County to vote on security contract today

WEST PALM BEACH — Palm Beach County commissioners at their workshop today are set to take an emergency vote on a $1.7 million contract with the Atlanta-based private security firm Norred and Associates.

Norred would replace USI Security Service, which had held a two-year contract since February 2014. The contract covers several locations around the county, including Palm Beach International Airport and Palm Tran.

According to a Sept. 14 staff memo, the county dropped USI, effective Oct. 27, because the county’s needs changed. The memo said the firm was welcome to apply in the future and even sub-contract with the new vendor.

When USI bid in 2013, the second-lowest bidder had been Norred, a staff memo said. It said Norred “agreed to honor its 2013 bid price.”

The new contract vote for Norred originally was on the commission’s Oct. 20 agenda, but was pulled after the county received correspondence claiming Norred had allowed its state license to expire, said Audrey Wolf, head of the county’s Facilities Development and Operations Department.

She said Monday that members of the county’s staff checked out the allegations and were satisfied that Norred’s license was being renewed.

A spokesman for the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which regulates security firms, confirmed Monday to The Palm Beach Post that Norred’s permit renewal was issued Friday. Secretary of State records show the corporation’s filing is active.

While today’s county commission meeting was to be only a workshop, the emergency vote was scheduled because of the Oct. 27 deadline, staff memos indicate. The new contract would be for one year.

Norred officials did not respond Monday to requests for comment.