Fire and Security Alarm System Services

Sarasota County, Florida issued Invitation for Bids (IFB #262857MKM) on April 17, 2026, with a bid due date of May 19, 2026, to procure comprehensive fire and security alarm system services across county-owned and operated facilities. The solicitation encompasses four primary service groups: fire and security alarm system monitoring services, fire alarm system annual inspections, fire and security alarm system repair services, and fire alarm system installation services at approximately 120 locations distributed throughout Sarasota County, including the Siesta Key CDP area and multiple municipalities such as Venice, Englewood, Nokomis, Osprey, and North Port. Qualified bidders must hold a Certified Alarm System Contractor I or II license issued by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation at the time of bid opening and demonstrate verifiable experience within the past seven years, including a minimum of two references validating inspection, repair, and installation of fire and security alarm systems, one reference validating monitoring services, and at least one governmental institution reference. Bidders must possess the capability to service and maintain compatibility with diverse existing equipment types, including Silent Knight, Siemens, Potter, Notifier, Edwards, Firelite, EST Quick Start, Autocall, FCI, NAPCO, Cyrotronics, and Fireworx systems already installed at county facilities, with special ability to accommodate after-hours and weekend alarm testing protocols at 12 critical facilities. The initial contract term is three years, with bids submitted electronically through the OpenGov Procurement portal at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/scgov using a county-provided pricing table that includes line items for percent markup, hourly rates encompassing all trip charges, mileage, vehicle charges, and travel time, with only on-site time billable. Award will be made to the responsive and responsible bidder submitting the lowest total bid price, and all work and materials are warranted for one year from county acceptance or the standard manufacturer warranty, whichever is greater.

No local or American business preferences apply to this award due to grant funding requirements, and no set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are indicated in the solicitation documents. Bidders must carry professional liability insurance with limits of $1,000,000 per claim, workers' compensation insurance, commercial general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence with $2,000,000 aggregate, and business automobile liability of $1,000,000 combined single limit. The contractor is responsible for all permitting and related costs, with permit fees reimbursed at actual cost without markup, and the county reserves the right to add monitoring and inspection locations at any time at rates comparable to existing locations. The location list identifies the specific facilities requiring services but does not enumerate current incumbent vendors or incumbent contractor information in the available documentation. While no specific contract award value or budget range is detailed in the solicitation materials, the extensive facility inventory of approximately 120 locations across multiple service categories over a three-year initial contract term suggests a substantial contract value. Prospective bidders are encouraged to register with OpenGov Procurement at no cost and submit questions through the procurement Q&A portal once the solicitation is active.