Professional Services (E32514) - Approve spending authority in the total amount of $100,363.50 for professional services for MD Helicopter Pilot Flight Training from MD Helicopters, Inc. for the Houston Police Department.
Specific Explanation:
The Chief of the Houston Police Department and the Interim 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 $100,363.50 for Helicopter Pilot Flight Training Services for the Houston Police Department's Air Support Division (ASD) and that authorization be given to issue a purchase order.
The factory authorized pilot flight training services includes recurrent, transition and maintenance test flight procedures which are components of achieving and maintaining proficiency in the skills required to operate safely and effectively the five (5) MD 500E patrol helicopters owned and operated by the Houston Police Department (HPD). For 2022, ASD has thirteen (13) pilots that need recurrent flight training which includes a required Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) biennial flight review. The division currently has 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. 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 which are conducted at the MD Helicopters, Inc. factory located in Mesa, Arizona.
MD Helicopters, Inc. is the provider of MD Helicopter factory authorized training courses, and the training is conducted by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Certified Flight Instructors (CFI's) who are authorized to conduct flight training in accordance with Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) 61.193 (Flight Instructor Privileges). As such, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires licensed pilots to complete these flight training services.
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 the competitive requirements for purchases.
MWBE Participation:
Zero-participation goal document approved by the Office of Business Opportunity.
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 FY2023 Adopted Budget. Therefore, no Fiscal Note is required as stated in the Financial Policies.
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Jedediah Greenfield
Interim Chief Procurement Officer
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Department Approval Authority
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Estimated Spending Authority
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Department
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FY2023
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Out-Years
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Award Amount
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Houston Police Department
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$100,363.50
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$0.00
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$100,363.50
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