DEPARTMENT: San Antonio Police Department
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Chief William McManus
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT: SAPD Annual Contract for TASER Certification Program and Warranty Bundle
SUMMARY:
Briefing on the San Antonio Police Department procurement to replace existing tasers with an upgraded taser model.
The Police Department recommends a five-year agreement with Axon Enterprise, Inc. (AXON), who is the current taser provider for the City. The annual amount of the contract is $824,180.00 for a five-year contract of $4,120,900. The City would have the option to extend this contract for an additional five-year extension and receive the most up-to-date taser model at an annual amount of $1.1 million.
The contract with AXON will provide the City with the TASER 7, handle, holsters, unlimited field-use cartridges, recharging docks, rechargeable batteries, hardware warranty, and evidence.com licenses. The program will also provide training cartridges delivered annually, training suits and instructor lead training. Parks and Airport Police will have access to this contract.
The contract with AXON is scheduled for City Council consideration in “A” Session on June 3, 2021.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The current taser model used by the San Antonio Police Department is being discontinued. The Police Department Labor Relations Committee (LRC) recommended to the Chief to pursue the TASER 7 model for the Department. The SAPD Training Academy field tested and supported the transition to the newer model.
The transition to the new taser requires a two-day training class for current Taser operators and will be provided by AXON as part of this contract. The purchase of the TASER 7 will be used to support training certification and patrol functions. The use of TASER 7 has a proven record of reducing injuries to officers, the public and avoidance of the use of deadly force.
The contract will provide SAPD the ability to replace 1,450 tasers and 252 tasers for the Parks Police Department and Airport Police Department. The contract will provide the TASER 7, handle, holsters, unlimited field-use cartridges, recharging docks, rechargeable batteries, hardware warranty, and evidence.com licenses.
The City issued a Request for Offer (RFO) for the “Formal Annual Contract SAPD-Annual Contract for TASER 7 Certification Program and Warranty Bundle” on March 17, 2021. This purchase is made by means of a Public Health or Safety exemption from competitive bidding. AXON submitted its response to the RFO on March 23, 2021.
The new TASER 7 offers numerous improvements over the current model such as automatic software updates and uploading of data when the taser is docked; increased audit capabilities, the inclusion of virtual reality training, and recharging of batteries while docked.
This contract will commence upon full execution and will terminate on the fifth anniversary of the effective date, or upon expiration of the fifth anniversary of the one five-year option.
ISSUE:
Briefing on the San Antonio Police Department procurement to replace existing tasers with an upgraded taser model.
ALTERNATIVES:
The current model of TASER by the Police Department is being discontinued. This procurement will allow the Department to upgrade the current TASER.
FISCAL IMPACT:
SAPD Funding in the amount of $248,979.50 for FY 2021 is available in the General Fund Budget and funding for future years is subject to City Council approval as part of the annual budget process.
The cost of the five-year contract is $4,120,900 in the annual amount of $824,180.00. The City would have the option to extend this contract for an additional five-year extension and receive the most up-to-date taser model at an annual amount of $1.1 million.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Public Safety Committee forward the request to accept the offer from Axon Enterprises, Inc. to provide SAPD with the TASER 7 Certification Program and Warranty Bundle to full City Council for approval and acceptance. This item is scheduled for consideration in “A” Session on June 3, 2021.