City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: AUGUST 19, 2025 FROM: FIRE DEPARTMENT WARD: ALL SUBJECT: PURCHASE OF AN INTEGRATED BALLISTIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM FROM LEADSONLINE FORMERLY FORENSIC TECHNOLOGY, INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF $411,456.72 ISSUES:
Approve the purchase of an Integrated Ballistic Identification System from LeadsOnline formerly Forensic Technology, Inc. in the amount of $411,456.72.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council approve the purchase of an Integrated Ballistic Identification System from LeadsOnline formerly Forensic Technology, Inc. in the amount of $411,456.72, funded through the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) FY 2023 grant.
BACKGROUND:
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) offers the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) program to enhance regional preparedness high-threat, high-density areas and provide funding opportunities every fiscal year to address the unique multi-discipline planning, operations, equipment, and training needs to these areas as it relates to terrorism prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery.
On February 27, 2024, the City Council approved acceptance of the FY 2023 Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) in the amount of $3,178,500, for regional training activities, equipment, staff salaries, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program materials, and Office of Emergency Management Critical Infrastructure Assessment program. The Riverside Fire Department Office of Emergency Management conducts UASI-related procurement on behalf of all City Departments.
DISCUSSION:
The Riverside Police Department is seeking to purchase an Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS) to construct a National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) Acquisition and Correlation Center. The IBIS will provide the region with the ability to analyze ballistic evidence and cross-reference that data with the national database, NIBIN, to provide timely information to local, state, and national agencies to identify firearms and/or perpetrators who are involved in criminal activity and/or domestic terrorism.
The Riverside Police Department currently collaborates with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and its NIBIN program. Test-fires and crime scene casings are shipped to ATF Crime Gun Intelligence Centers in Dublin and Glendale, California for analysis. This process carries an inherent risk of evidence being lost in transit. Additionally, federal guidelines restrict shipments to 25 cases at a time, and the department must wait for each batch to be processed before sending the next batch. The average turnaround time is three to four months per batch. Currently, the department has six batches of 25 cases awaiting submission. These delays contribute to stale or missed investigative leads, allowing perpetrators to continue engaging in gun violence within the community.
Acquiring an IBIS to process ballistic evidence in-house would provide significant benefits to both the department and the broader region. It would offer a close and convenient location for neighboring local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement agencies to transport evidence for analysis while maintaining a secure chain of custody. More importantly, it would ensure the timely processing of evidence related to all criminal activity, including incidents involving domestic terrorism. The system is capable of generating results within 24 to 48 hours of an incident, enabling quicker investigations, timely prosecution of gun-related crimes, and the potential to prevent further acts of gun violence in the community and surrounding jurisdictions.
This action is pursuant to Purchasing Resolution No. 24101, Section 602 (c) which states, “Competitive Procurement through the Informal Procurement and Formal Procurement process shall not be required in any of the following circumstances: …(c) When the Procurement can only be obtained from a sole source and the Manager is satisfied that the best price, terms and conditions for have been negotiated.” The Purchasing Manager concurs that the recommended actions are compliant with Purchasing Resolution No. 24101, Section 602 (c).
The Chief of Police Concurs with this report.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of this action is $411,456.72. Funds are budgeted and available in the UASI Fund, Fire-UASI 2023, UASI Communications project account 9180810-440450.
Prepared by: Mark Annas, Emergency Services Administrator Approved by: Steve McKinster, Fire Chief
Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/ Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Mike Futrell, City Manager
Approved as to form: Rebecca McKee-Reimbold, Interim City Attorney Attachments:
Sole Source Approval
CalOES NCPA Approval
UASI FY23 Integrated Ballistic Identification System - Page 3