SmartLight Fully Integrated Solar Lighting System

The City of Bartow intends to bypass competitive solicitation and establish a sole-source procurement agreement with Fonroche Lighting America for their proprietary SmartLight Fully Integrated Solar Lighting System, covering the A-USA Parks Sports Complex project over an eight-year period. The estimated purchase cost exceeds $120,093, reflecting the value of 27 integrated solar lighting units designed to meet specific engineering, durability, and environmental standards suitable for Florida’s coastal conditions. This system features patented technology, including sealed maintenance-free batteries, adaptive lighting controls, and integrated solar modules, which are critical for ensuring long-term reliability, compliance with local wind and humidity requirements, and eligibility for federal tax incentives such as the Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC). The justification emphasizes the exclusivity of Fonroche’s technology, the system’s comprehensive eight-year warranty, and its ability to meet project-specific photometric and structural specifications, making alternative solutions non-viable without redesign or significant cost and schedule impacts. The procurement process is characterized by a notice of intent to sole source, with no formal solicitation or competitive bidding involved. The documentation indicates that the system’s unique patented features and market exclusivity prevent other vendors from offering equivalent products, thus supporting the sole-source determination. The contract will include detailed performance and environmental compliance requirements, with delivery terms FOB origin and installation at the municipal sports complex. Payment terms are net 30 days from shipment, and the procurement process allows for submission of alternative solutions with detailed technical justifications to challenge the sole-source justification. While standard FAR contract clauses and detailed evaluation factors are not explicitly documented, the contract emphasizes technical uniqueness, warranty coverage, environmental resilience, and federal tax incentive eligibility as the primary criteria underpinning the award. Overall, this procurement reflects a specialized, technology-driven acquisition designed to ensure system performance, longevity, and financial benefits through exclusive manufacturer support.