Request for Information (RFI) - Thor Guard, Inc. Lightning Prediction and Detection System

Broward County and the City of Fort Lauderdale have issued a Request for Information (RFI) regarding a lightning prediction and detection system, posted on May 6, 2026, with a deadline for responses on May 18, 2026. This procurement is being conducted as a Notice of Intent to Designate Sole Source to determine whether the specified commodity or service is available from multiple providers or if comparable alternatives exist. The County seeks to identify vendors capable of providing or exceeding requirements for a lightning detection and prediction system, specifically the Thor Guard, Inc. TG-360 Lightning Prediction and Detection System, which would integrate with and upgrade the existing systems currently deployed at County Parks and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). Prospective vendors are required to submit detailed information regarding their capability to meet or exceed the County's requirements through the electronic bidding system, including supporting documentation that demonstrates comparable offerings, availability from multiple suppliers, and alignment with County needs. The procurement will remain open through the closing date, and vendors contesting the sole source designation must provide written explanations or documentation supporting their position. The Director of Purchasing retains sole authority to determine comparability of submissions and will notify all responding vendors of the final decision regarding sole source designation, which is not subject to objection, protest, or appeal.

This RFI does not indicate specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting vendor participation based on disadvantaged enterprise status or organizational type. Thor Guard, Inc. is identified as the current provider of the lightning detection system and associated equipment and services necessary to support integration and upgrades to the existing infrastructure at both County Parks and FLL Airport. No specific award value or budget range is disclosed in this RFI, as the procurement is structured to solicit information rather than pricing proposals or purchase commitments at this stage. The focus of this process is to establish whether sole source justification is appropriate or whether comparable alternative systems and qualified vendors exist in the marketplace.