Title
Authorization to Enter into Agreement with Avalon Legal (Ordinance S-48000)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into an agreement with Avalon Legal to provide the City cell phone forensic services on an as-needed basis as determined by the City Attorney and to further request authorization for the City Controller to disburse the necessary funds in an amount not to exceed $75,000 annually over the term of the contract.
Report
Summary
The Law Department is initiating a contract with a vendor to perform cell phone forensics on an as-needed basis. This service is vital to extract data from a mobile device when needed for use in investigations and litigation. The Law Department has used its outside Legal Counsel Services contract vendor to work with a third party to perform these services in the past at a much higher cost. The need for these services is increasing, necessitating a new method to access these services. Bids were collected from four vendors and the two lowest bids were selected to enter into contracts. This contract will allow for faster service at a lower cost. The vendor is able to provide a secure forensic lab with a documented clear chain of custody, and can provide service on both Apple and Android devices. This contract is for a period of one year, with no options; to be used on an as-needed basis, at a maximum value of $75,000. The Law Department and ITS will conduct a full procurement during the term of this contract to replace it with a longer-term agreement.
Contract Term
This contract will be for one year with no options to extend.
Financial Impact
The amount requested is an amount not to exceed $75,000 annually over the term of the contract.
Funds are available in various departments' budgets, including the Law Department and Self-Insured Retention Fund. Payments will be made from affected funding sources, primarily from the Self-Insured Retention Fund or the General Fund on an individual case or legal assignment basis.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by City Manager Ed Zuercher and the Law Department.