Pre-qual for water rescue & dive equipment

Palm Beach County, Florida, Board of County Commissioners' Purchasing Department has issued a Request for Pre-Qualification (RPQ) for the purchase and delivery of water rescue and dive equipment on a 60-month term contract basis. This procurement seeks to establish a pre-qualified vendor list of manufacturers capable of providing diving and water rescue equipment, including specified brands such as Aqua Lung, Hollis, Interspiro, Ocean Technology Systems, Scuba Pro, Tusa, Atomic Aquatics, Zeagle, Bare, Viking, DUI, Luxfer, Apeks, Dive Rite, Mares, Oceanic, Sherwood, Suunto, Cressi, NRS, P2P Rescue, Waterman Unlimited, Force 6, Marine Rescue Products, and Mustang Survival, among others. The anticipated contract value is $3,600,000 over the contract period, with individual projects not exceeding $99,999. Vendors must be approved by the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Department and must provide evidence of Commercial General Liability Insurance of at least $500,000 per occurrence, Business Auto Liability Insurance of at least $500,000 combined single limit, and Workers' Compensation and Employer's Liability Insurance in accordance with Florida Statute Chapter 440. All responses must be submitted in sealed packages signed by an authorized company agent and include all applicable certifications, licenses, and permits, with vendors required to be registered in Palm Beach County's Vendor Self Service (VSS) system prior to contract award. Pre-qualified vendors must return quotations within five business days of receipt, and failure to respond to five consecutive quotation requests may result in removal from the pre-qualified vendor list. The initial submission deadline was February 1, 2024, at 4:00 p.m., though new vendors may submit pre-qualification responses at any time after the initial deadline for evaluation and addition to the pre-qualified vendor list.

The contract is subject to Palm Beach County's Equal Business Opportunity (EBO) Ordinance, which establishes Small/Minority/Women-Owned Business Enterprise (S/M/WBE) participation requirements on a project-by-project basis, with pricing awarded at the lowest fixed price offered by pre-qualified vendors subject to these provisions and local preference considerations. Only vendors approved by the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Department are eligible for pre-qualification, ensuring that all contractors meet essential operational and safety standards. The F.O.B. point is destination, with vendors responsible for all transportation charges and liability in transit, and delivery locations may be added or deleted at the County's sole discretion during the contract term at no additional charge to the County. Vendors must register all subcontractors in the VSS system prior to contract award. The contract term extends through May 6, 2029, providing a long-term opportunity for qualified vendors to serve Palm Beach County's water rescue and dive equipment needs across multiple procurement cycles.