Armed Security Services

Lake-Sumter State College in Florida is seeking armed security services through Request for Proposals (RFP) #25-01 to provide comprehensive campus safety coverage across four locations: Leesburg Campus, South Lake Campus, Sumter Center, and Four Corners. The procurement is for uniformed, armed security officers who will work under the supervision of the Director of Campus Safety, performing duties including campus patrols, alarm response, reporting, and event support. Proposers must have Florida state licensing, specifically Class D and Class G Security Licenses, and must meet extensive background screening requirements. The contract term is targeted for three years, from approximately January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2027, with potential for two one-year extensions. Proposals are due on November 6, 2024 at 2:00 PM Eastern, with a question submission deadline of October 30, 2024 at 4:30 PM Eastern. The evaluation process will include a written proposal review and oral presentations/interviews, with a comprehensive scoring methodology allocating 30 points for firm/staff experience, 10 points for financial strength, 25 points for staffing methodology, 20 points for pricing, and 15 points for higher education experience.

The current security services are provided by Miller and Miller Investigative and Security Services, LLC, with current billing rates of $23.61/hr for Security Officers and $24.26/hr for Security Supervisors. The estimated total annual hours for the contract are 23,036, excluding special events and overtime, with an existing annual spend of $345,864.90. The college has indicated openness to retaining incumbent officers depending on the new vendor's staffing approach. Universal Protection Service LLC (doing business as Allied Universal Security Service) has been recommended for award, though the final contract is not yet finalized. The college will provide infrastructure support, including golf carts for use at three campuses, and requires vendors to supply their own communication equipment, uniforms, and vehicles meeting specified requirements. Proposing organizations must demonstrate professional liability insurance and compliance with state regulations. While no specific set-aside designations were mentioned, the RFP suggests a competitive, comprehensive evaluation process that considers both technical capabilities and cost-effectiveness.