To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Scott Kellar, Homeland Security Coordinator, North Central Region
Prepared By:
prepared
Justin Kanaber, Homeland Security Resource Support Analyst, North Central Region
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presenter
Presenter: Scott Kellar, Homeland Security Coordinator, North Central Region
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Subject:
title
9:30 AM *North Central Region Bomb Dog Robot Purchase
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
The purpose of this request is to approve a sole source waiver per the purchasing policies for the purchase of a bomb dog robot. The bomb robot will be available as a regionally shared asset for use across the North Central Region (NCR) and housed/maintained by the Denver Police Department. The NCR will fund the equipment purchase through Homeland Security Grant Program funding and will be purchased at no cost to Arapahoe County.
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Background and Discussion: The Denver Police Department is requesting the purchase of this specific asset to be utilized by the Denver Police Bomb Squad, Denver Police SWAT team and regional partners throughout the Colorado North Central Region for Homeland Security as needed. Robotic platforms perform a fundamental role in support of improvised explosive device mitigation and render safe procedures, tactical law enforcement missions, hazardous materials operations, search and rescue, surveillance and detection, and critical infrastructure protection. The Denver Police Bomb Squad has extensively researched these types of new technology and have participated in a number of product demonstrations by Bomb Dog Robot vendors. Denver Police Bomb Squad members have been able to operate all of the available types of bomb dog robots on the market and have determined that the Boston Dynamics Spot bomb dog robot is the optimal product for their requirements.
Fiscal Impact: There is no fiscal impact to Arapahoe County. This project is fully funded through the Homeland Security Grant Program funding. Any further add-ons / ongoing sustainment and/or maintenance costs for the unit are the responsibility of the Denver Police Department and their bomb squad.
Alternatives: At this time, the equipment being requested (bomb robot) is available through one vendor (RadeCo Inc.) who is a distributor for the original equipment manufacturer Boston Dynamics. The Boston Dynamics product clearly outperformed the other vendor’s products during physical demonstrations attended by Denver Police bomb squad members. Specifically, the Boston Dynamics product: Met or exceeded all of the requirements and specifications identified by Denver Police Bomb Squad members and other Regional partners. These specifications are identified in detail within Appendix 1 of this memo. Key performance measures included robot speed, agility, camera and lighting capabilities, over-all size and weight, and the capability for interchangeable batteries. The Boston Dynamics product most easily met Denver PD Bomb Squad expectations for overall ease in handling of the asset, how quickly and easily it was able to get up when it was turned over and its ability to have other weight placed on it. It has the ability to add an “arm” that allows the user to “manually or semi-autonomously grasp, lift, carry, place, and drag a wide variety of objects, including valve handles, doorknobs, tools, etc.” The arm will allow the robot to open doors, pick, place, push or drag objects with the push of a button or swipe of a screen. Other vendor products do not have this option.
Alignment with Strategic Plan:
☒Be fiscally sustainable
☒Provide essential and mandated service
☒Be community focused
Staff Recommendation: NCR staff, after consultation with the Denver Police Department bomb squad subject matter experts, recommends the use of a sole source vendor or RadeCo, Inc. for the acquisition of the Boston Dynamics Spot Bomb Dog Robot.
Concurrence: The North Central Region Board of Directors concurs with this recommendation. In addition, the five Type 1 Regional Bomb Teams also concur and support the acquisition of the Boston Dynamics Spot Bomb Dog Robot and its associated equipment. The robot and its associated equipment will be maintained and utilized as a Regional asset and will directly address our strategic goal of enhancing EOD/Bomb Response Tactical Teams across the North Central Region.