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<br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: January 18, 2001 <br />Action Agen a <br />Item No. <br />SUBJECT: Bid Award: Video Arraignment System for Orange County Jail & Courthouse <br />DEPARTMENT: Purchasing and PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />Sheriff <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Pam Jones, 245-2652 <br />Bid Tabulation Sheriff Pendergrass, 245-2900 _ <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181. <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To consider awarding a bid for a Video Arraignment System for Orange County Jail <br />and Courthouse. <br />BACKGROUND: Presently when inmates make their first appearance before a judge, they are <br />escorted to and from the courthouse by jail staff. It is estimated that about one hundred and <br />twenty inmates per month are brought before a judge for their first appearance. This procedure <br />provides public exposure that reduces safety for the inmate, jail staff and the public. Further it <br />creates a great demand on jail staff time. It is estimated to take between sixty and ninety <br />minutes per inmate for a first appearance. A way to increase safety and reduce the strain on <br />staff time is to implement a Video Arraignment System. While eliminating public exposure it is <br />also anticipated that it will decrease staff time per first appearance to between ten and fifteen <br />minutes per inmate. <br />The Video Arraignment System will consist of three cameras mounted in the Courtroom (Judge, <br />District Attorney, and Defense Attorney), a 27" monitor for the District Attorney, Defense <br />Attorney, and courtroom as well as a smaller monitor for the Judge. Also, there will be a monitor <br />and camera securely mounted in the visitation area of the jail. There will also be a control panel <br />placed on the Judge's bench that will allow the judge to control microphones, volume, and the <br />screen configuration at both sites. The two sites will be connected via telephone cable pairs <br />owned by the County. The system bidded must meet all state and federal regulations. <br />Specifications were developed by staff that were designed to address Orange County's needs. <br />Proposals were sent to three prospective vendors. The bid was advertised in the paper as well <br />on the County's Internet Site. A pre bid conference was held and attended by two vendors. <br />Two bidders responded to the bid call. Bids were evaluated by staff. The Selectrocom <br />Corporation of Greensboro North Carolina submitted the lowest responsible bid that was <br />responsive at a cost delivered, installed and tested of $29,990.00.