Explanation
Need: The Division of Police needs to purchase automated audio response software to provide additional safety and productivity for police officers when critical information is received through a license inquiry. Officers run license tag inquiries a multitude of times during a single shift. This process is just one of the many patrol activities that takes place simultaneously. Some of the other patrol activities include: driving their cruiser, looking for criminal activities and traffic violations, and listening to the radio for important information. Virtual Partner determines there is critical information and it immediately makes a loud auditory noise alerting the officer. Then Virtual Partner reads aloud exactly what the officer needs to know. In addition to announcing the critical information the program describes the vehicles' color, make, model and gives a physical description of the registered owner of the vehicle. Examples of critical information are whether the car is stolen, if the registered driver has a warrant, if the registered driver is a missing person, if the automobile tags are expired, or if the registered driver has a suspended or expired license. This allows the officer to look for the violator or suspect with out having to take their eyes off the car or the road.
Bid Information: The Columbus Division of Police has evaluated and tested the audio response software, Virtual Partner. The Division of Police has been unable to find any products similar or equal to this product designed for law enforcement agencies.
APS, Advanced Public Safety is sole manufacturer and sole distributor of the Virtual Partner software, therefore this contract will be entered into in accordance with sole source procurement.
Negotiations were conducted with Advanced Public Safety to obtain the best possible pricing.
This company is not debarred according to the Federal excluded parties listing or prohibited from being awarded a contract according to the Auditor of State unresolved findings for recovery certified search.
Contract Compliance No: 651118620
Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is requested for this ordinance so that monitors may be updated as quickly as possible.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Since this purchase will be made with Law Enforcement Seizure Funds, there will be no effect on the financial status of the General Fund.
Title
To authorize and direct the Finance and Management Director to contract for the purchase of Virtual Partner from Advanced Public Safety for the Division of Police in accordance with the Sole Source procurement, to authorize the expenditure of $48,602.00 from the Law Enforcement Contraband Seizure Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($48,602.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus Division of Police needs to purchase Virtual Partner in order to be more efficient and increase the safety and productivity of their officers; and
WHEREAS, funds from the Law Enforcement Seizure Funds will supplement not supplant the purchase of airborne monitors from the General Fund; and
WHEREAS, Advanced Public Safety is the sole manufacturer and sole distributor of Virtual Partner; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City to enter into this contract in accordance with provisions of Section 329-07c(Sole Source) of the City of Columbus, 1959; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual operation in the Division of Police, Department of Public Safety, in that it is immediately necessary to purchase Virtual Partner for the preservation of the public health, peace, property safety, welfare; now therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the Finance and Management Director be and is hereby authorized and directed to enter into contract with Advanced Public Safety for the purchase of Virtual Partner for the Division of Police, Department of Public Safety.
Section 2. That the expenditure of $48,602.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, be and the same is hereby authorized as follows:
DIV 30-03 | FUND 219 | OBJ LEVEL (1) 02 | OBJECT LEVEL (3) 2224 | OCA # 300988 | AMOUNT $48,602.00.
Section 3. That said contract shall be awarded in accordance with provisions of Section 329.07c (Sole Source) of the Columbus City Code, 1959.
Section 4. 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.