Fire Alarm Inspection

Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) is soliciting competitive bids for a comprehensive fire alarm inspection contract covering approximately 200 educational and administrative facilities across their district. The procurement, identified as Solicitation No. 25069-ITB-MST, seeks qualified contractors to perform annual fire alarm system inspections at multiple school sites, including elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, career centers, and administrative offices. Contractors must conduct 100% device inspections following NFPA 72 standards, state and local regulations, and manufacturer recommendations, with specific requirements to provide detailed system inventory reports and comprehensive documentation. Required qualifications include maintaining appropriate certifications such as Alarm System Contractor I, Electrical Contractor, and Fire Protection Class IV licenses. The bid is due on Friday, March 28, 2025, at 3:00:00 PM, with technical questions accepted until Friday, March 14, 2025, and all proposals must be submitted electronically through HCPS' VendorLink portal. Contractors will be responsible for inspecting diverse fire alarm systems from manufacturers like Edwards, Faraday, Notifier, Simplex, and Silent Knight, covering components such as control panels, batteries, smoke detectors, heat detectors, pull stations, horns, strobes, and speakers.

The solicitation demonstrates a commitment to diverse vendor participation, with optional self-identification opportunities for small businesses, service-disabled veterans, and minority-owned enterprises. HCPS encourages vendors to register with their Office of Supplier Diversity and provides a voluntary vendor classification process that can support procurement diversity goals. Contractors must comply with strict ethical standards, including executing a vendor affidavit confirming no engagement in coercive labor practices, as mandated by Section 787.06(13) of Florida Statutes. While specific contract value is not explicitly stated, the extensive inventory of nearly 200 sites suggests a potentially significant contract with possible multi-year renewal options. Pricing will be structured on a per-inspection basis, with material markups not exceeding 15% and a minimum one-year warranty on all performed work. Notably, a previous solicitation for this contract was rejected, as indicated by the Notice of Rejection document, suggesting HCPS is refining its procurement approach to ensure the most suitable contractor is selected for this critical fire safety infrastructure maintenance project.