Placement: Consent Agenda
Action Requested: Motion / Vote
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Approve Amendment #8 to Contract #20220014 for the Purchase of Axon’s Drone as First Responder (DFR) Program.
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Submitted By: Kevin Eggleston, Procurement Contracting Officer I, Procurement Management Division (PMD).
Strategic Plan Link: The City's Goal of a high-performing city government organization.
Summary Brief (Agreements/Contracts only)
1. Prepared by: Kevin Eggleston, Procurement Contracting Officer I, PMD.
2. Parties: City of Port St. Lucie and Axon Enterprise, Inc.
3. Purpose: The purpose of the Drone as First Responder (DFR) Program is to enhance emergency response by providing faster deployment, real-time intelligence, and improved officer and community safety.
4. New/Renewal/Modified: Modified.
5. Duration: The term of the Contract will be sixty (60) months.
6. Benefits to Port St. Lucie: The Drone as First Responder (DFR) Program will provide faster emergency response times, real-time aerial intelligence, enhanced officer and community safety, reduced reliance on higher-cost aerial assets, and operational efficiencies through force multiplication and triage of lower-priority calls.
7. Cost to Port St. Lucie (Annual and Potential): The prorated cost for the first year (2025) is $322,161.72. For years 2026 through 2029, the annual cost will be $926,214.97. The cumulative total cost over the sixty (60) month Contract term is $4,027,021.60.
Presentation Information: N/A.
Staff Recommendation: Move that the Council approve Amendment #8 to Contract #20220014 for the Purchase of Axon’s Drone as First Responder (DFR) Program.
Alternate Recommendations:
1. Move that the Council amend the recommendation and approve Amendment #8 to Contract 20220014.
2. Move that the Council not approve Amendment #8 to Contract #20170132 and provide staff with direction.
Background: The Port St. Lucie Police Department seeks to implement a Drone as First Responder (DFR) Program utilizing Skydio drone technology in partnership with Axon. The program will deploy six (6) drones and docking stations strategically across the City, supported by Cedrone radar technology and fully integrated into the planned Real Time Public Safety Operations Center (RTPSOC) through Axon’s Fusus platform. The DFR program is designed to improve emergency response times by deploying drones within 1-2 minutes of a 911 call, often arriving before the first unit. This provides officers with real-time aerial intelligence, enhances safety for both officers and the community, supports search and rescue operations with thermal and visual imaging, reduces reliance on higher-cost aerial assets, and increases operational efficiency through triage of lower-priority calls. Because the Police Department already partners with Axon, the proposed contract amendment also includes approximately $960,000 in added value through free hardware, software, and infrastructure, further strengthening the City’s return on investment. To take advantage of these added value attributes, the attached Quote was signed, however, the Quote becomes terminable if Council does not approve this item.
Issues/Analysis: Staff has reviewed the proposed Drone as First Responder (DFR) Program agreement with Axon and finds that it meets the operational needs of the City and complies with the City’s procurement requirements.
Financial Information: Funds to be appropriated in Police Department account (001-2105-564400).
Special Consideration: N/A.
Location of Project: Various locations around the city.
Attachments:
1. Amendment #8.
2. Amendment #7.
3. Amendment #6.
4. Amendment #5.
5. Amendment #4.
6. Amendment #3.
7. Amendment #2.
8. Amendment #1.
9. Original Contract.
NOTE: All of the listed items in the “Attachment” section above are in the custody of the City Clerk. Any item(s) not provided in City Council packets are available upon request from the City Clerk.
Internal Reference Number: 25269-08.
Legal Sufficiency Review:
Reviewed by Alyssa Lunin, Senior Deputy City Attorney. Approved as to Legal form and sufficiency by Richard Berrios, City Attorney.