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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter 2Tactical ®.Electronics PO. Box 152 / Broken Mow, OK 74013-0152 to ct i ca laloctrontoa.cam 1 6SEPO5 City of Miami Purchasing Department Pam Bums 444 SW 2nd Ave, 6th Floor Miami, FL 33130 Re: Supplement Sole Source Justification for PCSS1, UDC2, VFS1 Kits With regard to the equipment for which you have requested bid pricing information, Tactical Electronics, L.L.C. is the original equipment manufacturer of the required items. The equipment is proprietary to Tactical Electronics, L.L.C. It alone possesses the necessary engineering drawings, specifications and parts to manufacture the equipment. Furthermore, our wireless cameras and monitors are swappable, so the kits can be used in conjunction with each other during operation. This is done with our 4-channel off -commercial band wireless monitors that CANNOT be used interchangeably with any other system on the market today. Therefore, any single item from another manufacturer used to replace one of the three kits offered by Tactical Electronics would not work nor could it be modified to communicate with any other Tactical Electronics camera system. PCSS1 Pole Camera Search System There is no other Pole Camera offered by any other manufacturer with interchangeable black and white and color camera heads. Tactical Electronics PCSS 1 is the only such video search tool that uses a, "quick connect, disconnect system," for our camera heads and extension poles to allow ease of use and assembly even in the most challenging operational conditions. In addition, it is highly portable, being the lightest and most compact system available. Other commercially available systems weigh upwards of twelve (12) pounds, and some have battery packs that weigh up to six (6) pounds. Tactical enectronics P.O. Bar 152 I Broken Arrow, OK 74013-0152 tacticaleleclronica.cam Our entire system uses COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf) 3V Lithium batteries that allow ours to weigh only 2.75 lbs. Our batteries provide operators with run times in excess of six (6) hours, whereas competing systems generally only allow for less than two (2) hours of runtime and exceedingly long amounts of charging time. Our system was designed for USSOCOM to their strenuous requirements for special operators who know what they want from a pole camera. Over the years, they have used and tested every system available and they came to us to have the PCSS1 designed. We have over 300 in service with US Special Operations cells worldwide. Our system is available ONLY to military, law enforcement, and government activities. The detachable camera heads and extensions poles can be submersed to thirty (30) feet of water for inspection of piers, pilings and hulls. Conversely the extension poles offer the operator the ability to raise the camera head easily and quickly to monitor second and third story windows above ground. The camera heads, which have rail mounts on top for light supplements (Streamlight M3), can all be bent into any position the user desires and cameras can be manually rotated to maintain user spatial orientation when observing around a corner or under a vehicle. No other manufacturer offers these features. Our system can be used interchangeably with any and all of our three (3) monitoring options, all designed to find use in specific tactical settings. Other systems advocate the use of a chest mounted monitor, which illuminates the operator's face and causes obstructions in transitioning of weapons. Our monitoring options are small, high resolution and easily concealable (wrist monitor for example). This significantly enhances operator safety, and reduces the possibility of user identification to suspects. Because our system of monitoring options is interchangeable, all of the video can be shared between users downrange and at the command vehicle. No other system affords a team this much latitude. Tactical Electronics system comes standard with RF transmission that provides video to just under one mile line of sight and over twice that when used with our repeater system. No other company can boast this type of Tactical ®.Electronics P.O. Box 152 / BrokenArrow, OK 74013-0152 fa cticnleloofronres,oum transmission and safety standards for RF around explosives. Our wireless transmitter is a standard feature that is built-in to the handle of the PCSS 1, which is another item that cannot be matched by other manufacturers. In addition, the PCSS1 was recently sent for participation in the NTOA Member Tested and Recommended Program. This program requires evaluation and an overall score of at least 3.0 out of 5.0, to be recommended by the NTOA program. We are pleased to announce that our system received an overall score of 4.85, the highest score ever conferred on any such available system. UDC2 Wireless Under Door Camera Kit The UDC2 system actually places the CCD chip INTO the inspection area. This provides high quality, true video to the inspecting officer outside. Only two other manufacturers have successfully used this technique. However, they have failed to design their system in an all -in -one / stand-alone product that enables the operator to slide the system under a door and walk away to safety for viewing. The other systems have to be mounted to a pole or stick or external "brain box" — both having to be closely monitored and controlled by a person. Tactical Electronics believes that this method is unsound when compared to the concept of true remote monitoring that is offered by the UDC2. Our system is the only Under the Door Camera in the world that has a built- in wireless transmitter and battery compartment, making it highly portable, and the lightest and most compact system available. Other companies build similar equipment to monitor under doors, directing the ambient image from the inspection area, through a prism, through a bundle of fibers and then to a camera. The outcome of this type of system is a somewhat blurred and "honeycomb" image, as the camera is looking at the cut end of a bundle of fibers. As with all Tactical Electronics video systems it is powered by commercial off -shelf (COTS) batteries. Our entire system weighs less than two (2) pounds with the light source attached and provides the operator in excess of Tactical ED.Electronics P.O. Box 152 1 Broken Mow, OK 74013-0152 toolioaleleallenics.ckmj five (5) hours of continuous operation time. No other manufacturer can meet these specifications. VFS1 Wireless Video Fiberscope Kit The VFS 1 is highly portable, being the lightest and most compact system available. It is the only Video Fiberscope on the market today that attaches to a wireless transmitter and power supply that will fit in the palm of your hand. All other manufacturers build equipment for human and veterinary sciences and Non -Destructive Testing (NDT). Ours is the only system designed specifically for military and law enforcement applications and is available only to government activities. Tactical Electronics system comes standard with RF transmission that provides video to just under one mile line of sight and over twice that when used with our repeater system. No other company can boast this type of transmission and safety standards for RF around explosives. In addition, we have taken operator safety in to account where others have not. We developed a light supplement for the system that is designed to enhance operator safety and increase success against silicone photo -diodes and resistors. Some manufacturers are advocating the induction of 30Watts or more of light into a package. This is incredibly risky for the inspection of packages that might be protected by photo cells. Tactical Electronics VFS 1 is the only system commercially available that is powered by commercial off -shelf (COTS) batteries. All other fiber optic video systems use rechargeable batteries which add tremendously to their size and weight. Our entire system weighs less than two (2) pounds with the light source attached and provides the operator in excess of five (5) hours of continuous operation time. Other systems, generally report about 2 hours of run time. This gives the operator using our system a tremendous operational advantage. Tactical .Electronics P.O. Box 152 / Broken Arrow, OK 74013-0152 taclicalelectronice.com All Tactical Electronics systems comes standard with RF transmission that provides video to just under one mile line of sight and over twice that when used with our repeater system. This provides the inspecting operator a unique level of safety as our system does not have to be supervised. Simply place our systems near the inspection area and move to a safer monitoring location. In furtherance of operator safety, Tactical Electronics has offered several monitoring options. We have solutions that are much safer than a "cumbersome chest mounted monitor," that dangerously illuminates the operator's face, and prevents proper transitioning of weapons to the ready position. Our wrist mounted monitor features quick on and off with a 2.5" high resolution LCD screen that can be used with weapons and without unintentional illumination of operators. Our handheld monitor, with a 5.2" screen is perfect for mounting to the back of an LBV for safe monitoring by the entire downrange stack. We have provided the options to ensure safety and maximize usability. The bottom line; our systems cost less and do more than any other manufacturer. All of our systems carry a one year free repair or replacement warranty. Since we maintain a percentage stock of all systems sold, we are able to replace or loan during repair an identical system via UPS. We want to prevent teams being without critical gear and take extra steps to ensure that they have what they need. We believe in standing behind your investment and want to be a trusted resource for the Miami Police Department. Please let us know if we can be of further assistance. Regards, Z—t---, Ben Kimbro Vice President / FSO