Portable weapons detection equipment

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) in Maryland is issuing RFI #PWDE-2627 to identify vendors capable of providing non-AI technology portable walk-through weapons detection systems and associated secondary screening equipment for deployment across the district's 44 schools and centers, with RFI submissions due August 19, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. local time. The explicit exclusion of any solution utilizing artificial intelligence, machine learning, or algorithmic classification in threat detection is a central capability filter.

The scope encompasses portable walk-through screening devices, software, training, maintenance, warranty services, and support for daily school operations, athletic events, graduations, special events, extracurricular activities, temporary security operations, and emergency deployments. The solution must be commercially available and currently deployed in K-12 schools, higher education institutions, government facilities, or similar high-occupancy venues. Mandatory operational requirements include deployment by one trained person within five minutes, no individual component exceeding 50 pounds, minimum ten consecutive hours of battery-powered operation (external batteries acceptable), screening of at least 1,200 individuals per hour, secondary-screening rate below 10%, compliance with NIJ Standard 0601.01 or equivalent, and the ability to screen individuals without requiring removal of backpacks, purses, laptops, Chromebooks, or other belongings unless secondary screening is triggered. Equipment must be portable for daily loading and unloading into vehicles; hand trucks alone do not satisfy portability requirements. Redundant connectivity must include Wi-Fi paired with customer-provided or vendor-supplied cellular hotspot backup.

CCPS encourages minority business enterprise responses. The contract term is one year with four one-year renewal options, subject to CCPS discretion to cancel. Annual renewal price increases are capped at the Consumer Price Index-Urban for the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area. Payment terms are net 30 days following satisfactory performance and acceptance. Questions were due July 31, 2026. CCPS reserves the right to award based on RFI submissions, product demonstrations, and operational testing results without issuing a separate IFB or RFP. Initial RFI submissions must exclude pricing; pricing will be requested only from shortlisted vendors following the demonstration phase.