Fire+Inspection+RFI+2025.pdf

STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA

North Dakota Insurance & Securities Department

North Dakota Fire Marshal’s Office 600 E. Boulevard Ave., Dept. 401

Bismarck, ND 58505

Request For Information (RFI)

Solicitation Number: 401-25-003

Date of Issue: October 13, 2025

RFI Title: Identification of Fire Inspectors Qualified for Delegation by the North Dakota State Fire

Marshal

Purpose of RFI: The purpose of this RFI is to obtain information related to competent fire inspectors who possess the knowledge, skills, and experience to receive delegable authority under the law to conduct statutorily required fire inspections throughout North Dakota.

SECTION ONE

INTRODUCTION AND INSTRUCTIONS

1.01 Purpose of the RFI

The state of North Dakota, acting through its North Dakota Insurance & Securities Department, on behalf of its State Fire Marshal’s Office, (“STATE”) is soliciting information from potential bidders to obtain an understanding of the marketplace for competent fire inspectors who possess the knowledge, skills, and experience to receive delegable authority under the law to conduct statutorily required fire inspections throughout North Dakota.

More specifically the STATE is seeking to obtain the AVAILABILITY and APPROXIMATE COST of services related to fire inspections throughout the North Dakota cities of Bismarck, Dickinson.

Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot, and Williston.

The information, data, comments, or reactions obtained as a result of this RFI may be used as research for a future solicitation. This RFI does not constitute an Invitation for Bid, Request for Proposal, or Informal Request for Bid or Proposal and is not to be construed as a commitment by STATE. STATE will review all responses received. If STATE decides to issue a solicitation for commodities or services, the procurement will be conducted in accordance with North Dakota State Procurement laws, rules and guidelines.

1.02 Contact and Response Information

The procurement officer is the point of contact for this RFI. Please submit responses to the procurement officer by the deadline specified in the RFI Schedule. Please reference the Solicitation Number and Title. You may submit your response in person, by mail, or by email to the procurement officer at:

PROCUREMENT OFFICER: Tyler Erickson ADDRESS: 600 E Boulevard Ave Floor 5 Bismarck ND 58505 EMAIL: tylernerickson@nd.gov

PHONE: 701-328-2459

1.03 Assistance to Individuals with a Disability

Contact the procurement officer, as soon as possible, if an individual with a disability needs assistance with the RFI, including any events in the RFI Schedule, so reasonable accommodations can be made.

1.04 RFI Schedule

EVENT DATE

RFI issued 10/9/2025 Deadline for Submission of Questions and Requests for Clarification by

5:00 PM CDT.

10/17/2025

Amendment with Responses to Questions and Requests for Clarification issued approximately (if required)

10/21/2025

Deadline for Submission of Responses 11/2/2025

1.05 Questions and Requests for Clarification

Please submit any questions or requests for clarifications about this RFI in writing to the procurement officer by the deadline for submission of questions and requests for clarification identified in the RFI Schedule. Preferred method of submission is email.

Two types of questions generally arise. One type of question may be answered by directing the questioner to a specific section of the RFI, and the procurement officer may answer these questions over the telephone. The other type of question may be more complex and may require a written amendment to the RFI. The procurement officer will make that decision.

1.06 Notice Provided – State Procurement Website

This RFP and any related amendments and notices will be posted on the North Dakota OMB website using SPO Online at: https://apps.nd.gov/csd/spo/services/bidder/main.htm

Notices related to this RFI will be sent to the Bidders List for the needed commodity or service and other known potential vendors.

Additionally, vendors may request to receive notices related to this RFI by contacting the procurement officer in writing with the following information: RFI title, business name, contact person, mailing address, telephone number, and email address.

1.07 Respondents Responsible for All Preparation Costs

Respondents are responsible for all costs associated with the preparation, submittal, and presentation of their response to this RFI.

1.08 Bidders List Registration

If a competitive solicitation is issued, notice will be sent to approved bidders on the Bidders List and other known potential bidders. Individuals or business entities desiring to be notified of bidding opportunities may apply to be placed on the Bidders List. (N.D.C.C. § 54-44.4-09) Placement on the Bidders List does not guarantee a vendor will receive notice of every solicitation (N.D.A.C. § 4-12-05-01)

Visit the OMB website for instructions and the online Bidders List Application:

Bidders List Registration Website

For assistance with Bidders List Registration, contact State Procurement Help Desk at 701-328- 1728 or infospo@nd.gov.

1.09 Disclosure of Information and Compliance with North Dakota Open Records Laws The state of North Dakota has broad open records laws. All information submitted become the property of STATE and may be returned only at STATE’s option. All information is subject to North Dakota Open Records Laws. Records are closed or confidential only if specifically stated in law.

Respondents may make a written request to hold confidential any trade secrets and other proprietary data contained in its response. Respondent must clearly identify the material considered confidential and explain why the material is confidential. See the North Dakota See the North Dakota Office of the Attorney General website for additional information at https://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t44c04.pdf and https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/open-records-https://apps.nd.gov/csd/spo/services/bidder/main.htm https://www.ndlegis.gov/cencode/t54c44-4.pdf https://www.ndlegis.gov/information/acdata/pdf/4-12-05.pdf https://www.omb.nd.gov/doing-business-state mailto:infospo@nd.gov https://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t44c04.pdf https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/open-records-meetings meetings

If STATE receives a request for public information, the procurement officer, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, shall determine whether the information is an exception to the North Dakota open records laws, and the information shall be processed accordingly.

https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/open-records-meetings

SECTION TWO

GOAL AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION

2.01 Goal and Background Information

The North Dakota Insurance & Securities Department, through its State Fire Marshal’s Office is requesting information on contractors who possess the knowledge, skills, and experience to receive delegable authority under the law to conduct statutorily required fire inspections throughout North Dakota. The following background information is intended to help respondents understand the needs of the STATE.

The North Dakota State Fire Marshal’s Office is statutorily required to inspect state institutions and occupied state-owned buildings pursuant to N.D.C.C. § 18-08-12. Historically, fire inspections and fire plans examinations have been conducted by local fire departments on behalf of the State Fire Marshal pursuant to a delegation of authority found in N.D.C.C. § 18-01-

03.2. However, local fire departments are no longer planning to perform the inspections and examinations. As a result, the fire inspection of the identified state buildings as described under N.D.C.C. § 18-08-12 must be performed by the State Fire Marshal and his staff.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office does not maintain the staffing to accommodate this additional workload and has determined that the best path forward is to continue inspections required pursuant to N.D.C.C. § 18-08-12 be inspected by a third-party contractor until such time as staffing at the State can be addressed. The use of a third-party contractor for this work will ensure that fire safety hazards are identified, reported, and addressed properly in coordination with the State Fire Marshal’s Office. The contractor will have to provide written fire code inspection reports to the State Fire Marshal on varying schedules and in a reasonable time from inspection or review.

2.02 Information Requesting

STATE is requesting information to obtain the availability and approximate cost of a contractor to conduct fire inspections for identified State Buildings in the cities of Bismarck, Dickinson.

Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot, and Williston.

SECTION THREE

RESPONSE FORMAT AND CONTENT

3.01 Response Preparation Instructions

Respondents are asked to provide a response in the following format:

A. Introduction

Please provide:

1. Contact name, phone number, and email

2. Business name, address, and phone number

B. Technical Response

Respondents are asked to provide the following information:

1. Description of personnel qualifications and indicating the knowledge, skill, and abilities capable of carrying out the duties defined in N.D.C.C. § 18-08-12. The Fire Code of North Dakota is an amended and adopted version of the International Fire Code (2021 Edition) and any future editions. Note, the State Fire Marshal is currently in the process of adopting the 2024 Edition of the International Fire Code with the planned date of adoption to be July 1st of 2026. The Fire Code of North Dakota is adopted through North Dakota Administrative Rule chapter 45-18.

2. Minimum certifications held by contractor, or details as to how and when the contractor will certify, or obtain satisfactory certifications as identified by the State Fire Marshal. In this circumstance the minimum certification level identified by the State Fire Marshal for the work described under this RFI is International Code Council Fire Inspector I or equivalent.

3. An example of a fire inspection report or template that the contractor will report fire inspections to the Fire Marshal.

4. Description of ability or plan to accomplish the workload covered under this RFI. The annual workload may include up to approximately 500 fire inspections per year, throughout the identified cities (Bismarck, Dickinson. Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot, and Williston) for a timeframe of January 2026 through June 30, 2027.

5. A description of any other hardware, software, equipment, or other components that could be needed to accomplish the task herein described.

6. Any other relevant information the prospective contractor believes is relevant and/or necessary to accomplishing the task described herein.

C. Cost Estimate

Please provide estimated costs for the information requested above and to implement a solution to accomplishing these tasks. Any cost estimates requested are for budgeting purposes only.

Responders will not be held to price estimates provided as part of the RFI should STATE later decide to issue a competitive solicitation.

D. Enclosures

Respondents are asked to provide the following documentation list:

1. Detailed plan to accomplish tasks as described.

2. Example or template of finished work product (fire inspection or fire plans examinations reports).

3. Certifications met or planned to meet or their equivalents that contractor will be able to meet or maintain.

4. Price lists.

1.03 Assistance to Individuals with a Disability