Durham County approves $4.97M contract with ANA Security to replace Nighthawk

Durham County commissioners voted to authorize the County Manager to execute a service contract with A and A Associates, doing business as ANA Security, for uniform security services at county facilities. The board approved the contract after staff said the incumbent, Nighthawk, informed the county it could not physically fulfill its final contract year, prompting a required RFP process.

County procurement staff introduced ANA as a small, woman-owned firm based in West Palm Beach, Florida, and presented the firm's team to the board. CEO Andrew Lucci told the board about the company's history and approach: "We're ANA. We started back in 1999," highlighting the firm's training, technology and retention strategy. ANA representatives described a scheduling and GPS-geofence system for officers, 24-hour dispatch and incident reporting, and a focus on de-escalation and customer service-based front-desk training.

Commissioners asked detailed questions about the transition plan and staffing. Staff said all current Nighthawk employees would be offered an opportunity to interview with ANA and that the firm proposed wage levels in its proposal: customer service agents and unarmed officers at about $17.00 per hour and armed certified officers at approximately $27.30 per hour. ANA's operations representatives confirmed benefits would include medical, dental and vision and paid time off for new staff.

The board suspended the rules to consider the item and then moved to approve the contract (item 26-0224). The chair called for the vote and commissioners responded "aye," recording passage on the floor. County staff and the contractor indicated they will manage an orderly transition from the incumbent and stand up the security operations center and additional seven FTEs described in the proposal.