Emergency Responder Communication Enhancement Systems (ERCES)

The Pinellas County School District is soliciting sealed electronic bids for Emergency Responder Communication Enhancement Systems (ERCES) testing, inspection, and maintenance services across 45 school facilities. The procurement covers annual and five-year inspections, routine and emergency maintenance, and repair services for ERCES systems, with the goal of ensuring compliance with Florida Fire Prevention Code, NFPA 1225 standards, and FCC License-Holder requirements. The scope includes services for 22 elementary schools, 11 middle schools, and 6 high schools, with contractors required to perform comprehensive system testing, including quantitative assessments demonstrating minimum DAQ of 3.0 and signal strength of -102dB on each floor. Bidders must hold specific licenses, including Florida Electrical Contractor (EC), Fire Alarm Contractor I (EF), or Two-Way Radio Communications Enhancement Systems Specialist (ES), and possess an FCC General Radiotelephone Operators license. A mandatory pre-bid conference is scheduled for November 20, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Walter Pownall Service Center in Largo, Florida, with attendance required for bid eligibility. Electronic bids are due by 3:00 p.m. on December 9, 2025, through the OpenGov Procurement portal, with bid evaluation planned between December 12-16, 2025, and School Board approval estimated for January 27, 2026.

The contract does not appear to have specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. Contractors must demonstrate five continuous years of business operation under the same legal entity and provide documented evidence of comparable ERCES experience. All personnel requiring facility access when students are present must undergo a Level 2 background screening under the Jessica Lunsford Act. Inspectors must be certified by the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) as Level II and be full-time employees of the bidding company. The contract period runs from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026, with options for four additional one-year renewal periods and up to three supplemental thirty-day extensions. The initial contract is estimated at approximately $110,000, with potential price escalations at renewal limited to the previous year's Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). Only new, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts and UL-listed materials are permitted, and contractors must use their own tools, equipment, and trained personnel to complete the required services.