SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve an agreement and purchase order with Axon Enterprise, Inc of Scottsdale, AZ, for the renewal and consolidation of Axon agreements for Body-Worn Cameras, Interview Room Cameras, upgraded Taser 10 equipment, along with associated electronic evidence storage, licensing, maintenance, and training in the amount of $3,390,302.55, in accordance with Clearwater Code of Ordinances Section 2.563(1)(c), Piggyback, and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. (consent)
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SUMMARY:
The Police Department currently has multiple agreements with Axon for Body-Worn Cameras, Interview Room Cameras, Tasers, Electronic Evidence Storage, and associated licensing, maintenance, and training.
In an effort to increase efficiency of invoice processing and to eliminate the need to return to council at different intervals to request renewals due to the contracts having various implementation and expiration dates, the Police Department is requesting to renew and consolidate the Axon agreements for Body-Worn Cameras, Interview Room Cameras, and Taser equipment with associate licensing, maintenance, and training into one new 5-year agreement from November 2023 through October 2028.
In conjunction with consolidating the Axon agreements, the Police Department requests to replace the existing Taser 7 platform, acquired in 2019, with the new Taser 10 platform, which was originally planned for next year. The Police Department began using Axon Conducted Electrical Weapons (TASER) in 2003 (Model M26). The weapons were updated in 2010 (Model X26), 2015 (Model X26P), and again in 2019 with the current Model, Taser 7.
The Taser 10 is more effective and accurate and comes with added features to include the following:
§ A new de-escalation feature consisting of a pulsing light and audible alert to warn the suspect to comply prior to deploying the Taser probes.
§ A longer range of 45 feet compared to the current 25 feet, creating more time and space for decision-making and reducing risk for everyone involved.
§ The ability to deploy up to 10 probes compared with the current 4 probes, without the need to reload, which increases more opportunities to be effective.
§ The weapon recognizes the best two probe connections and notifies the officer by a differing tone when a good connection is made.
§ Individually targeted probes enable the officer to create their own spread, compared to the current need to deploy two probes simultaneously at a predefined angle. This drastically improves accuracy and effectiveness.
The Taser 10 Certification plan includes the Taser 10 device, holsters, rechargeable batteries, instructor training, and end-user training. The Taser 10 integrates with the Department’s existing Evidence.com software by Axon using the Taser 10 Device Manager software.
By consolidating the existing agreements and acquiring the new Taser 10 platform, Axon has agreed to maintain the pricing for the upcoming FY24 operating budget and credit the final year’s financial responsibility for the current Taser agreement ($179,267.55). Additionally, the new agreement reflects a savings of $1,417,999.43 over five years.
The pricing included in this agreement is based off the National Purchasing Partners (NPP), a national resource for public entities for similar public solicitations, Contract No. PS20270, with the League of Oregon Cities as the lead agency. The City of Clearwater is a participating member of NPP.
The Department has funding available for the first year of the agreement with no needed adjustment to the FY24 operating budget in the amount of $685,620.50 ($591,880.05 has been previously invoiced through the existing agreements, and $93,740.45 is included in this proposed agreement). The four subsequent years’ service and support is calculated at $726,252.51 in Year Two, $820,374.83 in Year Three, $862,326.23 in Year Four, and $887,608.53 in Year Five.
Authorize Clearwater Police Chief Eric Gandy to sign the Quote Appendix.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
Funding for this agreement is included in the Police Department’s FY24 operating budget request for cost codes, 0101155-530300, Contractual Services and 0101156-544100, Rentals-Equipment. Future fiscal years’ funding will be required through the annual operating budget process.