Item 15 - Agreement for Unmanned Aerial Systems (Drones)

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Unmanned Aerial Systems (Drones) February 3, 2026 Page 3 drones, the R10 drones have two-way communication capabilities to facilitate de- escalation efforts and provide commands and instructions to individuals. The Skydio X10 drones and R10 drones supplied by Axon meet all federal standards for UAS data security and, unlike some popular foreign-made drones, are compliant with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Axon has decades of experience serving the law enforcement community and has consistently shown responsiveness to customer service requests. Additionally, the Axon deployed drones will directly integrate with the other video based and data storage services Axon currently provides to the Department. The City has contracted with Axon since 2017 for body-worn camera services, during which time Axon has consistently demonstrated reliability, strong customer support, and responsiveness to operational needs. Under the Axon platform, the City retains full ownership of all data, and any sharing of data is conducted strictly in accordance with current Police Department policies and applicable state law. In addition, Axon is highly protected to prevent breach of data and, to date, there have been no data breaches. Santa Ana Municipal Code, Section 2-807(d), 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 "Axon Air", a fully integrated DFR solution offered by Axon Enterprise, Inc. meets the Police Department's specifications. Additionally, Sourcewell, a cooperative government purchasing agency, awarded a contract to Axon Enterprise, Inc. for Axon Air as a result of open, competitive bidding, and meets the City's requirement. If the recommended action is approved by the City Council, the Police Department will adopt Department Policy 606 titled Unmanned Aerial Systems (Exhibit 2). The policy provides the framework for the use of DFR and patrol drones, including provisions to safeguard the Community's Constitutional Rights and to ensure transparency and accountability. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT There is no environmental impact associated with this action. FISCAL IMPACT As the first payment is due in July 2026, funding will be included in the proposed FY 26- 27 budget for City Council's approval. Funding for subsequent fiscal years will be included in the proposed budgets for City Council consideration as follows: