Increase in US and Canada Public Sector Requests for LED and Lighting Solutions

LED technology, talked about for years, has become a dominant force in the world’s lighting market, totaling 57 billion dollars annually worldwide. In the last year alone, there have been over 10,000 bid and RFP requests from US and Canadian public sector entities for ‘Lighting’ items, equipment, solutions, and services.

While there are a plethora of reasons why LEDs are considered by many to be a better alternative to conventional lighting, such as fluorescent lights, the public sector is steadily benefiting from this technology. Today, more government agencies are recognizing the benefits of LEDs and making the switch, creating a wealth of opportunities for vendors and contractors.

What are the Advantages of LEDs?

LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. LEDs function differently from traditional incandescent lighting systems, which pass electricity through a filament, by instead passing electricity through a semiconductor which emits photons, or light, directly. LEDs have become dominant in the lighting industry for their combination of versatility, energy efficiency, maintenance benefits, and public safety improvements.

Energy efficiency: This is arguably the number one reason for the rise in demand for LEDs. US and Canadian governments realize that they can save half to three quarters on energy by using the LEDs. These savings are generated largely due to the fact that LEDs emit almost no heat, in comparison to traditional lighting systems.

Maintenance: Maintaining older systems is costly. In addition to energy savings, LEDs are more cost-effective because they primarily last longer than incandescent or fluorescent lights. So, downtime and maintenance costs are consequently lower.

Public safety: LEDs are non-toxic, since they do not contain hazardous substances like mercury. They are also known to be easier on the eyes, reducing eye strain and headaches; thereby, aiding more productivity. Not to be overlooked, it’s also been reported that using LEDs results in better sleep quality.

Why do Governments Buy LED Lights?

Governments contract with vendors and companies to set up and maintain lighting infrastructure for a variety of uses, including:

Roadway lighting

Street lighting

Sports lighting

Parking lot and facilities lighting

Years ago, some government agencies focused on maintaining old systems as opposed to replacing them with newer technologies as easier and cheaper. But that view is changing across the board in light of the more efficient LED lighting systems. Installing a new system with newer technologies may take a little time and require an up-front capital investment, but over time, it will result in a cumulative reduction in costs.

The US and Canadian Government Approach to Public Lighting

Despite newer technologies being available to governments for better public lighting alternatives, many have been compelled to use the legacy lighting systems- since the local governments didn’t own them. Instead, these lights were owned by utilities, many of whom overcharge for replacements and repair.

A quickly rising number of municipalities, however, are looking to replace the outdated system with a LED lighting system. Still, there are some that don’t want to overpay for LED conversions, given that regulated utilities are known to cost $700-$1000 for each converted fixture. To do this, local governments are looking to take control of these lighting systems directly, therefore:

● Saving on repair and capital investments (up to 50%)

● Benefiting from higher reliability

● Making improvements with advanced lighting controls to expand the benefits of LED usage.

● With a vast number of bids and RFPs published for LED solutions, it’s quite clear that agencies are looking for a comprehensive service that produces a solution that fits what is best for public space lighting.

Case Study: Los Angeles

Years ago, Los Angeles was paying over $16 million dollars a year for its fleet of high-pressure sodium lamps that served as streetlights. In addition to the cost of energy and maintenance, these lamps had limited range and brightness, leaving pockets of the city streets dark and leaving many residents feeling unsafe. Over seven years, the city replaced nearly all of its thousands of streetlights. Today, the program has been a success, efficiently giving greater illuminating coverage for less than half of the previous cost.

Factors that Government Agencies Consider When Buying Lighting

US and Canadian governments are now determined to transform the entire process by buying LED lights.

Governments stand to gain more control over public lighting by compelling contractors to follow what is required based on the proven findings in sustainability technologies. This will result in an increase in purchases for lighting systems that ensure sustainability, efficiency, and safety for the public. Let’s break that down:

Sustainability

Government agencies are looking for vendors and products that not only have a track record of incorporating environmentally-friendly practices into their work, but also incorporate the best practices of sustainability technologies. Sustainability is not just a buzzword- it has been proven to save money and time.

Efficiency

Cost-benefit analysis dictates the decisions of many government agencies. They are looking for companies that can provide LED technologies that provide low cost and high reliability.

Safety

When dealing with electric systems, safety is of utmost importance to government agencies, who are uniquely sensitive to the impact of their initiatives on the well-being of the public. Contractors with excellent safety records are better positioned to compete for electrical and LED contracts.

LEDs are also higher in demand due to being safer and aiding better health during regular usage. Infrared and ultraviolet radiation are far lower, to the point of negligibility, with LEDs. In increasing numbers, any public sector agency and department is interested in attaining those products that have standardized metrics in place for ensuring this.

The bottom line is that any government looking to overhaul their lighting is looking for for vendors that can meet their needs.

Some other sample, active LED requests

Win LED Lighting Contracts With BidPrime

Again, LED lighting is a huge growth industry in government contracting, with the number of bids increasing year over year. Government agencies are looking for contractors that will let them save money, implement sustainability policies, and promote public health and safety.

If you are looking for LED bids/RFPs, check out BidPrime’s technology, tools, and service. Because of our extensive coverage, thousands of vendors have recognized BidPrime as a one-stop-shop.

To eliminate the time and money waste of hunting for bid documents needed to qualify and respond to bids/RFPs, BidPrime’s Docs on Demand provides customers with the ability to download documents in one-click. If for some reason the documents are not attached, users can request the documents and our research team will go to work for you.

We are, and have always been, BidPrime. Unlike some of our competitors, we have never had to rebrand. Our excellent coverage, transparent pricing, and best in industry customer service have served our customers since 2009.

Not sure how to register your business or how to pursue public sector opportunities? Our clients, or those on trial, can visit our Vendor Resource Center (VRC). Touch base with your Account Manager or Sales contact for details.

To take advantage of our superior bid coverage and customer service for yourself, sign up for a free, no-obligation, no credit card required trial. Compare what you’re currently doing. Want to discuss your needs? Visit BidPrime or call 888.808.5356.