Cellular Distributed Antenna System for the North County Wellness Center Project

The County of San Mateo Department of Public Works is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for design, procurement, programming, and installation services for a Cellular Distributed Antenna System (DAS) at the North County Wellness Center located at 1024 Mission Road, South San Francisco, California. The project seeks a qualified firm to deliver a neutral-host, 5G-ready DAS system providing two-way cellular voice and data coverage for AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile/Sprint across all interior spaces of the facility. The procurement is structured in two phases: Phase 1 requires design, engineering, shop drawings, product data, system diagrams, submittal preparation, and procurement logistics, while Phase 2 encompasses mobilization, site setup, equipment delivery, systems installation, testing, commissioning, training, documentation, and warranty services. All deliverables must include new, manufacturer-certified materials compatible with AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile/Sprint frequency bands, achieving a minimum 95 percent in-building coverage for voice and data service with signal strength better than -85 dBm downlink and uplink greater than -95 dBm, while complying with NEC and local building codes, RF exposure/EMF rules, and seismic/structural requirements. The contractor must provide a minimum one-year warranty covering all materials, workmanship, programming, and performance, including proactive monitoring, firmware updates, quarterly performance checks, and annual preventative maintenance. Proposals will be evaluated on project approach (30 points), firm qualifications (25 points), team qualifications (20 points), and price (25 points). The RFP was released on February 24, 2026, with questions and contract exceptions due by March 2, 2026, proposals due by March 9, 2026, at 5:00 pm, and an anticipated contract award date of April 7, 2026, with equipment required on site by July 2026.

The County of San Mateo has adopted a local business procurement preference ordinance under County Ordinance Code Chapter 2.89, which may apply to this solicitation and could provide preferences for local businesses meeting specified criteria. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises or minority-owned businesses are mentioned in the available solicitation documents, though vendors should review the full ordinance for applicable preferences. The contract template documents provided indicate that the maximum fiscal obligation will be specified in Exhibit B of the executed agreement, with separate templates available for contracts under $200,000 and exceeding $200,000, suggesting the final award value has not yet been publicly disclosed. The contractor is responsible for all costs including labor, materials, equipment, management, coordination, travel, lodging, meals, and fuel, with a $20,000 owner contingency allowance available for direct changes and unforeseen conditions accessible only with written County authorization. Insurance requirements include comprehensive general liability of $1,000,000, motor vehicle liability of $1,000,000, and professional liability of $1,000,000, with the County named as additional insured. The contractor must comply with prevailing wage requirements under California Labor Code Section 1770 et seq., the San Mateo County Living Wage Ordinance, non-discrimination provisions, HIPAA regulations if applicable, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 compliance.