Explanation
BACKGROUND: To repeal previous ordinance 2533-2023 that authorized contract for Cellebrite software licenses due to differences over some of the contract terms. Instead the Division of Police requests a contract with a third party vendor Carahsoft Technology Corp. to renew the Cellebrite software licenses to extract digital evidence used to help solve crimes. Many crimes have some link to digital evidence. Due to this fact, most divisional units are using the services of the Police Digital Forensics Unit to obtain evidence from cellular and other electronic devices. The vendor Carahsoft Technology Corp is a third party provider of the Cellebrite Inc. licensed software sold exclusively to law enforcement. 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: third party Apps, stored passwords and tokens, chat conversations, location data, email attachments, system logs, deleted content, and much more.
This ordinance repeals Ordinance 2533-2023 passed on 10-12-2023.
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-009115 Expires 7/26/2024
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...
Click here for full text