Discuss, consider and take appropriate action on approving the purchase of Knox Box equipment in the amount of $6,806.60 and exempting this purchase from competitive bidding requirements as per Texas Local Government Code Discretionary Exemption TLGC 262.024. (7) (D).

The county currently owns the Knox Master system which will be upgraded to the new electronic version to eliminate the potential for major cost to the county in the future. The original command box system was purchased about 2 or 3 years ago.
A Knox Key is what the Fire Service utilizes to gain access to every business/building in their city with one key versus having a separate key for each business/building. The Knox company has devised a new system called an Electronic Key (https://www.knoxbox.com/knox-elock-system/). With this upgrade businesses and/or buildings will have to change out their core to replace the mechanical key with the electronic key, so it is imperative to initiate the upgrade as soon as possible to allow time for businesses and/or buildings to do so. After the upgrade, a Firefighter can gain access to the building with an electronic key that is programed to only be valid for a set amount of time. The time frame that the key is valid is customizable and can be set for just a couple hours, or few days, but not to exceed 7 days. This feature significantly mitigates risk if the key is ever lost or stolen.
FMSO recommends that it is in the of best interest of the County to upgrade to this system as soon as possible. The department has requested this upgrade in their 2020, but due to the criticalness of upgrading as soon as possible, has also analyzed the current budget to find a way to immediately facilitate the upgrade. Since the adoption of the FY19 budget, FMSO was able to obtain grant funding for HazMat 360 and for Mercury detection equipment, both of which were originally funded in the FY19 general fund FMSO budget,  therefore freeing up funds to purchase the upgrade in FY19 and eliminate the FY20 budget request to upgrade. This quote is for the equipment and also includes a 1 YR cloud license fee in the amount of $849.60. This line item transfer was approved in Commissioners Court on April 30, 2019 under agenda item#7 to facilitate the purchase of the upgrade in FY19, in lieu of requesting funds in FY20. Funding Source: 01.0100.0542.003001.