by systems, upgrade existing AMI networks with transmission units compatible with established platforms (Sensus SmartPoint, Aclara AclaraOne, Itron OpenWay Riva), and install backflow preventers and meter-related appurtenances as part of broader meter replacement campaigns. The issuing bodies include municipal utilities (City of Fort Worth Water Department, City of Bend, Lubbock Power & Light), county utility departments (Seminole County Utilities), city water and electric departments (City of Oxford, Georgia; City of Acworth, Georgia), and school districts and transit authorities purchasing related equipment. Solicitations span RFPs, RFQs, ITBs, and IFBs with response dates ranging from early March through mid-August 2026; recent opportunities include Seminole County Utilities' cellular AMRI meter upgrade (RFP, due July 8, 2026), the City of Oxford's water and electric meter replacement with AMI transmitter installation (sealed bid IFB, due July 8, 2026), the City of Bend's Aclara RF 3450 Water Meter Transmission Unit procurement on a price agreement (ITB, due May 27, 2026), and the City of Fort Worth's as-needed water meters and appurtenances agreement supporting 306,000 meter connections (RFP, due April 23, 2026).

Recent activity concentrates in Texas, Georgia, Oregon, and Florida, with significant municipal and county utility procurement in the Southwest and Southeast. The City of Fort Worth RFP established a 30 percent small business utilization goal requiring Tarrant, Wise, Johnson, Parker, or Denton County certification; the City of Bend encouraged participation from minority-owned, women-owned, emerging small, and veteran-owned businesses without a formal set-aside. Collier County, Florida pursued a single-source procurement with United Systems & Software, Inc. for Itron meter system component parts and maintenance (contract term October 1, 2026–September 30, 2029). Lubbock Power & Light issued an ITB for 40 Cisco Catalyst IR8140H Heavy Duty Routers preloaded with Itron OpenWay Riva software (bids due April 9, 2026), with local bidder preference available within five percent of the lowest bid. Integration with incumbent platforms (Sensus SmartPoint 520M, Aclara AclaraOne, Itron systems) appears standard across competitive solicitations, and compliance with American Water Works Association standards, NSF/ANSI certifications, and lead-free Safe Drinking Water Act provisions recurs in water meter RFPs. Addenda are active—Seminole County Utilities posted Addendum #5 on June 22, 2026—and pre-bid conferences and Q&A cycles are standard in large municipal procurements.