Mass Notification Solution

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued Request for Information (RFI) 2026018 to gather market information regarding a hosted Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) mass notification solution that will serve Leon County. This RFI is not a competitive solicitation and will not result in contract awards; rather, it is designed to determine the feasibility of issuing a future competitive solicitation. The solution must support mass notifications to DEP employees and the general public through multiple communication channels including voice calls, SMS/text messaging, email, and social media. Key functional requirements include 24/7 system access, customizable message templates, escalation capabilities, geographic targeting using GIS mapping, multi-language support, real-time reporting and analytics, FEMA IPAWS integration for wireless emergency alerts, and opt-in public subscription portals. The system must be web-based, hosted on vendor infrastructure within the United States, compatible with industry-standard browsers, and require no additional on-site hardware. Security requirements include encrypted data at rest and in transit, complex password protocols, audit logs, and Single Sign-On integration capabilities. The vendor must provide 24-hour helpdesk support in multiple languages, maintain 99% uptime with automatic failover redundancy, and include comprehensive training and online help resources. Vendors must submit questions by May 26, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET, with answers posted approximately June 9, 2026, and RFI responses are due by June 23, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET, submitted via email to the Procurement Officer.

The RFI documentation does not specify set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations eligible to respond. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the procurement documents. The submission requires pricing information for estimated support rates, annual licensing costs, upgrades and maintenance costs, third-party license requirements, and implementation fees including migration services; however, specific budget ranges or award values have not been disclosed in this RFI phase. All recipient data remains the property of the State of Florida and vendors are prohibited from using such data for marketing purposes or selling it to third parties. The Department reserves the right to request vendor demonstrations at no cost to the agency. All RFI responses become public records under Florida Statutes Chapter 119.