HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/7/2005 - STAFF REPORTS (31) V N
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'141FOR�� City Council Staff Report
DATE: September 7, 2005 CONSENT CALENDAR
SUBJECT: Approve Vehicle Conversion for Police Department Operations
FROM: David H. Ready, City Manager
BY: Chief of Police
SUMMARY
The Police Department purchased a new vehicle to be used for undercover operations
that now needs to have the undercover equipment installed. Source research and
informal competition has identified a firm to supply and install needed new equipment,
to remove and re-install City-owned equipment from an existing vehicle and to
operationally integrate the equipment. Staff recommends City Council waive additional
competition and award the purchase of equipment and integration services to
ThunderWorks Mobile Engineering Technologies.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Adopt Minute Order No. waiving further competition and awarding
vehicle conversion sevices to ThunderWorks Mobile Engineering Technologies in
the amount not-to-exceed $50,000.
STAFF ANALYSIS:
A new vehicle has been purchased to replace an existing 1987 unit used in undercover
operations by the Palm Springs Police Department while participating in Palm Springs
Narcotics Task Force (PSNTF) enforcement activities. The PSNTF Board of Directors
has approved the expenditure of up to $50,000 of Task Force funds for equipping and
outfitting the new vehicle.
The ability of a firm to integrate the variety of equipment utilized in this type of vehicle is
critical to the vehicle's ability to meet its mission. Staff sought information from other
government agencies in order to identify firms capable of providing the equipment and
integration services needed to outfit this vehicle. Police Department staff contacted
other law enforcement agencies and the Procurement Division, using an email listserver
set up to share sourcing and other procurement-related information, sought such
information from the purchasing agents of other California public agencies. Item No. 2 . 1T
.
September 7, 2005 -rPage 2
Police Vehicle Conversion
Two firms capable of producing vehicles with undercover capabilities were identified
through this process. Most of the vehicles outfitted with similar equipment to that
desired by the PSNTF were produced for other law enforcement agencies by a single
firm, ThunderWorks Mobile Engineering Technologies.
Staff discussed the project with the two firms identified and informally received
proposals for the needed equipment and integration services from both firms —
approximately $65,000 from ThunderWorks and over $100,000 for the other firm. Staff
negotiated with ThunderWorks to arrive at figure of $49,744 for vehicle conversion
services.
Staff received excellent recommendations from other law enforcement agencies for
Thunderworks. All of the vans built by this vendor were rated as excellent by the
departments that own them.
Staff believes that the informal competition conducted is sufficient to protect the public
interest and recommends waiving further competition and awarding to ThunderWorks
Mobile Engineering Technologies. The PSNTF Board of Directors, who are funding this
project, approve award to ThunderWorks.
There is no cost to the City of Palm Springs as the conversion is being paid for by Task
Force funds; however the Task Force has agreed to use the City's Finance mechanisms
for purchases.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The funding for this contract comes from the Palm Springs Narcotics Task Force, and
the expenditure has been approved by the Task Force's Board of Directors not to
exceed $50,000. There will not be any impact on the City's budget.
Gar;in n r , Chief of Police David H. Ready, City,, Wager
Attachments:
Minute Order
MINUTE ORDER NO.
WAIVING FURTHER COMPETITION AND
AWARDING VEHICLE CONVERSION
SERVICES TO THUNDERWORKS MOBILE
ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIES IN AN
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $50,000.
I, James Thompson, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby certify that this
Minute Order waiving further competition and awarding vehicle conversion services to
ThunderWorks Mobile Engineering Technologies in an amount not to exceed $50, 000,
was adopted by the City Council of the City of Palm Springs, California, in a meeting
thereof held on the 7th day of September, 2005.
James Thompson, City Clerk