CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approve the award of Sole Source Procurement 20-375, Axon Taser Equipment, to Axon Enterprise for an amount not to exceed $276,000 and for a five-year term
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DEPARTMENT: Police Department
SUBMITTED BY: Robert W. Marshall, Chief
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
The Police Department (PD) has used the Axon Taser as a less-than-lethal option for addressing violent and/or combative subjects since 2005. The PD has standardized on this particular platform based on hundreds of hours of training to gain proficiency. As such, each officer has been certified on the Axon Taser.
Beginning in 2021, many of the Tasers that the department currently deploys will no longer be supported by Axon due to outdated technology. The PD was aware of this decision by Axon and, as a result, began researching other options in early 2020. After conducting research, the Taser 7 was found to be the best option for the department.
DISCUSSION:
The PD has identified this purchase as a sole source because Taser is a proprietary weapon system that has no comparable competitor in the marketplace. Axon Enterprise is the manufacturer of Taser brand products and is the sole distributor in the State of Illinois. A sole source letter from the manufacturer is attached.
This procurement will be for 65 Taser 7 devices and associated accessories. Included in these accessories is a training "body" suit which allows live scenarios to be conducted as well as a package for virtual reality scenario training. A certification course (classroom instruction and testing) for personnel to become instructors for the device is included as officers must be certified annually in Taser's product.
The PD received pricing from Axon that is not only in line with standard pricing but also what is being paid by departments across the country.
The total amount requested will be divided equally over the five-year term.
FISCAL IMPACT:
CIP #: N/...
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