DEPARTMENT: Police
DEPARTMENT HEAD: William McManus, Chief of Police
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Operator Training and Support for Breath Alcohol Testing Services
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) to execute a contract with the Alamo Forensic Services, L.L.C, to provide training and recertification for officers that operate the Intoxilyzer - a breath testing instrument, maintain the Intoxilyzer instrument, and provide court testimony when needed. The contract is for $60,000 per year for three years, to begin upon award, with two additional one-year renewal options (five years maximum), in an amount up to $300,000.00.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In March 2017, the SAPD hired Mrs. Debra Stephens, of Alamo Forensic Services, L.L.C, on a monthly basis, to 1) provide training and recertification for officers that operate the Intoxilyzer - a breath testing instrument, 2) maintain the Intoxilyzer instrument and 3) provide court testimony when needed.
The Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Office of the Scientific Director (OSD) administers the regulations and qualifications related to the certification and approval of all aspects of forensic breath alcohol testing, as well as certify qualified forensic scientists as Technical Supervisors. The Technical Supervisor’s primary purpose is to provide technical, administrative and supervisory expertise in safeguarding the scientific integrity of the breath alcohol testing program and assure the acceptability of the forensic breath analysis in legal proceedings. Alamo Forensics Services, L.L.C., is the sole certified Technical Supervisor for the San Antonio area, per the DPS OSD. The prior provider of this service, from 1983-2014, is no longer in business.
Currently, Alamo Forensics Services serves as the training/recertification instructor for approximately 40-60 police officers on a monthly basis and conducts this training at the SAPD Police Academy. During this training, officers are trained or given a refresh on the operations of the Intoxilyzer, allowing them to become certified to operate the instrument in a manner that comports with all local and state regulations. This is vital to ensuring that the results are found acceptable in court for DWI cases.
Additionally, Alamo Forensics Services is required to maintain the instrument on a monthly basis, which the company exceeds by preforming the maintenance twice monthly, and to perform an annual calibration on the Intoxilyzer instrument. The monthly maintenance consists administering a reference solution calibrated for the instrument, ensuring it’s appropriately measuring blood alcohol levels properly.
Finally, a representative from the company will attend court hearings and provide testimony when needed.
ISSUE:
The SAPD has four Intoxilyzer instruments located at the Magistrate’s Office. The SAPD relies on the use of the Intoxilyzer when officers need to test drivers suspected of driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated. It’s a vital component to testing drivers and charging them with these crimes and proper training, recertification, and maintenance is necessary to ensure the scientific integrity of the testing. Accordingly, this is a critical contract for continued SAPD operations.
Under the contract, Alamo Forensics, L.L.C., will provide training and recertification to approximately 40-60 police officers per month, allowing the officers to use the Intoxilyzer instrument and ensure that it’s administered correctly. Alamo Forensics, L.L.C. will also provide monthly instrument maintenance (the current provider provides this maintenance twice monthly) and annual calibration of the Intoxilyzer instrument to ensure accuracy. Mrs. Stephens also provides any required court testimony.
The current vendor has been serving the SAPD on a month to month basis, and has already successfully met the department’s needs. This contract will now secure the monthly amount under a contract that will serve the needs of the department and allow current operations to continue.
This contract is within the scope of the SBEDA Program. However, due to lack of available firms and/or subcontracting opportunities, the Goal Setting Committee was unable to apply a SBEDA tool to this contract.
ALTERNATIVES:
Alamo Forensics Services, L.L.C., is the sole certified Technical Supervisor authorized to provide services in San Antonio by the Department of Public Safety. Accordingly, there are no options to use another agency.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes an annual expenditure of $60,000 per year for three years, to begin upon award, with two additional one-year renewal options (five years maximum) in an amount not to exceed $300,000 from the City’s General Fund. Services provided include training services, court testimony, and maintenance and certification on the Intoxilyzer instrument from Alamo Forensics, L.L.C.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends City Council approval for the SAPD to execute a contract with Alamo Forensic Services, L.L.C, to provide training and recertification for officers that operate the Intoxilyzer - a breath testing instrument, provide court testimony when needed, and maintain the Intoxilyzer instrument. A Discretionary Contracts Disclosure Form is not required.