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File #: 2178-2024    Version: 1
Type: Ordinance Status: Passed
File created: 7/12/2024 In control: Public Safety & Criminal Justice Committee
On agenda: 9/9/2024 Final action: 9/12/2024
Title: To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Safety to modify and extend its contract with SoundThinking Inc., formerly ShotSpotter, Inc. for use of a gunfire detection, alert, and analysis program in the Phase II coverage area; to authorize the expenditure of $210,000.00 from the General Fund for the first year of this three-year contract; to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Columbus City Code; and to declare an emergency. ($210,000.00)
Attachments: 1. 2178-2024 Financial Coding, 2. 2178-2024 Renewal Information, 3. 2178-2024 Waiver Form.pdf
Explanation

BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Public Safety Director to modify and extend its contract with SoundThinking Inc., formerly ShotSpotter Inc., for an additional three-year term (June 30, 2024 through June 29, 2027) for the Phase II coverage area. Ordinance 1644-2022, amended most recently by ordinance 1244-2024, passed May 20, 2024, established a three-year agreement with ShotSpotter, a subscription based service that involves the installation of a gunfire sensor network in areas identified by the City. These sensors connect to a cloud-based data center infrastructure, providing a 24/7/365 gunfire monitoring service within a twelve (12) square-mile radius of the installed sensor infrastructure.
In addition to gunfire detection, the SoundThinking service will notify law enforcement agencies of gunfire incidents and direct them to the precise location of gunfire. The service also offers the capability to instantly notify officers of shootings in progress with real-time data delivered to dispatch officers, patrol cars, and smart phones. The alerts are intended to improve police response to incidents of gunfire, enhance officer safety, speed aid to victims, assist in investigations and the collection of evidence, and ultimately, the apprehension of dangerous offenders. The original contract for services with SoundThinking, formerly ShotSpotter dated October 4, 2018 was established by Ordinance 2151-2018. A modification to the contract was authorized by Ordinance 2543-2022, adopted October 3, 2022, which extended the contract term through July 2025. This ordinance seeks to modify the contract to extend the contract term through June 2027 and authorize funding for the first year of Phase II of the modified contract.
This ordinance is for the Phase II coverage area, which is three square miles. Phase II will run from June 30, 2024 through June 29, 2027. The cost will be $210,000.00 per year, which will be subject to the annual appropriation of...

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