For City Council Meeting [August 13, 2019]
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Rod Foster, City Administrator
FROM: Mark P. Kling, Chief of Police
Title
Request City Council to Approve the Purchase of Ten (10), Project 7 Entry Vests, Xtreme Level 3A with attachments for Rialto Police Inland Valley SWAT (IVS) Operators, Aardvark in the Amount of $31,968.25.
Body
BACKGROUND:
The Inland Valley SWAT (IVS) Team has been in place for approximately seven (7) years and is of a regional makeup consisting of the Rialto, Fontana, and Colton Police Departments. Their mission is to respond to unusual occurrences or other police situations where special tactics, training, and/or equipment are required to protect life and/or property. Because of this mission and the nature of their work, the attention to safety equipment is of the utmost importance.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION:
The IVS Team is comprised of thirty eight (38) members which includes ten Rialto Police operators. Each operator is equipped with a tactical entry vest comprised of components designed to protect the neck, arm, and groin areas. In May, 2014, Rialto SWAT members were issued new tactical entry vests, custom fitted to the specific body type of each officer, with a five (5) year warranty that has since expired. Only three officers remain on the team who were custom fitted for these entry vests. The remaining seven (7) are using expired vests used by previous operators assigned to IVS in the past. These vests do not properly fit their specific body types and can be cumbersome to perform maneuvers or complete some physical tasks.
For several months, members of the IVS Team have been researching and product testing of new tactical entry vests. With the input from all members and after testing several entry vests from various manufacturers, a unanimous decision was reached in favor of Aardvark’s Project 7 entry vest. Aardvark is one of the leading manufacturers in regards to this of entry vests and has outfitted several surrounding law enforcement agencies. Fontana Police Department IVS members have recently purchased the Project 7 entry vest along with a matching battle belt. The battle belt works in conjunction with the vest and adds additional ballistic coverage to the officer’s lower back, waist, and hips. The battle belt system also provides back support similar to that of a workout belt, increasing the ability to help prevent injuries of the back caused by the weight of gear/equipment each IVS member carries during extended IVS operations.
This purchase is a sole source purchase based on standardization and uniformity of existing entry vests purchased by other members of the IVS SWAT Team. Aardvark has been approved through the City of Rialto’s Purchasing Department as a sole source provider for standardization of this product.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
The request is not a “Project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Pursuant to Section 15378(a), a “Project” means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. According to Section 15378(b), a Project does not include: (5) Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY:
The City of Rialto has outlined key goals and objectives relating to public safety.
Goal 5-8: Provide effective and comprehensive policing services that meet the safety needs of Rialto.
Policy 5-8.4: Initiate proactive crime suppression and prevention strategies throughout the community.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed and approved this staff report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Operating Budget Impact
Funding is budgeted and available in the 2016/2017 California Citizens Option for Public Safety (COPS) Allocation Account No. 214-500-6973-2021 for the total purchase amount of $31,968.25 for ten (10) Project 7 Entry Vests from Aardvark.
Per Rialto Municipal Code Section: 2.48.145 a vendor disclosure form is attached.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
This report does not impact the Capital Improvement Budget.
Licensing
This action does not trigger a requirement for a business license.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the purchase of ten (10) Project 7 Entry Vests, Xtreme Level 3A with attachments and matching battle belt for Rialto Police Inland Valley SWAT (IVS) Team members from Aardvark in the amount of $31,968.25.