Title
District Attorney recommending the Board:
1) Make a finding that Purchase Contract 9623 with Axon Enterprise, Inc. (Axon) for the Justice Premier and Body Worn Camera Bundle is exempt from competitive bidding per County Procurement Policy C-17, section 3.4.4: a piggyback contract is available;
2) Approve and authorize the Board Chair to execute the Master Services and Purchasing Agreement incorporated within Purchase Contract 9623 in the amount of $649,485.52 for the period of five (5) years;
3) Approve and authorize the Board Chair to accept and execute Axon Quote Q-689122-45775BC in the estimated amount of $649,485.52; and
4) Authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute any future amendments to Purchase Contract 9623 that do not alter the amount nor the term, upon review and approval by County Counsel.
FUNDING: DA/PD Subfund (AB109 Subfund).
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The District Attorney's Office is in need of a secure, cloud-based digital evidence management system to modernize its operations and enhance public trust. Axon Enterprise, Inc. (Axon) offers this service and more through the Justice Premier product. Evidence.com Justice Premier offers a significant operational advantage in managing the complexities of modern digital evidence. The platform directly tackles the challenge of ingesting diverse evidence types from various law enforcement agencies and public sources, centralizing it into a secure and easily manageable system. This facilitates a more efficient discovery process, allowing prosecutors and support staff to quickly locate, review, and analyze critical information. Features like automated transcription and redaction for audio, video, and documents drastically reduce the manual labor traditionally associated with preparing evidence for disclosure, freeing up valuable attorney time for case strategy and legal analysis. This system is crucial for efficiently managing the growing volume of digital evidence, such as body camera footage, interview recordings, and digital photographs. Cloud storage ensures accessibility, scalability, and automatic backups, while robust security features protect sensitive data and maintain chain-of-custody. The ability to track evidence dissemination and user access enhances transparency and accountability. Furthermore, seamless integration with the existing Karpel Computer Systems case management system streamlines workflows and improves efficiency.
The office has previously contracted with Axon for other products such as their Taser (AGMT 6160) and Body Worn Camera (BWC) Bundles (AGMT 6496). Although prior agreement 6496 for BWC terminates May 2027, current Purchase Contract 9623 includes a 5-year Body Worn Camera bundle renewal along with the Justice Premier components. Agreement 6496 shall terminate upon the execution of Purchase Contract 9623 and any payments made through 2027 have been applied as credits to the District Attorney’s account and shall be taken against the first annual invoice under the payment plan. The total cost of the Justice Premier and Body Worn Camera combination is $649,485.52 for a term of 5 years, paid in annual installments. Pricing is in accordance with OMNIA contract #3544-21-4615 for body worn cameras and related products and services, under the lead University of Nebraska RFP #3544-21-4615. By bundling the Body Worn Cameras and related software with the Evidence.com Justice Premier software, the District Attorney was able to secure better pricing on the Body Worn Cameras and related software.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board opt not to approve and execute Purchase Agreement 9623 with Axon for the Justice Premier and Body Worn Camera Bundled software and services, the District Attorney’s Office will no longer have access to Evidence.com and have no efficient means of storing evidence footage, including viewing, redacting and releasing footage.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
04/19/2022 Legistar file 22-0556: Board approved Purchasing Agent to execute purchase contract 6496 with Axon Enterprise Inc. (Axon) for a Body Worn Camera Bundle in the amount of $179,150 for a period of 5 years.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel and Procurement & Contracts
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
With the execution of Purchase Contract 9623, there is no change to Net County Cost for the first impacted fiscal year 2025-2026 of the 5-year period. The District Attorney’s Office has identified available funding from the District Attorney/Public Defender Subfund (also referred to as the AB109 Subfund), to offset the first year’s quoted cost of $80,494.29. Subsequent annual funding will be determined during budget development for each fiscal year.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Upon approval, Clerk of the Board to return one executed copy of the Master Services and Purchasing Agreement incorporated within Purchase Contract 9623, and one executed copy of Axon Quote Q-689122-45775BC to the Chief Administrative Office Central Fiscal Division, attention Kelley Lawrie.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Vern Pierson, District Attorney