About this opportunity
AI summaryThe County of Santa Cruz General Services Department Purchasing Division seeks sealed proposals from licensed, insured, bonded, and certified contractors to provide security guard services, including all required labor, tools, equipment, and incidentals. The scope covers armed guards possessing valid Exposed Firearms Permits, personnel uniforms, communications, patrol vehicles, dedicated supervision, monthly reporting, and initial training to fulfill contract and site requirements. Guards must also meet physical qualifications to perform moderate to arduous exertion under normal and emergency conditions. Only onshore United States organizations are eligible to bid. Potential respondents must submit all questions through the Question and Answer tab on the OpenGov portal before 5:00 pm on November 13, 2026. Final proposals must be submitted digitally via the OpenGov portal by 5:00 pm Pacific Time on December 4, 2026.
Buyer and opportunity details
- Client
- County of Santa Cruz
- Solicitation No.
- 26P3-001
Scope of work
- Foot patrol or posted guard services during business, after hours, overtime, weekends, and holidays
- Vehicle patrol services using clearly marked and properly equipped patrol vehicles
- Armed security guard services upon request by an authorized Sheriff representative
- Security guard services for juvenile detainees at hospitals
- Security services supporting emergency response, disaster recovery, and shelters
- Access control, parking enforcement, lockdown, and crowd control duties
- Twenty-four hour communications via an emergency back-up equipped Dispatch Center
- Submission of monthly patrol, unit response, and parking warning reports
How proposals are evaluated
| Criterion | Weight / scoring |
|---|---|
| RFP criteria are met or exceeded | 20 |
| RFP criteria are well defined in vendor submittal | 10 |
| RFP requirements | 20 |
| Experience (minimum years experience in providing services) | 10 |
| Provide audited financial statements | 10 |
| Examples of experience from previous contracts, or reference checks | 10 |
| Cost (Hourly rate of scheduled services and overall cost to County) | 20 |
| Locally Operated Business Preference (vendor must be located within the County) | 5 |
Minimum qualifications
- Established entity conducting business of the nature specified for at least two years
- Security guards must have at least one year experience in security guard services
- Current Security Guard Registration card issued by the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs
- Valid Exposed Firearms Permit for all armed security guards
- Class C California Driver's License for all security guards
- Red Cross Basic First Aid Certification and CPR certification for all guards
- Eight hours of continued training annually per California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services standards
- Guards must meet specified physical, vision, hearing, and mental qualifications
Documents to include with your response
- Letter of transmittal and statement of qualifications
- Exhibit A Respondent Fact Sheet
- Exhibit B Customer References
- Exhibit C Designation of Subcontractors
- Exhibit D Non-Collusion Declaration
- Exhibit E Protests and Appeals Procedures
- Exhibit F Locally Operated Business Preference Affidavit (if applicable)
- Audited financial statements for the most recent fiscal year
- Copy of Security Service Permit/License Number and applicable business licenses
- Written Policy Statement concerning security guards use of firearms
Key dates
- RFP Release
- Monday, November 2, 2026
- Legal Ad Posting 1
- November 2, 2026
- Legal Ad Posting 2
- November 9, 2026
- Question Deadline
- November 13, 2026 before 5:00 pm
- Dissemination of Answers
- November 20, 2026, 5:00pm
- Deadline for Submittals
- December 4, 2026 before 5:00 pm Pacific Time
- Tentative Award
- January-February 2027
- Contract Negotiation
- February-March 2027
- Board Approval of Contract
- April 2027
- Contract Start
- July 1, 2027
How to submit
- Method
- Electronic via OpenGov portal
- Instructions
- Submit responses through the County's OpenGov Procurement portal; no late, oral, telegraph, telephone, facsimile, emailed, or photocopied responses accepted.
Contract details
- Term
- Starts July 1, 2027; rates are firm through the first term with renewal options subject to mutual agreement and CPI/Living Wage adjustments.
- Place of performance
- County of Santa Cruz, California
- Insurance and bonding
- Workers Compensation statutory limits; Automobile Liability; Comprehensive/Commercial General Liability minimum $2,000,000 per occurrence; Professional Liability; County named additional insured; 30 days prior written notice of cancellation.