SR 01-23-2024 5I
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: January 23, 2024
Agenda Item: 5.I
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Anuj Gupta, Director of Transportation, Department of Transportation, Transit
Safety & Training
Subject: Award Bid to Good Guard Security, Inc. for Transit Safety Officer Program for
Big Blue Bus
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to Section
15601(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
2. Award Bid #4469 to Good Guard Security, Inc., for security guard services at
Department of Transportation (DOT) facilities and onboard buses.
3. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a contractual service
agreement with Good Guard Security, Inc., in an amount not to exceed
$7,407,816, for five years, with future year funding contingent on Council
budget approval.
Summary
Since February 2002, the Santa Monica Department of Transportation (DOT) has
contracted with a security firm to provide daily security services at the Big Blue Bus
(BBB) campus located at 1660 7th Street, Santa Monica, adhering to industry best
practices and recommendations made by the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA)
Office of Safety and Security to secure public transportation properties. These
recommendations outline safety and security standards for the safety of BBB’s overall
operations, facilities, equipment, visitors, vendors, and employees.
Additionally, the FTA has proposed new requirements to improve transit worker safety
under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Specifically, FTA’s proposed
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General Directive 24-1 requires transit agencies to establish a risk-reduction program
for transit operations to improve safety by reducing the number and rates of
accidents, injuries, and assaults on transit workers.
To meet current and pending FTA recommendations, DOT intends to incorporate
security guard services onboard buses and at BBB bus stops as a mitigation measure
to reduce assaults on transit workers and improve safety onboard Big Blue Buses.
The presence of security guards onboard buses and at bus stops will also enhance
the customer experience. The guards will assist customers with rider information,
employ de-escalation techniques with disruptive passengers, and provide a safer
riding experience by serving as a deterrent to criminal or disruptive activities.
Following a competitive procurement process, staff is recommending Good Guard
Security, Inc., as the best bidder to provide security guard services at DOT facilities
and onboard BBB buses.
Discussion
DOT has more than 435 employees, the majority of whom use the BBB campus. The
BBB campus is home to an administrative building, a maintenance garage, a state-
of-the-art natural gas fuel facility, which is transitioning to battery electric bus
infrastructure through its existing electrification project, with a fleet comprised of 194
buses, 17 support vehicles, and four paratransit vehicles. BBB maintenance
operations are performed on a 24/7 basis. The security services retained by DOT
ensure effective control of all access points to the BBB facility. Security services
provided through this contract will provide a safe and secure environment for all BBB
staff, visitors, and vendors, and a campus environment where staff feel safe.
Given the size and complexity of BBB operations, Threat and Vulnerability
Assessments (TVAs) were conducted by the FTA in 2012 and 2017. A TVA is an
analysis of safety hazards and security threats that can cause loss of life, personal
injuries, property damage, and disrupt operations. It provides an analytical process to
rate and consider the probability and severity of these hazards and threats to
determine what the greatest risks to the agency may be. The TVA provides a
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baseline to create and implement a security plan with recommended actions aimed
at reducing the risk of hazards or threats and mitigating their consequences.
The TVAs outlined FTA’s safety and security standards for the safety of BBB’s
transportation system, equipment facilities, customers, and employees, as well as
including a recommendation that the City continue to provide daily security services
to safeguard the above. Since 2002, BBB has contracted with a security firm to
provide such security services.
In addition to campus security, DOT is committed to not only maintaining a clean,
safe, and reliable transit system but to improving the overall customer experience.
One way in which it strives to do so is through improved safety and security
measures. Since 2019, the BBB division of DOT has seen an increase in security-
related incidents, such as passenger disturbances, assaults, code of conduct
violations, and health and safety concerns. While Motor Coach Operators (MCOs) do
their best to manage onboard security situations, they are limited in what they can do
to assist with onboard disturbances.
Onboard security concerns can be broken down into three categories:
1. Crime and Code of Conduct Violations
2. Customers with Mental Health Issues (disturbances)
3. Issues with Customers Experiencing Homelessness
DOT will incorporate a Transit Safety and Security Program consisting of unarmed
security guards—Transit Safety Officers (TSOs)—who will be assigned to ride
onboard buses and conduct foot patrols at BBB bus stops. The TSOs will be able to
support MCOs in providing customer service to riders, assist with security-related
disturbances, serve as a deterrent to crime and unwanted behaviors, and support the
City’s efforts in addressing homelessness. The TSOs will address and respond to
each of the above categories of concerns as follows:
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1. Crime and Code of Conduct Violations
Uniformed TSOs will be trained in de-escalation techniques and will be
equipped with radios and cell phones to quickly request law enforcement
assistance if necessary.
2. Customers with Mental Health Issues
TSOs will be trained in, among other subjects, de-escalation, and mental
health awareness training and techniques.
3. Homelessness
On February 14, 2023, the Santa Monica City Council declared a Local
Emergency on Homelessness. The TSOs will assist in addressing this
issue by distributing resource cards to persons experiencing
homelessness with information on how they can access services within
Santa Monica as well as outside of city limits. This applies to individuals at
bus stops and onboard buses. The TSOs will be available to provide
support to other cross-functional teams in the region working toward the
City’s priorities to address homelessness and provide a clean and safe
Santa Monica.
Vendor Selection
The City undertook a two-part competitive process, first publishing a Request for
Qualifications. This produced a pre-qualified list of 11 vendors that participated in a
Request for Bids for the final contract.
Request for Qualifications Process
Bid Data
Posting Date 8/8/2023 # of Vendors Downloaded 26
Date Publicly
Opened
8/21/2023 # of Submittals Received 19
In accordance with City Charter and Municipal Code provisions, staff published the
Request for Qualifications on the City’s Online Bidding Site and advertised it in the
Santa Monica Daily Press. Staff from DOT evaluated the bids based on the criteria in
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SMMC 2.24.190, including Quality of Work / Technical capabilities, experience and
credentials, training references, and capacity of the firm to perform the contract,
including project team key personnel and staff retention.
Recommended Pre-Qualified Vendors
A.G Coast dba California Panther Security Allied Universal Security Services
American Global Security Services American Guard Services
BBB-CA, Inc. dba Block by Block California Good Guard Security, Inc
Inter-Con Security Systems, Inc Power Security Group
PSMG, Inc. DBA PACWEST Security Services Quest National Security
Securitas Services
Bidder Recommendation
Best Bidder Good Guard Security, Inc.
Evaluation Criteria
Price, references, and ability, capacity, and skill of the bidder to
perform services (vendor compliance). The City shall have
absolute discretion in determining the applicability and weight of
the criteria listed above.
The City is not required to select the bid with the lowest price.
Municipal Code SMMC 2.24.180
*price reflects actual hours required per post, based billing rates provided and including 10% contingency.
Bid Data
Date
Posted Posted On
Advertise In
(City Charter & SMMC)
Vendors
Downloaded
Date Publicly
Opened
10/18/2023 City's
Online
Bidding Site
Santa Monica Daily Press 8 11/2/2023
Best Bidder Justification
DOT staff collaborated with SMPD to develop the scope of work for the project and evaluate
the vendors. Staff invited vendors to present in person and to answer any additional
outstanding questions or concerns. The evaluation panel included staff from DOT Operations,
Submittals Received*
A.G. Coast dba
California Panther
Security
$1,587,746.38 American Global
Security $1,573,370.55
Allied Universal Security
Services $1,722,120.66 American Guard
Services, Inc. $1,946,940.80
Good Guard Security,
Inc. $1,567,525.43 Power Security Group $1,455,236.20
Quest National Security $1,885,412.45
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Maintenance, Safety & Training, and SMPD. Staff recommends Good Guard Security, Inc. as
the best bidder based on price, technology, its customer-oriented approach to security
services, and references.
As part of the evaluation process, staff contacted the references provided by all vendors. Good
Guard stood out among the vendors due to the excellent references provided by its existing
contracts. One agency noted Good Guard’s focus on customer service, mental health
awareness, and de-escalation training which helped reduce incidents in their transit facility,
which is located in a high-traffic, high-crime area. Another reference indicated that the use of
Good Guard’s Community Resource Card has connected unhoused persons to services.
Good Guard’s impact can also be seen in the decrease of crimes reported at the Downtown
Santa Monica parking structures.. In January 2023, the City transitioned security services for
the Downtown Santa Monica parking structures to Good Guard. According to SMPD, the
program proved successful, with a notable decrease in calls for police services at all parking
structures, the Main Library, and the Ken Edwards Center. According to SMPD, there was a
48% decrease year-over-year in calls for service between January and May 2023, and a
24.5% decrease in crimes committed at the parking structures overall in 2023 compared to
2022. SMPD also noted Good Guard’s flexibility when additional staffing was needed and their
collaboration with the Homelessness Liaison Program and other meetings regarding homeless
outreach, maintenance, and crime in the downtown area.
Considering the City’s priorities of Clean and Safe Santa Monica and Addressing
Homelessness, staff believes that Good Guard’s business model and approach represent the
best alternative to complement the City’s efforts in those areas.
Environmental Review
The agreement is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the CEQA
Guidelines. The agreement is covered by the commonsense exemption which states
that CEQA does not apply, “where it can be seen with certainty that there is no
possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the
environment.” The agreement would provide the City with security services on
existing public transit. Therefore, it can be seen with certainty that there is no
possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the
environment.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to approve funding from the Big Blue Bus Fund to award an
agreement with Good Guard Security, Inc. for security guard services at Department of
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Transportation (DOT) facilities and onboard buses. Future year funding is contingent on
council budget approval.
FY 2023-24
Budget Request
Amount
Future
Years’
Amount
Department Account # Total Contract
Amount
$338,486 $3,500,600 60600015-55001F $3,839,086
$314,650 $3,254,080 60600015-550010 $3,568,730
$653,136 $6,754,680 Total $7,407,816
Prepared By: Liseth Guizar, Transit Safety and Training Manager, Big Blue Bus
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Good Guard Oaks Initiaive Form 2023
B. PowerPoint Presentation
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5.I.a
Packet Pg. 187 Attachment: Good Guard Oaks Initiaive Form 2023 (5626 : Transit Safety Officer Program for Big Blue Bus)
Award Bid to Good Guard Security, Inc., for
Transit Safety Officer Program for Big Blue Bus
January 23, 2024
5.I.b
Packet Pg. 188 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation [Revision 1] (5626 : Transit Safety Officer Program for Big Blue
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Purpose
Purpose of Transit Security Program
Incorporate security guard services onboard Big Blue Bus (BBB) buses and
at BBB bus stops to existing campus security program as a mitigation
measure to reduce assaults on transit workers and improve safety for
customers onboard Big Blue Buses.
5.I.b
Packet Pg. 189 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation [Revision 1] (5626 : Transit Safety Officer Program for Big Blue
Addressing Assaults on Tra nsit Workers
Changes due to Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law changes to
49 U.C.S Section 5329(d)
•FTA requires transit agencies to
implement risk reduction programs
to mitigate assaults on transit
workers. FTA also requires that
assaults be reported to the National
Tr ansit Database (NTD) and that
assaults include, not only physical
assaults, but also threats or
harassment against a transit
worker.
5.I.b
Packet Pg. 190 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation [Revision 1] (5626 : Transit Safety Officer Program for Big Blue
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Duties of Transit Safety Officers
Transit Safety Officers will:
•Ride onboard buses and patrol bus stops throughout BBB service area,
including service outside of Santa Monica city limits
•Employ de-escalation techniques with disruptive passengers to address
disturbances onboard buses
•Assist customers with rider information
•Disseminate resource cards to passengers who may be experiencing
homelessness
•Provide a security presence systemwide
5.I.b
Packet Pg. 191 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation [Revision 1] (5626 : Transit Safety Officer Program for Big Blue
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Selected Bidder-Good Guard Security, Inc.
Vendor Selection Process
•19 vendors submitted proposals during the Request for Qualifications process
•11 vendors were invited to bid
•Out of the 11 vendors that were invited to bid, seven (7) submitted proposals for the Request for Bid
•Good Guard was selected as best bidder based on:
•Price
•Technology
•Customer-oriented approach to security services
•References
5.I.b
Packet Pg. 192 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation [Revision 1] (5626 : Transit Safety Officer Program for Big Blue
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Financial Impacts
5.I.b
Packet Pg. 193 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation [Revision 1] (5626 : Transit Safety Officer Program for Big Blue