Drones as First Responders Program (Proof of Concept)

The City of Alpharetta is issuing Request for Proposals (RFP 26-106) to procure a comprehensive Drones as First Responders (DFR) Program implementation as a one-year proof of concept with options for annual extension through Year 5, contingent upon satisfactory performance, funding availability, and City Council approval. The selected vendor will design and implement drone-based first response capabilities to enhance public safety operations across the City's police, fire, emergency management, and Emergency Medical Services departments. Key deliverables and objectives include establishing 400-foot ceiling flight operations capability, enabling night flying operations, ensuring rapid deployment capabilities, and providing live video streaming functionality integrated with the City's computer-aided dispatch systems. The vendor must provide comprehensive FAA compliance documentation including a Part 108 Certificate, demonstrate integration capability with both the City's existing Central Square CAD system and the newly implemented Hexagon system, and deliver detailed training plans and installation support. Required vendor qualifications include proof of commercial general liability insurance ($1 million per occurrence), commercial automobile liability coverage, workers' compensation insurance, aircraft and commercial general aviation liability insurance, and specialized drone insurance. Proposals will be evaluated on a 100-point scoring system comprising Technical Approach & Innovation (25 points), Integration & Compliance (20 points), Cost Proposal (20 points), Statements of Qualifications (15 points), Training, Support & Installation (12 points), Community Transparency & Engagement (5 points), and Local Vendor Preference (3 points). The City may create a shortlist of highest-scoring vendors for interviews, presentations, and system demonstrations. All proposals must be submitted through the Bonfire online platform by 10:00 AM on December 12, 2025.

The City of Alpharetta's Local Vendor Preference (LVP) policy applies to this procurement, allowing qualified Alpharetta-based vendors to receive a 3-point evaluation preference if they meet specific criteria including maintaining a permanent place of business within city limits for at least six months, employing full-time staff, holding a valid city business license, and being current on all city taxes and fees. All vendors must comply with the Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act by participating in the federal E-Verify program throughout the contract period and ensuring all subcontractors maintain similar verification capabilities. Bidders must submit completed Bidder's Disclosures and Certifications forms, affirming the absence of conflicts of interest, debarment status, and compliance with equal opportunity and non-discrimination requirements, along with IRS Form W-9 for taxpayer identification. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available documentation. The procurement does not establish specific budget ranges or award values in the provided materials; however, based on the LVP policy applicability to contracts valued between $50,000.01 and $500,000.00, the estimated contract value likely falls within this range. The contract will be funded through the City's annual budget, with contract execution anticipated to begin upon award, and annual extensions requiring separate appropriations and City Council approval.