TITLE
Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. PA-02412 and award a contract to Aardvark, of La Verne, CA (not an MBE, WBE, SBE or Local), for furnishing and delivering less lethal munitions, for an initial amount not to exceed $200,000, for a period of one year, with the option to renew for two additional one-year periods for $50,000 per year, at the discretion of the City Manager. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested to enter into an annual contract with Aardvark for furnishing and delivering less lethal munitions for the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD). Less lethal munitions are used to provide officers with less lethal options in riot/crowd control situations. Less lethal is a standard industry term for munitions that include tear gas, sting balls, beanbag rounds, propelling charges, etc. The last significant purchase of these munitions occurred in 1999. Munitions have an average shelf life of five years; therefore, any remaining inventory is now expired and being used only to supplement training munitions. In recent years, LBPD has purchased small amounts of the munitions to replenish some of the consumed stock, but it is necessary to maintain a certain inventory level for training, day-to-day deployment for Patrol, Detectives and SWAT operations, and for any unforeseen events.
The initial purchase of the less lethal munitions will bring LBPD to the necessary inventory. The option to extend the contract for two additional years, will allow LBPD to maintain the inventory at the necessary level and rotate the stock.
The bid was advertised in the Press-Telegram on April 19, 2012, and 79 potential bidders specializing in less lethal munitions were notified. Of those bidders, 14 downloaded the bid via our electronic bid system. The bid document was made available from the Purchasing Division, located on the seventh floor of City Hall, and the Division's website at www.longbeach.gov/purchasing. A bid announcement was also included in the Purchasing Division's weekly update of Open Bid Opportunities, which is sent to 30 local, minority and women-owned business groups. Five bids were received on April 27, 2012. Of those bidders, none were Minority-owned Business Enterprises (MBEs), one was a Women-owned Business Enterprise (WBE), none were Long Beach-based businesses (Local), and none were certified Small Business Enterprises (SBEs). Aardvark, of La Verne, CA (not an MBE, WBE, SBE or Local), was the lowest responsible bidder.
Local Business Outreach
In an effort to align with our outreach goal, Long Beach businesses were encouraged to submit bids for City contracts. The Purchasing Division also assisted businesses with registering on the Bids Online database to download the bid specifications. Through outreach, 13 Long Beach vendors were contacted to submit bids, of which two downloaded the bid; however, no bids were submitted. The Purchasing Division is committed to continuing to perform outreach to local vendors to expand the bidder pool.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Amy R. Webber on July 30, 2012 and Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on August 6, 2012.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action to adopt Specifications No. PA-02412 and award a contract concurrently is requested on September 4, 2012 to ensure that the new contract is in place expeditiously.
FISCAL IMPACT
The cost for this contract, in an amount not to exceed $200,000, will be funded by Police Department Asset Forfeiture proceeds. The cost for each additional year, in an amount not to exceed $50,000, will be budgeted in the General Fund (GP) in the Police Department (PD). There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
JOHN GROSS
DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
JIM McDONNELL
CHIEF OF POLICE
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER