SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve a purchase order to Dana Safety Supply, Inc., of Greensboro, NC to purchase 25 Sig Sauer MCX rifles, 25 Sig Sauer SLX suppressors, 25 Sig Sauer Romeo sighting devices and associated equipment in an amount not to exceed $99,711.00 pursuant to Clearwater Code of Ordinances Section 2.563(1)(d) Impractical; declare 23 HK416D rifles, 24 Surefire suppressors, and 30 Eotech XPS2 sighting systems surplus and approve trade-in in the amount of $92,350.00 pursuant to Clearwater Code of Ordinances Section 2.623(7)(e), and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. (consent)
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SUMMARY:
The Clearwater Police Department (Police) purchased its current Heckler and Koch (HK) 416D rifles, assigned to Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) personnel, in 2007. Five years is the average duty life of standard police weapons before safety and maintenance problems begin to occur.
Though the Police Department has not experienced significant maintenance problems with the current HK416D rifle, the manufacturer does not recommend utilizing this firearm with a suppression system, as the rifle does not have an adjustable gas block. Lack of an adjustable gas block results in rifle malfunction and increased gas blowback to the user. As a result, the Police Department began exploring other appropriate weapons systems in replacement.
After several months of review, a SWAT user group recommended that the Police Department transition from the HK416D to the Sig Sauer MCX rifle. The rationale for this transition is that the Sig Sauer MCX is more compact which allows for maneuverability in confined areas, this rifle comes standard with an adjustable gas block, the weapon is made in the United States (allowing for quicker service if needed), as well as the age of the current platform (already fourteen years of service).
There are only two authorized SIG Law Enforcement Distributors for the State of Florida. Of the two authorized dealers for these firearms, Dana Safety Supply, Inc. has submitted the most competitive pricing with trade-in allowance for this purchase. The direct price of the Sig Sauer MCX rifle from Dana Safety Supply, Inc., is $1,665.00/each with a trade-in value for Police's current HK416D rifle (in their current condition) of $3,500.00/each.
In accordance with City Code 2.623, Disposal and disposition of surplus tangible personal property, the Police Department requests to declare as surplus and authorize the trade-in of its 23 HK416D rifles, to help offset the cost of the new firearms. It is anticipated these trade-in weapons will be refurbished and re-sold to authorized purchasers.
In replacement, Police seeks to purchase 25 Sig Sauer MCX rifles in an amount of $41,625.00, 25 Sig Sauer SLX suppressors in the amount of $20,626.00, 25 Sig Sauer Romeo sighting devices in the amount of $9,150.00, and associated equipment in the amount of $28,311.00, totaling $99,711.00, with a trade-in amount of $92,350.00 for a total purchase of $7,361.00.
Additionally, due to the nationwide shortage of handgun and rifle ammunition, the Police Department is planning to purchase ammunition specifically engineered and developed by Sig Sauer and recommended for usage in the Sig Sauer MCX rifle, directly through Sig Sauer, as an exemption to the competitive procurement process. The ammunition, in the amount of $49,095.60, would include both practice ($44,227.00) and duty/field usage ($4,868.60) ammunition.
All SWAT personnel will be required to attend mandatory firearms training with the Sig Sauer MCX, before they are deployed in the field, at no additional cost to the City.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
The department anticipated this purchase and has funding available, in the amount of $56,456.60, through P1802 - Police Equipment Replacement.