Title
Office of the District Attorney recommending the Board:
1) Make a finding that Contract 6496 with Axon Enterprise Inc. (Axon) for Body Cameras, associated equipment, training, and software licenses is exempt from competitive bidding per Purchasing Ordinance 3.12.160, Item B: the unique nature of the property and services required precludes competitive bidding;
2) Authorize the Purchasing Agent to issue purchase contract 6496 in the amount of $179,150 for the period of five (5) years from the date of execution; and
3) Authorize the Purchasing Agent to accept and execute Axon quote Q-370203-44635.745NC in the estimated amount of $179,145.48.
FUNDING: General Fund.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The District Attorney’s Office is requesting to purchase twenty (20) Body Camera Bundles from Axon via purchase agreement 6496 in the amount of $179,150, which includes a 5-year payment plan. Per Policy C-17, any contract term exceeding three (3) years requires Board of Supervisor’s approval. The complete purchase includes the following:
- (20) Body Cameras + Accessories
- (4) Docks to house and charge body cams + accessories
- Unlimited cloud Storage for videos generate on the 20 Cameras
- Hardware warranties on cameras and docks
- Technology Assurance Plan (TAP)
- Third Party Video Support - Enterprise License
- Professional Services - 2 days on-site training with an Axon Service Manager
The body cameras are anticipated to be used by District Attorney Investigators who are often in direct contact with the public. Body worn cameras and other audio/video field recording technologies have proven to increase transparency and credibility as well as reduce false citizen complaint and liability.
On March 8, 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved item 22-0171 as presented by the Sheriff’s Department for the procurement of three hundred (300) V300 Body Worn Cameras from WatchGuard, Inc (WatchGuard). The District Attorney’s Office is not utilizing WatchGuard as the preferred vendor for their request due to Axon being the primary vendor for current products already in use by the department. For instance, Axon has been the approved vendor for Taser purchases. The District Attorney’s Office purchased Taser Bundles per item 21-1661, which included Evidence.com base license accounts. The office will now add-on to their existing Evidence.com license accounts for storing footage from the body worn cameras. This alone is a significant cost savings. Axon body worn cameras, coupled with Evidence.com, integrates closely with the District Attorney’s case management system, Karpel Computer Systems, which further allows attorneys and supervisors to attach the footage to cases and review them without downloading the videos. Additionally, this purchase agreement with Axon includes unlimited storage on Evidence.com, which will further increase the department’s long-term savings.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board opt not to approve the Purchasing Agent to issue purchase agreement 6496, the District Attorney’s Office will be forced to incur higher costs as a result of proceeding with other means of Body Camera procurement. If the department were to purchase their cameras from WatchGuard, they would have to employ a manual upload process in order to share their files within their office. Not utilizing Evidence.com would also double the storage costs for footage, increase the cost for infrastructure, increase the complexity on viewing, redacting, and releasing footage, and increase the workload of department staff.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
Legistar Item 22-0171, March 08, 2022 - Board approved and authorized the Purchasing Agent to execute a purchase agreement with WatchGuard Inc. for (300) Body Worn Cameras for the Sheriff’s Department.
Legistar Item 21-1661, December 14, 2021 - Board authorized the Purchasing Agent to issue purchase contract 6160 with Axon Enterprise Inc. for Taser Bundles for the District Attorney’s Office.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Procurement & Contracts
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The total quoted cost of the Body Camera Bundle for the District Attorney’s Office is $179,145.48 over the five-year period. The payment will be split over a 5-year period, with the department incurring approximately $33,163.12 in cost on an annual basis throughout the agreement term. Costs for current fiscal year include an additional $4,750 as a fulfillment fee for the on-site training. In the FY 2021-22 Adopted Budget, the Board approved funding for storage needs related to the processing of body camera footage from the Sheriff's body cameras. This funding is sufficient to cover the cost to purchase the body cameras for the DA, as well as the costs related to the Sheriff's footage. The funding amount has been carried over into the FY 2022-23 Recommended Budget, as this was considered an annual need when originally approved.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Public Safety
CONTACT
Vern Pierson, District Attorney