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COUNTY OF SAN MATEO
Inter-Departmental Correspondence
SHERIFF’S OFFICE
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DATE:
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January 5, 2010
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BOARD MEETING DATE:
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March 23, 2010
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SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:
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None
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VOTE REQUIRED:
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Majority
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TO:
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Honorable Board of Supervisors
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FROM:
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Sheriff Greg Munks, Office of Emergency Services Area Coordinator
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SUBJECT:
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Purchase of a Talon Generation IV Robot for use by the San Mateo County’s Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad
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RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a Resolution:
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A)
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Waiving the Competitive Bid Process; and
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B)
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Authorizing the Purchasing Agent to purchase a Talon Generation IV Robot from Talon –Robotics, a division of Foster-Miller in the amount of $117,659
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BACKGROUND:
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The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad received funding from the FY 09 State Homeland Security Grant to purchase a Talon Generation IV Robot that has the capability to perform intricate tasks as well as remotely detect chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear material.
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DISCUSSION:
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The threat posed by acts of terrorism continues to grow. This threat includes an increased sophistication in the manufacture of improvised devices that include bioterrorism, chemical, and radiological components. It is imperative that allied agencies continue to work collaboratively in order to adequately address this ongoing threat. The purchase of the Talon Generation IV Robot will not only be an asset to the Sheriff’s Bomb Squad, but also to the County Hazardous Material Team and Environmental Health.
The proposed purchase of the Talon Generation IV Robot from Talon-Robotics will give the Sheriff’s Bomb Squad, as well as the Hazardous Material team, the ability to remotely detect chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear material without having a human being in a potential hot zone to deploy detection equipment.
Since Talon is the only manufacturer currently building Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRNE) detection equipped robots with the versatility and power to perform the tasks encountered by bomb technicians, it would be in the best interest of the County to waive the competitive bid process based on Talon-Robotics being a sole source manufacturer.
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County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Resolution as to form.
Approval of this Board Memo contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of a Collaborative Community by the collaboration of Fire, Law, and Environmental Agencies to share resources that enhance the ability to prevent, deter, respond, and recover from threats and incidents of terrorism, as well as ensure the safety of first responders.
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Performance Measure(s):
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Measure
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FY 2008-09
Actual
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FY 2009-10
Projected
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Number of incidents responded to by the Bomb Squad
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92
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95
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FISCAL IMPACT:
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The cost of the Talon Generation IV Robot is $117,659.00 and will be funded through the FY 09 State Homeland Security Grant. The cost of this equipment has been included in the Sheriff’s Office FY 2009-10 Adopted Budget. There is no net County cost.
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