Title
Sheriff’s Office recommending the Board:
1) Find that, in accordance with County’s Procurement Policy C-17, Section 3.5 Specific Exemptions and Written Findings of Fact, Agreement 8989 is proprietary software and exempt from competitive bidding;
2) Approve and authorize the continuation of the perpetual Agreement 8989 with Cellebrite Inc. for the use of Cellebrite Premium Unlimited Software Package, which allows the Sheriff’s Office to extract data from cell phones for investigative purposes; and
3) Approve and authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute a Purchase Order with Cellebrite in the amount of $114,543 for a term of October 15, 2024, to October 14, 2025, for software license and support and maintenance of hardware for the Cellebrite Premium Unlimited Package.
FUNDING: General Fund.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On September 12, 2023, with Legistar file 23-1479, the Board approved a perpetual purchase agreement for the Cellebrite Premium Unlimited Package software license and hardware. This software allows for the Sheriff’s Office to extract data from cell phones for investigative purposes.
On September 27, 2022, with Legistar file 22-1681, the Board approved Agreement 6902 with Cellebrite for the continued use of Cellebrite Premium Unlimited Package software license and support and maintenance.
On August 31, 2021, with Legistar file 21-1323, the Board approved a perpetual purchase agreement for the Cellebrite Premium Unlimited Package software license and hardware.
Sheriff Investigations Unit presently deploy devices and applications unique and sourced solely from Cellebrite. Research into companies that provide digital forensic solutions have included more than five other vendors. However, Cellebrite was determined to be the sole developer, manufacturer, and support and maintenance provider of the Premium Unlimited Package solution for Universal Forensic Extraction Devices (UFED) for use on smart phones, mobile, and other devices.
Cellebrite’s solution is the only such known that is compatible with both Droid and iOS (Apple) devices that include forensics extraction, decoding and analysis tools that extracts logical, file system, and physical data. Mobile devices that the UFED can extract data from include smartphones, cell phones, tablets, GPS units, SIM cards, memory cards, drones, and USB devices, including live and deleted data, contacts, phone numbers, call logs, text messages, SMS messages, application data (social network and other) location data, pictures, videos, and voice messages. Uniformity, software compatibility, file and data sharing to the existing devices deployed by Sheriff personnel support the uniqueness of the acquisition.
The Cellebrite UFED solution includes the system’s assembled computer and software, off-site training, system warranty, and remote support and maintenance.
This request is for authorization for continuation of the perpetual nature of the agreement and for authorization to make payment for an additional year for the software subscription and maintenance of the system purchased in 2021. In prior years, the vendor did not require a Purchase Order but they now do.
ALTERNATIVES
Not continuing this agreement would hinder the efforts of the Sheriff’s Office staff in performing critical investigative work.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
09/12/2023 Legistar file 23-1479
09/27/2022 Legistar file 22-1681
08/31/2021 Legistar file 21-1323
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel, Risk, Procurement and Contracts.
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no impact to General Fund or Net County Cost. Funding has been included in the Sheriff’s Office FY 2024-25 budget.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Strategic Innovation
Priority: Develop solutions through Leveraging of Technology
Action Item: For Law Enforcement and Emergency Responders, use existing social media and applications and pursue in-house technology development to aid engagement with the public on community concerns and safety issues
CONTACT
Undersheriff Bryan Golmitz