Unarmed security guard services (Harford County DSS): fast-turn Maryland small procurement

Executive takeaway

This is a Maryland Department of Human Services small procurement for unarmed security guard services covering three Harford County DSS locations for a 3-month contract. The solicitation appears to be attachment-heavy (bid form and multiple exhibits), and the response window is short—so it favors firms that can quickly confirm staffing coverage, compliance requirements, and complete the provided pricing template.

What the buyer is trying to do

The buyer is looking to place unarmed guards at three specific County DSS facilities in Harford County, Maryland. The opportunity is positioned as a short-duration engagement (three months), likely intended to address near-term coverage needs without a long mobilization cycle.

The described coverage locations include:

• 2 S. Main Street (Mary Risteau Building)
• 101 S. Main Street, Suite 200, Bel Air, MD 21014 (Family Investment Office)
• 2029 Pulaski Highway, Havre de Grace, MD 21008

What work is implied (bullets)

• Provide unarmed security guard services for three DSS locations in Harford County.
• Support a 3-month contract period (confirm exact start/end dates in attachments).
• Complete the required bid form and respond per the DHS small procurement solicitation model.
• Acknowledge and comply with requirements contained in Exhibit 1, Exhibit 2, and Exhibit 3 (verify scope, hours, posts, reporting, and any training/background expectations in attachments).

Who should bid / who should pass (bullets)

• Bid if you can staff unarmed posts quickly across multiple sites and can turn around an attachment-driven response on a short schedule.
• Bid if you have prior experience supporting public-facing government facilities where guard presence is required (verify any specific experience requirements in attachments).
• Pass if you cannot cover three locations reliably during the required hours (confirm shift schedule in exhibits).
• Pass if you are not set up to follow Maryland DHS small procurement format and submit using the provided templates.

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

• Completed Attachment A Bid Form (verify fields, pricing structure, and signatures in attachments).
• A completed response aligned to the DHS Small Procurement Solicitation Model (verify required representations/certifications in attachments).
• Acknowledgement/compliance with Exhibit 1, Exhibit 2, and Exhibit 3 (verify what must be submitted back vs. informational only in attachments).
• Submission by the stated due date/time: August 15, 2022 at 1:00 PM (confirm submission method in attachments and the posting site instructions).

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

Because the solicitation references a dedicated bid form, pricing is likely structured around the template (for example, by post, hour, shift, or location). Before you price, use the attachments to confirm exactly what the government will evaluate.

• Start by extracting all cost drivers from the exhibits: number of posts, coverage hours, and any required reporting or supervision (verify in attachments).
• Check whether pricing is expected to be all-inclusive or whether there are separate lines for management, training, or other pass-through items (verify in attachments).
• Research comparable Maryland local/state guard services awards by searching the same marketplace posting references noted in the description (e.g., the “Emma” reference) and by reviewing similar DHS small procurements for format and evaluation approach.
• Given the 3-month term, factor mobilization and hiring/onboarding realities into your delivery plan, then align your price to what you can actually staff without gaps.

Subcontracting / teaming ideas (bullets)

• Team with a local Harford County-area guard firm for surge coverage if your bench is thin (verify whether subcontracting is permitted in the solicitation model/attachments).
• Use a subcontract partner for scheduling/coverage at one of the three sites if the exhibits define distinct posts with different hours (verify in attachments).

Risks & watch-outs (bullets)

• Short turnaround: posting and due date are close together; plan for rapid attachment review and completion.
• Attachment-driven requirements: most of the real scope (hours, duties, compliance) is likely in the exhibits—do not assume standard guard scope without reading them.
• Multi-site staffing risk: three locations can create coverage fragility if you are lean; confirm required schedule and backfill expectations in attachments.
• Submission method ambiguity: the description references being “Posted on Emma”; confirm where and how responses must be delivered (verify in attachments and posting instructions).

Related opportunities

• Maryland Department of Human Services: Pre-Employment Training Services (Caroline County DSS)
• EEA AED Maintenance and Service Program (Massachusetts)
• Town of Needham: Curb & Sidewalk A La Carte (Massachusetts)

How to act on this

1. Open the BidPulsar notice and download every attachment (bid form + all exhibits).
2. Build a one-page staffing plan by location (posts/hours) directly from the exhibits.
3. Complete the pricing template exactly as provided and double-check required signatures and submission instructions.
4. If you need a local teaming partner, line that up before finalizing price and coverage.

Need a second set of eyes before you submit? Federal Bid Partners LLC can help you interpret the attachments, assemble a compliant response package, and sanity-check staffing and pricing assumptions.

Prepared by Jordan Patel, Solicitation Intelligence Lead.