DEPARTMENT: Finance
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Troy Elliott
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
IBIS BRASSTRAX Acquisition Station and Equipment Warranties
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes a contract with Forensic Technology, Inc. in the total amount of $228,434.00 to provide the San Antonio Police Department with an Integrated Ballistics Identification System - (IBIS) BRASSTRAX Acquisition Station, installation, commissioning services, and an additional five-year SafeGuard warranty and Protection Plan. This contract also includes an extended one-year SafeGuard warranty and Protection Plan for the Police Departments existing IBIS BRASSTRAX Acquisition Station. Funding is available from the United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, DJ-Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In FY 2018, the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) accepted a grant from the United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Technology Innovation for Public Safety for the implementation of technology related to, and to participate in, the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). SAPD currently has one NIBIN BRASSTRAX system previously purchased with grant funding and is seeking to add a second IBIS BRASSTRAX station paid for with grant funds.
Submitted for City Council consideration and action is an offer from Forensic Technology, Inc. to provide SAPD with an IBIS BRASSTRAX Acquisition Station. The proposed purchase includes one BRASSTRAX Acquisition Station, training, shipping and installation, 24/7 Support Services and an additional five-year warranty. Additionally, one-year extended SafeGuard warranty and Protection Plan for the existing IBIS BRASSTRAX station is included.
This station will expand SAPD’s participation in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network program. The NIBIN BRASSTRAX shall allow SAPD to continue to automate ballistic evaluations and shall provide actionable investigative leads in a timely manner.
The NIBIN Program is the only interstate automated ballistic imaging network in operation in the United States and is available to most major population centers in the United States. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms administers and supports the NIBIN program as well as regulates the systems that are allowable for entry of data. The only system authorized for the entry of shell casing data is the Ultra Electronics Forensic Technology Inc. IBIS BRASSTRAX Acquisition Station. This contract is procured on the basis of a certificate of exemption from competitive bidding as the equipment is only available from one source.
The NIBIN Program uses an integrated investigative approach that works in concert with other Federal, State, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies in combating firearms-related violence using ballistic imaging technology to compare images of ballistic evidence obtained from crime scenes and firearms. The mission of the program is to reduce firearms violence through aggressive targeting, investigation, and prosecution of shooters and their sources of crime guns.
Participation in this program is expressly restricted to the sharing of ballistic imaging of firearms data associated with crimes recovered by any law enforcement agency in the United States and international law enforcement partners who have entered into agreements with ATF to share ballistic data. ATF may work with international law enforcement partners to search their networks to identify a gun in their database against a crime gun in ATF’s NIBIN network.
NIBIN systems may be used only for imaging of ballistic evidence and test fires of firearms illegally possessed, used in a crime, or suspected by law enforcement officials of having been used in a crime. Ballistics information and/or evidence from firearms taken into law enforcement custody through a Gun Buy Back Program, property damage crimes involving firearms, found or abandoned firearms and domestic disturbances are permitted for entry in the NIBIN database.
ISSUE:
The contract with the Forensic Technology, Inc. will continue the City Council's policy of seeking intergovernmental financial assistance for City crime prevention and enforcement programs addressing violent crimes and gun crimes and will expand SAPD capability. The additional IBIS, BRASSTRAX Acquisition station will allow SAPD to continue to automate ballistic evaluations and shall provide actionable investigative leads in a timely manner for the City.
This award is an exception to the Local Preference Program.
The Veteran-Owned Small Business Preference Program does not apply to goods/supplies contracts, so no preference was applied to this contract.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should this purchase not be approved, SAPD would continue to utilize their current IBIS BRASSTRAX Acquisition Station and would not be able to utilize the grant funds. The purchase of the additional IBIS BRASSTRAX station directly supports SAPD’s ability to conduct investigate leads in a timely manner. The alternative is to continue utilizing the current IBIS BRASSTRAX station; however, failure to expand the SAPD’s current NIBIN program could affect the SAPD’s ability to support operations, conduct investigative leads in a timely manner to address violent gun crimes, and protecting the safety and welfare of the police officers and city residents may be negatively impacted.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes a contract with Forensic Technology, Inc. to provide SAPD with an IBIS BRASSTRAX Acquisition Station with a five-year SafeGuard warranty, and a one-year SafeGuard extended warranty for SAPD existing IBIS station in the total amount of $228,434.00. Funding is available from the United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, DJ-Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the approval of the contract with Forensic Technology, Inc. to provide SAPD with an IBIS BRASSTRAX Acquisition Station with a five-year SafeGuard warranty, and a one-year SafeGuard extended warranty for SAPD existing IBIS station in the total amount of $228,434.00.
This contract was procured on the basis of a sole source and a contract disclosure form is not required.