DEPARTMENT: Finance
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Troy Elliott
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Rifle-resistant body armor for the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD), the San Antonio Park Police (SAPP) and the San Antonio Airport Police (SAAP).
SUMMARY:
An ordinance authorizing a contract with Nardis Public Safety to provide the San Antonio Police Department, San Antonio Park Police and San Antonio Airport Police with rifle-resistant body armor plates and carriers for a total cost of $1,041,300.00. This body armor is intended to be issued as standard equipment to all officers. Funding is available through a grant from the Office of the Governor (OOG), Criminal Justice Division (CJD), Rifle-Resistant Body Armor Grant Program.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Submitted for City Council consideration and action is the offer submitted by Nardis Public Safety through BuyBoard contract number 524-17 to provide the San Antonio Police Department, San Antonio Park Police, and San Antonio Airport Police with 2,670 rifle resistant body armor/active shooter kits for a total cost of $1,041,300.00.
Texas Senate Bill 12 was passed during the 85th Legislative Regular Session and Governor Greg Abbott signed the Bill into law, in response to the July 7, 2016 shooting of Dallas police officers. This bill authorized the creation of a grant program assisting Texas law enforcement agencies in the purchase of rifle-resistant body armor.
Currently, officers whose primary duties include patrol functions are most likely to encounter rifle armed perpetrators and are not currently equipped with rifle-resistant body armor. The purpose of the program is to equip officers who are at risk with appropriate bullet-resistant personal body armor. This body armor will fit over and supplement the officers’ existing body armor.
The grant required SAPD to include the specific vest they were proposing to purchase and the Paraclete/Point Blank 55 vest was identified as the selected model. This item was considered by the Department’s Labor Relations Committee (LRC) and the selected vest was the only item that met all of the Department’s and the LRC requirements. Nardis is the primary local distributor of the Point Blank body armor that can provide the necessary storage and distribution services, fitting services, and final distribution to the Armory. Finally, Nardis will customize each vest with name strips and department patches through their existing BuyBoard cooperative contract.
ISSUE:
The proposed ordinance continues the City Council’s policy of seeking funding from outside sources for law enforcement programs to increase officer safety and address criminal activity in the community.
This grant will allow SAPD to purchase approximately 2,670 vests for all COSA law enforcement officers. The grant required an initial purchase of vests by March 1, 2018 and that all vests be purchased by December 31, 2018.
The Small Business Economic Development Advocacy (SBEDA) Ordinance requirements were waived due to the lack of small, minority, and/or women businesses available to provide these goods and services.
The recommended award is an exception to the Local Preference Program.
The Veteran-Owned Small Business Preference Program does not apply to non-professional service contracts, so no preference was applied to this contract.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should this purchase not be approved, the San Antonio Police Department would be unable to utilize the grant awarded funding. Police operations and the safety and welfare of the police officers and city residents could be negatively impacted.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding in the amount of $1,041,300.00 for this program will be provided through a grant awarded by the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division’s Rifle-Resistant Body Armor Grant Program.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the approval of the contract with Nardis Public Safety to provide rifle-resistant body armor utilized by COSA law enforcement personnel for a total cost of $1,041,300.00.
This contract is procured on the basis of cooperative purchasing and a Contracts Disclosure Form is not required.