REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
December 15, 2016
FROM: JERRY P. DYER, Chief of Police
Police Department
BY: ROBERT NEVAREZ, Deputy Chief
Administrative Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the purchase of 270 Colt Manufacturing patrol rifles:
1. RESOLUTION - Declaring an urgent necessity for the preservation of life, health, property and authorizing the Purchasing Manager to purchase 270 Colt Manufacturing patrol rifles for sworn officers without competitive bidding (Requires 5 affirmative votes)
2. Approve the purchase of 270 Colt Manufacturing patrol rifles for an amount not to exceed $325,000
Body
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended the City Council authorize the Purchasing Manager to waive the formal bid process and utilize the urgent necessity competitive bidding exception in the Charter and issue a purchase order for an amount not to exceed $325,000, for the 270 Colt Manufacturing patrol rifles to be issued to uniformed personnel.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
With the increased number of multiple casualty incidents (active shooters) and ambush style attacks on officers, an assessment of our existing rifles was completed. As a result of the assessment, it was determined that our department did not have sufficient patrol rifles available for our officers to respond to an “active shooter” or multi-casualty incident within the City. To enhance officers’ tactical capabilities and related safety, while responding to such incidents, additional patrol rifles are needed.
BACKGROUND
Within the past two years, there has been a significant increase in the number of “active shooter” or mass casualty incidents across the nation. Violent encounters with armed and aggressive suspects, such as those which have taken place in San Bernardino, Dallas, Ohio State, and even locally here in Fresno, are taking place with increasing frequency. Nationally, there has been a 300% increase in fatal ambush style attacks on law enforcement officers. As a result of the recent equipment assessment, we determined the department does not have a sufficient number of patrol rifles available for our officers to respond as effectively as possible, should the need arise within our city.
When responding to heavily armed suspects, a patrol rifle has a significant ballistic and tactical advantage when compared to the department-issued pistol. The goal of this purchase is to acquire sufficient patrol rifles to provide one to every uniformed police officer. By assigning rifles to individual officers, they have the ability to adjust the sights specifically to their needs. This will reduce liability and increase officer safety by having a rifle available at each incident, preventing the suspect from continuing lethal activity. Based upon our assessment, we will need to acquire 270 patrol rifles and related equipment to accomplish this goal.
Due to the unpredictable nature of these violent attacks and the urgent need to acquire the rifles, we are requesting Council exercise the Charter’s urgent necessity competitive bidding exception which allows for the waiving of the formal bid process if it is deemed to be an “urgent necessity for the preservation of life.” Since it is impossible to predict when these types of incidents will take place combined with our rifle inventory assessment, it is believed the immediate need of acquiring the rifles falls under the urgent necessity competitive bidding exception.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This is not a “project” for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because the urgent necessity competitive bidding exception is being used; however, there are no Colt Firearms law enforcement distributors within the area.
FISCAL IMPACT
This purchase will be completed through the informal bid process, the exact fiscal impact cannot be determined. The estimated fiscal impact to the General Fund will be approximately $325,000. The funding source for this purchase will come from our existing FY17 budget.
Attachment:
Resolution