Broadcast System and Audio Video Infrastructure

Frederick County, Maryland is requesting proposals for design and build of a broadcast system and audio/video infrastructure at the Prospect Center, with proposals due September 29, 2026 and a pre-proposal conference on August 26, 2026 via Microsoft Teams. The County requires a minimum of five years of experience in audio/video engineering and integration services — a primary qualification filter.

The scope spans four rooms: a Control Room with HD 2 Full ME switcher (minimum 16 inputs), three-channel HD character generator, multiviewer display, hybrid audio solution, remote camera controls with 10+ presets per camera, and recording and encoding capabilities; two broadcast-ready multipurpose rooms (A230 Community Training Room and B253 Community Conference Room) with PTZ cameras (up to six per room), full HD video feeds, wireless and wired microphone systems, public address systems with DSP control, hearing-impaired solutions, virtual meeting capabilities, and touch screen control panels; and one shared conference room (C151) with dual-space capability and similar systems adapted for divided operation. The County currently operates Ross Carbonite Touch Drive control panels, Ross Xpersion character generator, Ross Ultrix routing system, Allen & Heath audio mixer, BiAmp Tesira DSP systems, Televic conferencing microphones, Shure wireless microphones, Sony PTZ cameras, Crestron touchscreens, and Link Electronics closed captioning systems, requiring compatibility and integration with existing infrastructure.

Performance and payment bonds at 100% of contract value are mandatory within ten days of award. A 2-year minimum warranty on all equipment and installation applies, with manufacturer warranties honored if they exceed two years. Contractors must carry Commercial General Liability ($1 million per occurrence / $2 million aggregate), Auto Liability ($1 million combined single limit), Workers' Compensation at statutory levels, and Technology Professional Liability/Errors & Omissions ($1 million per occurrence / $2 million aggregate). A 5% bid deposit is required.

Implementation occurs in phases: Phase 1 (Shared Conference Room) approximately March 2027; Phase 3 (Community Conference Room and Control Room) approximately November 2028; Phase 4 (Community Training Room) approximately October 2029. Questions are due September 8, 2026. Evaluation is phased: technical submissions scored 0–100, followed by pass/fail price review, vendor interviews, and best and final offers. Contractors must provide detailed network design for IP-based components, coordination with County IIT staff on fiber infrastructure, weekly progress reports, training documentation, and as-built drawings. Post-warranty support includes 24/7 technical assistance with online ticket tracking, phone support, and on-site support upon request.