Automated Outfall Structure (AOS)

Sarasota County is pursuing a sole source procurement for an Automated Outfall Structure (AOS) from Flood-Con, LLC, specifically targeting flood control infrastructure in the Siesta Key CDP area. The procurement, identified as project number 2025-ISS-527, involves acquiring a patented technological device that utilizes solar panels, electrical sensors, and a rain gauge to monitor and control water levels with remote web-based console access. The AOS is designed to provide automated flood control monitoring for abutting parcels and roadway flooding, with the county emphasizing its unique technological capabilities. Vendors must submit responses electronically through the ProcureNow portal by August 5, 2025, at 5:00 pm, with a deadline for questions on August 4, 2025. The county has specified that it will only consider responses from vendors authorized by Flood-Con, LLC to sell these products, and maintains the right to convert to a competitive solicitation if other vendors can demonstrate substantially similar product capabilities.

The procurement is explicitly a sole source opportunity, with strict restrictions on vendor participation, effectively limiting potential respondents to those authorized by Flood-Con, LLC. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises were mentioned in the documentation. The estimated project expenditure is $32,600.00, which falls within the county's $150,000 authorization limit. Flood-Con, LLC, headquartered in Homewood, Alabama with an office in St. Petersburg, Florida, is confirmed as the sole distributor of the AOS for the State of Florida. The technology is protected by a specific patent (US9400085B2) titled "Method, System, and Apparatus for Flood Control", which further underscores its unique nature. The procurement is being managed by the Office of Financial Management, with Jissel Shoemaker serving as the Procurement and Contracts Specialist, and is scheduled for procurement approval on July 31, 2025.