Title
Replacement Helicopter for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department
Action
Action:
A. Approve the purchase of a Bell 407 Helicopter, by the sole source exemption, and
B. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a contract with Bell Textron, Inc. for the purchase of a Bell 407 Helicopter.
Body
Staff Resource(s):
Johnny Jennings, Police
Jeff Estes, Police
Dave Johnson, Police
Sole Source Exemption
§ G.S. 143-129(e)(6) provides that formal bidding requirements do not apply when:
- Performance or price competition are not available;
- A needed product is available from only one source or supply; or
- Standardization or compatibility is the overriding consideration.
§ Sole sourcing is necessary for this contract because there is only one supply source.
§ City Council approval is required for any purchases made under the sole source exemption.
Explanation
§ This is a replacement helicopter for one of the two current helicopters deployed by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Aviation Unit. The helicopter being replaced is over 20 years old and has become cost prohibitive to continue to operate.
§ Helicopters enhance the goals of public safety through missing person searches, search and rescue operations, emergency medical evacuations, vehicle and foot pursuits, critical incidents, and functions including live video and aerial photography.
§ Total estimated expenditures to purchase the helicopter are $5,200,000.
§ The purchase of this helicopter includes training for the operators on the new, upgraded equipment in the aircraft.
Charlotte Business INClusion
This is a sole source contract and is exempt (Part A: Appendix 1.27 of the Charlotte Business INClusion Policy).
Fiscal Note
Funding: Capital Investment Plan and PAYGO