To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Sheriff’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: Maureen Nicklas, 565-8831
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Agreement for Law Enforcement Canine Training Services
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize the Sheriff to execute an Agreement for Law Enforcement Canine Training Services with D-Tac K9, LLC, for the period July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028, with the option to extend for two additional one-year terms. Total expenditures are not to exceed $625,000 for a term of three years and two optional one-year extensions.
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Executive Summary:
As a result of a Request for Proposal (RFP) process for Law Enforcement Canine Training Services, the Sheriff is requesting the Board authorize the Sheriff to execute an Agreement for Law Enforcement Canine Training Services with D-Tac K9, LLC effective July 1, 2025. The current Agreement for law enforcement canine training services with Golden Gate K9, LLC is due to expire on June 30, 2025.
Discussion:
Background. The Sheriff’s Office has maintained a Patrol master protection canine program for over 33 years, and currently has ten canine teams (canine and handler). In addition, the Sheriff’s Office maintains a narcotics canine program. The County contracts with canine trainers for the purpose of providing qualified canines, boarding, and training both the canines and their respective deputy handlers. Canines, handlers, and trainers are not interchangeable. Different trainers have different police dog training philosophies and their own unique training style and methods. Handlers are responsible for developing a successful relationship with their assigned canines. A handler and canine train together as a canine team. Trainers teach the handler and canine to respond to law enforcement scenarios as a canine unit.
RFP and Selection Process. The Sheriff’s Office’s current Agreement for Canine Law Enforcement Training Services with Golden Gate K9, LLC expires June 30, 2025. A Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued September 3, 2024, to solicit proposals for continued law enforcement canine training services. Three proposals were received through the RPF process: D-Tac K9, LLC, Golden Gate K9, LLC, and Spectrum Canine. Each proposal was evaluated based on the following criteria: a) a demonstrated ability to perform services as described in Section B (Statement of Requirements) of the RFP, b) qualifications, experience and expertise, c) quality of work as verified by references, d) cost relative to the scope of services, e) a demonstrated history of providing similar services to comparable entities, f) a willingness to accept the County’s Standard Contract Terms, g) local preference points applied to suppliers who have a valid physical address located in Sonoma County from which the supplier operates business on a day-to-day basis, per County policy, and, h) a Living Wage Evaluation Preference to any service contractor who certifies that at least 50% of the workforce to perform the service contract are Sonoma County residents, per County policy. The RFP evaluation panel rated D-Tac K9 as the highest scoring proposal, with D-Tac K9 demonstrating an ability to provide law enforcement canine trainings suitable to meet the needs of the Sheriff’s Office Canine Unit. Based on the evaluation, D-Tac K9 was selected as the sole supplier to provide law enforcement canine training services.
The Sheriff’s Office is requesting to enter into a new agreement with D-Tac K9 for a three-year term with two one-year options to extend, which will be critical in providing the canine program sufficient time to establish and build a strong partnership between D-Tac canine trainers, and Sheriff’s Office canine and handler teams. The new agreement will help to ensure that Sheriff’s Office law enforcement canines and handlers are properly and consistently trained to maximize operational efficiency, meet the needs of County residents, and promote a safer community.
Proposed Agreement. The proposed agreement is for an initial three-year term and includes two, one-year options to extend. The new agreement with D-Tac K9 covers canine proficiency training, initial canine and handler training, new canine purchases, and the provision of expert witness testimony. Rates are increasing by approximately 12% over the current agreement for services. D-Tac K9 agreed to maintain the FY 25-26 rates for the entire initial three-year term of the new agreement. Rates for the optional extensions will be considered based on the Contractor’s actual expenses. FY 25-26 and FY 26-27 expenditures are estimated at $84,226 and include the cost of canine training services for the Sheriff’s Office and Town of Windsor, which is paid by the Town of Windsor, and the purchase and training of two replacement master protection/narcotics canines. Annual expenses may vary based on the number of canine and handler team replacements that occur in any given year. The average annual cost for canine services is $60,300; however, the proposed agreement allows for $125,000 annual maximum amount to allow for two unexpected catastrophic incident replacements, costing approximately $27,500 each. Canine training program costs are included in the Sheriff’s Office FY 25-26 Recommended Budget.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
The Board has approved agreements and amendments for law enforcement canine training services since February 2012.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY25-26 Adopted |
FY26-27 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$84,226 |
$84,226 |
$60,300 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$84,226 |
$84,226 |
$60,300 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
$84,226 |
$84,226 |
$60,300 |
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State/Federal |
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Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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General Fund Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$84,226 |
$84,226 |
$60,300 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Canine training program costs are included in the Sheriff’s Office FY 25-26 Recommended Budget.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
There are no staffing impacts associated with this Agreement.
Attachments:
D-Tac K9 Agreement 2025
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
N/A