Invitation to Bid: Fireworks Display

Location:	South Carolina
Posted:	Jan 28, 2026
Due:	Feb 11, 2026
Agency:	City of Florence
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	D - Automatic Data Processing and Telecommunication Services
Solicitation No:	2026-07
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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INVITATION TO BID NO. 2026-07

FIREWORKS DISPLAY

Sealed bids will be received in the Office of Purchasing and Contracting, in the City Center, 324

W. Evans Street Florence, South Carolina 29501 until February 11, 2026 at 2:00 pm from

qualified and licensed fireworks display companies to provide a professional fireworks display

during the City’s 4th of July Celebration at the Florence Soccer Complex located at 3701 W.

Palmetto Street.

Bids shall be opened promptly at the above stated time and date, and their contents will be

made public for the information of the bidder and others properly interested. The bid will not be

awarded until the Purchasing Agent and the Athletics, Recreation, and Sports Tourism Director

have had ample time to review each bid.

Bids must be submitted in a sealed envelope with “2026-07 Fireworks” clearly marked on the

outside of the envelope for easy identification by the City of Florence. Any bids received later

than the specified time will not be accepted/considered. The city will not be responsible for late

submission caused by the postal service, other carriers, or any other delivery problems

regardless of the reason. Email and/or electronic bids will not be accepted/considered. Bids

submitted by mail, Federal Express, United Parcel Service, etc. must meet these same

requirements and should be addressed to:

City of Florence

City Center

324 W. Evans Street 3rd Floor

Florence, SC 29501-3431

The City of Florence under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes ensures

that no person shall on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, and age, be

excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to

discrimination under any program or activity it administers.

La ciudad de Florencia en el Título VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964 y los estatutos, se

asegura de que ninguna persona por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, sexo,

discapacidad, edad, ser excluido de participar en, ser negado los beneficios de, o ser de otra

manera sujeto a discriminación bajo cualquier programa o actividad que administra.

The City of Florence reserves the right to engage in discussions with any or all responsible

Bidders who submit bids which appear to be eligible for award, for the purpose of clarification to

assure full understanding of and responsiveness to the Invitation to bid requirements herein.

This solicitation does not commit the City of Florence to award a contract/purchase order, to pay

any costs incurred in the preparation of a bid, or to procure or contract for services. The City of

Florence reserves the right to reject any and all responses, to cancel this solicitation, and to

make an award deemed in its own best interest.

Lynwood F. Givens

Purchasing Agent

MINORITY, WOMAN, AND VETERAN OWNED BUSINESS

The City of Florence welcomes and encourages submissions from minority, woman, and

veteran owned businesses. Please indicate that you are a minority or woman owned business

with your request for bid documents.

Minority Business Owners (minority, woman, and veteran owned businesses) will be afforded

full opportunity to submit proposals in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated

against on the grounds of race, color, creed, sex or national origin in consideration for an award.

It is the policy of the City that minority, woman, and veteran owned business enterprises

(MBE/WBE/VBE) have an opportunity to participate at all levels of contracting in the

performance of City contracts to the extent practical and consistent with the efficient

performance of the contract.

The successful company must ensure that all subcontractors, agents, personnel assigned by or

employees of prime company and subcontractors are not discriminated against because of their

race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Bidders must make positive efforts to provide equal

employment opportunity for minority and women owned businesses.

LOCAL AND MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PURCHASING PROGRAM:

When lowest bid is the principal determining factor in a bid selection process it is the intent of

the City of Florence to provide preference first to local businesses within the City or County of

Florence; however, if no local business is eligible or able to participate, preference shall then be

provided by the City to minority business enterprises based on the following guidelines:

a. For purposes of this policy, a “local business” is defined as a person, firm, contractor,

corporation, or other business entity offering the services and/or products being bid by

the City that maintain a place of business and have a physical business address

located and operating within the City or County of Florence. The business must have

been established for not less than one year within the City or County of Florence and

have a valid City of Florence Business License for a minimum of 12 months prior to the

bid date.

b. For purposes of this policy, a minority business enterprise (MBE) is defined as an MBE

that is certified in accordance with South Carolina Regulations § 19-445.2160, as

authorized by §11-35-5270 the South Carolina Code of Laws, as amended.

c. When lowest bid is the principal determining factor in the selection process any “local

business” as defined in Subsection A above that submits a responsible and responsive

bid within 5% (if the business is located within the City of Florence) or 3% (if the

business is located within Florence County) of the non-local bidder who submitted the

lowest bid may match the bid submitted by the non-local bidder. A “local business”

that is within the percentage guidelines of the lowest bid received shall then be eligible

for award of the contract.

d. If the lowest bid is not a “local business” and a “local business” is within the

percentage guidelines of the lowest bid received, the “local business”, subject to the

provision of Subsection H below, shall be awarded the contract if it is willing to provide

goods or services at the same price of the lowest bid received.

e. If conditions of Subsections C above are met and the qualified “local business”

declines or is unable to match the lowest bid, then the option to do so moves to the

next qualified “local business”, if such business' bid is within the percentage guideline

of the lowest bid and is similarly responsible and responsive.

f. In the event there is no “local business” eligible or willing to match the lowest bid, the

lowest responsible and responsive bid submitted by an MBE, if any, would be allowed

the opportunity to match the bid submitted by the non-local bidder and thereby be

awarded the contract when lowest bid is the primary determining factor in the bid

selection process.

g. If a procurement is to be made pursuant to state funding requirements, federal funding

requirements, bond covenants, or other outside funding source requirements which

prohibit or restrict local or MBE preference, then no local or MBE preference

consideration will be given.

h. The provisions for a local or MBE preference does not prohibit the right of the City to

compare quality of materials proposed for purchase and compare qualifications,

character, responsibility and fitness of all persons, firms, contractors, corporations, or

other business entities submitting bids. Accordingly, the local or MBE preference for a

particular procurement may be waived by the City Manager upon written

recommendation and justification by the Department Director.

The successful company must ensure that all subcontractors, agents, personnel assigned by or

employees of prime company and subcontractors are not discriminated against because of their

race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Bidders must make positive efforts to provide equal

employment opportunity for minority and women owned businesses.

INSTRUCTION TO BIDDERS

A responsible bidder means a bidder who has the capability in all respects to perform fully the

requirements mentioned in the bid document and the integrity and reliability which will assure

good faith performance.

A responsive bidder means a bidder who has submitted a bid which conforms in all respects to

the invitation to bid requirements.

PROTEST PERIOD: Any actual or prospective bidder, OFFEROR, or supplier who is aggrieved

in connection with the solicitation or award of a contract/purchase order may formally protest in

writing to the Finance Director. The protest may be submitted at any time during the

procurement process. However, if a prospective bidder, OFFEROR, or supplier wishes to

protest, the formal protest must be submitted in writing and must be received by the City no later

than seven (7) days from the date that the aggrieved actual or prospective bidder, OFFEROR,

or supplier has been informed of the bid results by the Purchasing Agent. Protests received by

the City following seven (7) days after evaluation results have been released by the Purchasing

Agent will not be considered by the City.

DISPUTES: In cases of disputes as to whether or not an item or service quoted or delivered

meets specifications, the decision of the City of Florence shall be final and binding on all parties.

The Purchasing Agent may request in writing, the recommendation of the head of the City

agency using the item or other objective sources.

DEVIATIONS: Any deviations from the specifications contained herein, must be noted in detail

on the respondent’s response for the City of Florence’s consideration. Failure to submit

documentation of deviations shall be grounds for rejection of the item offered to the City of

Florence.

CHANGES: Any changes in this invitation to bid after the purchase order/contract agreement

has been awarded must be with the written consent of the Purchasing Agent or the City

Manager; otherwise, the responsibility for such changes lies with the supplier. Any changes to

the specifications in this invitation to bid package shall be in writing and an addendum will go

out to all prospective respondents so each respondent can compete equitably.

INQUIRIES: Questions concerning this invitation to bid should be directed to the City

Purchasing Agent, Lynwood F. Givens in writing by e-mail at lgivens@cityofflorence.com. The

deadline for the submission of all inquiries is February 4, 2026 at 5:00 pm. Any changes to

the specifications in the bid package shall be in writing in an addendum. All Addendums

will be posted on the City of Florence website at www.cityofflorence.com. It will be the

responsibility of bidders to periodically check the website for addendums.

OWNERSHIP OF MATERIAL: Ownership of all data, material and documentation originated

and prepared for the City of Florence pursuant to this contract/purchase order shall belong

exclusively to the City of Florence.

A complete copy of the City of Florence Purchasing Policies and Procedures Manual can

be downloaded from the City of Florence website at www.cityofflorence.com.

Bids must be signed by an individual legally authorized to offer the pricing and response to this

invitation to bid. Any bid that is not signed will be discarded.

SCOPE OF WORK

The City is accepting sealed bids from qualified and fireworks display companies to provide as

professional fireworks display during the Cities 4th of July Celebration at the Florence Soccer

Complex located at 3701 W. Palmetto Street.

SPECIFICATIONS

The successful bidder shall provide a turnkey fireworks display including:

1. Show design, choreography (if applicable), and execution

2. All fireworks product, racks/mortars, electronic firing system, and equipment

3. All required federal/state/local permits and inspections

4. Safety plan and site layout with fallout radius and spectator boundaries

5. Licensed pyrotechnic operators and staffing

6. Coordination with City staff, Fire Department, Police, EMS, and venue management

7. Site preparation, debris removal, and cleanup after the event

8. Optional services (if requested): music synchronization, special effects, daylight

pyrotechnics, sponsor shells, etc.

9. Staffing plan and responsibilities

10. Maintain a secure launch area with restricted access

11. Provide on-site supervision by a certified lead pyrotechnician

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - Bidders must have and/or provide the following:

1. Be licensed and compliant with applicable ATF, DOT, NFPA, South Carolina, and local

requirements

2. Maintain a minimum of three (3) years professional fireworks display experience

3. Provide at least three (3) municipal references for similar events

4. Provide proof of insurance meeting City requirements (see Insurance Section)

5. Provide a certified operator in charge for event day

WEATHER / POSTPONEMENT

1. Vendor shall advise city of safe / unsafe operating conditions

2. In the event of postponement, vendor shall reschedule to the agreed rain date

3. Include any additional fees for rescheduling (if any) in the bid

BID RESPONSE

1. Bid price should include all costs for preparation, material, equipment, labor and

supervision to complete the project in Invitation to Bid 2025-46

2. Proof of federal/state/local license and permits

3. Provide a list of Three references

4. Safety Plan

CRITERIA FOR BID AWARD

Firms are requested to submit three (2) copies of the bid on the City of Florence Bid

sheet included in this invitation to bid. Please include an estimated construction schedule,

warranty information and reference with your bid. The bid will be awarded to the lowest

responsible/responsive bidder that best meets the City of Florence’s specification/scope of

work, taking into consideration but not limited to the following:

1. Price

2. Experience

3. References

The City shall have sole discretion in evaluating bids. The City reserves the right

to select the bid that it may determine to be in the best interest of the City. The

City also reserves the right to reject any and all bids, including that of the selected

Contractor if satisfactory contract negotiations cannot be concluded.

Bid tabulations will be sent to all bidders via email and posted on the City of Florence

website at www.cityofflorence.com.

Before the award of contract/purchase order, any respondent may be required to show that they

have the necessary license, facilities, experience, ability, and financial resources to perform the

work in a satisfactory manner. Respondents may be required to furnish the City with sworn

statements as to their experience. No contract/purchase order will be awarded except to

responsible offerors capable of performing the class and type of work required.

SALES TAX

The City of Florence pays SC sales tax in the amount of 8%. However, the City of Florence is

exempt from Federal Taxes and will issue exemption certificates, if requested. INCLUDE

SALES TAX WITH YOUR BID.

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

bid number	bid description	cloising date	bid file
2026-07 Invitation to Bid: Fireworks Display	The City of Florence is accepting sealed bids from qualified and licensed fireworks display companies to provide a professional fireworks display during the City's 4th July celebration.	Wed, 02/11/2026	2026-07-invitation-to-bid.pdf

Invitation to Bid: Fireworks Display

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See also