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Contract Renewal- Automated License Plate Readers, Cameras and Software
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INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dorothy Thomas, Union County Sheriff’s Office, Public Safety Finance Administrator, 704-283-3578
ACTION REQUESTED:
Authorize the County Manager to 1) negotiate and execute an agreement substantially consistent with this agenda item, 2) exercise any renewal or extension term options set forth in the Agreement, and 3) terminate the Agreement if deemed in the best interest of the County, each in the County Manager's discretion.
PRIOR BOARD ACTIONS:
April 3, 2023, Regular Meeting, Agenda Item #23-179- Approved two-year initial contract for ten License Plate Readers and software.
BACKGROUND:
Flock Safety, Inc. is a large manufacturer for automated license plate readers (ALPRs) that capture computer-readable images of license plates for vehicles that pass cameras installed along the roadways These high-tech devices allow law enforcement agencies to compare plate numbers against those of stolen cars, as well as identify vehicles connected to the commission of crimes. Over 70% of crimes committed involve the use of a vehicle. Flock Safety has the ability capture vehicles traveling at speeds up to 100 MPH and at a distance of 75 feet, regardless of the time of day. Once images are captured, the camera instantly uploads them into Flock’s securely encrypted cloud server. Law enforcement can search by vehicle type, make, color, license plate (partial, missing, or covered plates), temporary plates, license plate state, and more. With the Flock Safety network, our agency is not limited to cameras within Union County; we can connect and collaborate with adjacent agencies and nearby privately-owned cameras in neighborhoods to extend our reach and multiply our search capacity. Flock Safety’s network provides centralized data collection, combined with sophisticated database search tools, retrospective searches, analysis, and movement tracking opportunities. Robust functionality allows law enforcement to access real-time information such as suspicious activity, intelligence reports, and analysis of vehicle behavior. The partnership between the Union County Sheriff’s Office and Flock Safety has resulted in the identification of suspects involved in violent crimes leading to faster than average case resolution. The contract that has been submitted includes a continuation of the current services provided by Flock Safety, as well as an expansion to include the Flock NOVA database. This database allows investigators to search for and research persons of interest and suspects in ongoing investigations. NOVA is a cross-platform design which integrates Flock’s ALPRs into the database, which continuously adds and updates information. Many law enforcement agencies are migrating to this platform due to its ability to link information housed in the database to the active case files. FLOCK NOVA does not require licensed access, allowing utilization throughout the agency. Additionally, the proposal provides several live feed cameras that will be placed throughout the county, on the main thoroughfares. The UCSO’s Real Time Crime Center will serve as the hub for the monitoring of those camera feeds. Most recently, the Sheriff’s Office has contracted with Thomson Reuters West for database services like those outlined above. That contract has not been renewed and the budgeted funds, approximately $32,000, will be allocated to the Flock Safety, Inc. Contract. The Union County Sheriff's Office has utilized the contractual services of Flock Group, Inc. for Automated License Plate Readers since April of 2022. Flock Group, Inc. has been effective and efficient in meeting our Automated License Plate Reader needs. The addition of the Flock NOVA database and live feed cameras will greatly enhance our investigative toolkit. The additional funding required to meet the full cost of the contract has been identified within the FY2026 budget, to include utilizing funds paid by the contract municipalities, as they will see a great deal of benefit from this upgraded technology. The Sheriff’s Office has utilized the contractual services of Flock Safety for License Plate Reader Services since 2022. The vendor has been effective and efficient in meeting our service needs, and we are requesting to continue this service for an additional two years and add the Flock NOVA Database.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The anticipated first-year cost for this service is $145,600.00 and the anticipated second-year cost for this service is $142,500.00. Since the contract term is for two years, a total of $288,100.00 is estimated to be spent. Funding is available in the adopted FY26 budget with future expenditures subject to annual BOCC budget appropriation.