Crisis Alert Systems for Montgomery County Public Schools
| Location: | Maryland |
|---|---|
| Posted: | Feb 20, 2026 |
| Due: | Mar 13, 2026 |
| Agency: | Montgomery County Public Schools |
| Type of Government: | State & Local |
| Category: |
|
| Solicitation No: | 1163.1 |
| Publication URL: | To access bid details, please log in. |
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 | |
| 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.
|
| 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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This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.
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