Fire Sprinkler Modification and Halon System Removal

The City of St. Petersburg is soliciting competitive quotes from qualified fire protection contractors for fire sprinkler modification and halon system removal services at its Stormwater, Pavement & Traffic Operations facility located at 1744 9th Ave North, St. Petersburg, Florida. The procurement involves installing approximately 34 chrome pendant sprinkler heads across two separate office areas—the first containing four rooms (27'x20', 20'x10', 17'x10', 15'x10') requiring 16 pendants, and the second containing four office spaces (38'x26', 15'x13', 15'x13', 16'x8') requiring 18 pendants—and removing an existing halon fire suppression system including a 344-pound halon tank and six discharge nozzles. All materials must be UL-listed and installation must comply with NFPA standards, with contractors required to obtain necessary permits from the Authority Having Jurisdiction and perform hydraulic and pressure testing to verify adequate water supply for the additional sprinkler heads. Qualified vendors must be registered with the Florida Department of State Division of Corporations and hold certification as either a Certified Alarm System Contractor I or both Certified Alarm System Contractor II and III with the Florida DBPR, demonstrate a minimum of two years of experience in fire protection services, submit at least three customer references, and provide a two-year warranty for parts and workmanship. The solicitation was released on March 30, 2026, with a deadline for submitting questions by April 2, 2026, and responses due electronically via the OpenGov Procurement portal by April 7, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. The project must reach final completion within six months of contract execution and be performed during normal business hours. Evaluation criteria include financial capability, dedicated account manager availability, and ability to comply with non-negotiable contract terms including indemnification, insurance coverage, and governing law provisions under Florida statute with venue in Pinellas County, St. Petersburg Division.

Participation by small business enterprises (SBEs), women business enterprises (WBEs), veteran-owned businesses, and minority business enterprises (MBEs) is voluntary with no minimum participation levels required; proposers may indicate zero participation without affecting responsiveness or award eligibility, though the City encourages proactive engagement with diverse business enterprises. Vendors must maintain commercial general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, commercial automobile liability of $1,000,000 combined single limit, and workers' compensation insurance as required by Florida law, with all policies naming the City as an additional insured and providing thirty days' notice of cancellation or material changes; insurance coverage must be obtained within ten days of award determination. The City has established non-negotiable contract terms including indemnification, prohibition of dispute resolution mechanisms other than those specified, liability waivers capping liability at ten percent of total price or $1,000 whichever is greater, attorney's fees provisions, and warranty obligations of minimum one year on all materials and labor following Substantial Completion. Reference quotes from Piper Fire Protection totaling approximately $17,966.96 for sprinkler installation in one area and $33,457.92 for sprinkler installation in a second area, plus $1,900.00 for halon system removal, suggest a potential project value in the range of $50,000 to $55,000 or higher depending on final specifications and permitting costs; however, the specific contract award amount is not to exceed a figure to be inserted by the City, with monthly invoicing and payment within twenty business days of receipt subject to five percent retainage until Substantial Completion. The contractor will be subject to liquidated damages of $150 per calendar day for failure to achieve Substantial Completion on schedule, and the City retains the right to terminate for convenience with thirty days' written notice or for default if the contractor fails to cure within thirty days of notice.