Portable MARS Meter Testing Solution

Sarasota County Public Utilities is pursuing a sole source procurement for a Portable MARS Meter Testing Solution from OW Investors LLC DBA MARS Company, specifically targeting a portable VF-10 Water Meter Test Bench with associated M3Meter Management Enterprise Software. The procurement covers comprehensive services including calibration, certification, training, and equipment installation, with a primary objective of reducing unaccounted water in the county's water system. The solicitation (Number 2025-ISS-512) was released on July 13, 2025, with key deadlines including a questions deadline of July 21, 2025, and a final response deadline of July 22, 2025, at 5:00 pm. Electronic submissions must be made through the ProcureNow portal, with the county reserving the right to convert to a competitive solicitation if other vendors can demonstrate capability to provide substantially similar products or services. MARS Company positions itself as the sole manufacturer of computer-driven water meter test equipment and associated software in the United States, meeting American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and American Water Works Association (AWWA) industry standards.

The procurement is specifically restricted to vendors authorized by MARS Company, effectively limiting potential respondents. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are mentioned in the documentation. The estimated expenditure for this procurement is $400,000.00, covering the portable testing unit, software, installation, and associated services. Vendors interested in challenging the sole source designation must complete an Intent to Sole Source Response form and provide supporting documentation demonstrating equivalent capabilities. The procurement will be managed by the Sarasota County Office of Financial Management, with Jissel Shoemaker serving as the Procurement and Contracts Specialist. The proposed solution targets the Sarasota County jurisdiction, specifically including the Siesta Key CDP area, with a focus on enhancing water meter performance and management through advanced technological solutions. The procurement emphasizes unique technological capabilities, with MARS Company claiming exclusive ability to provide on-site installation, training, and ongoing hardware and software maintenance.