To: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
From: Fabio Rodriguez, Chief of Police
Prepared By: Kris Jenny, Police Lieutenant
TITLE:
Title
Meridian Mobile Vehicle Barriers for the Police Department
LABEL
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommendation
Adopt a resolution approving and authorizing the City Manager to execute on behalf of the City a purchase order agreement with Meridian Rapid Defense Group Sales, LLC for the purchase of Archer Barriers and related equipment in an amount not to exceed $295,855.91
Body
DISCUSSION:
The Police Department seeks to enhance public safety at special events and critical infrastructure locations through the purchase of mobile barrier systems from Meridian Rapid Defense Group Sales LLC (“Meridian”). The barrier equipment will provide vehicle mitigation and crowd protection consistent with best practices in urban safety.
The purchase includes:
- Two Archer T-1000 Drop Deck Trailers
- Sixteen Archer 1200 Barriers
- One Archer Beam Gate 2.0
- One Archer Rapid Gate Kit
- Fourteen Archer Arrestor Cables (4 ft.)
- Twenty-eight ADA Cable Protectors
- Three Archer Field Tow Bars
- Three Archer Manual Haulers 2.0
- One Wayfinding Package
- Freight charges
The system is modular, rapidly deployable, and compliant with federal GSA standards. The Archer system has been tested and deployed at high-profile events across the nation. Archer Barricades have been used locally at the July 4th Parade, BottleRock Music Festival, and La Onda Music Festival. Meridian is the sole manufacturer and distributor of this equipment, and staff recommends procurement under the City's specialty item provisions in NMC 2.91.050 (Attachment 2).
SAFETY ACT CONTEXT: Meridian Rapid Defense Group equipment is recognized as a qualified anti-terrorism technology under the Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act (SAFETY Act), enacted as part of the Homeland Security Act of 2002. The Safety Act provides liability protections to vendors and end-users of certified anti-terrorism technologies, including flow-through protections for customers such as municipalities. Incorporating Safety Act-qualified technology into city operations enhances risk management by reducing potential liability exposure related to acts of terrorism or large-scale security incidents.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
The purchase of the Meridian Barriers purposes no budget impact on the Police Department’s operating budget. The Police Department has sufficient budget in the Non-Recurring General Fund (10121306) to purchase the Meridian Barriers in an amount not to exceed $295,855.91 with funds received from the Citizens’ Option for Public Safety (COPS) Grant.
Consequences: If this purchase is not approved, the City will lack a proven vehicle mitigation system and will remain dependent on borrowing or renting barriers from other jurisdictions, potentially reducing readiness for planned and unplanned events
CEQA:
The Chief of Police has determined that the Recommended Action described in this agenda report is not subject to CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c).
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
ATCH 1 – Meridian Barriers Quote #QUO-S-12073
ATCH 2 – Meridian Barriers Sole Source Form
ATCH 3 – Resolution
NOTIFICATION:
None.