To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Sheriff’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: Connie Newton, 565-8884
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Contract for Replacement of Sheriff’s Office Body Worn Cameras and Tasers
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize the Sheriff to execute the documents necessary to enter into a new contract for Body Worn Camera Services, replacement of the Law Enforcement Division’s Tasers, and related equipment, software, and services with Axon Enterprise, Inc. for a contract term of five years, from April 15, 2024, through April 14, 2029, for a total cost of $3,720,949.
end
Executive Summary:
This item requests the Board authorize the Sheriff to execute the documents necessary to enter into a new contract for Body Worn Camera Services that includes replacement of the Law Enforcement Division’s Tasers, and related equipment, software, and services. The equipment and services are being provided by Axon Enterprise, Inc. (Axon), the Sheriff’s current supplier. The Sheriff is bringing this contract to the Board four months before the existing contract expires because of a critical need to replace Tasers and to renew before anticipated 2024 price increases to the equipment currently being used by Sheriff’s deputies and correctional deputies.
Axon has a cooperative purchasing Agreement through Sourcewell, which has been approved by County Counsel and County Purchasing to satisfy the competitive procurement process.
Discussion:
Body worn cameras and audio-visual recordings of law enforcement interactions provide increased transparency and accountability for law enforcement and the public. Video and audio recordings can provide an objective record of events and provide documentary evidence for criminal investigations, internal or administrative investigations, and civil matters. The use of body worn cameras is intended to enhance the mission of the Sheriff’s Office by accurately capturing interactions between members of the Sheriff’s Office and the public. Body worn cameras have proven to help expedite the resolution of citizen complaints, assist prosecutors, and reduce staff overtime. Arguably one of the most significant benefits of using the body worn camera technology is the role it plays in offering insights into critical incidents by providing a tool for validating the sequence of events. The Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Division has been using body worn cameras since 2014. In 2019, cameras were added for all officers in the Detention Division. Axon has been the single source provider of the Sheriff’s body worn camera equipment and digital evidence management services since 2014. The existing contract with Axon expiries April 14, 2024.
In addition to body worn cameras, both law enforcement and correctional deputies carry a certified electronic weapon (CEW) as part of their standard duty gear. The CEWs are commonly known as “Tasers.” The Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Division’s CEWs a have reached the end of their useful life and need to be replaced. Both CEWs and body worn cameras have a three-to-four-month delivery timeline, make it necessary to order the equipment soon as possible through a new, executed Agreement. The model of CEWs currently used by the Sheriff’s Office are being phased out by the supplier and replaced with an improved model due to advancement in technology. The Sheriff’s Office has found that it is more operationally and cost effective to have one standard model of CEW for all staff in a division. This helps with supply inventories, training, and the issuance of temporary replacement CEWs when equipment failure or damage occurs. Therefore, the Sheriff is seeking to complete a Law Enforcement Division-wide replacement of its CEWs. The Detention Division completed a division-wide CEW replacement in 2019, therefore, is not in need of new CEWs at this time. Once a contract is executed, Axon will work with the Sheriff’s Office to ensure the Law Enforcement Division has an adequate supply of functioning CEWs until approximately April, when the new CEWs will be received.
Taser, the CEW used by law enforcement, was recently acquired by Axon, making Axon the single source distributor and manufacturer of law enforcement Tasers. Axon has developed law enforcement equipment packages that “bundle” officer safety products at a lower cost, compared to purchasing equipment al a carte. The Sheriff’s need to replace the Law Enforcement Division CEWs (only available by Axon), combined with the upcoming expiring body worn camera (BWC) contract led to the Sheriff’s Office consideration of combining these products under one contract. Combining the products under one contract, using the new bundled pricing for law enforcement, offers several benefits. Taser functionality will now be guaranteed throughout the life of the contract, all the supplies will be provided at no additional cost, staff will be issued a more modern tool, and a training program is included. The bundle pricing also includes enhanced features to the body worn camera program. Features include automatic recording when critical incidents occur, GPS locator abilities, video auto-tagging, and automated integration with Axon’s professional standards database, designed for law enforcement and incidents with accompanying video. As with the current Agreement, cameras will be updated with newer technologies halfway through the contract’s term of five years.
As mentioned above, Axon is the only manufacturer of law enforcement Tasers. Axon is also the only supplier that provides a BWC program that meets the Sheriff’s essential requirements. Axon has a cooperative purchasing Agreement through Sourcewell, which has been approved by County Counsel and County Purchasing. The proposed contract includes officewide replacement and upgrades of equipment for the body worn camera program, with enhanced features for law enforcement (features that are not applicable in a correctional facility), replacement of existing Tasers in the Law Enforcement Division, and an integrated professional standards software system. The terms of the Sourcewell contract will remain in place through the duration of our five-year Agreement. The pricing details of the contract are described in the Financial Summary below. By accepting the contract before January 1, 2024, the Sheriff’s Office will be able to lock in pricing before the next price increases take effect in the new calendar year.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
3/12/19 - The Board approved a contract for body worn cameras for all officers to include the Sheriff’s Detention Division.
12/9/14 - The Board approved a contract for body worn cameras for deputy sheriffs (Law Enforcement Division).
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY23-24 Adopted |
FY24-25 Projected |
FY25-26 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$1,954,500 |
$439,112 |
$439,112 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
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|
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Total Expenditures |
$1,954,500 |
$439,112 |
$439,112 |
|
Funding Sources |
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|
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|
General Fund/WA GF |
$1,954,500 |
$439,112 |
$439,112 |
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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 |
$1,954,500 |
$439,112 |
$439,112 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The cost of the proposed contract is $3,720,949 over the five-year term. This is approximately $1.2 million higher than the existing contract as a result of the addition of Tasers, newer technology, added features, and added software system. The prices are based on the Sourcewell cooperative agreement, with additional discounts provided by Axon. If the Sheriff’s Office were to purchase these same products individually, not with the bundle, the total cost of the same purchase would be nearly $4.5 million or $1.9 over the existing contract ($750,000 over the proposed bundled price).
The Sheriff’s Office requested a contract payment schedule that allows the Sheriff to use anticipated FY 23-24 savings to pay the entire five-year unfunded increases, which will prevent the next four years budget line item for these expenses from increasing. For FY 23-24, the Sheriff’s budget includes approximately $500,000 for body worn cameras. Therefore, $1.454 million of additional funding is needed to cover the first-year payment. Due to continued high level of vacancies, the Sheriff’s Office has generated more salary savings than budgeted for the first five months of FY 23-24. This salary savings should cover the unbudgeted $1,454,000. The Sheriff will submit budget adjustments during the Q3 consolidated budget adjustment process to reallocate salary savings to pay for the unfunded contract costs.
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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):
N/A
Attachments:
Axon Master Services and Purchasing Agreement
Sourcewell Axon Contract
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
N/A