Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into contract with KNS Services (KNS) for continued surveillance system replacement and repair in accordance with the sole source procurement provisions of City Code Chapter 329. The contract amount being authorized by this ordinance is $200,000.00.
KNS has provided surveillance system installation and repair for the department for many years. They also service many other city departments including Public Safety, Finance, and Public Utilities. They have established a unique relationship with the Department of Technology to provide robust service to multiple departments in the city. The City of Columbus selected the Genetec software platform years ago for all departments to utilize for their surveillance systems with the vision of aggregating these services citywide. This effort has resulted in KNS becoming the provider of these services for several departments as Genetec requires the equipment to be maintained by KNS Services to avoid a situation where multiple vendors are given security clearance to access and make changes to the system.
KNS has designed, installed, and serviced most of the Recreation and Parks Department’s security surveillance systems as they are the sole provider of the Genetec system and the licensed proprietary software the system uses. Providing integration and management of our systems into centralized access helps provide the Department of Public Safety with access to our video. As an authorized Genetec provider, KNS provides all software updates, firmware updates, coordination with Public Safety, and virtual server support through the Department of Technology. There isn’t another vendor in the area who has the capability to keep our systems updated and functioning to the level required and the use of the Genetec platform for surveillance integration citywide was made years ago by City of Columbus leadership.
The Columbus Re...
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