It is recommended that the City Council authorize an Agreement with Taser International, Inc., using BuyBoard Contract No. 500-15 in the total amount of $1,288,501.50 for the partial-year term ending on September 30, 2017, with an annual renewal amount not to exceed $3,000,428.50 for body-worn cameras, conducted electrical weapons, in-car video systems, external data storage and related equipment and services for the Police Department. |
In late 2010, Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD) began testing several on-officer body-worn camera solutions to provide video capabilities for police activity that occurs away from the mounted dash-camera of the patrol vehicle. After extensive testing of various solutions, FWPD selected the Axon Flex System (Camera System) from TASER International, Inc. The Camera System includes the cameras, associated accessories, mounting and docking station, software interface and maintenance. The Camera System captures valuable evidence. The captured video evidence is stored on Evidence.com, an online video storage solution owned by TASER International, Inc. This secure solution protects the video evidence from tampering and catalogs each event for easy retrieval and evidence management.
On March 25, 2014, the City Council authorized the execution of an Agreement with TASER International, Inc., for on-officer body-worn camera equipment and management system in the amount of $216,490.00 (M&C C-26729). After the expiration of the initial term, two renewal options were exercised. On December 15, 2015, City Secretary Contract No. 45452 was amended to increase the contracting authority under the Agreement in the amount of $368,857.00, for a total contract amount of $869,857.00, with three annual renewal options. This enabled the purchase of additional cameras, accessory kits, associated docking stations and storage services.
Currently, the City has approximately 750 body cameras issued. In Fiscal Year 2017, the Crime Control and Prevention District Fund will provide funding for 400 additional body-worn cameras, as well as match funding in support of the Fiscal Year 2017 Body-Worn Camera Grant Program that will support an additional 150 body-worn cameras. The Fiscal Year 2017 Crime Control and Prevention District Fund also provides funding for in-car video systems and conducted electrical weapons (tasers).
The City has been acquiring body-worn cameras, in-car video systems, and conducted electrical weapons (tasers) separately. Over the last few years, the City has been testing body-worn cameras and in-car video systems. The City is requesting to utilize BuyBoard Contract No. 500-15 with Taser International, Inc., to bundle the purchase of these systems in order to save City funds and receive upgrades, continued maintenance, a warranty, and storage for both existing systems and additional systems.
In Fiscal Year 2017, the City would acquire a bundled package that includes a total of 550 new body-worn cameras and 600 in-car video systems. Of the 600, 350 will be a one-for-one exchange from the current in-car video system, which is a cost savings of $500.00 per vehicle. In Fiscal Year 2018, the City would acquire a bundled package that includes a total of 100 new body-worn cameras and 400 conducted electrical weapons. The bundled package also includes software, licenses, accessories, unlimited warranty, maintenance, unlimited video storage, and upgrades.
In Fiscal Year 2017, the City will expend up to $1,288,501.50. In Fiscal Year 2018, the City will expend up to $3,000,428.50. In order to continue to maintain, upgrade and to meet our goal to equip officers and patrol vehicles, the cost for the remaining period is approximately $3,000,000.00 per year, for a total cost up to $15,649,012.00. Funding for this technology initiative will be a combination of Crime Control and Prevention District funding and grant funding.
| FISCAL YEAR 2017 | FISCAL YEAR 2018 | | CCPD Funding | $1,055,852.00 | $3,000,428.00 | | Grant Funding | $ 232,650.00 | 0 | | Total | $1,288,502.00 | $3,000,428.00 |
The pricing above anticipates a multi-year commitment by the City, and TASER has indicated it is willing to honor the prices being offered to the City in its quote under the BuyBoard contract, the last renewal of which will expire in 2018. Staff anticipates advocating for the renewals in the event another BuyBoard Agreement or similar cooperative purchasing vehicle is available to allow the City to continue the services and also comply with purchasing laws.
Consideration of this request will work toward the City's goal to outfit all sworn officers with body-worn cameras and conducted electrical weapons, and outfit all patrol vehicles with in-car video systems-delivering fully integrated devices and applications that will connect with the City's Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Records Management Systems (RMS).
PRICE ANALYSIS - The BuyBoard contract offers fixed discounts and includes a pre-payment credit associated with the recent renewal of City Secretary Contract No. 45452, which this contract will replace. Staff reviewed the pricing and found pricing to be fair and reasonable.
COOPERATIVE PURCHASE - State law provides that a local government purchasing an item under a Cooperative Purchasing Agreement satisfies any state law requiring that the local government seek competitive bids for purchase of the item. The BuyBoard contract was competitively bid to increase and simplify the purchasing power of government entities across the State of Texas.
M/WBE - A waiver of the goal for MBE/SBE subcontracting requirements was requested by the Purchasing Division and approved by the M/WBE Office, in accordance with the BDE Ordinance, because the purchase of goods or services is from sources where subcontracting or supplier opportunities are negligible.
ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGE ORDER - An administrative change order or increase may be made by the City Manager in the amount up to $100,000.00 and does not require specific City Council approval as long as sufficient funds have been appropriated.
AGREEMENT TERM - Upon City Council's approval, this Agreement shall commence on March 29, 2017, and shall expire on September 30, 2017, to correspond with the terms of the cooperative contract.
RENEWAL OPTIONS - This Agreement may be renewed in accordance with BuyBoard Agreement. This renewal does not require specific City Council approval provided that the City Council has appropriated sufficient funds to satisfy the City's obligations during the renewal term to correspond with the BuyBoard contract term.
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