Badger Water Meters, Reading and Programming Equipment

Sarasota County is pursuing a sole source procurement for Badger Water Meters, Reading and Programming Equipment through Solicitation Number 2024-ISS-166. The procurement seeks to renew an existing contract with Badger Meter, Inc. for radio read water meters, reading, and programming equipment specifically for the county's Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) program. The county intends to replace approximately 6,000 residential and large meters over a seven to ten-year installation cycle, with a focus on continuing its Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) system. The specific products include E-Series Ultrasonic Meters, Recordall Compound Series/Combo Meters, Recordall Turbo Series Meters, BEACON SaaS, BEACON Mobile Reading Solutions, ORION Endpoints, Badger Meter Analytical Product Lines, and Magnetoflow Meters. Key procurement dates include a deadline for questions on March 1, 2024, at 3:00 PM, and a response deadline on March 4, 2024, at 5:00 PM, with electronic submissions required through https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/scgov. The county has noted that if other vendors can demonstrate the ability to supply substantially similar products or services, they may cancel the sole source procurement and pursue a competitive solicitation.

The procurement is currently structured as a sole source agreement, with no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent organizations mentioned. Currently, approximately 99% of Sarasota County's water meters are Badger AMR meters, indicating a significant existing technological infrastructure. The contract will cover a two-year period from June 1, 2024, to May 31, 2026, with a total annual expenditure of $900,000.00. Vendors interested in providing alternative products must complete an Intent to Sole Source Response form and upload supporting documentation. The procurement serves Sarasota County's water utility, which supplies water to 80,000 locations within its service area. Badger Meter, Inc. has provided a sole source letter dated February 12, 2024, confirming their exclusive dealership for the specified water meter products. The county reserves the right to modify the procurement approach based on alternative vendor submissions and capabilities.