Joint Use Pole Audit

Lakeland Electric (LE), a department of the City of Lakeland (COL), is seeking qualified contractors to conduct a comprehensive Joint Use Attachment Audit of its utility pole infrastructure. The audit will cover approximately 80,789 City of Lakeland-owned poles within Lakeland Electric's service territory, excluding decorative poles, aluminum light poles, and poles located at the power plant. This represents the first major pole audit since 2007. The service territory contains approximately 94,430 total poles: 92,615 owned by COL, 1,249 by FDOT, 1 by TECO, and 565 by Verizon.

The scope of work requires a detailed audit and inventory of all joint use pole attachments, including third-party communication attachments from telecommunications carriers and other utilities. Contractors must provide comprehensive documentation and data management of findings, with deliverables structured for integration into Lakeland Electric's asset management systems. The audit must comply with applicable industry standards and regulations for utility pole safety and maintenance.

Key deadlines include a pre-proposal conference on June 10, 2026 at 2:00 PM, with questions and answers due by June 18, 2026 at 9:00 PM. Proposals must be submitted by June 26, 2026 at 7:30 PM. Contractors must meet all insurance, safety, and occupational health requirements as specified in the RFP documents, including completion of indemnification agreements and contractor safety evaluation forms.

This procurement is open to qualified vendors with demonstrated experience in utility pole auditing, joint use attachment assessment, and large-scale utility infrastructure surveying. Submission must include detailed pricing proposals and responses to vendor questionnaires evaluating relevant qualifications and experience.