header
Department: Police
Director: Ed Drain, Police Chief
Agenda Item: Drone as First Responder Program for the Plano Police Department
Recommended Action: Purchase from an Existing Contract
end
Item Summary
title
Consideration to approve the purchase of the Drone as First Responder Program for a five (5) year contract for the Police Department in the estimated amount of $1,439,864 from Motorola Solutions, Inc. through an existing contract; and authorizing the City Manager to execute all necessary documents. (Texas Department of Information Resources Cooperative Contract No. DIR-CPO-5433)
body
Background
Recommendation
The Police Department recommends approval of a contract award to Motorola Solutions, Inc. (MSI), utilizing Texas Department of Information Resources Cooperative Contract No. DIR-CPO-5433 in the estimated amount of $1,439,864 for implementation and support of the Plano Police Department's Drone as First Responder (DFR) program.
MSI is uniquely positioned to provide this solution due to its ownership and support of several mission-critical technologies already utilized by the City of Plano, including the CAPE software platform for DFR flight operations and live video streaming, the CommandCentral Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) used by the Police Department for digital evidence management, and the CommandCentral Aware situational awareness platform currently deployed within both the Police Department's Real Time Intelligence Center (RTIC) and the City's Public Safety Communications Department for monitoring the locations of P25 public safety radios carried by first responders.
Procurement of both the hardware and software components of the DFR program through MSI will maximize interoperability and collaboration between DFR operators, command staff, support personnel, dispatchers, and field responders. Implementing a DFR solution that is fully integrated with the CommandCentral ecosystem also protects prior technological investments and generates cost savings by leveraging existing infrastructure and software platforms.
Background
The Plano Police Department continually evaluates technologies that improve public safety, officer safety, and operational effectiveness. The proposed DFR program will provide rapid aerial response capabilities and real-time situational awareness to first responders and incident commanders, frequently arriving on scene prior to ground units.
The DFR program will support a broad range of public safety missions, including crimes in progress, structure fires, traffic crashes, hazardous situations, missing persons, search operations, major events, and other critical incidents. Immediate access to aerial imagery and intelligence will improve decision-making, enhance responder safety, and contribute to more favorable incident outcomes.
Project Description
The project includes the acquisition and implementation of four automated drone docking systems strategically positioned throughout the city to maximize geographic coverage and minimize response times. The system includes unmanned aircraft, docking infrastructure, remote piloting software, communications equipment, implementation services, training, maintenance, and support services necessary to establish and sustain DFR operations. The agreement also includes upgrades to CommandCentral Aware licensing to enable integration with third-party service providers, including CentralSquare for computer-aided dispatch (CAD) data exchanges and Flock Safety for license plate reader (LPR) alerts. Incoming calls for service, critical event notifications, and emergency button activations from portable radios will generate automated launch recommendations with mapped incident locations, further reducing response latency during DFR operations.
The DFR program will be integrated into the Police Department's RTIC, where trained analysts will serve as remote pilots and deploy drones in support of patrol and emergency response operations. Live video and situational awareness information will be shared in real time with dispatchers, supervisors, command staff, and field personnel through existing public safety technology platforms.
The initial phase of the program will utilize DJI Matrice 4TD aircraft operating from DJI Dock 3 systems supplied through MSI's subcontractor, Unmanned Vehicle Technologies (UVT). UVT will provide installation services, technical support, operator training, and assistance with implementation activities, including support for obtaining the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) waiver(s) necessary for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations.
During Fiscal Year 2027-28, MSI, through its partnership with BRINC, will provide two Guardian DFR systems for deployment at strategically selected locations throughout the City to further enhance jurisdictional coverage and support intelligence-led policing initiatives. Through MSI's "Takeoff" incentive program, the first year of Guardian DFR service will be provided at no cost to the City of Plano.
Financial Impact
The total estimated cost of the agreement with MSI is $1,439,864 over a five-year period and includes hardware, software licensing, implementation services, training, maintenance, and support for four DFR docking systems. The procurement will be completed through the Texas DIR Cooperative Purchasing Program under Contract No. DIR-CPO-5433, satisfying all applicable competitive procurement requirements.
The Police Department's Traffic Safety Fund will be utilized for all expenses associated with the program, including launch site infrastructure, peripheral equipment such as batteries and charging systems, and any Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) solutions required to support safe DFR operations.
Total expenditures associated with the DFR program, including the MSI contract and related implementation costs, are not expected to exceed $2,000,000 during the five-year contract term.
Community Impact
Implementation of the DFR program is expected to:
• Reduce emergency response times;
• Improve situational awareness during rapidly evolving incidents;
• Enhance officer and public safety;
• Increase suspect apprehension and property recovery rates;
• Improve traffic incident management and roadway safety;
• Support search and rescue operations and missing person investigations; and
• Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public safety resource deployment.
The DFR program represents a significant investment in innovative public safety technology that will enhance service delivery and improve outcomes for the Plano community. Failure to proceed with this purchase will negatively impact the department's ability to modernize emergency response operations and fully leverage existing investments in the City's public safety technology ecosystem.
Staff respectfully request Council approval of this important investment in public safety technology.
The City is authorized to purchase from the State Contract list pursuant to Chapter 271 Subchapter D of the Texas Local Government Code and by doing so satisfies any State Law requiring local governments to seek competitive bids for items. (Texas Department of Information Resources Contract No. DIR-CPO-5433 & City of Plano Contract No. 2026-0482-OA)
Financial Summary/Strategic Goals
Funding for this item is available in the Traffic Safety Fund. This request is to approve a five (5) year contract with Motorola Solutions, Inc. for the Drone as a First Responder program. The estimated total to be spent is $1,439,864 (or $328,210 in FY 2025-26, $91,915 in FY 2026-27, and $339,913 in FY 2027-28 through 2029-30).
Approval of this contract aligns with the City's Strategic Plan Critical Success Factors of being an Excellent, Innovative, and Accountable City Government with Safe, Vibrant Neighborhoods.