On February 19, 2025, RFP #25-009 was advertised for unarmed, uniformed, License Class D security services for the City’s Parking Garage. On March 5, 2025, eleven sealed proposals were submitted to the City Clerk’s Office by the 2:00 p.m. deadline. The eleven proposals had bids ranging from $78,000.00 to $140,400.00 with the lowest bidder of $78,000.00 and the second lowest bidder at $87,204.00 not adhering to all the requirements of RFP #25-009.
Staff conducted a thorough evaluation process of the eleven bids that considered the following:
- Proposals adherence to the bid requirements of RFP #25-009,
- price,
- approach to security services,
- experience and qualifications,
- full scope of services, and
- insurance and bonding.
GWS, a recognized global security corporation with Tampa Bay area-based operations out of St. Petersburg, Florida, submitted a complete bid in the amount of $95,312.09 for annual security services for our parking garage, which placed them at number three on the bid calculation spreadsheet based on price. However, when we factored in all the above evaluation criteria, GWS stands out as the clear choice.
GWS and city staff worked on a three-year contract for parking garage security services, which is in line with industry stands for government entities. In years two and three of the contract, GWS will increase the annual pricing by three and one-half percent, which is standard for GWS government contracts. This annual increase does not apply to the annual cost of the GWS security vehicle.
City Attorney Tim Driscoll has reviewed the contract and approved it as to form.