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
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize the Sheriff to execute an Agreement for Law Enforcement Canine Training Services with Golden Gate K9, LLC, for the period July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2025, with the option to extend for two additional one-year terms. Total expenditures are not to exceed $550,000 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 Golden Gate K9, LLC effective July 1, 2022. The current Agreement for law enforcement canine training services with Golden Gate K9, LLC is due to expire on June 30, 2022.
Discussion:
Background. The Sheriff’s Office has maintained a Patrol master protection canine program for over 30 years, and currently has nine 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, 2022. A Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued October 26, 2021 to solicit proposals for continued law enforcement canine training services. Three local providers were notified directly of the new RFP. Golden Gate K9, LLC was the sole respondent to the RFP. As the incumbent provider, Golden Gate K9, LLC has demonstrated an ability to provide law enforcement canine trainings suitable to meet the needs of the Sheriff’s Office Canine Unit.
Contracting with a K9 master trainer who has true law enforcement experience is essential in providing full law enforcement canine handler skills and knowledge. Golden Gate K9 is a Sonoma-based company currently contracting with other local law enforcement agencies (Petaluma, Sebastopol, Cotati, and San Rafael Police Departments, and Marin County Sheriff) for similar law enforcement canine training services. Golden Gate K9 owner and trainer, Frank Romano, has over 20+ years of law enforcement experience as a retired CHP K9 Officer, as well as a Military Police K9 handler for many years.
Golden Gate K9 has provided law enforcement canine training services to the Sheriff’s Office since February 2012. The Sheriff’s Office is requesting to enter into a new agreement with Golden Gate K9 for a three-year term with two one-year options to extend, which will allow the current canine program to continue without disruption. 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 Golden Gate K9 includes rates for monthly canine proficiency training, new canine purchase, initial canine and handler training, and canine boarding services. Rates are increasing by approximately 10% over the prior Agreement, but did not increase over the last 6 years (since FY 15-16). Golden Gate K9 has also agreed to maintain the FY 22-23 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 22-23 expenditures are estimated at $81,030 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; canine boarding; the purchase and training of one replacement master protection/narcotics canine; and the purchase and training of one replacement explosive detection canine. Significant variances in year over year expenditures are based on the number of known canine and handler team replacements that are anticipated to occur. The average annual cost for canine services is $53,800; however, the proposed agreement allows for $110,000 annual maximum amount to allow for two unexpected catastrophic incident replacements, costing $25,580 each.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Prior Board Actions:
The Board has approved agreements and amendments for law enforcement canine training services with Golden Gate K9, LLC since February 2012.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY 22-23 Adopted |
FY23-24 Projected |
FY 24-25 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$81,030 |
$53,825 |
$53,825 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$81,030 |
$53,825 |
$53,825 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
$81,030 |
$53,825 |
$53,825 |
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State/Federal |
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Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$81,030 |
$53,825 |
$53,825 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Canine training program costs are included in the Sheriff’s Office FY 22-23 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:
Golden Gate K9 Agreement 2022
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
N/A