Solicitation Spotlight: Unarmed Security Guards (Harford County DSS, 3 locations)

Executive takeaway

Maryland Department of Human Services is procuring unarmed guard services for three Harford County DSS locations on a three-month contract, with proposals due 8/15/2022 at 1:00 PM (per the posting snippet). This is a fast-moving, operations-heavy requirement where success usually comes down to (1) clean compliance with the small procurement package, (2) realistic staffing coverage, and (3) a bid form that aligns with what the exhibits require.

What the buyer is trying to do

The buyer is seeking unarmed security guard services to cover three specified Department of Social Services locations in Harford County, Maryland:

• 2 South Main Street (Mary Risteau Building)
• 101 South Main Street, Suite 200 (Bel Air, Maryland 21014)
• Family Investment Office, 2029 Pulaski Highway (Harve, Maryland 21008 as shown in the snippet)

The posting indicates a short performance period (3 months). The opportunity references an eMaryland Marketplace (Emma) posting and includes multiple exhibits plus a bid form attachment.

What work is implied (bullets)

• Provide unarmed security guard services for three separate client-facing sites.
• Plan for multi-site scheduling and coverage (travel time, shift handoffs, relief coverage).
• Complete pricing using the provided Attachment A bid form (verify line items in attachments).
• Comply with the applicable DHS small procurement solicitation terms and the included exhibits (verify requirements in attachments).

Who should bid / who should pass (bullets)

• Bid if:
  • You can staff three locations immediately and reliably for a three-month period.
  • You have an established guard operations model for public-facing facilities where client and staff safety is a priority (confirm any site rules in exhibits).
  • You can turn around a compliant small procurement response quickly and accurately.
• Pass if:
  • You cannot recruit/onboard quickly enough for a short-term award.
  • You rely on a single-site staffing model and don’t have coverage depth for three sites.
  • You are uncomfortable bidding without fully understanding the exhibits/terms (and you don’t have time to review them before the due date).

Response package checklist (bullets; if unknown say “verify in attachments”)

• Completed Attachment A – Bid Form (the posting references an Excel bid form; verify all tabs/line items in attachments).
• Acknowledgment of the DHS Small Procurement Solicitation document (verify signature/certification requirements in attachments).
• Completed exhibits as required (the posting lists Exhibit 1, Exhibit 2, Exhibit 3; verify what each requires in attachments).
• Any required submission format and delivery instructions (verify in attachments and the Emma posting details referenced in the snippet).
• Confirm proposal due date/time: 8/15/2022 at 1:00 PM (as shown in the snippet) and verify time zone/instructions in attachments.

Pricing & strategy notes (how to research pricing; do not invent pricing numbers)

This appears to be a small procurement-style guard services buy, so expect evaluation to be sensitive to a clean, comparable price on the bid form. Practical steps:

• Start with the bid form structure: price exactly to the units requested (hours, shifts, posts, or locations as defined—verify in Attachment A).
• Benchmark against similar DHS guard solicitations posted on BidPulsar (see related links below) to understand common staffing patterns and typical attachment expectations (walkthroughs, affidavits, sample contract language).
• Account for multi-site coverage: if the exhibits imply specific post orders, hours, or guard counts, align your staffing model so the bid looks operationally credible.
• Build in short-term execution costs (rapid onboarding, scheduling overhead) in a way that still fits the bid form (don’t add unrequested line items—follow the form).

Subcontracting / teaming ideas (bullets)

• Team with a local guard firm that already has coverage density in Harford County to reduce start-up risk and improve fill rates.
• If the exhibits imply specific reporting or compliance tasks, consider a back-office partner to support scheduling, invoicing, and contract admin for a short-duration award.
• Use a subcontractor as an overflow/relief pool to manage call-outs across three locations (ensure the prime remains accountable to the State terms—verify in attachments).

Risks & watch-outs (bullets)

• Short performance period (3 months): you may have limited time to recover start-up costs—price and staff accordingly.
• Three locations: underestimating scheduling complexity and coverage depth is a common failure mode.
• Attachment-driven compliance: missing an exhibit requirement or submitting an incomplete bid form can sink an otherwise competitive price—verify all required forms and signatures in attachments.
• Due date timing: proposal is due 8/15/2022 at 1:00 PM per snippet—confirm submission method and any cutoffs in the solicitation documents.

Related opportunities

• Unarmed Guard Services for Allegany County DSS
• Somerset County DSS – Unarmed Security Guards (Small Business Reserve language appears in snippet)

How to act on this

1. Open the opportunity page and download Attachment A (Bid Form) and Exhibits 1–3; identify exactly what must be returned.
2. Confirm coverage assumptions for each of the three addresses and build a staffing plan that matches the bid form units.
3. Complete the response package, double-check signatures/acknowledgments, and submit by 8/15/2022 at 1:00 PM (verify instructions in attachments).

If you want a second set of eyes on compliance and packaging before you submit, contact Federal Bid Partners LLC for proposal support.