Hydrant Listening Devices

Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) in Riverside County, California, is seeking to procure Hydrant Listening Devices (HLDs) through Request for Proposal #3850, a comprehensive fixed acoustic leak monitoring system designed to proactively identify and locate potential water distribution network leaks. The district plans to purchase approximately 600-800 HLDs over two years, with an initial purchase of around 200 units, and will conduct a 90-day pilot program with up to 40 units. The proposed HLD system must autonomously detect leaks, transmit email alerts without manual staff intervention, be compatible with various pipe materials, mountable on existing fire hydrants, and have a minimum battery life of 5 years. The optional pre-proposal meeting is scheduled for 2:00 PM on 10/29/2025, with electronic proposals due by 4:00 PM on 11/19/2025. EMWD will evaluate proposals based on a 100-point scoring system that considers price, qualifications, experience, technical compliance, implementation plan, and other factors. The vendor will be responsible for providing hardware, cellular modules, training, documentation, and five years of monitoring service.

There are no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations mentioned in the documents. The contract term is five years, with pricing remaining fixed for the first year and potential annual adjustments of up to 3% based on specific criteria. While no incumbent vendors are explicitly identified, the RFP indicates that the selected vendor must integrate with EMWD's existing Geographic Information System (GIS) datasets. The procurement requires comprehensive pricing that includes all labor, equipment, materials, transportation, overhead, travel, profit, insurance, taxes, and licenses. Proposers must submit mandatory documents including business information, references, subcontractor lists, implementation plans, technical compliance documentation, insurance affidavits, and Cal/OSHA compliance history. Though a specific budget range is not provided, the scope suggests a significant investment in leak detection technology with an initial deployment of 200 units and potential expansion to 800 units over two years, along with a five-year monitoring service agreement.