Title
Cooperative Purchasing Contract for Police Helicopter Infrared Cameras
Action
Action:
A. Approve the purchase of Police Helicopter Infrared Cameras from a cooperative purchasing contract as authorized by G.S. 143-129(e)(3),
B. Approve a unit price contract with L-3 Communications EO/IR, Inc. for the purchase of Helicopter Infrared Camera(s) for the term of one year under General Services Administration (GSA) contract GS-03F-0103V,
C. Authorize the City Manager to extend the contract for one-year terms as long as the cooperative contract is in effect, at prices and terms that are the same or more favorable than those offered under the cooperative contract, and
D. Authorize the installation to support the replacement and upgrade of the infrared cameras.
Body
Staff Resource(s):
Kerr Putney, Police
Kenneth Anderson, Police
Cooperative Purchasing Exemption
NC S.L. 2001-328, effective January 1, 2002, authorizes competitive group purchasing.
Explanation
§ Clouds, haze, and darkness often obscure persons on the ground during police pursuits and searches. Infrared thermal imaging cameras eliminate these barriers using a person’s body heat temperature displayed as an image. Helicopter infrared cameras are regularly used during SWAT operations, vehicle and foot pursuits, K-9 tracking, missing person searches, suspect searches, and disasters.
§ In 2017, a total of 907 missing persons, vehicles, and suspects were located with the use of helicopters. Many of these actions would not have been successful without the infrared cameras.
§ The current infrared cameras require replacement because the equipment is outdated and replacement parts are no longer produced.
§ The purchase of replacement infrared cameras will allow seamless operation as it has been tested by the manufacturer with current mission equipment to ensure operation without distortion or error. The camera, searchlight, aerial mapping and flight computers function together to increase mission effectiveness.
§ The cost of one fully-equipped infrared camera is $383,570. The City will purchase one infrared camera in Fiscal Year 2019 and a second infrared camera in Fiscal Year 2020. The cost for the installation of the infrared camera is $108,430 each.
Charlotte Business INClusion
These are cooperative purchasing contracts and are exempt (Part A: Appendix 27 of the Charlotte Business INClusion Policy).
Fiscal Note
Funding: Police Operating Budget