TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Anthony Conrad, Chief of Police
PREPARED BY: Stephanie Lawson, Management Analyst - Administration
SUBJECT:
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Purchase of MX908 Chemical Detection Device
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RECOMMENDATION
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Authorize the City Manager to approve the purchase of the MX908 handheld chemical detection device for $70,828.08 plus tax $6197.46, totaling $77,025.54.
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PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
No prior action.
CITY COUNCIL GOAL
Provide a high level of innovative public safety.
BACKGROUND
The Police Department currently uses TruNarc, a handheld narcotics analyzer, to identify suspected narcotics in the field. With the rise in fentanyl-laced m30 pills, the Police Department has identified a limitation to this device. Specifically, the TruNarc cannot reliably detect fentanyl in an m30 pill. TruNarc is also limited when it comes to the identification of liquid substances. This puts officers at risk of exposure and limits their ability to identify controlled substances.
The MX908 is the industry standard in handheld chemical detection devices, as it leverages the power of high-pressure mass spectrometry to deliver highly reliable and accurate results. Officers can conduct field analysis of unknown substances at trace levels to generate actionable intelligence in real-time to assess threat levels, establish probable cause, and prioritize investigatory resources accordingly, all while reducing operator exposure. The MX908 is up to one million times more sensitive than commonly used Raman and FT-IR technologies as it detects compounds at trace levels and combines unparalleled sensitivity and selectivity, providing law enforcement confident results and the ability to arrest suspects in the field by quickly identifying controlled substances even when combined with benign cutting agents.
Purchasing the MX908 handheld chemical detection device will increase the Police Department’s ability to detect trace levels of controlled substances, increasing officer safety and assisting with the prosecution of narcotics possession and sales.
The competitive bidding procedures may be dispensed when a commodity can be obtained from only one vendor in accordance with Municipal Code Section 3.08.280.B Exceptions to Competitive Bidding Requirement. After further research, staff found no other product that can provide the reliability and accuracy of the MX908 handheld chemical detection device. The Police Department has an approved sole source to satisfy the procurement requirements. This device will be assigned to the Murrieta Police Officer assigned to the Post-Release Accountability and Compliance Team.
FISCAL IMPACT
Revenue provided by the Community Corrections Partnership Executive Committee in the amount of $216,500 in the Fiscal Year 2023/24 and Fiscal Year 2024/25 Operating Budget account 1103180-42221 were approved in the biennial budget that was presented to the City Council and approved on June 6, 2023. Additional revenue in the amount of $21,650 was approved by the Community Corrections Partnership Executive Committee of Riverside County this fiscal year. Staff requests increasing the Fiscal Year 2023/24 budget in account 1103180-42221 by $21,650. Additionally, an appropriation of $77,025.54 is requested in the Fiscal Year 2023/24 account of 1103180-60880 to purchase the MX908 handheld chemical detection device.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
None.
ATTACHMENTS
1. MX908 Device Quote