The District has contracted with the same security provider at the Rucker Building since 2017 as part of a larger effort to improve security following an overdose in one of the first-floor restrooms. The services provided prior to COVID-19 were consistent with the existing agreement and staff concerns were addressed quickly.
Since the pandemic, there have been several delays and gaps in daily security coverage and occasionally no coverage due to the service provider’s staffing shortages. This, combined with increasing performance issues of the security guards, has resulted in a need to re-evaluate security service providers for the Rucker Building based on current need. Over the past year, the Rucker Building has been vandalized on multiple occasions and verbal threats have been directed towards staff.
The current expenditure for security service at the Rucker Building is approximately $58,000 per year. Staff are recommending changing the service provider to Kaeka through the master agreement with the Department of Enterprise Services. This change in vendor would result in a cost increase of approximately $8,000 per year. Health District staff have experience working with the proposed vendor already as they were the primary security provider for the mass testing and vaccine sites throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The total estimated cost of the agreement over its lifetime requires Board approval, per the Division of Responsibilities. Based on the level of service provided, staff recommend Board approval to utilize the DES contract with Kaeka security for security services at the District.