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Commission approves not-to-exceed $500,000 annual uniform contract; staff details per-employee costs
Summary
After a demonstration of uniform gear, the board approved a not-to-exceed $500,000 contract for uniforms and equipment that staff said typically spends $315,000 with Galls LLC and up to $185,000 with other vendors; commissioners pressed for clarity on encumbrance and manager authority.
The Guilford County Board of Commissioners approved a not-to-exceed $500,000 annual contract to purchase law-enforcement uniforms and equipment through the state contract vendor Galls LLC, with staff explaining how the amount is allocated and what the budget covers.
Lieutenant Ebony Moore of the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office told the board the full uniform kit for a sworn deputy, including outer vest and attachments, costs about $4,340.68; an armed detention officer’s kit is about $3,039.98; civilian staff uniform costs were listed at $543.05; and all employees receive a boot voucher of $128.10. "The cost to clothe 1 deputy is $4,340.68," Moore said during the presentation.
County purchasing staff said the $500,000 ceiling represents the maximum exposure for purchases off the state contract and that historical spending with Galls has not reached the contract cap. "Galls was the largest of that," a purchasing official said, and staff explained the budget typically covers about $315,000 of purchases from Galls while the remaining $185,000 covers other vendors and incidental items.
Commissioners asked whether encumbering the full $500,000 would restrict access to other line items; staff responded that encumbrance practices and the manager's delegated authority (up to $200,000) provide flexibility and that the county would not lock up unrelated funds. Commissioners also pressed for disaggregation between uniform items and tactical equipment, and staff brought Sheriff's Office personnel to demonstrate gear and answer technical questions.
The motion to approve the contract passed on a unanimous voice vote. Staff said they would follow purchasing rules and return to the board if significant changes to the scope or price-capping approach were required.
