Fire alarm system inspections

The State of Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) issued an Invitation for Bids (IFB) on May 14, 2026, for annual preventative maintenance, inspection, testing, and certification of fire alarm systems at ten DPS facilities located across Texas, including headquarters and crime lab locations in Tyler and Garland, as well as facilities in Longview, Marshall, Mount Pleasant, Palestine, Athens, and Decatur. The contract term runs for five years from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2031, with DPS holding the right to extend performance for an additional six-month period. The contractor must perform comprehensive inspections and functional testing of fire alarm systems containing photo detectors, heat detectors, manual pull stations, speakers, strobes, duct detectors, and horns across facilities ranging from approximately 4,440 to 60,000 square feet, with all work required to comply with the current edition of NFPA 72 standards and equipment manufacturers' recommendations. Key deliverables include detailed written reports documenting all findings, deficiencies, smoke detector sensitivity analysis, and recommendations, which must be provided within one week of inspection completion, along with separate pricing proposals for any required repairs or replacements. The contractor must provide all necessary equipment, tools, safety gear, and personnel, including lifts, ladders, and scaffolding, and must maintain service call response capabilities of 24 hours for standard calls and four hours for emergency calls outside regular business hours. Inspections and testing will be scheduled during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm) with advance coordination through the DPS Contract Monitor, except for audible device testing, which must occur outside business hours. Bidders must submit all pricing on the Mandatory Pricing Schedule by the June 10, 2026, deadline at 5:00 PM Central Time via electronic submission to DPS_Solicit_Response@dps.texas.gov or the DPS Online Bid Room, with the last day for written questions established as May 22, 2026, and anticipated answers by May 27, 2026. Contract award is anticipated for June 19, 2026, and DPS will award to the responsible bidder whose bid represents best value under stated evaluation criteria.

The solicitation does not identify any specific set-aside designations, disadvantaged enterprise restrictions, or incumbent vendors in the available documentation. Bidders must demonstrate financial resources and ability to perform, which may include submission of audited financial statements for the previous two years, a Dun & Bradstreet Business Information Report, or a detailed statement of financial stability, with selected contractors required to submit financial rating information within 120 days after their fiscal year end. Contractors must obtain and maintain appropriate insurance coverage and may be required to submit criminal history background investigations for all personnel at contractor expense if required by DPS. All bids are valid for 180 days after the solicitation opening date, and DPS reserves the right to reject any or all bids, award to one or more contractors, or award no contract at all. The solicitation specifies that pricing must include all costs, fees, licenses, and expenses for contract performance on an as-needed basis, with no minimum compensation guaranteed by DPS; however, the specific budget range or award value is not disclosed in the available solicitation documents. Bidder submissions are subject to the Texas Public Information Act, and vendors may utilize the optional DPS Online Bid Room for electronic submission, provided they allow sufficient time for the registration process, which may take up to two business days to complete prior to the response deadline.