TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THRU: Jarad Hildenbrand, City Manager
FROM: Christopher Cash, Public Works Director
1. Subject
title
Authorize purchase of mobile vehicle barriers and deployment components, and annual certified operator training from Meridian Rapid Defense Group Sales, LLC through General Services Administration Contract No. 47QSWA19D001F
body
2. Summary
Purchase 50 mobile vehicle barriers and deployment components to enhance public safety at special events and emergency response incidents. The equipment will allow rapid deployment of traffic control and protective perimeter security, offsetting the need for rentals by 50%.
3. Recommended Action
recommendation
1. Approve the purchase of 50 mobile vehicle barriers and components from Meridian Rapid Defense Group Sales, LLC in the amount of $398,599.
2. Authorize the appropriation of $400,000 from Traffic Safety (450) unreserved fund balance to:
450-5001-80101- Furniture, Fixture, Equipment
end
4. Fiscal Impact
The expense for this purchase is $398,599 and will be funded through Traffic Safety (450):
450-5001-80101 Furniture, Fixture, Equipment
Upon approval of this appropriation, the estimated Traffic Safety Fund (450) undesignated fund balance as of June 30, 2026, will be $583,701.
5. Strategic Plan Goals
Goal 1: Maintain Strong Emergency and Safety Services
Objective1.8: Improve Emergency Response Infrastructure
6. Discussion and Background
The City regularly hosts community events, parades, and civic gatherings that require temporary street closures and crowd protection. Most large gatherings take place in the Plaza, where pedestrian density is highest. Recent incidents involving vehicles entering pedestrian areas have increased the need for protective barriers that can be quickly deployed and removed while maintaining emergency access.
Historically, the City has used traffic control devices, including cones, delineators, and temporary barricades. While effective for guiding traffic, these devices do not protect against vehicle intrusion. For major Plaza events, the City has rented Meridian barriers for several years due to their engineered effectiveness to stop vehicles, their certification for crowd protection from the Department of Homeland Security, and the ease by which these barriers are deployed.
The proposed purchase includes 50 barriers, four hauling units, 45 connecting cables, and annual certified operator training. These barriers will protect the public from vehicle intrusion during Plaza events. Due to the size of each event footprint, the City will continue to rent approximately 50 additional Meridian barriers for each major event. However, owning City-operated units will allow staff to deploy barriers internally for other events and incidents, as well as reduce the cost of holding events in the Plaza.
Funds are available from the Orange Police Department through fines and forfeitures collected and deposited into the Traffic Safety Fund. These funds are used exclusively for official equipment and supplies for traffic law enforcement and traffic accident prevention. The equipment will be purchased through the General Services Administration (GSA) cooperative purchasing program (Contract No. 47QSWA19D001F) <https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/ref_text/47QSWA19D001F/47QSWA19D001F_MERIDIANRAPIDDEFENSEGROUP47QSWA19D001F.pdf>. This contract meets competitive procurement requirements and enables the City to obtain nationally bid pricing, ensuring cost-effectiveness and expedited acquisition. The cost of this purchase is $398,599 and will be funded by the Traffic Safety Fund. Future training certification renewals will be requested through the annual operating budget.
Owning a deployable barrier inventory will significantly reduce reliance on vendor services. Currently, the City rents barriers and pays contractors for installation and removal. With trained staff, the City will be able to deploy barriers in-house. The City currently spends about $75,000 annually to rent and deploy 96 vehicle mitigation barriers for Plaza events. Owning the equipment is expected to reduce these costs by approximately 50%, or $37,500 per year.
7. ATTACHMENTS
• None