TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Talyn Mirzakhanian, City Manager
FROM:
Rachel Johnson, Chief of Police
Christian Eichenlaub, Police Captain
Justin Hidalgo, Police Lieutenant
Joe Udeoji, Police Sergeant
Arai White, Police Officer
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of a Resolution Waiving Formal Bidding and Authorizing the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute a Sole-Source Two-Year Agreement with Flock Group, Inc. for Drone as First Responder Program (DFR) in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $300,000 (Budgeted) (Police Chief Johnson).
(Estimated Time: 30 Mins.)
A) ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 26-0007
B) WAIVE FORMAL BIDDING
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RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council:
a) Adopt Resolution No. 26-0007 waiving formal bidding and authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute a sole-source two-year agreement with Flock Group, Inc. for DFR Program in an amount not-to-exceed $300,000; and
b) Waive formal bidding per Municipal Code Section 2.36.140 (waivers).
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FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
The cost of services in FY 2025-2026 is $150,000. Sufficient funds are included in the Police Department’s FY 2025-2026 State Law Enforcement Services (SLES) Fund budget. There are unreserved SLES funds available to cover the $150,000 cost of Year 2, and these funds will be budgeted accordingly for FY 2026-2027.
BACKGROUND:
The deployment of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or drones, by public safety organizations across the country has proven invaluable in mitigating risk, improving efficiency, and preventing injury for both the public and first responders. The Police Department is proposing to implement a DFR program, a versatile tool that will assist in officer response to calls, search and rescue efforts, and promote event security.
In response to community concerns with quality of life issues - especially at the beach, downtown, and commercial areas - the Police Department has researched DFR program implementation to increase situational awareness, reduce response times, and support community policing. A DFR program also provides shared-use opportunities with Fire Services and homeless outreach teams.
The DFR program is an initiative designed to integrate drone technology into the Police Department’s emergency response framework. The drones will be dispatched from the Watch Commander’s Office, and in the future a Real Time Crime Center (RTCC), to assist with critical incidents such as 911 priority calls, search and rescue missions, high-risk operations, public events, and crime scene assessments.
By providing real-time aerial intelligence, the drones will enhance situational awareness, allowing officers to make better decisions and respond more effectively. On average, the department responds to over 45,000 calls for service per year, including more than 2,000 Priority 1 calls requiring immediate emergency response. Currently, the Police Department relies on air support from local agency helicopters on a mutual aid basis for emergency response only. However, these resources often face delays in response times, prompting the need for DFR to provide rapid, on-demand drone deployment for critical in-progress incidents.
Moreover, drones can reduce the number of resources dispatched to high-priority calls, improving both efficiency and cost-effectiveness. By quickly assessing emergencies, drones can determine if additional personnel or equipment are needed. In some cases, the drone alone may be sufficient, eliminating the need for further dispatch and freeing up resources for other incidents. This optimizes response times, reduces wear and tear on vehicles, and minimizes fuel costs, all while enhancing overall resource allocation.
DISCUSSION:
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a two-year agreement with Flock Group, Inc. to provide hardware, implementation, software licensing, and training for the DFR program at a cost of $150,000 per year.
The drones are equipped with high-resolution cameras, thermal imaging, and various sensors to enhance real-time monitoring of incidents. The docking station will ensure that the drones are quickly recharged and maintained, while the software provides a centralized platform for control and data analysis. By integrating this technology, the DFR Program will strengthen the Police Department’s ability to respond to emergencies, assist with missing persons searches, disaster response, high-risk assessments, and support large public events. The drones will provide critical intelligence, enabling officers to make informed decisions that improve safety and reduce response times.
Under Municipal Code Section 2.36.140, City Council can waive purchasing procedures to fit a specific purchase when such waiver is not in violation of state law. The recommended purchase is not open to competitive bidding because of the unique nature of the goods and software services provided by Flock Group. Flock Group, Inc. is the sole manufacturer, developer, and distributor of the Flock Safety DFR Platform. The Flock Safety DFR Solution is a fully remote, fully automated drone platform that combines Aerodome technology with a proprietary radar system and automated battery swapping/charging abilities, enabling nearly continuous flight. Its use in support of police operations is designed to rapidly respond to high-priority calls, reducing response times and providing critical situational awareness. Aerodome flight software provides real-time data sharing and improves emergency response efficiency. Its capabilities include Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, allowing drones to be operated remotely without a visual observer. Accessible from mobile devices, the system also generates detailed flight logs and mission reports, meeting FAA and internal reporting requirements automatically.
Flock Group, Inc. will assist with navigating the evolving regulatory landscape governing unmanned air systems, including Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approvals. They will also provide Live911 integration, a feature that streams active 911 calls directly to the DFR interface in real time. This functionality enables drone pilots to gain immediate situational awareness of unfolding incidents, reducing response times and enhancing decision-making in critical moments. By delivering 911 audio directly to the drone system, Live911 ensures that operators receive up-to-the-second information, allowing the Manhattan Beach Police Department to deploy drones with precision and efficiency.
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 26-0007 waiving formal bidding and authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute a two-year agreement with Flock Group, Inc. to provide hardware, implementation, software licensing, and training for the DFR program at a cost of $150,000 per year.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The City has reviewed the proposed project for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the project qualifies for a Class 11 categorical exemption pursuant to Section 15311 (Accessory Structures) of the State CEQA Guidelines because it consists of the placement of minor equipment on an existing public safety facility to enhance public safety operations. Therefore, no further environmental review is required.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney and the Risk Manager will review the negotiated agreement for the purpose of approving such agreement as to legal form.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution No. 26-0007
2. Sole Source Justification Letter
3. PowerPoint Presentation