Police Department
www.santa-ana.org/pd
Item # 11
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
February 17, 2026
TOPIC: Digital Forensic Annual License Subscription
AGENDA TITLE
Purchase Order Contract to Magnet Forensics, LLC for Digital Forensic Annual License Subscription (Specification No. 26-010) (General & Non-General Fund)
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Authorize a Purchase Order to Magnet Forensics, LLC for digital forensic annual license subscription for a one-year term beginning February 21, 2026 and expiring February 20, 2027, in an amount not to exceed $61,395.
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: Yes
DISCUSSION
Santa Ana Municipal Code, Section 2-807(a, e), authorizes the City to make non-bid purchases of services, supplies, materials, and equipment whenever it shall appear that there is only one reasonably available source. Staff researched available procurement options and product offerings in the market and determined that the digital forensic annual license subscription offered by Magnet Forensics, LLC meets the City of Santa Ana Police Department’s specifications.
Additionally, recent studies show over 98% of Americans own a cellphone of some kind and 91% of those own a smartphone. With the proliferation of digital device usage, the Police Department needs the tools to be able to unlock iOS and Android devices to obtain and extract evidence efficiently to solve and prosecute criminal cases. The use of this software can and will only be utilized under specific situations. The accessing of digital evidence requires either consent from the owner of the device or judicial processes such as a search warrant. In Orange County, the issuance of a search warrant requires the review and approval of the District Attorney or City Attorney’s Office, and the approval of the sitting Judge from the Orange County Superior Courts.
Digital Forensic Annual License Subscription
February 17, 2026
5 5
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City Council last approved this annual license subscription on February 18, 2025. The vendor is unable to accommodate a multi-year contract. Hence, the Police Department will seek Council authorization for this license subscription on an annual basis.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
There is no environmental impact associated with this action.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds are available in the current year budget in the following accounts:
Fiscal
Year
Accounting Unit
– Account No.
Fund
Description
Accounting Unit –
Account No. Description Amount
FY 25-26 01114445-66511 General Fund
Special Investigations,
Computer Software
Subscriptions
$29,000
FY 25-26 01214010-66511
Cannabis
Public Benefit
Fund
Police Enforcement
Services, Computer
Software Subscriptions
$32,395
Total $61,395
Submitted By: Robert Rodriguez, Police Chief
Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager