Consideration and Approval of Contract:  Purchase of (75) Police Patrol Rifles and accompanying accessories/equipment from Cats Arms LLC dba Sionics Weapon Systems, in an amount not to exceed $178,999.55, for the Flagstaff Police Department.
 

1. Approve the Purchase Contract with Cats Arms LLC dba Sionics Weapon Systems, in an amount not to exceed $178,999.55, for Police Patrol Rifles for the Flagstaff Police Department; and
2.  Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents.

This is a request to approve the purchase of (75) Police Patrol Rifles, in an amount not to exceed $178,999.55, for the Flagstaff Police Department. The Flagstaff Police Department has been utilizing personally owned and department issued patrol based rifles in the execution of everyday law enforcement duties since 2008. The need for Police Officers to carry a more accurate, functional, and effective weapon system, such as the AR15 based patrol rifle, has not only been established as a national standard over the last 30 years, but has become a necessity in everyday police functions in order to maintain a higher level of service to the communities our officers are sworn to protect.
 
With the onset of ever-increasing and more prevalent active attack events in cities nationwide, the need for a tool that delivers effective firepower, at greater distances, with extreme accuracy has become a required tool for everyday Police Officers. The City of Flagstaff has seen a rise in attendance at large public gatherings and events over the last two decades, resulting in our citizens and guests being exposed to a higher risk of being present and victimized during a potential attack. School threats are ever increasing, and a rifle provides officers the ability to quickly and effectively stop violent threats and protect our most vulnerable population, our children.
 
The purchase of these rifles will allow the Department to issue vital equipment to its officers that provides necessary public safety equipment.
 

During Fiscal Year 2023-2024, the Budget Team approved the purchase of (20) Rifles for the Police Department to begin the process of issuing this vital equipment, and the Uniform Reimbursement benefit at FPD ceased to exist. The police department has since purchased and issued these rifles to patrol officers. During Fiscal Year 2024-2025, the Budget Team approved $179,000.00 to complete the purchase of (75) additional rifles in order to fully outfit every remaining sworn officer at FPD with a patrol rifle.
 
These rifles are robust and have an expected service life of approximately 10-15 years when maintained effectively on an annual basis. The department currently employs four certified rifle armorers to maintain these rifles at no additional cost. These rifles are expected to last closer to 20 years, prior to requiring complete replacement. This in effect is a true one-time cost to the city, over the next two decades, to provide law enforcement with vital equipment to fulfill the departments duty to effectively serve and protect the citizens of Flagstaff from violent crime.

Project Name: Police Patrol Rifles
Cost: $178,999.55
Account Number Budgeted: 001-04-061-0221-2-4353
FY Budgeted Amount: $179,000.00
Grant Funded: No
Funding Source: General Fund One-Time

N/A

The City of Flagstaff identified a state-contract between the City of Scottsdale and Sionics Weapons Systems, which provided a comparable scope of service. Previous analysis and quotations obtained from various rifle vendors indicated that Sionics Weapons Systems maintained the lowest cost of each vendor while simultaneously providing premium quality components.
 

In 2008, the Flagstaff Police Department approved patrol rifles to be used in police operations. Some rifles were obtained from the US ARMY’s LESO program for use in Law Enforcement. These rifles are still used to this day, with upgraded components purchased in FY 2023-2024. FPD previously permitted sworn personnel to utilize their Uniform Reimbursement to purchase rifles for use on duty. The Uniform Reimbursement was updated to a Uniform Allowance in 2023-2024, which excludes reimbursement for equipment. As a result, the Police Department is required to provide department-issued critical equipment (ie: Rifles) to each sworn officer. These rifles will be used on patrol on a daily basis for a variety of situations, to include response to violent crimes involving weapons, school/business threats, political VIP events, large event gatherings, and humane dispatching of injured animals.
The City's Procurement team worked with Scottsdale's Procurement team to utilize their agency contract for a piggy-back purchase. City of Scottsdale conducted a competitive and open procurement process through Request for Proposals 20PB021 that resulted in Contract No. 20PB021 with Contractor. 
 

High Performing Governance – By providing sworn Officers with patrol rifles, the City will improve the ability for the Flagstaff Police department to perform their public safety duties by providing officers with an effective tool to support and safeguard victims of violent crime.
Safe and Healthy Community – The ability for sworn police officers to respond in the field to critical incidents with this vital tool is crucial to their day to day and emergency job response functions. Officers are tasked with responding to often tense, uncertain and rapidly evolving situations, and need to be equipped with modern tools in order to be prepared for handling the events of a call, not only for their safety, but in keeping the greater public safe. The rifles are also suppressed which will reduce noise pollution to the community when deployed and reduce potential injury to officer’s hearing when in use.
 

Goal PF.3 – Provide high quality emergency response and public safety services including law enforcement, fire, medical, and ambulance transport service.
 

Health and Safety – Improve police interaction with the community by reducing noise pollution and protecting officer’s and citizens hearing when deployed.
 

None

Provide Officers with critical equipment in order to provide exemplary service to the Citizens of Flagstaff through the establishment of a partnership of shared responsibility, support, and trust with the law abiding members of the community.