DATE: SEPTEMBER 26, 2023
DEPARTMENT: SALINAS POLICE DEPARTMENT
FROM: ROBERTO FILICE, CHIEF OF POLICE
BY: TONYA ERICKSON, POLICE SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR
TITLE: ACCEPTANCE OF INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN (ICAC) GRANT AND DIRECT PURCHASE OF COMPUTER EQUIPMENT RECOMMENDED MOTION:
A motion to approve the following:
A Resolution authorizing the acceptance of the $75,000 Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Grant administered by the City of San Jose, the execution of all grant-related documents, and the establishment of the ICAC Grant appropriation of up to $75,000 and corresponding revenue budget to support grant activities.
A Resolution authorizing the direct purchase five (5) computer workstations and one (1) storage server from Silicon Forensics for a total cost not to exceed $65,851.37.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council approve a Resolution to authorize the acceptance of the $75,000 ICAC Grant, administered by the City of San Jose, and to authorize the establishment of the grant appropriation of up to $75,000 and corresponding revenue budget to support grant activities. Staff further recommends that the City Council approve a Resolution authorizing the direct purchase of five (5) computer workstations and one (1) storage server from Silicon Forensics as identified within this report, for a total cost not to exceed $65,851.37.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
In August 2023, we were notified by the City of San Jose of the intent to award $75,000 for training, supplies, and equipment to support the Salinas Police Department’s participation in the ICAC Task Force. The Department is requesting authorization to accept this grant funding and establish an appropriation and corresponding revenue budget to support grant activities. The Department is further requesting authorization to make direct purchases of computer equipment as identified within this report.
BACKGROUND:
The Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, whose fiscal agent is San Jose Police Department, is a task force organized under the aegis of the National ICAC Task Force Program. The national program is composed of 61 regional Task Force agencies representing over 5,000 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies dedicated to investigating, prosecuting, and developing effective responses to internet crimes against children.
The (ICAC) Task Force helps state and local law enforcement agencies develop an effective response to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and internet crimes against children. This help encompasses forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance, victim services, and community education. The ICAC program was developed in response to the increasing number of children and teenagers using the Internet and other technology, the proliferation of child sexual abuse images available electronically, and the heightened online activity by predators seeking unsupervised contact with potential underage victims. Because ICAC members understand that arrests alone cannot resolve the problem of technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation, the ICAC program is also dedicated to training law enforcement officers and prosecutors, as well as educating parents and youth about the potential dangers of online activity.
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) has awarded Internet Crimes Against Children grant funds to the City of San Jose to support the Silicon Valley ICAC Task Force. The City of San Jose has agreed to allocate a grant subaward to the City of Salinas in the amount of $75,000 to provide training, supplies, and equipment in support of Salinas Police Department’s participation in the ICAC Task Force. The grant period runs for five months, from October 1, 2023 through February 28, 2024. The Resolution will authorize the acceptance of this ICAC grant and establish an appropriation and corresponding revenue budget for grant activities.
The department is also requesting approval to make direct purchases of computer equipment to support the work of the ICAC Task Force. The Department is requesting to purchase five computer workstations and one storage server from Silicon Forensics as indicated in the table below. The current workstations in the Computer Forensics Lab need to be upgraded, and the department is in desperate need of additional storage to support the preservation of digital downloads and evidence. We reached out to several vendors, and Silicon Forensics was selected to provide the equipment. Alternate vendors, including CDW and Forensic Computers, were contacted but alternate quotes were higher in price and/or the vendor responded that they could not provide a system with comparable specifications or cost to what was offered via Silicon Forensics.
Qty & Description (Vendor: Silicon Forensics)
Quote Price
5% Contingency
Not to Exceed Amt
Five (5) SiFORCE X Forensic Workstations
$36,625.19
$1,831.26
$38,456.45
One (1) SiStore 2U Hybrid Storage Server
$26,090.40
$1,304.52
$27,394.92
Not to Exceed Total:
$65,851.37
Remaining grant funds, after purchase of the workstations and storage server from Silicon Forensics, will be used to provide training for ICAC Task Force members, and to purchase additional supplies and equipment.
There are no local vendors available to provide the requested computer workstations and storage server, and the prices identified through Silicon Forensics have been determined to be the most cost effective when compared to other vendors. The City Council has the authority to approve this direct purchase under Salinas Municipal code Section12-27 and without application of the local purchasing preference pursuant to Salinas Municipal Code Section 12-28.080.
POLICE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
The Police Chief will present this direct purchase request to the Police Community Advisory Committee on September 27, 2023. The Committee will have an opportunity to ask questions and provide comments related to this requested action.
CEQA CONSIDERATION:
Not a Project. The City of Salinas has determined that the proposed action is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378).
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
Approving the proposed Resolutions will support the City Council’s Strategic Plan Goal of Public Safety.
DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION:
The Police Department will work with the Legal Department during approval, and with the Finance Department during implementation.
FISCAL AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT:
Proposed funding from the ICAC Grant is $75,000, all of which will be used for training, supplies, and equipment to support the Salinas Police Department’s participation in the ICAC Task Force. No matching funds are required from the City of Salinas to receive the grant funds and the Resolution authorizes the establishment of an appropriation and corresponding revenue budget to support grant activities. The grant will support the purchase of the computer equipment contained within this report.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution – ICAC Grant Acceptance
Resolution – Direct Purchase of Computer Equipment
Draft ICAC Grant Agreement
ICAC Grant Quotes
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