10-Specifications.pdf

SPECIFICATIONS

SCOPE

Harris County is seeking qualified and licensed vendors capable of providing comprehensive fire monitoring, maintenance, and related life safety systems This solicitation represents a critical component of the County’s facility management strategy, aimed at ensuring the continuous protection of public assets, employees, and constituents across a vast and diverse portfolio of government infrastructure.

It is the responsibility of each vendor to examine the entire Request for Proposal (RFP) package, seek clarification in writing, and review their offer for accuracy before submitting. Questions relating to this RFP must be submitted in writing through Bonfire. The deadline for submission of questions relating to this RFP is listed on the Event schedule within Bonfire of this project. All questions submitted in writing prior to the deadline will be compiled and answered in writing.

A copy of all questions and answers will be released as a Public Notice within Bonfire to all firms. The County will not be bound by any information conveyed verbally.

RENEWAL OPTIONS

Harris County may consider four (4) one-year renewal options, renewable one (1) year at a time, based upon the same terms, conditions and pricing as the original year. Renewal is subject to approval by Harris County Commissioners Court.

Once renewal options are exhausted, the contract must be rebid. Harris County reserves the right to rebid at any time as is in its best interest and is not automatically bound to renew.

M/WBE’s Harris County strives to engage with prime contractors and subcontractors that represent the diverse businesses of the County. We will ensure that historically underutilized minority- and woman-owned businesses (M/WBEs) receive a fair and equal opportunity to participate in the County's procurement process. The County expects Vendors to make a good faith effort and the Vendor agrees to reasonably assist the County to meet or exceed goals for awarding contracts associated with a project the County procures, operates, maintains, or constructs to M/WBEs.

SPECIFICATIONS

Harris County is seeking a single, responsible vendor to assume full operational responsibility for the twenty-four (24) hour, seven (7) day a week monitoring and ongoing management of fire alarm systems at approximately 210 County facilities. These facilities have recently undergone a significant technological modernization, transitioning from legacy analog telephone lines (POTS) to advanced cellular communication platforms utilizing Napco StarLink technology. This RFP does not require new planning or system conversion; rather, it demands a seamless operational takeover of the existing infrastructure, ensuring uninterrupted data transfer and monitoring continuity from the moment of contract execution.

Beyond mere monitoring, the scope of this engagement is broad and demanding. The selected vendor shall demonstrate the capacity to provide turnkey services including installation, repair, alteration, and design of monitoring systems as needed. Vendor shall serve as the County's primary partner in life safety compliance, providing all necessary labor, supervision, materials, equipment, transportation, and dedicated shop facilities to perform high-quality work in strict accordance with local, state, and national codes.

I. MONITORING SERVICES

A. Central Station Requirements and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Listing

Vendor shall own, operate, or contract with a Monitoring Center that holds a current listing under Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 827: Standard for Central-Station Alarm Services. This listing is non-negotiable, as it serves as the industry benchmark for reliability, facility security, and operational competence.

Comprehensive Fire Alarm Monitoring, Maintenance, and Life Safety Systems Management for Harris County

The Central Station shall be staffed and operational twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week, 365 days a year. Operational is defined as having sufficient trained personnel on duty to receive, interpret, and act upon signals within the timeframes mandated by National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 72 and UL 827 standards. Automated attendants or voicemail systems are strictly prohibited for the receipt of alarm signals.

B. Redundancy and Disaster Recovery Given Harris County’s location on the Gulf Coast, the region is susceptible to severe weather events, including hurricanes, flooding, and tropical storms. Consequently, the resilience of the vendor’s monitoring network is of paramount importance. Vendor shall describe, in detail, the backup capabilities of the proposed network to ensure continuity in the event of power outages and destruction caused by natural disasters.

Table 1: Minimum Redundancy Specifications

Component Minimum Requirement Operational Context

Power Supply Dual Sources +

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)

The facility shall possess at least two (2) independent sources of power (typically utility grid and onsite diesel generation). A UL-listed UPS shall bridge the gap during transfer to ensure zero (0) downtime for receiving equipment.

Data Redundancy Hot Backup / Mirroring

Account data and signal history shall be replicated in real-time to a secondary server location. In the event of a primary server failure, the secondary system shall assume the load immediately without loss of data.

Geographic Diversity Redundant Facility

Vendor shall demonstrate access to a backup monitoring facility located in a geographically distinct region (ideally a different power grid and weather pattern) to ensure service continuity if the primary site is compromised by a regional catastrophe.

Telecommunications Diverse Path Routing

The Central Station shall utilize multiple telecommunication providers and diverse physical entry points for data circuits to prevent a single fiber cut from isolating the facility.

Vendor’s proposal shall specifically address how their infrastructure complies with or exceeds these redundancy standards. Preference will be given to vendors who can demonstrate "Active-Active" load balancing between multiple monitoring centers, ensuring that the failure of one (1) site results in an immediate and automatic rollover of signal traffic to another.

C. Support Signal Transmission and Management (StarLink Technology) The County’s existing communication infrastructure is built upon the Napco StarLink platform. The vendor acts as the bridge between these deployed devices and the emergency response agencies. Vendor shall assume responsibility for the ongoing management of these specific devices without requiring hardware replacement.

a. Technical Integration Vendor shall be a registered dealer or authorized partner capable of accessing the Napco Network Operations Center (NOC) portal (www.napcocomnet.com). This access is critical for programming the dialer capture settings, managing account statuses, and configuring supervision intervals remotely. The County shall facilitate the administrative transfer of the existing radio serial numbers to the vendor’s account, but the technical execution of this transfer—reprogramming the Destination Number Identification Service (DNIS) and Account Numbers—rests solely with the Vendor.

b. Supervision Intervals and Code Compliance A critical aspect of cellular monitoring is the Supervision Interval. Under National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 72 and the Harris County Fire Code, these intervals are strictly regulated based on the configuration of the system (Sole Path vs. Dual Path).

• Sole Path Cellular: For facilities relying exclusively on the cellular communicator (which represents the majority of the County’s modernized sites), the supervision interval shall be set to not exceed sixty (60) minutes.

• Dual Path (IP + Cellular): Where a facility utilizes both an internet connection and a cellular backup, the supervision interval may be relaxed to six (6) hours, provided that the failure of any single path is annunciated at the supervising station within that timeframe.

Vendor is responsible for auditing the configuration of every taken-over account to ensure these supervision timers are correctly programmed in the Napco NOC. Failure to maintain these supervision intervals constitutes a breach of code compliance and liability exposure for the County.

D. Dispatch Protocols and Emergency Response The core function of the monitoring service is the timely and accurate dispatch of emergency responders. The Vendor shall adhere to the specific Retransmission Time limits defined by NFPA 72.

Alarm Signals: Fire alarm signals shall be retransmitted to the appropriate public fire service communications center (Fire Dispatch) within ninety (90) seconds of receipt at the Central Station. Vendor shall maintain an up-to-date database of the correct Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) for each of the facilities, acknowledging that Harris County encompasses numerous municipal fire departments and Emergency Services Districts (ESDs).

Supervisory and Trouble Signals: Signals indicating system impairments (e.g., low battery, sprinkler valve tamper) shall be communicated to the designated County personnel rather than the fire department, unless local code mandates otherwise. Vendor shall provide a customizable Call List protocol, allowing Harris County to designate primary and secondary contacts for maintenance issues.

Verification: Alarm Verification techniques (calling the premise to verify an alarm before dispatch) are generally prohibited for commercial fire alarms under standard response protocols unless specifically authorized by the AHJ to reduce nuisance alarms. Vendor shall confirm the policy for each specific jurisdiction before implementing any verification delays.

E. Emergency Elevator Phone Monitoring In addition to fire alarm panels, the scope includes monitoring of emergency elevator phones. This is a distinct life safety function governed by American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) A17.1 and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations.

Two-Way Communication: The monitoring service shall support immediate, hands-free, two-way voice communication between the elevator cab and the operator.

Caller Identification (CLI): The system shall provide automatic location identification. When a call is received, the operator’s screen shall display the specific building address and elevator cab number without the passenger needing to speak. This is a mandatory requirement to assist speech-impaired passengers or those incapacitated by a medical emergency.

Code-Compliant Response: Operators shall be trained to handle elevator entrapments as potential medical or panic situations, staying on the line with the passenger until help arrives, and dispatching the appropriate technical or emergency resources.

II. MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, AND DESIGN SERVICES

A. Vendor Responsibilities and Capabilities

Vendor shall provide labor, supervision, materials, equipment, transportation, service, and the shop facilities necessary to perform high quality work.

a. Shop Facilities and Inventory Vendor shall maintain a physical operational base within a reasonable proximity to Harris County to ensure rapid response times. This facility shall be stocked with a sufficient inventory of spare parts and components to service the County’s diverse equipment portfolio.

• Legacy Support: Since the County has panels from various manufacturers, the vendor’s shop shall stock or have immediate supply chain access to components for major brands such as Simplex, Notifier, Fire-Lite, Silent Knight, and EST. The ability to source discontinued or legacy parts is a critical value-add.

• StarLink Inventory: Vendor shall maintain a stock of Napco StarLink replacement units (Sole Path and Dual Path models) to immediately replace any failed communicators, ensuring no facility is left unmonitored.

b. Transportation and Logistics

Vendor is solely responsible for all transportation costs associated with service delivery. This includes service vehicles, fuel, tolls, and maintenance. Given the geographic spread of Harris County (over 1,700 square miles), the vendor shall demonstrate a fleet capability sufficient to cover the territory efficiently without excessive travel delays.

B. Repair And Alteration Services Vendor shall be capable of performing installation, repair, alter, or design work. This broad scope allows the County to utilize this for everything from minor battery replacements to complex system upgrades.

Design Capabilities: Even though the takeover does not require new planning, the ongoing lifecycle management of 210 facilities will inevitably require system modifications (e.g., tenant improvements, office reconfigurations). Vendor shall employ or contract with a licensed Alarm Planning Superintendent (APS) or a Professional Engineer (PE) to design these alterations in accordance with Harris County Fire Code.

Permitting: Any alteration involving the addition or relocation of devices, particularly addressable ones, typically requires a permit from the Harris County Office of the County Engineer (Permit Division). Vendor is responsible for preparing the necessary plans, submitting them for review, and securing all required permits before commencing work. Like-for-like repairs generally do not require permits, the determination of what constitutes "maintenance" vs. "alteration" shall be made in strict adherence to Texas Insurance Code Chapter 6002 definitions.

C. Service Response Times To maintain the integrity of the life safety infrastructure, the Vendor shall adhere to strict response time metrics.

Table 2: Service Response Classifications Priority

Level Definition Response Requirement

Emergency System failure resulting in loss of monitoring, loss of detection, or inability to silence a nuisance alarm.

On-site within two (2) hours of notification.

Urgent Trouble condition affecting a specific zone or device, but system remains operational (e.g., ground fault, dirty detector).

On-site within four (4) hours or same business day.

Priority Level Definition Response Requirement

Routine Scheduled maintenance, non-critical repairs, or battery replacement.

On-site within twenty-four (24) hours or next business day.

III. REGULATORY COMPLIANCE AND LICENSING FRAMEWORK

A. Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) Requirements

Fire alarm services in Texas are strictly regulated by the State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) under the Texas Insurance Code Chapter 6002. Vendor shall possess and maintain the following licenses throughout the contract term:

Alarm Certificate of Registration (ACR): Vendor shall hold a valid ACR.

Fire Alarm License (FAL): All technicians performing installation, repair, or service on-site shall hold a current FAL.

Alarm Planning Superintendent (APS): Vendor shall employ a designated APS to oversee all system planning and ensure technical compliance.

Alarm Monitoring Technician (AMT): Personnel at the Central Station monitoring the signals shall be licensed AMTs, or the station must meet specific UL exemptions recognized by the state.

B. Harris County Fire Code Compliance All services shall align with the 2021 Harris County Fire Code (based on the 2021 International Fire Code with amendments).

Permitting: As noted in Section II.B, vendor shall navigate the County's specific permitting process for fire protection systems. This includes submitting plans stamped by an APS or PE.

Red Tag Procedures: If a system is found to be non-compliant or inoperable, the Vendor shall immediately attach a "Red Tag" and notify the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office (HCFMO) via the designated email channel (fmosupport@fmo.hctx.net).

C. National Codes and Standards The work shall strictly adhere to the latest adopted editions of:

NFPA 72: National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code (governing installation, testing, and monitoring).

NFPA 70: National Electrical Code (governing wiring and surge protection).

NFPA 25: Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems (relevant for monitoring sprinkler flow/tamper switches).

UL 827: Standard for Central-Station Alarm Services.

IV. LOCATIONS

A. Precinct 1 & General Locations

Description (HC Location and Address) 911 Call, 3000 Aldine Mail Route Clear Lake Annex, 16603 Buccaneer Lane Clear Lake Annex 10 Suite 100, 16603 Buccaneer Lane, Acct Anderson Clayton Bldg, 1310 Prairie Criminal Justice Ctr, 1201 Franklin

Southeast Annex, 5737 Cullen Blvd Fairbanks Branch Library, 7122 N Gessner Raul Martinez Courthouse Annex, 1001 S. Sgt Macario Garcia Dr.

Children's Assessment Ctr, 2500 Bolsover Institute Of Forensic Sciences, 1861 Old Spanish Trail John Phelps Courthouse, 101 S Richey Parker Williams Library, 10851 Scarsdale Blvd.

Annex 67 Scardale Wic Center, 10851 Scarsdale Blvd.

Tax Office, 10851 Scarsdale Blvd. Suite 100 Health Ctr, 3815 Cavalcade WIC ealth, 5815 Antoine High Meadows Branch Library, 4500 Aldine Mail Route Atascocita Branch Library, 19520 Pinehurst Trails Kingwood Branch, 4400 Bens View Lane Crosby Branch Library, 135 Hare Rd Health Clinic, 1730 Humble Place Dr Family Law Ctr, 1115 Congress Annex M, 2525 Murworth Atascocita Bldg Fire Investigation, 2318 Atascocita Road Atascocita Bldgs Acad, 2316 Atascocita Road Atascocita Bldg Fire Station, 2326 Atascocita Road Atascocita Bldg-Evidence, 2322 Atascocita Old Fire Station, 1302 Preston 1910 Historic Court, 301 Fannin Admin Bldg, 1001 Preston Drug Bldg, 406 Caroline Congress Plaza, 1019 Congress Civil Courthouse, 201 Caroline High Intensity Drug, 10585 West office Todd Warehouse, 11525 Todd Street Katherine Tyra Branch Library, 16719 Clay Rd N. Channel Branch Library, 15741 Wallisville Rd Annex 13, 17423 Katy Freeway Annex 31 Mickey Leland, 7300 N. Shepherd Mep Shop, 1505 Commerce Who Admin Bldg, 2312 Atascocita Rd Who Barracks B, 2312 Atascocita Rd Who Barracks A, 2312 Atascocita Rd Who Dining Hall, 2312 Atascocita Rd Galena Park Branch Library, 1500 Keene St Annex 6, 8111 Lawn Dell Dale, 904 Dell Dale Canal Street War, 5900 Canal St N Buffalo Bayou Plant, 1207 Baker St Sweeney Bldg, 301 Main St S Houston Branch Library, 607 Avenue A Credit Union Parking Garage, 1401 Congress Animal Control, 612 Canino Rd Katy Leadership Academy, 9120 Katy Hockley Road Barbara Bush Library, 6817 Cypresswood Bayland Rehabilitation, 6500 Chimney Rock Bayland Cottage#5, 6500 Chimney Rock Bayland Cottage #6, 6500 Chimney Rock Bayland Gym, 6500 Chimney Rock Bayland Cottage #3, 6500 Chimney Rock

Southwest Annex 19, 6000 Chimney Rock Shooting Range, 2346 Atascocita Regional Radio, 2318 Greens Rd Old Palace Hotel, 216 La Branch Lockwood Annex, 333 Lockwood Lockwood, 601 Lockwood Fleet Service, 440 S. 66th Street District V Patrol, 23828 Tomball Pkwy Cypresswood Courthouse, 6831 Cypresswood Dr Annex 24, 3330 Old Spanish Trail Spring Branch Memorial Branch Library, 930 Corbindale Maud Smith Marks Branch Library, 1815 Westgreen Blvd Library Admin, 5749 S Loop East Social Services, 9418 Jensen Dr Aldine Library, 11331 Airline Dr.

Wilson Bldg, 49 San Jacinto Annex 35, 1721 Pech Rd Delta Bldg, 10555 Northwest Fwy Westside Annex, 16715 Clay Rd Crites Warehouse, 4625 Crites Street Precinct 4, 1731 Hugh Rd Precent 4 Constable Sub, 330 Meadowfern Dr Downtown Parks Office, 502 Live Oak Annex 60, 9111 Eastex Freeway Youth Service Center, 6300 Chimney Rock Fonteno Courthouse, 14350 Wallisville Vehicle Maintenance, 2505 Texas Ave Stratford Library, 509 Stratford Youth Village, 210 J.W. Mills Evelyn Meadow Library, 2400 N. Meyer Rd Kyle Chapmen Court, 7330 Spencer Hwy Spring Tax Office, 4290 Cypress Hill Dr Tomball Tax Office, 110 Market Humble Courthouse, 7900 Will Clayton Freeman Branch Library, 16602 Diana Ln Little Rtc, 2221 W Loop South Sats/YMCA, 2310 1/2 Atascocita Rd YMCA Dorms A, 2310 1/2 Atascocita Rd YMCA Admin Bldg, 2310 1/2 Atascocita Rd YMCA Ddrp Complex E/F/K/L, 2310 1/2 Atascocita Rd YMCA Dorm B, 2310 1/2 Atascocita Rd Street Olympics, 2727 El Camino Octavia Field Library, 1503 S. Houston Ave Big Rtc, 2223 W Loop South Jury Assembly, 1201 Congress Mosquito Control Bldg A, 6104 Dixie Dr Mosquito Control Bldg D, 6104 Dixie Dr Lamar Plaza, 1010 Lamar Harris Co Multiuse, 6900 Hahl Rd Greenwood Courthouse, 701 W Baker St 1111 Fannin, 1111 Fannin 1111 Main Garage, 1111 Main St Baldwin Boetcher Library, 22248 Aldine Westfield Rd The Hay Center, 3131 Gulf Fwy Boys Dorm, 2310 Atascocita

Girls Dorm, 2310 Atascocita Cafeteria/Clinic Bldg M, 2310 1/2 Atascocita Rd Crosby Community Center - 409 Hare Rd.

Hardy New Admin - 11901 W. Hardy Rd.

Hardy Old Admin - 11901 W. Hardy Rd.

Hardy Road And Bridge - 11901 W. Hardy Rd.

Hardy Senior Community Center - 11901 W. Hardy Rd.

Hardy Shop - 11901 W. Hardy Rd.

James Driver Park - 10918 1/12 Bentley @ Sagebrush Felix Baldree Building - 13828 Corpus Christi St.

Bay Area Community Center - 5002 Nasa Rd 1 Canal Street Warehouse (Main Building) - 5900 Canal St.

Challenger 7 Memorial Park - 2301 W. Nasa Parkway Clear Lake City - County Freeman Branch Library - 16616 Diana Ln.

East Harris County Activity Center - 7340 Spencer Hwy.

Freeman Memorial Branch Library - 16603 Diana Ln Grayson Building - 13828 Corpus Christi St.

JC Walker Community Center - 7613 Wade Rd.

Martin Flukinger Community Center - 16003 Lorenzo St.

Sylvan Beach Park - 636 N. Bayshore Dr.

V.V. Ramsey Community Center - 16003 Lorenzo St.

Frankie Carter Randolph Park - 5150 F.M. 2351 Rd.

Palm Center (JP/Tax) 5330 Griggs Rd.

Doss Activity Building - 2500 Frick Rd.

Magnum Howell Center - 2500 Frick Rd.

Northwest Branch Library - 11355 Regency Green Dr.

Juvenile Justice Center - 1200 Congress Peden Building - 600 N. San Jacinto H.C.S.O. Crime Scene Unit - 4627 Crites Thomas Street Hospital - 2015 Thomas St.

HC Central Plant - 1303 Preston

B. Precinct 2 Locations Description (HC Location and Address) Precinct 2, 11910 Hardy Frontage Road Bay Area Community Center, 5002 Nasa Pkwy Mueller Community Center, 14750 Henry Rd Martin Flukinger Community, 16003 Lorenzo St East Activity Center, 7340 Spencer Hwy JD Walker Comm, 7613 Wade Rd Grayson Bldg, 13828 Corpus Christi St Baldtree Bldg, 13828 Corpus Christi St Ne Community, 10918 ½ Bentley St James Driver, 10918 ½ Bentley St V.V Ramsey Community Center, 16003 Lorenzo St Bill Crowley, 5100 Lauder Rd Sylvan Beach, 636 N Bayshore Dr Learning Center, 2301 W Nasa Parkway Randolph Park, 5150 Fm 2351 Rd Senior Comm, 11901 W Hardy Rd Leonel Castillo, 2101 South St Channelview Pods, 16003 Lorenzo St Thomas St Health Ctr, 2015 Thomas St.

C. Precinct 3 Locations

Highlands Community, 604 Highlands Woods Dr Crosby Community Center, 409 Hare Rd Riley Chambers, 808 1/2 Magnolia Ave Barrett Station, 808 1/2 Magnolia Ave Vera May, 2100 Wolf Rd

D. Precinct 4 Locations

Kleb Woods Nature Preserve 20303 Draper Rd. Tomball Tx Bayland Park Barland Cc 6400 Bissonnet St. Houston Tx 77074 Tomball Service Center- 14444 Holderrieth Rd Tomball Service Center- Mechanical Shop- 14444 Holderrieth Rd Burnet Bayland- 6026 Chimney Rock Harris Co Annex 57, 19818 Franz Rd