DEPARTMENT: Finance
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Troy Elliott
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT: SAPD Annual Contract for TASER Certification Program and Warranty
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the Police Department to enter 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 was presented to the Public Safety Committee on May 18, 2021 and recommended to move forward to the City Council for consideration.
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 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.
The contract with AXON was presented to the Public Safety Committee on May 18, 2021 and recommended to be forward to the City Council for consideration.
ISSUE:
An ordinance authorizing the Police Department to enter 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.
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:
The annual amount of this contract is $824,180 for a five-year contract amount of $4,120,900. 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 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 approval of this ordinance