Chicago: Mayor Brandon Johnson Announces Request for Information (RFI) to Gather Recommendations on First Responder Technology
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CHICAGO ~ Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has announced that the city has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gather recommendations on reliable and efficient forms of first responder technology. This move comes as the city prepares to decommission the use of acoustic gunshot detection technology from SoundThinking, Inc. on Sunday, September 22, 2024.

The RFI is open to submissions from qualified vendors with extensive experience in first responder response technology. Mayor Johnson stated that the ultimate goal is to deploy resources that have been proven to accelerate the current downward trend in violent crime. He emphasized the need to explore better options that can save more lives.

Through this RFI process, the City of Chicago aims to aggressively look at equitable alternatives that can help first responders acquire the best community safety resources. These resources will aid them in reaching and responding to emergency scenes more effectively.

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In preparation for the decommissioning of the SoundThinking, Inc. contract, the Mayor's Office of Community Safety formed a working group. This group has been leading efforts for months in addressing concerns and developing alternative options to increase safety for Chicago residents and communities.

The working group includes a diverse range of City and non-City employees who have direct experience with the current technology. They are also deeply involved in communities impacted by violence and have extensive backgrounds in law enforcement, violence interruption, and prevention.

Deputy Mayor of Community Safety Garien Gatewood stated that this working group has been gathering feedback from various stakeholders and community leaders. Their goal is to assess tools and programs that effectively increase both safety and trust within communities.

Gatewood also mentioned that Chicago is not alone in moving away from this form of technology. The city has been in communication with other major cities such as Seattle, Houston, San Antonio, and Portland who have explored alternative options for technology.

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Some of the options being explored by the working group include investing in victim prevention and assistance programs in schools and hospitals, improving the monitoring capabilities and response times of first responders, investing in first responder personnel to work with communities to help resolve crimes, and increasing funding for street-level outreach programs and hiring violence interrupters.

Chief Procurement Officer Sharla Roberts stated that this RFI will allow the city to receive innovative ideas that will help them continue moving in the right direction with community safety. She encouraged interested vendors to visit the City's iSupplier portal to view and respond to the solicitation. However, she noted that vendor registration is required to engage with the iSupplier eProcurement system.

The City of Chicago is committed to building a safer city for all through this RFI process. They are hopeful that this will provide more options for violence prevention resources. Interested vendors can visit the City's iSupplier portal for more information on how to participate in this process.

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