TITLE
Recommendation to adopt Specifications RFP No. PD19-001 and award contracts to Joe Mar Polygraph and Investigative Services of Claremont, CA, Truth Be Told Polygraph, LLC, of Brea, CA, and Youngblood and Associates, of Claremont, CA, to provide polygraph services, in an annual aggregate amount not to exceed of $200,000, for a period of two years, with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; and authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into contracts, including any necessary amendments. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested to enter into contracts with Joe Mar Polygraph and Investigative Services, Truth Be Told Polygraph, LLC, and Youngblood and Associates, to provide pre-employment polygraph services as part of the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) candidate background process.
LBPD conducts pre-employment background investigations for all prospective employees. Specific pre-employment background investigation standards are established by the California Police Officer Standards and Trainings (POST) and the California Code of Regulation for peace officer candidates. POST recommends that polygraph evaluations be performed on potential peace officer candidates to determine consistency with information provided by the candidates on their Personal History Statement form. A pre-employment polygraph examination is one of several factors considered as candidates are assessed for employment by LBPD.
The Request for Proposals (RFP) was advertised in the Long Beach Press-Telegram on February 22, 2019, and 5,047 potential proposers specializing in polygraph services were notified of the RFP opportunity. Of those proposers, 13 downloaded the RFP via the City’s electronic bid system. The RFP document was made available by the Purchasing Division, which was located on the seventh floor of the old City Hall building and on the Division’s website at www.longbeach.gov/purchasing <http://www.longbeach.gov/purchasing>. The RFP announcement was also included in the Purchasing Division’s weekly update of Open Bid Opportunities, which is sent to 29 local, minority-owned, and women-owned business groups. On March 14, 2019, the City received four proposals. Of those four proposers, one was a Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE), one was a Women-owned Business Enterprise (WBE), one was a certified Small Business Enterprise (SBE), and none were Long Beach businesses (Local).
A selection committee, comprised of representatives from the Police, Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications, and Financial Management Departments, determined that the proposed three firms exhibited the most experience in providing expert pre-employment polygraph services to large police departments in urban areas.
Local Business Outreach
In an effort to align with the City’s outreach goal, Long Beach businesses are encouraged to submit proposals for City contracts. The Purchasing Division also assists businesses with registering on the PlanetBids database to download RFP specifications. Through outreach, 29 Long Beach vendors were notified to submit proposals, of which none downloaded or submitted a proposal. The Purchasing Division is committed to continuing to perform outreach to local vendors to expand the proposer pool.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Sarah E. Green on January 6, 2020, Purchasing Agent Tara Yeats on January 8, 2020, and by Budget Management Officer Rhutu Amin Gharib on January 16, 2020.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested to adopt Specifications No. RFP PD19-001 and to award contracts concurrently on February 4, 2020, to ensure that contracts are in place expeditiously.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total annual aggregate amount of the contracts will not exceed $200,000. Funds for these services are budgeted in the General Fund Group in the Police Department. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
ROBERT G. LUNA
CHIEF OF POLICE
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
ACTING CITY MANAGER