Rutherford County awards security contract to Crimson Security after RFP review

Rutherford County commissioners approved awarding armed security guard services to Crimson Security after county staff said Crimson scored highest in a competitive request-for-proposals process.

Eric Kenny, the county's chief of staff, told commissioners the county received nine bids, disqualified two firms that did not meet the RFP's five-year-in-business requirement, and evaluated remaining proposals on flat-rate price, a higher special-assignment rate, written responses and references. "In the first place with 93 points was Crimson Security," Kenny said, and he recommended Crimson based on price and reference strength; Big Brother Security Company placed second with 90 points.

Commissioners asked how incumbent performance is monitored; Kenny said department supervisors (for HR, probation, the courthouse and other locations) raise issues to county staff, and that Crimson is the current provider at multiple county facilities. The chair noted the award is "subject to Nick Christensen's reviewing of the contract and making sure everything is in order."

A motion to approve the award carried in a roll-call call of the commissioners. The contract will be finalized after county legal completes its review.

What this means: Crimson Security will continue or expand its role providing posted security at county facilities once county legal signs off on contract language. The RFP scoring emphasized both price and references; two bidders were disqualified for not meeting the five-year requirement set in the RFP.