Project Information

Bid Title

Crisis Alert Systems for Montgomery County Public Schools

Issuing Agency

Montgomery County Public Schools

Location

Maryland

Published Date

Feb 20, 2026

Closing Date

Mar 13, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Ref. #

1163.1

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

Open Solicitation

Bid/RFP Number: 1163.1
Solicitation Title	Crisis Alert Systems for Montgomery County Public Schools
Due Date & Time	03/13/2026 02:00 PM
Contract Type	RFP
Buyer E-mail	Saudy_EspinalDeVeloz@mcpsmd.org
Description	The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to gather information from experienced vendors that provide, install, and facilitate training for an Integrated System comprising of the following: 1. Critical Incident Management (Crisis Alert System) – Expected Implementation by March 2027. RFI 1163.1 Crisis Alert Systems.pdf 02/20/2026
eMaryland Marketplace link	BPM055507

Attachment Preview

February 20, 2026

RFI Number: 1163.1

Due Date: March 13, 2026

Open Time: 2:00 p.m.

To: Prospective Respondents:

The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to gather information from experienced

vendors that provide, install, and facilitate training for an Integrated System to be considered

for high schools, middle schools, central office locations, at Montgomery County Public

Schools (MCPS) through the Department of Security and Emergency Management (DSEM).

MCPS is seeking information that will improve student, staff, and visitor safety. This system

will be installed at locations where applicable.

Please respond according to the instructions provided in the attached. Submissions must be

received on or before 2:00 p.m., on March 13, 2026. Submissions received after this date and

time will not be considered. Responses to the RFI shall not be construed as an obligation by

MCPS to issue a solicitation or award a contract.

In the event of emergency closing of the MCPS Board of Education offices, this RFP will open

at the same time on the next regular working day.

Sincerely,

AMD: se

Copy to:

RFP File

Angela McIntosh Davis, Director

Department of Procurement

Division of Financial Management

Department of Procurement

45 W. Gude Drive, Suite 3100

Rockville, Maryland 20850

Request for Information RFI #1163.1

Crisis Alert Systems for Montgomery County Public Schools

1.0 INTENT

The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to gather information from experienced

vendors that provide, install, and facilitate training for an Integrated System comprising of the

following:

1. Critical Incident Management (Crisis Alert System) – Expected Implementation by

March 2027.

The above-mentioned system is to be considered for high schools, middle schools, central office

locations, at Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) through the Department of Security

and Emergency Management (DSEM). MCPS is seeking information that will improve student,

staff, and visitor safety. This system will be installed at locations where applicable. MCPS

intends to discover the latest and best tools and features available in the market and plans to

subsequently issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to obtain the products and/or services that will

meet our current and future needs.

2.0 BACKGROUND

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is the 15th largest school system in the United

States, serving over 110,000 students across more than 211 schools. As part of its commitment

to student, staff, and visitor safety, MCPS is exploring safety systems to enhance security

measures within its schools and central office locations. The district seeks to implement a state-

of-the-art safety solution that can efficiently and accurately ensure a safe environment for all

individuals.

This initiative is part of MCPS's ongoing efforts to improve safety and emergency management

protocols. Through this RFI process, the district aims to identify the most effective and reliable

safety and emergency management technology available on the market. The selected system

will be integrated into the district's existing security infrastructure, with a focus on scalability,

ease of use, and minimal disruption to daily operations. After reviewing the information

gathered, MCPS plans to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to procure the appropriate products

and services that meet the district’s current and future security needs. MCPS is committed to

ensuring the safety of its students, staff, and visitors by exploring Critical Incident Management

System (Crisis Alert).

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• MCPS is looking to implement Critical Incident Management Systems (Crisis Alert) across

over 200 schools, central office locations, and select events within the district.

• The district aims to enhance security by integrating this system at key access points, ensuring

safety while maintaining a welcoming environment for students and staff.

• Over the course of the 2026-2027 school year, MCPS will evaluate the latest technologies to

identify the most effective and scalable solution.

• The district plans to implement this system in alignment with safety policies and regulations,

ensuring that the technology is deployed appropriately in schools based on specific safety

needs and risk factors.

• Currently, MCPS is assessing the integration of the Critical Incident Management System

(Crisis Alert) alongside its existing security infrastructure to enhance the district’s overall

emergency management and safety protocols.

3.0 SCOPE OF REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

The proposed Critical Incident Management System(s) (Crisis Alert) shall be capable of

providing the following options/features, but not limited to:

• Wearable/Handheld Panic Buttons that can be worn by staff or installed in select rooms,

and capable of silent or audible alert activation.

• Mobile & Web Emergency Management Application (EMA) with real-time monitoring

dashboards, incident reporting, communication tools, and the ability to provide post-event

analytics.

• Cloud-Based Backend Platform to support device management, alert routing, secure data

storage, and role-based access controls.

• First Responder Interface for secure portal or API integration with 911 centers, geo-

location mapping, and incident data transmission.

• Real-time safety and emergency management capabilities at schools, offices, and event

venues to accurately identify potential threats.

• Integration with existing security systems, enabling seamless communication and

coordination between the safety systems and school security teams.

• Automated alerts and notifications for security personnel with the ability to quickly

escalate incidents as needed.

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• Scalable deployment options to accommodate varying security needs across different

facilities, including high schools, middle schools, and central office locations.

• User-friendly interface for monitoring and managing alerts or detected threats, ensuring that

staff can easily navigate and respond to potential security breaches.

• Data reporting and analytics capabilities for generating incident reports, tracking history,

and providing insights into trends for continuous safety improvements.

• Integration with current safety protocols and emergency management systems, ensuring

that the system can complement existing procedures for managing security threats.

• System flexibility to accommodate future technological advancements and additional

features that may be necessary to enhance the system and overall safety.

3.1 Functional Operational Requirements

The Critical Incident Management System (Crisis Alert) shall include support for the following

areas:

• Single Sign-On: Secure, centralized access for authorized personnel to manage and monitor

the system across all facilities, ensuring efficient user management and system security.

• Data Integration: The system shall integrate with student, staff, and visitor data to enhance

security measures, including the ability to identify and flag individuals associated with security

alerts.

• Safety Points (Schools, Offices, Events): The system should support multiple entry and exit

points, including high-traffic areas such as school entrances, central offices, and event venues,

with customizable detection features to suit the security needs of each location.

• Schedules: The system should be flexible and capable of adjusting safety protocols based on

school schedules, special events, and various operational hours to ensure ongoing security.

• User Data: The system shall have the ability to track personnel, including security staff and

school officials, ensuring that appropriate responses are activated when alerts are triggered.

• Monitoring and Coordination: The system shall provide a real-time view of all active safety

points, enabling security personnel to monitor and respond to threats efficiently.

• Integration with MCPS Systems: The system must integrate seamlessly with existing MCPS

safety, security, and emergency management systems to provide a unified response to potential

threats.

• Reports and Analytics: The system shall generate detailed reports, incident timelines,

automatic post-incident reports, device activation logs, staff response time metrics. All reports

must be downloadable in CSV/ Excel and PDF formats for review and continuous

improvement of safety protocols.

• Security Features: The system must ensure data security and integrity, including secure

communication of safety alerts, system activity logs, and restricted access to sensitive

information, and comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA),

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Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) for data shared with law enforcement, and the

Maryland Student Data Privacy Act.

3.2 Technical Requirements

At a minimum, the proposed solutions must:

• Integration with Existing Security Platform:

o Integrate with the existing MCPS security platform and backend monitoring system

(Maxis).

o Any new components (beacons, sirens) must be interoperable with current

infrastructure.

• Active Directory (AD) and Identity Integration:

o Support integration with Microsoft Active Directory for user authentication and

access management.

o Support centralized management of accounts (single sign-on or equivalent).

o Support multi-factor authentication

• Database / Infrastructure Compatibility:

o Be compatible with Microsoft SQL or equivalent database infrastructure to align with

MCPS standards.

o Support secure, reliable integration with existing IT environments.

o Guarantee secure data storage.

• Security and Access Management:

o Streamline integration with job codes for automated access provisioning.

o Employ encryption with the following standards: At-rest: AES-256, In-transit: TLS

1.2 or higher

o Support and maintain role-based access controls.

o Provide auditable logs of all access.

4.0 RFI RESPONSE FORM ITEMS

● Brief, relevant background information about your organization and prior work

experience or products you offer related to our needs.

● 2-3 References of Public Schools in other jurisdictions where the systems have been

implemented in the last 3 years.

● Please identify any outsourced services or products your company would need to utilize

to provide all required products.

● Describe the level of service you propose for the implementation period and

technology support and response time.

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Commodity Codes

• NAICS 238210Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors
• NAICS 541990All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

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