Weather Radar Equipment and Service

The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development is requesting quotes for provision, installation, and maintenance of weather radar display systems at sixteen welcome centers across Tennessee interstates, with quotes due September 10, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. CST.

The scope spans 21- to 32-inch LED HD monitors with internet connectivity and central processing unit software at welcome centers in Sullivan, Unicoi, Cocke, Campbell, Hamilton, Marion, Smith, Robertson, Giles, Montgomery, Dyer, Shelby, and Haywood counties on I-24, I-65, I-75, I-40, I-155, I-81, I-26, and I-55. Equipment must display scrolling content including TDOT travel weather, U.S. conditions and temperatures, Southeastern U.S. radar, severe weather outlook, and tourism promotions at specified intervals. The vendor is responsible for all equipment repairs, replacements, software upgrades, labor, and travel expenses with a required 24-hour response time for service calls. All equipment and data must comply with NIST 800-53 security standards, be housed in the continental United States, and use FIPS 140-2 or 140-3 validated encryption technologies. The vendor must provide toll-free technical support during normal business hours (7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Central Standard Time, excluding legal holidays) and support emergency scrolling messages on all systems.

The solicitation seeks unit pricing for 18 line items: 12-month access to complete weather center systems at each of the 16 locations; custom engineering and programming for weather services (24 hours); and programming and scrolling emergency messages (24 instances). A single contract will encompass all line items. Compensation is structured as monthly fees per location plus hourly rates for custom engineering and per-instance charges for emergency messaging.

The State intends to award a single contract. Respondents must submit proof of a Tennessee Department of Revenue Sales Use and Tax Certificate and a Certificate of Insurance (one million dollars commercial general liability per occurrence minimum). The contract term is February 1, 2027 through January 31, 2028. Quotes must be submitted by email to Kelly Johns at Kelly.Johns@tn.gov. Respondents must specify quote validity (30, 60, 90 days, or N/A).