2-SS Letter.pdf

This is a sole source procurement letter from Hillsborough County, Florida, regarding the purchase of hardware, software, licensing, installation, and maintenance services for the County's lightning detection and severe weather monitoring system. The procurement encompasses Sferic Weather Stations, Sferic Maps, Area Alerting Units, and Dangerous Thunderstorm Alert (DTA) technology from Earth Networks, Inc. Services include preventative maintenance of existing weather stations, upgrades and replacements of legacy stations, installation of additional Sferic Weather Stations, annual Sferic Maps licenses, lightning and severe weather alerting, SMS alerting services, and related field installation, verification, firmware updates, cleaning, testing, and commissioning. The contract term is two years, with the County reserving the right to extend the time period and adjust the scope of services in response to changing conditions. The procurement notice indicates that challenges to the sole source award must be submitted by the specified close date through the EUNA Procurement system, with award likely to follow absent any challenges.

The estimated cost for this procurement is $47,627.54 for the two-year term. This sole source procurement is being made in accordance with Section 3-205(2)(b) of the County's Procurement Policy, as Earth Networks, Inc. is designated as the sole authorized source for the requested proprietary products and services required to maintain compatibility with the County's existing integrated Earth Networks system. The County reserves the right to increase the award amount if the scope of services is adjusted or the contract term is extended. This procurement is not a request for competitive proposals or bids; however, contractors able and interested in providing compatible hardware, software, licensing, maintenance, and installation services may submit clear and convincing information challenging the intended award within the specified timeframe.