Vertical Transportation Inspection Services

Pinellas County, Florida is conducting a competitive Invitation to Quote (ITQ) procurement for Vertical Transportation Inspection Services to provide comprehensive inspections and testing oversight for elevators, escalators, wheelchair lifts, and other vertical transportation systems across county facilities including courthouses, detention centers, administrative buildings, and specialty locations. The procurement encompasses 102 vertical transportation units distributed across five geographic regions (Northwest, Southeast Central, Detention Center, Mid County, and Southeast South) representing equipment from manufacturers including Schindler, Otis, Kone, General Elevators, and Thyssen Krupp. The awarded contractor will perform independent third-party annual inspections, witness required periodic testing, verify compliance with Chapter 399 of Florida Statutes and ASME elevator safety codes, conduct callback and re-inspections, and deliver accurate and timely inspection documentation. Key deliverables include coordinating schedules directly with county staff and the county's maintenance provider, identifying and reporting deficiencies, supporting proactive risk management, and providing after-hours, weekend, holiday, and emergency inspection services as needed. Qualified applicants must hold valid Florida business licenses, employ Certified Elevator Inspectors holding current State of Florida credentials accredited under ASME QEI-1 standards, provide four Florida references demonstrating at least 12 months of similar service performance, and maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including $1,000,000 Commercial General Liability, $1,000,000 Business Auto Liability, and $4,000,000 Excess/Umbrella Liability. Proposals must be submitted electronically through the OpenGov procurement portal by March 20, 2026 at 3:00 p.m., and unit prices must remain firm for the entire three-year contract duration. Site visits may be requested by contacting Barbara Hetrick at (727) 464-8297 in advance. The contractor must begin work or confirm scheduling within 72 hours of receiving a purchase order and respond to county pricing requests within 72 hours.

Pinellas County Certified Small Business Enterprises receive preference on this solicitation, with those submitting proposals within the first five business days receiving priority consideration and those submitting after five business days receiving a 5% price preference above open market pricing. The incumbent contractor identified in the available documentation is ATIS Elevator Inspections, LLC, which was awarded contract No. 23-0752-ITQ with a total contract value of $61,039.37 covering a three-year term from December 2, 2026 through December 1, 2029 and an annual estimated expenditure of $20,346.58. A competitor's price quotation from Charlie submitted during the prior solicitation process totaled $55,860.00 in CPM costs for the comprehensive inspection scope. Funding is budgeted within the CPM Department Operating Budget under account code 534 (Other Contractual Services), with FY26 budgeted allocation of $20,230.00 distributed across multiple facility accounts. All invoices must be submitted within 60 calendar days of service completion to remain eligible for reimbursement, with all fiscal year-end invoices due by October 31 following the end of the fiscal year (September 30). The pricing structure requires unit prices for each vertical transportation system and flat fees for additional services such as after-hours inspections, callback inspections, and periodic test witnessing.