2022/12/07 Council Agenda Packet

Investment 6-3 (ET): Regional Tactical Robots This project will fund the purchase of two portable tactical robots equipped with manipulator arms and firing circuits. These robots can assist with opening doors, searching, placing charges, and providing situational awareness through audio and video feeds. Nexus to terrorism: Terrorism events rapidly unfold and cover large distances. There is a need for fast action to search rooms, stairwells, and confined spaces before deploying personnel into a potentially hazardous and dangerous environment. Tactical robots are cross use - used to respond to active shooters, high risk missions, and IED and Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) incidents manufactured by terrorist organizations and homegrown extremists. The project will influence and support the Emerging Threats National Priority by sustaining the Region's EOD robot capability for response to active shooters, IEDs and CBRNE threats. UA past work that aligns with and builds on the Emerging Threats NPA has included the purchase of a bomb truck, tactical CBRNE vehicles, recon-style robots, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) suits, non -digital X- Ray systems, Self -Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), Night Vision Systems, 3-D Printer for robot maintenance, and recon-style situational awareness equipment. In addition, it has included training focused on response plans, special team tactics, and advanced response skills to identify terrorist threats and counter attacks in the UA region. Project partners include UA regional special operations teams: King County Sheriff's Office (KCSO), City of Tacoma Police Department (TPD), Pierce County Sheriff's Department, City of Bellevue Police Department, Washington State Patrol, Snohomish County Sheriffs Office, City of Everett Police Department, and City of Seattle Police Department (SPD). Partner engagement: The tactical robots are regional assets, that will be located as follows: one with the SPD and one with the TPD EOD Squads. Regional special operation teams will coordinate with Team Commanders who in turn will deploy available tactical robot resources and appropriate personnel. This project is adding two tactical robots to the UA. Deployment prioritization will continue to be a potential challenge if there are multiple incidents occurring simultaneously where the tactical robot capability is needed. Coordination between partners will need to occur to ensure that the equipment is used to address higher risks first. The UASI LE Subcommittee will continue to evaluate the need for additional equipment to support this capability and will also monitor deployments across the region in order to locate the equipment based on demonstrated need, in addition to ensuring use is spread out across the region to support multi - jurisdictional incident needs. Project success will be measured through an increase in successfully completing reconnaissance missions providing vital situational awareness as well as a decrease in both response time and injuries to tactical teams through the use of the tactical robots. In the 2020 UASI SPR, Screening, Search, and Detection "Approaches for Addressing Capability Gaps and Sustainment Needs" identified the purchase of portable robots and electronic systems which would be used during regional callouts to provide fast action to search rooms, stairwells, and confined spaces. Small special robots selected will include a manipulator arm on a rotating turret with a zoom camera on the claw [and will] enhance the capabilities of responding officers allowing them to quickly transport and deploy technology to improve situation awareness before deploying people into a hazardous and dangerous environment. Future UASI SPRs should show progress towards building capability. The UASI LE Subcommittee will facilitate grant -funded equipment purchases through the LE Program Manager and will ensure oversight of grant expenditures throughout the grant life cycle. To maximize cost effectiveness, multiple bids will be requested with the use of a clearly delineated project scope. The project outcome is increased responder safety by placing advanced technology in rapidly evolving threat environments in the UA, leading to notification of potentially affected people (for evacuation or sheltering in place) and deactivation/disposal of IEDs or the interdiction of active shooters. PLANNING ORGANIZATION $0.00 I $0.00 SOLUTION AREA EQUIPMENT TRAINING EXERCISE TOTAL $120,000.00 $0.00 1 $0.00 j $120,000.00 DHS-FEMA-HSGP-UASI-FY21 Page 54 of 57 SPD, E22-113 Revised