Fire Pump Operation Simulator

The School Board of Seminole County, Florida, issued Invitation to Bid (ITB) 25260031B-VG for a Fire Pump Operations Simulator to be used by their Fire Academy. The procurement seeks a single FAAC PO-1000-SM Pump-Ops Panel Simulator Unit or an approved alternate, with specific requirements including a trainee visual scene display for hose deployment, power take-off simulation functionality, air-primer control capabilities, operations and maintenance training, and a comprehensive warranty. Key deliverables include the simulator unit, a 65-inch classroom LCD panel display, a PTO kiosk, and associated training components. The solicitation was posted on August 20, 2025, with a voluntary pre-solicitation meeting scheduled for August 28, 2025, at 1:00 PM EST via WebEx. Bidders were required to submit questions by August 29, 2025, before 1:00 PM EST, with sealed submissions due on September 17, 2025, before 1:00 PM EST. The evaluation criteria focused on identifying the lowest responsive and responsible bidder meeting all specified requirements, with the award recommendation to be made on September 19, 2025, and final board approval scheduled for October 7, 2025.

Two vendors submitted bids for this opportunity: FAAC Incorporated from Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Excel Driver Services, LLC (Sim-Tech) from Henderson, Colorado. Sim-Tech was recommended for award with a total bid of $79,785.90, which was $1,964.10 lower than FAAC's bid of $81,750.00. The contract will have a one-year term, effective from October 8, 2025, through October 7, 2026, with the School Board reserving the right to cancel with 30 days' notice. No specific set-aside designations were mentioned for disadvantaged enterprises. Vendors were required to provide comprehensive insurance coverage, including $1,000,000 per occurrence Commercial General Liability, $1,000,000 per occurrence Product Liability insurance, and Workers' Compensation at statutory limits. The School Board is exempt from Federal Excise and State of Florida Sales taxes, and the contract is subject to appropriation and availability of funds. Bidders were required to submit various certifications, including Drug-Free Workplace, Debarment, Conflict of Interest Disclosure, and Scrutinized Company Certification.