Explanation
BACKGROUND: The Division of Police Digital Forensic Unit requests the continuation of the current Cellebrite software licenses to extract digital evidence from cellular phones to solve crimes. Many crimes have some link to digital evidence. Due to this fact, most divisional units are using the services of the Digital Forensics Unit to obtain evidence from cellular and other electronic devices. With this software, the Digital Forensics Unit obtains the ability to unlock and decrypt more phones and extract more evidence to solve crimes. This evidence includes accessing: 3rd party Apps, stored passwords and tokens, chat conversations, location data, email attachments, system logs, deleted content, and much more.
BID INFORMATION: The Division of Police requests to waive competitive bid provisions of the Columbus city code to purchase software licenses due to its compatibility with other Cellebrite equipment owned by the Division of Police.
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.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency legislation is requested due to the expiration dates on current subscription which will halt critical investigations including homicides.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: CC-002463 Expires 9/13/2024
FISCAL IMPACT: The funding for the services/subscriptions has already been appropriated and authorized by Ordinance 1188-2023 passed on 5-24-2023. This expenditure is funded by the Law Enforcement Contraband Seizure Fund 2219.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Safety to enter into a contract with Cellebrite to renew software licenses to extract evidence from cellular devices; to waive competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Codes; to authorize the expenditure of $193,586.64 from the Law Enforcement Seizure Fund, and to declare an emergency. ($193,586...
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