Sole Source – AquaEye Tactical Underwater Search and Rescue System

This is not a Request for Proposal, and no solicitation is available. The purpose of this notice is to inform the supplier community and the public that the City of Port St. Lucie intends to enter into a non-competitive contract (commonly referred to as a bid waiver or sole source) for the purchase of a product or service, under the authority of and in accordance with Florida Statute 287.057(3)(c).

By publishing this notice, the City seeks to:

Enhance transparency in its procurement practices.
Encourage full and open competition where applicable; and
Provide potential suppliers with the opportunity to identify themselves.

Suppliers who believe they are qualified are invited to submit a statement of capability to the contact listed in this document. Any responses received as a result of this Notice will be reviewed solely to determine whether a competitive procurement process is warranted. Responses will not be considered proposals, bids, or quotes

The City of Port St. Lucie Police Department’s Special Operations Division requires a portable underwater search and rescue tool to help locate missing swimmers and submerged victims. The equipment must support rapid deployment upon arrival at an incident scene, scan large areas of water, and help minimize risk to public safety divers.

The Department identified the AquaEye Pro, manufactured by VodaSafe Inc., as meeting its operational needs. The device uses artificial intelligence to help identify human targets underwater while filtering out debris and other objects. According to the Department’s sole source justification, it can scan up to 54,000 square feet in under five minutes and deploy from a boat, dock, or shoreline. Its ruggedized, buoyant, handheld design supports immediate use by law enforcement personnel and other first responders.

The City proposes a one-time purchase of the AquaEye Tactical (North America) package, which includes the AquaEye Pro device, onboard GPS, Command Hub with an IP68 field tablet, online training, and a three-year limited warranty.

New: Electronic Bid Bond Submission Available

To improve efficiency and reduce paperwork, the City of Port St. Lucie now accepts Electronic Bid Bonds (eBonds) through approved electronic surety platform - Surety2000. Contractors may choose to submit a hard‑copy Bid Bond or an eBond, provided all requirements in this solicitation are met. Please see Section 5.1 - Bonds and/or Letter of Credit, Permits.