DEPARTMENT: Finance
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Troy Elliott
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Helicopter Mapping System for the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) Air Support Unit
SUMMARY:
An ordinance authorizing an annual contract with Churchill Navigation, Inc. to provide the Police Department with the purchase of up to four Helicopter Mapping Systems for a total cost up to $518,000.00.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In July 2016 the San Antonio Police Department’s Helicopter team was informed that their current mapping system (Metamap) used in their H-120B helicopters was at end of life due to provider going out of business. Since that time the Helicopter team has utilized a mapping system in which hardware and software support is no longer provided.
A Request for Offer Response was released on March 29, 2017 with responses due on April 7, 2017. Responses were received from Churchill Navigation, Inc. and AeroComputers, Inc.
The product specifications were reviewed by the SAPD Helicopter committee. It was determined through this review and prior testing of both products that the Churchill Navigation, Inc. Augmented Reality Mapping solution offered additional features not available in the Aerocomputers, Inc. solution. For example, the Churchill Navigation solution had a smoother refresh rate, was user intuitive, featured distance calculation on the display and integrated directly with the current mobile dispatch system which allows for the tracking of officers through radio and automobile locating features. Both products featured an overlay of hiking trails which is useful if a suspect flees an area on foot; however, the Churchill Navigation solution also features the option to view searchable databases of the trails which could prove critical.
The term of this contract begins upon the effective date of this ordinance, for a one year period. The City will have the option to renew the contract for up to four additional years to allow the SAPD and SAOEM to budget for and replace helicopter mapping systems within the fleet, as required.
ISSUE:
The San Antonio Police Department’s Helicopter team serves the City of San Antonio and the surrounding twelve Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) counties. Locating precise coordinates as quickly as possible is extremely important to an aircrew. Therefore, a mapping system is critical to function effectively inside of these areas where the Helicopter team can be called upon under a mutual aid agreement. The most effective mission equipment is a mapping system loaded with detailed street and property information, as well as time, track and heading data to any given destination.
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.
There were no bids submitted from local bidders for this contract; therefore, the Local Preference Program was not applied.
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 contract not be approved, the residents of San Antonio as well as first responders on the ground will be greatly affected due to a lack of a serviceable mapping system. The San Antonio Police Department’s Helicopter team would be unable to upload new street/subdivisions onto the current mapping system or repair any hardware issues in an event the mapping system were to fail. The San Antonio Police Department’s Helicopter team depends on a mapping system to respond to critical incidents such as search and rescue operations and law enforcement assistance in the most efficient way, as well as having the ability to communicate precise locations to all first responders who are depending on time sensitive and real-time information.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funds are not encumbered by this ordinance. This ordinance authorizes an annual contract with Churchill Navigation, Inc.to provide the Police Department with the purchase of four Helicopter Mapping Systems for a total cost up to $518,000.00. The Office of Emergency Management anticipates purchasing three helicopter mapping systems in FY17. Funding for the purchase of two mapping systems, in the amount of $234,000.00 is available from the 2015 State Homeland Security Program (SHSP). Upon approval of 2017 State Homeland Security Program funding, a third helicopter mapping system will be purchased in FY17 in the amount of $117,000.00. Funds for the remaining mapping system is contingent upon future grant funding.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the approval of this contract with Churchill Navigation, Inc. for the purchase of up to four Helicopter Mapping Systems for a total cost up to $518,000.00.
This contract was procured utilizing a Public Health or Safety Exemption and a Contracts Disclosure Form is not required.