RFI08272600000124_REQUEST_FOR_INFORMATION_1_Ocala_Electric__Main_document.pdf

110 SE Watula Avenue, Third Floor

Ocala, Florida 34471 Main Number: (352) 629-8402 www.bidocala.com

The City of Ocala is accepting sealed electronic submissions for:

Automatic Reclosers and Distribution Automation

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (“RFI”) #: ELE

Official copies of all solicitation documents may be obtained via electronic download from the City of Ocala’s e-procurement portal located at: https://www.bidocala.com

** Copies of documents obtained from any other source are not considered official copies. **

Deadline for Questions: 09/16/2026 at 5:00 p.m. (EST)

All questions or inquiries regarding this solicitation must be submitted via e-mail to the Buyer Contact identified below or via the e-procurement portal no later than the Deadline for Questions noted above. Any questions received after the deadline will not be considered.

Where to Submit Responses: City of Ocala’s E-Procurement Portal:

https://www.bidocala.com Attn: Caley Conard, Buyer

Submission Deadline: 09/21/2026 at 2:00 p.m. (EST)

Sealed electronic submissions shall be accepted up to the Submission Deadline.

Submissions received after the deadline and/or transmitted to the City of Ocala outside of the e-procurement portal shall be rejected. The e-procurement portal’s timestamp shall be conclusive as to the timeliness of filing.

Contractor Registration: Proposers must be a registered Vendor within the ProRFx e-procurement portal in order to submit a response to this Solicitation. There is no charge to register, simply follow the registration path for “New Vendor Registration” at https://www.bidocala.com.

Buyer Contact/ Direct All Inquiries To:

Caley Conard E-Mail: cconard@ocalafl.gov Phone: (352) 629-8234

Notice to Proposers: The point of contact for all questions and issues relating to this RFI shall be the Buyer Contact identified above.

To ensure that your submission is deemed responsive, you are urged to request clarification or guidance regarding any issues involving this RFI prior to submitting your response.

THE CITY OF OCALA RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY AND ALL SUBMISSIONS

http://www.bidocala.com/ https://www.bidocala.com/ https://www.bidocala.com/ https://www.bidocala.com/ mailto:buyername@ocalafl.gov

The City of Ocala is requesting information from vendors regarding general market information from firms with experience in GN-to-UN data migration, for the purposes of budget development and future procurement planning only.

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) AS DEFINED IN SECTION 287.012 (22), FLORIDA STATUTES. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes. It does not constitute or promise to issue a formal solicitation (Request for Proposal or Invitation to Negotiate or Letter of Interest) in the future.

The City will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested Vendors’ expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future solicitations, if any are issued.

If a solicitation is released, it will be advertised on the e-procurement platform https://www.bidocala.com. It is the responsibility of the interested vendor to register at the above-mentioned website to monitor the site for any potential forma solicitations.

Companies that are interested in this project and feel that they have the capabilities to meet or exceed the listed requirements are asked to submit information in the following format to the City.

ALL RESPONSES ARE DUE NO LATER THAN 2:00 P.M. EST ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2026.

SUBMISSION

All responses must be received be e-mailed to bids@ocalafl.gov , ATTN: Caley Conard, no later than 2:00 P.M.

on September 21, 2026. Any submittal received after the stated time and date shall not be considered and will be deemed non-responsive. It shall be the sole responsibility of the Respondent to have its package delivered to the Authority via electronic submittal. The electronic submission must be in PDF format.

QUESTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS.

(a) Vendors must communicate any questions regarding this Solicitation by the deadline set forth above.

(b) Any and all questions must be submitted to the Procurement Department electronically via www.bidocala.com. Responses will be made electronically and posted online. It is the responsibility of the proposers to check for updates.

BACKGROUND AND PROJECT OVERVIEW

The City of Ocala’s Electric Utility (“OEU”) owns and operates an electric distribution system consisting of overhead and underground facilities, including poles, transformers, substations, service equipment, streetlighting assets, and related electrical infrastructure. Ocala Electric Utility is conducting market research on automatic recloser equipment and intelligent recloser controls capable of providing remote monitoring, remote control, protection, communications, and advanced distribution automation functionality and future smart-grid applications.

This RFI is issued for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation or request for pricing under a competitive procurement.

REQUESTED INFORMATION NEEDED:

Please keep in mind that City staff will be reviewing information submitted in response to this RFI. As such, please construct your responses in a plain, clear, and concise manner.

https://www.bidocala.com/ mailto:bids@ocalafl.gov http://www.bidocala.com/

Vendors must submit answers to the following questions:

1. Identify the automatic reclosers and controllers you recommend for distribution automation applications, including manufacturer, model, voltage class, and current/interrupting ratings.

2. Describe the capabilities of the proposed equipment, including protection, monitoring, automation, event recording, and remote control.

3. Describe the smart grid/distribution automation capabilities of the proposed equipment.

4. Describe the SCADA capabilities, including supported communications protocols such as DNP3 or other protocols.

5. What cybersecurity features are incorporated into the field controller and communications equipment?

6. Identify any proprietary software, gateways, licenses, or manufacturer-specific equipment required to configure, communicate with, or operate the recloser.

7. Describe the FLISR capabilities of the proposed equipment and explain how the equipment can participate in automatic fault location, isolation, and service restoration.

8. Describe the recommended FLISR architecture, including whether the automation resides in the recloser controller, SCADA, DMS/ADMS, or another system.

9. Describe available communications options, including cellular, radio, fiber, Ethernet, or other technologies, and identify any communications equipment required.

10. Describe cybersecurity capabilities relevant to remote utility control and SCADA integration.

11. Identify any proprietary software, gateways, licenses, or other equipment required to obtain the proposed smart-grid and FLISR functionality.

12. Describe interoperability with third-party SCADA/DMS/ADMS systems, including examples of existing utility deployments.

13. Provide typical installation and commissioning requirements, including control power, communications, and any required auxiliary equipment.

13. Provide budgetary pricing for:

I. Recloser II. Controller

III. Communications equipment IV. Required accessories V. Optional smart-grid/automation capabilities VI. Any required software/licenses

14. Provide typical lead time for the proposed equipment.

15. Provide examples of electric utilities using the proposed equipment for SCADA, distribution automation, or FLISR applications.

16. What would you recommend the Utility specify/purchase today if the immediate requirement is SCADA-controlled reclosers but the long-term goal is to support FLISR and other distribution automation capabilities?

PUBLIC RECORDS. All written competitive submissions received by the city pursuant to this RFI concerning this RFI shall be handled in accordance with Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, and Article 1, Section 24, of the Florida Constitution.

(a) Sealed proposal responses or replies received by the City in response to its solicitations are exempt from public disclosure until such time as the City provides notice of an intended decision or until thirty (30) days after the opening of the proposals, whichever is earlier. If the City rejects all proposals or replies pursuant to this solicitation and provides notice of its intent to reissue the solicitation, then the rejected proposals or replies remain exempt from public disclosure until such time that the City provides notice of an intended decision concerning the reissued solicitation or until the City withdraws the reissued solicitation. A proposal or reply shall not be exempt from public disclosure longer than twelve (12) months after the City's initial notice rejecting all proposals or replies.

(b) Upon award recommendation or ten (10) days after opening, bids become “public records” and shall be subject to public disclosure consistent with Chapter 119 (Public Records) and Section

815.045 (Trade Secret Information), Florida Statutes. Should bidders/proposers consider any information related to their proposal or the services to be provided to City to be proprietary, a trade secret, or otherwise constitute confidential material under Florida or federal law, bidder/proposer shall designate such portion of the material as such by clearly marking it as CONFIDENTIAL, PROPRIETARY, or TRADE SECRET and submit both a non-redacted and redacted copy of their submission. The redacted copy shall only exclude or obliterate the exact portions claimed to be confidential, proprietary, or trade secret. Additionally, bidder/proposer shall state the basis for the exemption that it contends is applicable to the record, to include the statutory citation to an exemption created or afforded by statute.

(c) THE CITY WILL MAKE NO EFFORT TO VERIFY WHETHER OR NOT THE REDACTED

MATERIAL IS EXEMPT FROM CHAPTER 119, FLORIDA STATUTES. THAT DETERMINATION

IS TOTALLY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BIDDER/PROPOSER AND THE

BIDDER/PROPOSER SHALL BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR DEFENDING ITS

DETERMINATION THAT THE REDACTED PORTIONS OF ITS RESPONSE ARE

CONFIDENTIAL, TRADE SECRET, OR NOT OTHERWISE SUBJECT TO DISCLOSURE.

PROPOSER SHALL PROTECT, DEFEND, AND INDEMNIFY THE CITY FOR ANY AND ALL

CLAIMS ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO PROPOSER’S DETERMINATION THAT THE

REDACTED PORTIONS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO DISCLOSURE. IF THE PROPOSER FAILS

TO SUBMIT A REDACTED COPY OF ITS SUBMISSION, ANY CLAIM OF CONFIDENTIALITY

IS WAIVED, AND THE CITY SHALL BE AUTHORIZED AND REQUIRED TO PRODUCE THE

ENTIRE DOCUMENT OR RECORD IN ITS ANSWER TO A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST FOR

SAID RECORDS.