S78 – E31180: Approve the purchase of drone equipment from Granite Defense Technologies, Inc. through the Interlocal Agreement for Cooperative Purchasing with the Texas Local Government Purchasing Cooperative (Buyboard) in the total amount of $33,877.00 for the Houston Fire Department (HFD).
Specific Explanation:
The Chief of the Houston Fire Department and Chief Procurement Officer recommend that City Council approve the purchase of drone equipment through the Interlocal Agreement for Cooperative Purchasing with the Texas Local Purchasing Cooperative (Buyboard) in the total amount of $33,877.00 and that authorization be given to issue a purchase order to Granite Defense Technologies, Inc.
The drone will be used by HFD personnel to gain a sky-eye view of fire scenes and to assist in emergency response. The device is critical and helpful during emergency operations for accessing risk and danger, monitoring fire conditions, assessing structural damage, conducting search and rescue operations, assisting in the creation of fire plans, and creating training materials. Drones help incident commanders with more complete information by capturing snapshots about response operations in real-time.
The drone equipment will come with the standard one-year warranty from the manufacturer and the life expectancy is five-plus years. The vendor shall deliver the drone equipment 90 days from the receipt of the purchase order.
On July 20, 2021, this vendor was issued a purchase order totaling $49,990.00 for aircraft drone equipment. With the issuance of this purchase order for $33,877.00 the aggregate total spend will be $83,867.00, and therefore requires City Council approval.
This recommendation is made pursuant to subsection 271.102 (c) of the Texas Local Government Code, which provides that “a local government that purchases goods or services satisfies any state law requiring the local government to seek competitive bids for the purchase of the goods or services. "
M/WBE Participation:
This procurement is exempt from the City’s M/WBE subcontracting as the total project expenditure does not exceed the $100,000.00 City’s threshold.
Hire Houston First:
This procurement is exempt from the City’s Hire Houston First Ordinance. Bids/proposals were not solicited because the department is utilizing an Interlocal/Cooperative Purchasing Agreement for this purchase.
Fiscal Note:
No significant Fiscal Operating impact is anticipated as a result of this project.
__________________________________ ___________________________________
Jerry Adams, Chief Procurement Officer Department Approval Authority
Finance/Strategic Procurement Division
Estimated Spending Authority
|
Department
|
FY2022
|
Out Years
|
Total
|
|
Houston Fire Department
|
$33,877.00
|
$0
|
$33,877.00
|