Professional Services for H29670 - Approve spending authority in the total amount of $72,874.00 for MD Helicopter Pilot and Mechanical Training Services from MD Helicopters, Inc. for the Houston Police Department.
Specific Explanation:
The Chief of the Houston Police Department and the Chief Procurement Officer recommend that City Council approve spending authority for the purchase of professional services from MD Helicopters, Inc. in the total amount of $72,874.00 for Helicopter Pilot and Mechanical Training Services for the Houston Police Department's Air Support Division (ASD) and that authorization be given to issue a purchase order.
MD Helicopter, Inc.'s factory-based authorized pilot flight training services will include recurrent and transition training for (9) Houston Police Department (HPD) helicopter pilots. Such flight training is a basic component of achieving and maintaining proficiency in the skills required to safely and effectively operate the eight (8) MD 500E patrol helicopters owned and utilized by HPD. Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires all licensed pilots to complete a flight review biennially.
The MD Helicopters, Inc. factory-authorized training courses are conducted by FAA-Certified Flight Instructors (CFI's) who are authorized to conduct flight training in accordance with Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) 61.193 (Flight Instructor Privileges).
For 2021, ASD has seven (7) pilots that require recurrent flight training and two (2) new pilots that will require necessary transition training from the small, piston-engine training aircraft to the larger, more complex turbine-engine powered MD 500E patrol helicopter. ASD recently hired two (2) aircraft mechanics that require advanced mechanical training. The MD 500 Airframe Maintenance Course will provide instruction on how to effectively maintain the HPD's MD500E helicopter fleet in accordance with the manufacturer's standards.
One of the primary benefits of the factory authorized flight training is that the emergency procedures taught and practiced during these courses, including full-on auto rotations to the ground, are performed in factory-owned MD 500E’s and are conducted at the MD Helicopters, Inc. factory located in Mesa, Arizona.
The vendor's price reflects a 10% multi-pilot discount for a savings of $8,096.00. The training courses are scheduled to be conducted between November 2020 through December 2021.
This recommendation is made pursuant to subsection 252.022(a)(4) of the Texas Local Government Code, which provides that "a procurement for personal, professional, or planning services" is exempt from competitive bidding.
MWBE Participation:
This procurement is exempt from the City’s M/WBE subcontracting as the total expenditure does not exceed the $100,000.00 City’s threshold.
Hire Houston First:
The proposed contract requires compliance with the City’s “Hire Houston First” (HHF) ordinance. Bids/proposals were not solicited because the department is utilizing a professional service contractor for this purchase.
Fiscal Note:
Funding for this item is included in the FY2021 Adopted Budget. Therefore, no Fiscal Note is required as stated in the Financial Policies.
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Jerry Adams, Chief Procurement Officer
Department Approval Authority
Finance/Strategic Procurement Division
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Department
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FY2021
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Out Years
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Total
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Houston Police Department
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$ 72,874.00
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$ 0.00
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$ 72,874.00
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