From
Fred Bates, Jr.
Title
Contract for Police Mobile Technology products and services from Taser International through a national interlocal agreement with Buyboard at a first year cost of $450,374.37, and a year two through five annual cost of $375,048 with the option to renew for four additional one-year periods totaling $1,950,566.37 if all extensions are exercised and authorize the City Manager to execute the renewal options with aggregate price fluctuations of the lesser of up to $50,000 or 25% of the original maximum price so long as sufficient funding is appropriated by the City Council to satisfy the City's obligation during the renewal terms
Presenter
Chief Steve Dye, Police Department and Deputy Chief Ronnie Morris, Police Department
Recommended Action
Approve
Analysis
The Grand Prairie Police Department serves a City that is situated within an exponentially growing Dallas - Fort Worth region. The combination of urban, suburban, commercial, and industrial growth in this region necessitates a vibrant, progressive, and well-trained police department that understands and respects the cultural and demographic diversity of its citizens and visitors. The Police Department continues to seek ways in order to enhance transparency, promote the mutual accountability of, and the public partnership between its officers and citizens.
Based on current research, including the Report of The President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, police departments should be aware that “building trust and nurturing legitimacy on both sides of the police/citizen divide is not only the first pillar…, but also the foundational principle…” in the nature of law enforcement and community relations. The Grand Prairie Police Department has built and maintains this culture of transparency in its relationship with community leaders and the citizens it is charged with serving.
A strong recommendation that adheres to this policing philosophy is the expanded use of Mobile Audio / Video technology. The use of Body Worn Camera (BWC) technology is another tool to expand and enhance the Department’s ability to collect evidence, improve officer safety, and to strengthen the mutual accountability between officers and citizens.
After researching multiple solutions from various vendors, and participating in a user trial, the Police Department believes that Taser International, Inc. provides the best overall solution. This contract includes body worn cameras, dash cameras, CEWs ("Tasers"), CAD/RMS integration, training, hardware, unlimited cloud data storage, and a full warranty. The hardware and training will be purchased in the first year of the contract, thus the higher cost in the first year. The ongoing yearly cost will largely consist of cloud storage, integration, and warranty costs.
Chapter 271.102 of the Local Government Code authorizes local governments to participate in a cooperative purchasing program with another local government or local cooperative organization. In lieu of competitive bidding, items and services may be purchased through such agreements as the agreements have already been bid by the sponsoring entity or agency. The City of Grand Prairie has master inter-local cooperative agreements with various entities.
BuyBoard is able to save money by pooling the impressive purchasing power of their members, which include hundreds of school districts, municipalities, counties, other local governments, and nonprofits across Texas. They use the power of numbers as leverage to get better prices with the same vendors we use now.
The Public Safety, Health and Enviornment Committee reviewed this item on October 3, 2016, and recommended it be forwarded to the City Council for approval.
Financial Consideration
Funds totaling $450,374.37 for year one of the agreement are available from the FY 2017 Crime Tax Fund (286110), the Public Safety Grant Fund (300591), and the FY 2017 Police Department General Fund (283310).