Innovative Security Solutions

The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for Innovative Security Solutions, seeking advanced technological approaches to enhance safety and operational efficiency within correctional environments. The RFI targets eight specific innovative solution categories, including biometrics identification, video analytics, contraband detection, mobile device management, secure communications platforms, behavioral analytics, and robotic technology. Vendors are required to provide comprehensive overviews of their security solutions, define their specific innovative solution category, disclose existing governmental contracts, and submit general pricing information. The solicitation is active for a 12-month period from October 24, 2025, to October 23, 2026, with electronic responses accepted throughout this timeframe. Vendors may be asked to present technologies through safety and security review meetings, demonstrate solutions in controlled or active correctional environments, and provide additional information as requested by the department. The RFI explicitly states that it is not a procurement process and will not result in a direct contract or purchase, but serves as an exploratory mechanism for identifying potential innovative security technologies.

The RFI does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. However, vendors must meet specific certification requirements, including a mandate to certify they are not participating in a boycott of Israel. The Florida Department of Corrections manages 134 facilities statewide, employs approximately 24,000 full-time employees, and oversees about 89,000 inmates and 145,000 offenders in the community, suggesting a potentially significant future market for selected technologies. All submitted records may be subject to public disclosure under Florida's Sunshine Law, which adds a layer of transparency to the information-gathering process. While no specific award values or budget ranges are mentioned, the comprehensive nature of the RFI indicates the department's serious interest in identifying transformative security technologies that can meaningfully improve correctional safety and operational procedures. Vendors should be prepared to provide detailed technical specifications, proof of concept, and potential scalability of their proposed solutions across the department's extensive correctional infrastructure.