Flowserve and Invent Environmental Pumps, Parts and Controls

Sarasota County is pursuing a sole source procurement (ISS-396) with Carter & Verplanck Inc. for Flowserve Pump Company and Invent Environmental Technologies Inc. pumps, parts, and controls products. The procurement specifically targets vertical turbine pumps and related components used in critical water utility infrastructure, including treatment processes, fluid transfer, storage tanks, transmission and distribution systems, and filtration backwash water applications. The solicitation was released on February 7, 2025, with a deadline for questions on February 11, 2025, and a final response deadline of February 12, 2025, at 5:00 pm. Vendors must submit responses electronically through the specified procurement portal. The county reserves the right to cancel the sole source procurement and potentially convert to a competitive solicitation if other vendors can demonstrate the capability to supply equivalent products or services. Interested vendors must complete an Intent to Sole Source Response form and provide supporting documentation to challenge the sole source status. The procurement contact is Elena Diesen from the Office of Financial Management, reachable at ediesen@scgov.net or (941) 356-7669.

The procurement covers jurisdictions including Sarasota County and Siesta Key CDP, with no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises mentioned. Carter & Verplanck is identified as the exclusive authorized distributor for Flowserve and Invent Environmental Technologies products in the municipal and industrial markets for Florida and Georgia. The contract is structured for a three-year period from 04/28/2025 to 04/27/2028, with an estimated expenditure range exceeding $250,000 per fiscal/contract year and a cumulative amount not to exceed $400,000. The county justifies the sole source approach by noting that existing utility systems were originally designed with these specific products, and changing suppliers could potentially require emergency measures and compromise public safety. Vendors must comply with various terms and conditions, including public records regulations, employment eligibility verification, and specific Florida statutory requirements. The procurement is being handled by the Public Utilities Department and requires approval from procurement staff and management.