Explanation
BACKGROUND: The Division of Police Digital Forensic Unit (DFU) was awarded a grant to obtain a mobile response vehicle to collect evidence on location. The Division now needs to enter into contract with GrayShift LLC to purchase GrayKey Premier Mobile License and a GrayKey Forensic Unit which will be used in the mobile response vehicle. The unit and license and the vehicle will provide a portable platform on scenes to gather information for field investigations or situations more rapidly and increase digital extraction efficiently. With this hardware and software the DFU detectives gain an evidentiary advantage by having the ability to unlock and decrypt more electronic devices and extract more evidence to solve crimes.
The Division of Police needs to transfer appropriated money within the General Government Grant Fund. The funds will be transferred from 06 Equipment to 03 Services in the amount of $83,670.00.
BID INFORMATION: The Division of Police requests to waive the competitive bid provisions of the Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes to expeditiously purchase this software and hardware due to its compatibility with other GrayKey software and hardware currently owned and used by the DFU and Division of Police.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency legislation is requested so the Division of Police may procure and pay for the items prior to the grant expiration period.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: CC-025779 Expires 6/20/2025
FISCAL IMPACT: The funding for the license and unit has already been appropriated and authorized by Ordinance 2379-2022 passed on September 21, 2022. This expenditure is funded by General Government Grant Fund 2220. This ordinance authorizes a transfer of $83,670.00 within fund 2220 from 06 (Equipment) to 03 (Services).
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Safety to enter into a contract with GrayShift LLC., to purchase a digital license and a forensic unit to extract digital evidence from electronic devices; to waive competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Codes; to authorize the expenditure of $83,670.00 from the General Government Grant Fund, to authorize a transfer of $83,670.00, and to declare an emergency. ($83,670.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Division of Police needs to purchase GrayKey Premier Mobile Licenses which includes the GrayKey Unit to use in the mobile response vehicle which will allow the DFU to extract digital evidence from phones and electronic devices, and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Safety to enter into contract with GrayShift LLC to purchase a digital forensic license and a forensic unit to extract digital evidence from electronic devices; and
WHEREAS, the funding for the license and unit have been appropriated and authorized by Ordinance 2379-2022 passed on September 21, 2022; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City to waive competitive bidding for this purchase; and
WHEREAS, the Division needs to transfer $83,670.00 within 2220 fund from 06 to 03; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation in the Division of Police, Department of Public Safety, in that it is immediately necessary to purchase the digital forensic license and forensic unit as soon as possible so the Division of Police may procure and pay for the items prior to the grant expiration period all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Safety be and is hereby authorized and directed to enter into a contract with GrayShift LLC for license and unit to extract digital evidence from electronic devices.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $83,670.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, be and the same is hereby authorized in the General Government Grant Fund in object class 03 per the accounting codes in the attachment of this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the sum of $83,670.00 is hereby authorized to be transferred within the appropriated funds within 2220 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That this Council finds it in the best interest of the City to waive the competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Codes to permit the aforementioned purchase contract.
SECTION 5. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, the City Auditor shall establish such account codes as necessary.
SECTION 6. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.