Automated Rainfall Monitoring Systems (ARM) Equipment and Repairs

Sarasota County is pursuing a sole source procurement with Campbell Scientific Inc for Automated Rainfall Monitoring Systems (ARM) Equipment and Repairs, targeting the installation and maintenance of existing infrastructure within Sarasota County and Siesta Key CDP. The solicitation (2025-ISS-491) seeks to acquire specialized equipment including VUECBL1 cables, CR350-NA and CR310-NA dataloggers, 4G cellular modules, and associated antenna components necessary for water level measurement, recording, and communication infrastructure. The procurement is structured as a one-year renewal from 06/13/2025 to 06/12/2026, with electronic responses required through https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/scgov by June 6, 2025, at 5:00 pm. Potential respondents must be explicitly authorized by Campbell Scientific Inc to sell these specific products and services, with questions accepted until June 5, 2025. The county remains open to converting this to a competitive solicitation if alternative vendors can demonstrate equivalent product capabilities, though the current procurement is designed to maintain consistency with the existing 18 ARMS stations using Campbell Scientific infrastructure.

The solicitation does not explicitly indicate specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The incumbent and proposed vendor is Campbell Scientific Inc, with an estimated expenditure of $30,000.00 per fiscal year and a specific equipment quotation totaling $3,352.00. The procurement is specifically tailored to integrate with the county's existing 18 ARMS stations, which currently utilize Campbell Scientific CR310 dataloggers and custom software. The sole source justification centers on the specialized nature of the equipment, its critical compatibility with current infrastructure, and the lack of alternative vendors capable of providing equivalent products or services. Vendors interested in challenging the sole source designation must complete an Intent to Sole Source Response form and demonstrate their ability to supply substantially similar technological solutions. The county maintains discretionary authority to cancel the sole source procurement and pursue a competitive solicitation if compelling alternatives are presented.